Question

what position did earl warren hold when he was put in charge of the warren commission in 1964?

• chief justice of the supreme court
• vice president of the united states
• secretary of state

Explanation:

🆕 New Concept Discovered: Federal Government Structure and Leadership
Understanding key roles in the three branches of government.

Step 1: Identify the purpose of the Warren Commission

Following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in November 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson established a special commission to investigate the event. This committee was officially known as the President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy, but it became popularly known as the Warren Commission because of its chairman, Earl Warren.

Step 2: Determine Earl Warren's official role in 1964

To ensure the investigation was seen as highly objective, prestigious, and non-partisan, President Johnson chose the highest-ranking judicial official in the United States to lead it. At that time, Earl Warren was serving as the head of the judicial branch of the federal government.

• Chief Justice of the Supreme Court: Earl Warren served in this position from 1953 to 1969.
• Vice President of the United States: Hubert Humphrey was elected Vice President in late 1964 (taking office in 1965), while Lyndon B. Johnson had no vice president for the majority of 1964.
• Secretary of State: Dean Rusk held this position under both Kennedy and Johnson.

Therefore, Earl Warren was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court when he was appointed to lead the commission.

Answer:

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court