The investigations

The House Select Committee on Assassinations

The only official finding of “probable conspiracy,” and why it rested on a tape

The former Texas School Book Depository, July 2015. Later architectural context.
Michael Barera; perspective correction by Dllu · Source & image context ↗

RECORD / AT A GLANCE

Findings on Oswald stand; conspiracy finding rested on disputed acoustics

Partly true. The House committee did officially find a probable conspiracy. That finding depended on acoustic analysis that a later scientific panel rejected, and the committee could not identify a second gunman or any conspirator. Its conclusions that the Soviet and Cuban governments, the CIA, FBI and Secret Service were not involved are often left out by people who cite it.

THE EVENTS / THE INVESTIGATION / THE STORY

The chronology.

READ THE FILE

Evidence & assessment.

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WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT THIS FILE

The claims, rated.

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OPEN THE RECORD

Sources & limits.

Numbered citations in each article identify the relevant sources. These records have different purposes and evidentiary weight.

  1. HSCA final report: summary of findings and recommendations (1979) ↗

    The House committee’s headline findings: Oswald fired three shots and the fatal one; Kennedy “was probably assassinated as a result of a conspiracy”; Soviet and Cuban governments, organized crime as a group and anti-Castro groups as groups not involved, but individual members not ruled out.

  2. HSCA final report, part I-C: conspiracy findings ↗

    Soviet, Cuban, anti-Castro, organized-crime and agency allegations, one by one.

  3. HSCA final report, part I-B: scientific acoustical evidence of a second gunman ↗

    The committee’s acoustics finding: a “high probability” that two gunmen fired, one from the knoll.

  4. National Research Council: Report of the Committee on Ballistic Acoustics, 1982 ↗

    The National Academy panel’s unanimous finding that the sounds on the police recording came about a minute after the shooting.

  5. HSCA final report, part I-D: performance of the agencies ↗

    The Secret Service was “deficient” in protecting the President; the Warren Commission’s conspiracy investigation was flawed.

  6. Dan Hardway: written testimony to the House Oversight Task Force, 20 May 2025 ↗

    The former HSCA researcher on how Joannides handled the committee.

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