11/18/2013

The Government Printing Office on Monday marked the upcoming 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's death by releasing the  official, digital version of the Warren Commission Report into his assassination.

While portions of the report have been digitized previously by libraries, the GPO release marks "the first time the complete, official version has been made available," said Gary Somerset, a spokesman for the agency.

The report is backed up by 26 volumes of hearings conducted under the leadership of commission chairman and Chief Justice Earl Warren. Some of those volumes remained classified until the mid-1990s, others are still withheld. Accessing Kennedy's autopsy records, for instance, requires membership in a presidential or congressional commission or permission from the family.

In an effort to shed more light on the Nov. 22, 1963, assassination, the GPO is also highlighting recordings of conversations that day between officials in Washington, Air Force One pilots, and people on board the flight from Dallas to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.