#OTD20 logo with calendar icon and the words "On This Day: 20th Century"

#OTD20 | September 27, 1964

The Warren Report: Solving or Complicating JFK's Assassination?

September 27, 1964: The Warren Commission releases its report on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, concluding that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone.

The Kennedy assassination is among the most extensively examined and debated events in American history. Appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, the Warren Commission was tasked with providing the American public with answers.

After ten months of investigation involving hundreds of interviews and examination of countless documents, the commission releases its 888-page report. The central conclusion: Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in assassinating President Kennedy.

While the report is intended to provide closure, it becomes a subject of controversy itself. Many feel the commission didn't fully explore other possibilities, like conspiracy theories involving organized crime or foreign governments.

Despite its controversies, the Warren Commission’s report remains an essential reference for anyone seeking to understand the Kennedy assassination.

Viewing Options

The administration of President John F. Kennedy is chronicled in our classroom-ready video survey, "The Sixties."

Preview

Preview short excerpts from "The Sixties"

Preview Now

Stream

View "The Sixties" in our members-only Streaming Room™.

Stream Now

Subscribe

Explore subscription plans for our premium content portal, the Streaming Room™.

Subscribe Now

Additional Resources

Access more information from Media Rich Learning and curated off-site sources.

U.S. National Archives

Explore the National Archives' records related to the assassination of President Kennedy.

University of South Carolina

Read "Doubt and Deception: Public Opinion of the Warren Report" from the website of the University of South Carolina.

History News Network

Read "The Warren Commission Report: 40 Years Later It Still Stands Up" from the website of History News Network.

#OTD20

Step back in time to experience the significant events that happened on this day in the 20th century.

President Harry Truman, on the left, presenting the Medal of Honor to a uniformed Private Desmond Doss, on the right, amidst an audience in an outdoor setting.

October 12, 1945: The Conscientious Objector Who Became a War Hero

#OTD20 — October 12, 1945: Private Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector, is awarded the Medal of Honor for his unparalleled bravery during World War II.

Read More
Mother Jones seated at a desk with an open book, circa 1910-1915.

October 11, 1936: Mother Jones Memorial Dedicated

#OTD20 — October 10, 1986: President Reagan and Soviet leader Gorbachev meet in Reykjavik to discuss arms control. Despite high hopes, they leave without no major agreements.

Read More
Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev in a tense exchange during the Reykjavik summit.

October 10, 1986: Reagan and Gorbachev at the Reykjavik Summit

#OTD20 — October 10, 1986: President Reagan and Soviet leader Gorbachev meet in Reykjavik to discuss arms control. Despite high hopes, they leave without no major agreements.

Read More
President Kennedy, seated at a desk, signs the ratified Test Ban Treaty, surrounded by a group of lawmakers.

October 7, 1963: President Kennedy Signs Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

#OTD20 — October 7, 1963: President Kennedy signs the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, prohibiting nuclear tests in the atmosphere, underwater, or in space.

Read More
Professor Anita Hill testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 1991.

October 6, 1991: Anita Hill Allegations Emerge: A Pivotal Moment for the Supreme Court and the Nation

#OTD20 — October 6, 1991: Anita Hill’s allegations of sexual harassment against Clarence Thomas shake the nation.

Read More
Colorized photograph of two biplanes in aerial combat over Reims, France, circa 1914.

October 5, 1914: First Aerial Combat Victory Ushers in New Age in Military Strategy

The Sputnik launch marks the beginning of the space age and the U.S.-Soviet space race. Dive into this #OTD20 event with Media Rich Learning.

Read More
Composite image of Sputnik replica orbiting Earth.

October 4, 1957: Sputnik Launch Ignites the Space Race

The Sputnik launch marks the beginning of the space age and the U.S.-Soviet space race. Dive into this #OTD20 event with Media Rich Learning.

Read More
Colorized photo of Warsaw civilians being forcibly expelled by armed German soldiers, 1944.

October 2, 1944: Warsaw Uprising – Remembering Poland’s Fierce Resistance

#OTD20 — October 2, 1944: After 63 days of intense fighting, the Warsaw Uprising ends with the surrender of Polish insurgents.

Read More
Dusty military convoy crossing a bridge with a "38th parallel" sign in the foreground.

September 29, 1950: Reaching the 38th Parallel in Korea

#OTD20 — September 29, 1950: Exploring the day U.S.-led troops reached the 38th parallel—the dividing line between North and South Korea—during the Korean War.

Read More
Alexander Fleming in his laboratory examing Petri dishes.

September 28, 1928: Alexander Fleming and the Discovery of Penicillin

#OTD20 — September 28, 1928: Learn more about Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin, the world’s first antibiotic and a revolutionary medical breakthrough.

Read More
Colorized image of Lee Harvey Oswald in handcuffs, escorted by law enforcement officers.

September 27, 1964: Warren Report — Solving or Complicating JFK’s Assassination?

#OTD20 — September 27, 1964: British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain believes war with German has been averted, declaring the Munich Agreement affords “peace in our time.”

Read More
Split screen TV image of the 1960 Kennedy-Nixon debate, Nixon in Los Angeles and Kennedy in New York.

September 26, 1960: The First Televised Presidential Debate

#OTD20 — September 26, 1960: the first-ever televised presidential debate took place between Kennedy and Nixon, reshaping American politics and the role of television in it.

Read More

Remarkably social