Appendix 13

Appendix 13: Biography of Lee Harvey Oswald

• Early Years
• Marines
• Soviet Union
• Fort Worth, Dallas, New Orleans
• Mexico City
• Dallas

Marguerite Claverie, the mother of Lee Harvey Oswald, was born inNew Orleans in 1907,1 into a family of French and German extraction. 2 Her mother died a few years after Marguerite was born leaving herand five other young children in the care of their father, a streetcarconductor.3 Although Marguerite describes herself as a child of oneparent," she recalls being one of the most popular young ladies in the[grammar] school," and thinks of her childhood as a "very full happy"one.4 Her older sister, Mrs. Lillian Murret, remembers Marguerite as"a very pretty child, a very beautiful girl," 5 as does a formeracquaintance, Clem H. Sehrt, who knew the Claveries.6 The family waspoor but, according to Mrs. Murret, was a "happy family ... singingall the time."7 Marguerite had 1 year of high school.8 Shortly beforeshe was 17, she went to work as a receptionist for a law firm in NewOrleans?

In August 1929, while she was still working at the law firm,Marguerite married Edward John Pic, Jr.,10 a quiet man of her own age,who worked as a clerk for T. Smith & Son, a New Orleans stevedoringcompany.11 The marriage was not a success, and by the summer of 1931she and Pic were separated.12 Marguerite was then 3 months pregnant;she told her family that Pic did not want any children and refused tosupport her.13 Pic ascribed the separation simply to their inabilityto get along together.14 A boy was born on January 17, 1932, whomMarguerite named John Edward Pic.15 Pic saw his son occasionally untilhe was about 1 year old; after that, he did not see the boy again 16but contributed to his support until he was 18 years old.17

During her separation from her first husband, Marguerite saw agreat deal of Robert Edward Lee Oswald, an insurance premiumcollector,18 who also was married but was separated from his wife.19In 1933, Marguerite was divorced from Pic20 and, Oswald's wife alsohaving obtained a divorce,12 they were married in a Lutheran church onJuly 20.22 Marguerite has described the period of her marriage toOswald as "the only happy part" of her life.23 A son was born on April7, 1934, who was named for his father; 24 Oswald wanted to adopt JohnPic, but his mother objected on the ground that John's father mightcut off the support payments.25 In 1938, the Oswalds purchased a newhouse on Alvar Street for $3,900,26 in what John remembered as "arather nice neighborhood." 27 The house was across the street from theWilliam Frantz School,28 which first John and

later both he and Robert, Jr., attended. 29 On August 19, 1939, littlemore than a year after the Oswalds bought the Alvar Street house,Robert Oswald died suddenly of a heart attack. 30

Two months later, on October 18, 1939, a second son was born.31 Hewas named Lee after his father; Harvey was his paternal grandmother'smaiden name. 32 For a while after her husband's death, Mrs. Oswaldremained in the Alvar Street house without working; she probably livedon life insurance proceeds. 33 Sometime in 1940, she rented the houseto Dr. Bruno F. Mancuso the doctor who had delivered Lee.34 (Dr.Mancuso continued to rent the house until 1944,35 when Margueriteobtained a judgment of possession against him.36 She sold the housefor $6,500 to the First Homestead and Savings Association, whichresold it to Dr. Mancuso.)37 She herself moved to a rented house at1242 Congress Street, where she lived for about half a year.38 Forpart of this period after Oswald's death, the two older boys wereplaced in the Infant Jesus College, a Catholic boarding school inAlgiers, La., a suburb of New Orleans. 39 Neither they nor theirmother liked this arrangement, 40 which John thought was intended tosave money;41 it lasted for less than a year, after which the boysreturned to the school Frantz and then transferred to the GeorgeWashington Elementary School. 42

On March 5, 1941, Mrs. Oswald purchased a frame 43 house at 1010Bartholomew Street, for $1,300.44 According to John's recollection,the neighborhood was not as pleasant as Alvar Street; the house had abackyard, and the family kept a dog named "Sunshine." 45 A neighbor,Mrs. Viola Peterman, recalls that Mrs. Oswald kept to herself butappeared to be "a good mother to her children." 46 She opened a shopin the front room, where she sold things like sewing"'supplies andsmall groceries.47 Oswald's Notion Shop, as it was called, failed tomake money,49 and on January 16, 1942, Mrs. Oswald sold the house backto the Third District Home Association, from which she had purchasedit, for a profit of $800.50

Probably in contemplation of the sale of the house, Mrs. Oswaldapplied in December 1941 to the Evangelical Lutheran Bethlehem OrphanAsylum Association for the admission of her two older sons to theorphan asylum, known as the Bethlehem Children's Home; she stated onthe application that she could contribute $20 per month to theirmaintenance and would supply shoes and clothing.51 She had inquiredalso about Lee, who was too young to be admitted. 52 John and Robertwere accepted and entered the home on January 3, 1942. 53

Mrs. Oswald moved to an apartment at 831 Pauline Street,54 andreturned to work. In December 1942, she listed her occupation as"telephone operator"; 55 this may be the job she held at thePittsburgh Plate Glass Co., a company for which she worked at somepoint during this period. 56 She left Lee for much of this time withhis aunt, Mrs. Murret, who thought him a good looking, friendly child,but could not devote a great deal of attention to him because she hadfive children of her own. 57 In the late spring of 1942, Lee waswatched for several weeks by Mrs. Thomas Roach, who lived with herhusband in the

same house as the Oswalds.58 Lee evidently did not get along with Mrs.Roach who told the next occupant of the house that Lee was a bad,unmanageable child who threw his toy gun at her.59 Apparentlyreferring to the Roaches, Mrs. Oswald testified that she had oncehired a couple to care for Lee; the couple neglected him, so she "putthem out" and cared for Lee herself until Mrs. Murret was able to helpher again. 60 Soon after the incident with the Roaches, Mrs. Oswaldmoved again,61 this time to 111 Sherwood Forest Drive, near theMurrets. 62

Mrs. Murret took care of Lee for several months longer. Near Lee'sthird birthday, Mrs. Oswald again inquired about his admission intothe Bethlehem Children's Home, 63 perhaps because a disagreement withher sister made it impossible to leave him with her any longer.64 Hewas admitted on December 26.65 On his application, Mrs. Oswald agreedto contribute $10 per month and to supply shoes and clothing, as forthe other boys. 66

Lee remained in the home for about 13 months, but according toJohn's testimony, left on several occasions to spend short periods oftime with his mother or the Murrets. 67 John and Robert have pleasantmemories of the home,68 which apparently gave the children a good dealof freedom.69 Robert described it as nondenominational but having "aChristian atmosphere"; "it might have been just a Protestant home." 70Mrs. Oswald visited them regularly, 71 and they occasionally left thehome to visit her or the Murrets.72

In July 1943, Mrs. Oswald was hired to manage a small hosierystore.73 This is probably the store to which she referred in hertestimony as the "Princess Hosiery Shop on Canal Street," at which,she testified, she was left by herself and "in 6 days' time ...hired four girls." 74 Her employer remembers her as a neat,attractive, and hardworking woman, an aggressive person who would makea good manager. 75 She was not good with figures, however, and afterseveral months he discharged her. 76 At about this same time, she metEdwin A. Ekdahl, an electrical engineer older than herself, who wasoriginally from Boston but was then working in the area. 77 They saweach other often. Ekdahl met the boys 78 and, according to John'stestimony, on at least one occasion, they all spent a weekend at asummer resort area in Covington, La. 79

By January 1944, Mrs. Oswald and Ekdahl had decided to marry.80She withdrew Lee from the Children's Home 81 and moved with him toDallas, where Ekdahl expected to be located. 82 They planned topostpone the marriage until the end of the school year so that theolder boys could complete the year at the home before they left it.83In the meantime, she would care for Ekdahl,84 who was recovering froma serious illness, probably a heart attack. 85 Mrs. Oswald hastestified that when she arrived in Dallas, she decided that she didnot want to marry Ekdahl after all.86 Using part of the proceeds fromthe sale of the Alvar Street house,87 she purchased a house at 4801Victor Street,88 a portion of which she rented. 89 In June, John andRobert left the Children's Home and joined their mother in

Dallas.90 They entered the nearby Davy Crockett Elementary School thefollowing September.91

Ekdahl visited Mrs. Oswald on weekends and stayed at VictorStreet. 92 By the following year she had resolved her doubts aboutmarrying him, influenced in part by his substantial income 93 andperhaps by the visit some time earlier of his sister, who favored themarriage because of his ill health.94 Explaining that she expected totravel a great deal, Mrs. Oswald tried unsuccessfully to return theolder boys to the home in February 1945.95 She and Ekdahl were marriedin May.96 After a brief honeymoon, they returned to Victor Street.97

Ekdahl got along well with the boys, on whom he lavished muchattention.98 John testified that Ekdahl treated them as if they werehis own children and that Lee seemed to find in Ekdahl "the father henever had"; John recalled that on one occasion he told Lee that Ekdahland his mother had become reconciled after a separation, and that"this seemed to really elate Lee, this made him really happy that theywere getting back together." 99

Because Ekdahl's business required him to make frequent trips, inSeptember, John and Robert were placed in the Chamberlain-HuntMilitary Academy at Port Gibson, Miss.;100 their mother paid thetuition herself, using the proceeds from the sale of the Alvar Streetproperty. 101 They remained at the academy for the next 3 years,returning home only for or vacations. 102 Lee accompanied his parentson their travels.103 Mrs. Myrtle Evans, who had known both Margueriteand Ekdahl before their marriage,104 testified that Margueriteinsisted on keeping Lee with her; Mrs. Evans thought that Margueritewas "too close" to Lee and "spoiled him to death," which hurt hermarriage to Ekdahl.105

Sometime in the fall after John and Robert were at boardingschool, the Ekdahls moved to Benbrook, a suburb of Fort Worth, wherethey lived on Granbury Road, 106 in a house of stone or brick, set ona large plot of land.107 Records of the Benbrook Common School showLee's admission into the first grade on October 31; his birth date isincorrectly given as July 9, 1939, his mother presumably having giventhat date to satisfy the age requirement. 108 On February 8, 1946, hewas admitted to the Harris Hospital in Fort Worth with "acutemastoiditis."109 A mastoidectomy was performed without complications,and Lee left the hospital in 4 days.110 (In 1955, Lee indicated on aschool form that he had an "abnormal ear drum in left ear," 111presumably a reference to the mastoidectomy; but when he entered theMarines year later, physical examination disclosed no physicaldefects.)

The Ekdahls' marriage quickly broke down. Before they had beenmarried a year, Marguerite suspected Ekdahl of infidelity.113 Shethought him stingy, 114 and there were frequent arguments about hisinsistence that she account for her expenditures and his refusal toshare his money with her.115 In the summer of 1946, she left Ekdahl,picked up John and Robert at Chamberlain-Hunt, and moved with the boysto Covington, La., 116 where they lived for at least part of the time

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at 311 Vermont Street.117 Mrs. Evans described them at Covington,possibly during this summer, as "really a happy family"; Lee seemedlike a normal boy but "kept to himself" and seemed not "to want to bewith any other children." 118 The separation continued after the twoboys returned to boarding school, and in September Lee was enrolled inthe Covington Elementary School.119 His record at Benbrook had beensatisfactory he was present on 82 school days and absent on 15, andreceived all A's and B's 120--but he had not completed the work of thefirst grade, in which he was enrolled for a second time.121

Lee received no grades at the Covington School, from which he waswithdrawn on January 23, 1947,122 because his parents, now reconciled,were moving to Fort Worth, where they lived at 1505 Eighth Avenue.123Four days later, he enrolled in the Clayton Public School; he wasstill in the first grade, which he completed in May with B's in everysubject except physical education and health, in which he receivedA's. 124 In the fall, he entered the second grade in the same schoolbut, relations between his parents having deteriorated again, waswithdrawn before any grades were recorded.125

After the move to Fort Worth, the Ekdahls continued to arguefrequently; according to John, "they would have a fight about everyother day and he would leave and come back." 126 That summer,Marguerite obtained what she regarded as proof that Ekdahl was havingsome sort of affair. According to her testimony, a neighbor told herthat Ekdahl had been living on Eighth Avenue with another woman whileshe was in Covington.127 Then, at a time when Ekdahl was supposed tobe out of town,128 she went with John and several of his friends to anapartment in Fort Worth; one of the boys posed as a telegram carrier,and when the door opened she pushed her way into the apartment andfound Ekdahl in his shirt sleeves in the company of a woman in anegligee.129

Despite this apparent confirmation of her suspicions, Margueritecontinued to live with Ekdahl until January 1948.130 In January,according to Ekdahl's allegations in the subsequent divorceproceedings, she "directed ... [him] to leave the home immediatelyand never to return," which he did.131 Ekdahl filed suit for divorcein March.132 The complaint alleged that Marguerite constantly naggedEkdahl and argued "with reference to money matters," accused him ofinfidelity, threw things at him, and finally ordered him out of thehouse; that these acts were unprovoked by Ekdahl's conduct toward her;that her acts endangered his already impaired health; and that her"excesses, harsh and cruel treatment and outrages" toward him made itimpossible for them to live together.133 She denied all theseallegations. 134 After a trial, at which John testified and, hethought, Lee was called to the stand but was excused withouttestifying,135 the jury found on special issues that Marguerite was"guilty of excesses, cruel treatment, or outrages" unprovoked byEkdahl's conduct.

June 24, the court granted the divorce and approved an agreementbetween the parties disposing of their property between them and

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awarding Marguerite $1,500; at her request, the divorce restored toMarguerite her former name, Marguerite C. Oswald.137

While the divorce suit was pending, Marguerite moved from EighthAvenue to a house on 3300 Willing Street, next to railroad tracks.138The boys found her there in May when they returned from the militaryacademy; for John, the move signified that they "were back down in thelower class again." 139 Lee's withdrawal from the Clayton School onMarch 18, 1948, 140 probably coincided with the move to WillingStreet. He entered the Clark Elementary School on the following day,and in June completed the second grade with a record mostly of B's andA's.141 Philip Vinson, a classmate at the Clayton School has describedLee at, that time as "a quiet type of kids" who "didn't make a lot ofnoise." 142 Lee was "stocky and well built," which made other boyslook up to him and regard him as the leader of one of their schoolyard"gangs." 143 Vinson thought that Lee was not a bully and got alongwith his classmates, but had the impression that he rarely played withthem or brought them home after school.144

Shortly after the divorce, Mrs. Oswald purchased a small house inBenbrook, on what is now San Saba Street; 145 John has testified thatit had a single bedroom, in which Lee slept with his mother, and ascreened porch where John and Robert slept.146 Mrs. Oswald worked at adepartment store in Fort Worth, and left the three boys home alone.147A neighbor, Mrs. W. H. Bell, has stated that Lee seemed to enjoy beingby himself and to resent discipline; 148 another neighbor, Otis R.Carlton, stated that he once saw Lee chase John with a knife and throwit at him, an incident which, Carlton said, their mother passed off asa "little scuffle." 149 At the end of the summer, Carlton purchasedthe property. He stated that he appraised it at $2,750 at Mrs.Oswald's request; she then insisted that he had made an offer topurchase at that price, which he finally agreed to do.150

After the house was sold, the family returned to Fort Worth, amove necessitated by Mrs. Oswald's, and now John's, employment.151Mrs. Oswald bought a two-bedroom, frame house at 7408 Ewing, fromwhich Robert and Lee could walk to school.152 John, who was then 16,obtained a job as a shoe stockboy at Everybody's Department Store; hetestified that he wanted to finish high school at the militaryacademy, but that his mother advised him to leave school and help tosupport the family.153 He gave her $15 per week out of his salary of$25.154 Robert returned to school.155

Lee entered the third grade at the Arlington Heights ElementarySchool.156 He remained at Arlington Heights for the entire schoolyear, completing the third grade with a satisfactory record, whichincluded A's in social studies, citizenship, elementary science, art,and music, and a D in spelling. 157 In September 1949, he transferredto the Ridglea West Elementary School, where he remained for the next3 years.158 Lee's record at Ridglea is not remarkable in any respect.In the fourth and fifth grades, he received mostly B's; in the sixthgrade, B's and C's predominate.159 He received D's in

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both the fifth and sixth grades in spelling and arithmetic; in thefourth and sixth grades, C's are recorded for Spanish,160 which mayaccount for his rudimentary familiarity with that language later on.161 In the fourth grade his IQ was recorded at 103; on achievementtests in each of the 3 years, he twice did best in reading and twicedid worst in spelling.162

Lee is generally characterized as an unexceptional but rathersolitary boy during these years. His mother worked in a variety ofjobs,163 and, according to her own testimony, told Lee not to contacther at work except in an emergency. 164 He ordinarily returned homealone directly after school, in obedience to his mother'sinstructions.165 A fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Clyde I. Livingston,described him as a lonely boy, quiet and shy, who did not easily formfriendships with other students.166 But Richard W. Garrett has statedthat he was a classmate of Lee in the fourth or fifth grade and foundhim easy to get along with; he recalled playing with Lee often atschool and sometimes walking home together with him.167 Mrs.Livingston recalled that at Christmas 1949, Lee gave her a puppy andafterward came to her home to see the puppy and talk to her and herfamily.168

Lee's relationship with his brothers was good but limited by thedifference in their ages.169 He still had a dog,170 but there were fewchildren of his age in the neighborhood, and he appears to have beenby himself after school most of the time. 171 He read a lot,172 had astamp collection, and played chess and Monopoly with his brothers.173Mrs. Murret remembered that on a visit to her home in New Orleans, Leerefused to play with other children or even to leave the house; hepreferred to stay indoors and read (mostly "funnybooks") or listen tothe radio. 174 After several weeks with the Murrets, Lee wrote to hismother and asked her to come for him.175 Hiram Conway, a neighbor onEwing Street, thought Lee was an intelligent child, who picked thingsup easily; although he did not recall many specific incidents tosupport his impressions, Conway regarded Lee as "a bad kid," who was"quick to anger" and "mean when he was angry, just ornery." 176 John'sgeneral picture of Lee in these years is that of "a normal healthyrobust boy who would get in fights and still have his seriousmoments." 177

John returned to high school in January 1949, but continued towork part time. 178 Early in 1950, he entered the Coast Guard.179Robert left school soon after John's departure and went to work fulltime, contributing most of his earnings to the support of his family.180 He returned to school in 1951-52, and after completing his junioryear in high school, joined the Marines in July 1952. 181 In August,Mrs. Oswald and Lee moved to New York, where John was living with hiswife and a very young baby in an apartment at 325 East 92d Street; theapartment belonged to John's mother-in-law, who was temporarilyaway.182 Mrs. Oswald has explained that with Robert gone she did notwant Lee to be alone while she worked and that she went to New YorkCity "not as a venture," but because she "had family" there.183

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The visit began well. John testified of his meeting with Lee: "Wemet in the street and I was real glad to see him and he was real gladto see me. We were real good friends." 184 He took about a week ofleave and showed Lee the city; he remembered trips to the Museum ofNatural History and Polk's Hobby Shop, and a ride on the Staten Islandferry.185 But when it became obvious that his mother intended to stay,the atmosphere changed. Mrs. Oswald did not get along with John'swife, with whom she quarreled frequently.186 There was difficultyabout her failure to contribute anything towards her own and Lee'ssupport.187 According to John, his wife liked Lee and would have beenglad to have him alone stay with them but felt that his mother set Leeagainst her; they never suggested that Lee remain with them since theyknew that it would not work out.188 The visit ended when Leethreatened Mrs. Pic with a pocket knife during a quarrel,189 and sheasked Mrs. Oswald to leave.190 John testified that during this samequarrel Lee hit his mother, who appeared to have lost all control overhim.191 The incident permanently destroyed the good relationshipbetween Lee and his brother.192

Mrs. Oswald and Lee moved uptown to a one-room basement apartment193 in the Bronx, at 1455 Sheridan Avenue.194 While they were still atthe Pics, he had been enrolled at the Trinity Evangelical LutheranSchool on Watson Avenue.195 He was withdrawn on September 26, afterseveral weeks of irregular attendance, and 4 days later enrolled inthe seventh grade of Public School 117, a junior high school.196 Mrs.Oswald found a job at one of the Lerner Shops, a chain of dress shopsfor which she had worked briefly in Fort Worth several yearsbefore.197 In January, they moved again, to 825 East 179th Street,198and a few weeks later, she left the employ of Lerner Shops.199 InApril, she was working at Martin's Department Store in Brooklyn, whereshe earned $45 per week;200 in May, she went to work for a chain ofhosiery shops, with which she remained until December.201 Lee wasregistered at Public School 117 until January 16, 1953,202 althoughthe move to 179th Street, which took him out of that school district,probably took place before that date.203 He had been at Public School117 for 64 schooldays, out of which he had been present on 15 full and2 half days;204 he had received failing grades in most of hiscourses.205

Lee's truancy increased after he moved; he was now located in theschool district of Public School 44 but refused to go to schoolthere.206 On one occasion that spring, an attendance officer locatedLee at the Bronx Zoo; the officer testified that Lee was clean andwell dressed, but was surly and referred to the officer as a "damnedYankee." 207 Several truancy hearings were held in January, at thefirst of which at least, both Mrs. Oswald and Lee evidently failed toappear.208 At a hearing on January 27, by which time it was known thatLee was living in the Public School 44 district, it was decided tocommence judicial proceedings if his truancy continued.209 Meanwhile,on January 16, his mother called the Community Service Society, towhich she had

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been referred by the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, andasked for an appointment to discuss the problem.210 She mentioned thata truancy hearing had been held and said that Lee would not attendschool despite the threat of official action; she thought that hisbehavior was due to difficulty in adjusting to his new environment.211An appointment was scheduled for January 30, but she failed to appear,and the case was closed.212 Sometime in February, the Pics visited theOswalds. John testified that his mother told him about Lee's truancyand asked how she could get Lee to accept psychiatric aid. Nothingcame of these discussions.213

On March 12, the attendance officer in charge of Lee's case fileda petition in court which alleged that Lee had been "excessivelyabsent from school" between October and January, that he had refusedto register at Public School 44 or to attend school there, and that hewas "beyond the control of his mother insofar as school attendance isconcerned? 214 On the same day, Mrs. Oswald appeared in court aloneand informed the presiding judge that Lee refused to appear incourt.215 Evidently impressed by the proceedings, however, Lee didregister at Public School 44 on March 23.216 Nevertheless, on April16, Justice Delany declared him a truant, and remanded him to YouthHouse until May 7 for psychiatric study.217

In accordance with the regular procedures at Youth House, Lee tooka series of tests and was interviewed by a staff social worker and aprobation officer, both of whom interviewed Mrs. Oswald as well.218Their findings, discussed more fully in chapter VII of theCommission's report, indicated that Lee was a withdrawn, sociallymaladjusted boy, whose mother did not interest herself sufficiently inhis welfare and had failed to establish a close relationship withhim.219 Mrs. Oswald visited Lee at Youth House and came away with ahighly unfavorable impression; she regarded it as unfit for herson.220 On the basis of all the test results and reports and his owninterview with Lee, Dr. Renatus Hartogs, the chief staff psychiatrist,recommended that Lee be placed on probation with a requirement that heseek help from a child guidance clinic, and that his mother be urgedto contact a family agency for help; he recommended that Lee not beplaced in an institution unless treatment during probation wasunsuccessful.221

Lee returned to court on May 7. He and his mother appeared beforeJustice McClancy, who discussed the Youth House reports with them.222He released Lee on parole until September 24, and requested that areferral be made to the Community Service Society for treatment.223The probation officer called the society on the same day but was toldthat it would probably not be able to take the case because of itsalready full case load and the intensive treatment which Lee waslikely to require; 224 it confirmed this position 1 week later andclosed the case on May 31.225 An application was made to the SalvationArmy also, which turned it down because it could not provide theneeded services.226

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During the few weeks of school which remained, Lee attended schoolregularly, and completed the seventh grade with low but passing marksin all his academic subjects.227 (He received a failing mark in a homeeconomics course.)228 His conduct was generally satisfactory and hewas rated outstanding in "Social-Participation"; the record indicatesthat he belonged to a model airplane club and had a special interestin horseback riding.229 Robert Oswald visited New York that summer,while he was on leave from the Marines.230 Lee did not appear to himto be unhappy or to be acting abnormally, nor did Robert observe thatrelations between Lee and his mother were strained.231 Lee's truancythe previous fall and winter was apparently discussed only in passing,when Mrs. Oswald mentioned that Lee had to appear before ajudge.232

On September 14, Lee entered the eighth grade at Public School44.233 His parole was due to end 10 days later. On September 24,however, Mrs. Oswald telephoned the probation officer and advised thatshe could not appear in court; she added that there was no need forher to do so, since Lee was attending school regularly and was nowwell adjusted.234 The parole was extended until October 29, beforewhich date the school was to submit a progress report.235 The reportwas highly unfavorable. Although Lee was attending school regularly,his conduct was unsatisfactory; teachers reported that he refused tosalute the flag, did little work, and seemed to spend most of his time"sailing paper planes around the room." 236 On October 29, Mrs. Oswaldagain telephoned to say that she would be unable to appear. JusticeSicher continued Lee's parole until November 19 and directed theprobation officer to make a referral to the Berkshire Industrial Farmor Children's Village.237

Before the next hearing, Mrs. Oswald discussed Lee's behavior withthe school authorities, who indicated to the probation officer thatLee's behavior improved considerably after her visit to the school.238He did, in fact, receive passing grades in most of his subjects in thefirst marking period. His report also contains notations by histeachers that he was "quick-tempered," "constantly losing control,"and "getting into battles with others.239 Both Lee and his motherappeared in court on November 19. Despite Mrs. Oswald's request thatLee be discharged, Justice Sicher stated his belief that Lee neededtreatment, and continued his parole until January 28, 1954; theprobation officer was directed to contact the Big Brothers counselingservice in the meantime.240

At the request of the probation officer, the Big Brothers officecontacted Mrs. Oswald in December, and on January 4 a caseworkervisited her and Lee at home.241 The caseworker reported that he wascordially received but was told by Mrs. Oswald that continuedcounseling was unnecessary; she pointed out to him that Lee nowbelonged to the West Side YMCA, which he attended every Saturday. Thecaseworker reported, however, that Lee was plainly "displeased withthe idea of being forced to join various 'Y' organizations about whichhe cared little." Mrs. Oswald declared her intention to return to New

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Orleans and was advised to obtain Lee's release from the court'sjurisdiction before she left.242 On the following day, she called theprobation officer, who was away on vacation, and was advised by hisoffice again not to take Lee out of the jurisdiction without thecourt's consent.243 The same advice was repeated to her by the BigBrothers caseworker on January 6.244 Through all these contacts, Mrs.Oswald had evidenced reluctance to bring Lee into court, promptedprobably by fear that he would be retained in some sort of custody ashe had been at the time of the commitment to Youth House.245 Withoutfurther communication to the court, Mrs. Oswald and Lee returned toNew Orleans sometime before January 10.246 On March 11, the courtdismissed the case.247

In New Orleans, Lee and his mother stayed with the Murrets at 757French Street while they looked for an apartment.248 Lee enrolled inthe eighth grade at Beauregard Junior High School on January 13 249and completed the school year without apparent difficulty.250 Heentered the ninth grade in September and again received mediocre butacceptable marks.251 In October 1954, Lee took a series of achievementtests, on which he did well in reading and vocabulary, badly inmathematics.252 At the end of the school year, on June 2, 1955, hefilled out a "personal history." He indicated that the subjects whichhe liked best were civics, science, and mathematics; those he likedleast were English and art. His vocational preferences were listed asbiology and mechanical drawing; his plans after high school, however,were noted as "military service" and "undecided." He said that readingand outdoor sports were his recreational activities and that he likedfootball in particular. In response to the question whether he had"any close friends in this school," he wrote,"no." 253

Lee is remembered by those who knew him in New Orleans as aquiet., solitary boy who made few friends.254 He was briefly a memberof the Civil Air Patrol,255 and considered joining an organization ofhigh school students interested in astronomy; 256 occasionally, heplayed pool or darts with his friend, Edward Voebel.257 Beyond this,he seems to have had few contacts with other people. He read a lot,starting at some point to read Communist literature which he found atthe public library; 258 he walked or rode a bicycle, sometimesvisiting a museum.259 Except in his relations with his mother, he wasnot unusually argumentative or belligerent, but he seems not to haveavoided fights if they came; they did come fairly frequently, perhapsin part because of his aloofness from his fellows and the traces of anorthern accent in his speech.260 His only close friendship, withVoebel, arose when Voebel helped him tend his wounds after a fight.261Friends of Mrs. Oswald thought that he was demanding and insolenttoward her and that she had no control over him.262

While Lee was in the eighth and ninth grades, Mrs. Oswald workedfirst at Burt's Shoestore 263 and then at the Dolly Shoe Co.264 One ofher employers at Dolly, where she worked as a cashier and salesclerk,remembered her as a pleasant person and a good worker.265 At herrequest, the company hired Lee to work part time; he worked there,

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mostly on Saturdays, for about 10 weeks in 1955.266 On the "personalhistory" record which he filled out in school, he stated that he hadbeen a "retail shoesaleman"; 267 but his employer recalled that theyhad tried to train him as a salesman without success and that he hadin fact, been a stockboy.268

After a short period with the Murrets, Mrs. Oswald and Lee hadmoved to an apartment owned by Myrtle Evans at 1454 Saint MaryStreet, which she and Mrs. Murret helped to furnish; later they movedto a less expensive apartment in the same building, the address ofwhich was 1452 Saint Mary Street.269 Relations between Mrs. Oswald andMrs. Evans became strained,270 and in the spring of 1955 the Oswaldsmoved to a new apartment at 126 Exchange Place in the FrenchQuarter.271 Although Lee gave the Exchange Place address on a schoolform at the end of the ninth grade,272 the school authorities hadapparently not been advised of these moves earlier, because Mrs.Oswald did not want Lee to be transferred from Beauregard, which sheconsidered a good school.273 During the summer of 1955, Robert leftthe Marine Corps and spent a week with his mother and Lee in NewOrleans before moving to Fort Worth; he found Lee unchanged.274

That fall, Lee entered the 10th grade at Warren Easton HighSchool.275 He had been there for about a month when he presented tothe school authorities a note written by himself to which he hadsigned his mother's name. It was dated October 7, 1955, and read:

To whom it may concern,

Becaus we are moving to San Diego in the middle of this month Leemust quit school now. Also, please send by him any papers such as hisbirth certificate that you may have. Thank you.

Sincirely

Mrs. M. Oswald 276

He dropped out of school a few days later, shortly before his 16thbirthday.277 After his birthday, he tried to enlist in the Marines,using a false affidavit from his mother that he was 17.278 (Some yearsbefore, John Pic had joined the Marine Corps Reserve by means of hismother's false affidavit that he was 17.) 279 The attempt failed, and,according to his mother's testimony, Lee spent the next year readingand memorizing the "Marine Manual," which he had obtained from Robertand "living to when he is age 17 to join the Marines."

He worked for the rest of the school year. Between November 10 andJanuary 14, he was a messenger boy for Gerald F. Tujague, Inc., ashipping company, where he earned $130 per month.281 His employerremembers him as a quiet, withdrawn person.282 In January he workedbriefly as an office boy for J. R. Michels, Inc.283 For several monthsthereafter, he was a messenger for the Pfisterer Dental Laboratory.284His military record subsequently described his prior civilian jobs asfollows:

Performed various clerical duties such as distributing mail,delivering messages & answering telephone. Helped file records &operated ditto, letter opening & sealing machines.285

Anticipating that Lee would join the Marines as soon as he was 17,Mrs. Oswald moved in July 1956 to Fort Worth,286 where she took anapartment at 4936 Collinswood for herself, Lee, and Robert.287 InSeptember, Lee enrolled in the 10th grade at the Arlington HeightsHigh School 288 but attended classes for only a few weeks. He droppedout of school on September 28. 289 A few days later, he wrote thefollowing letter to the Socialist Party of America:

October 3, 1956

Dear Sirs;

I am sixteen years of age and would like more information aboutyour youth League, I would like to know if there is a branch in myarea, how to join, ect., I am a Marxist, and have been studyingsocialist principles for well over fifteen months I am very interestedin your Y.P.S.L.

Sincerely

/s/ Lee Oswald 290

Accompanying the letter was an advertisement coupon, on which hehad checked the box requesting information about the SocialistParty.291

Lee became 17 on October 18. He enlisted in the Marines on October24.292

On October 26, 1956, Lee Harvey Oswald reported for duty at theMarine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, Calif., where he was assignedto the Second Recruit Training Battalion.293 He was 68 inches tall andweighed 135 pounds; he had no physical defects.294 On October 30, hetook a series of aptitude tests, on which he scored significantlyabove the Marine Corps average in reading and vocabulary andsignificantly below the average in tests in arithmetic and patternanalysis. His composite general classification score was 105, 2 pointsbelow the Corps average. He scored near the bottom of the lowest groupin a radio code test.295 His preference of duty was recorded asAircraft Maintenance and Repair, the duty assignment for which he wasrecommended.296

While he was at San Diego, Oswald was trained in the use of theM-1 rifle.297 His practice scores were not very good,298 but when hiscompany fired for record on December 21, he scored 212, 2 points abovethe score necessary to qualify as a "sharpshooter" on amarksman/sharpshooter/expert scale.299 He did not do nearly as wellwhen

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he fired for record again shortly before he left the Marines.300 Hepracticed also with a riot gun and a .45-caliber pistol when he wasin the Marines but no scores were recorded.301

Oswald was given a 4.4 rating in both "conduct" and "proficiency"at the Recruit Depot, the highest possible rating being 5.0 and anaverage rating of 4.0 being required for an honorable discharge.302 OnJanuary 18, 1957, he reported to Camp Pendleton, Calif., for furthertraining and was assigned to "A" Company of the First Battalion,Second Infantry Training Regiment.303 He was at Pendleton for a littlemore than 5 weeks, at the end of which he was rated 4.2 in conduct and4.0 in proficiency.304 Allen R. Felde, a fellow recruit who was withOswald at San Diego and Pendleton, has stated that Oswald wasgenerally unpopular and that his company was avoided by the othermen.305 When his squad was given its first weekend leave fromPendleton, all eight men took a cab to Tijuana, Mexico. Oswald leftthe others and did not rejoin them until it was time to return tocamp. Felde said that this practice was repeated on other trips to LosAngeles; Oswald accompanied the men on the bus to and from camp butdid not stay with them in the city.306 On February 27, he went onleave for 2 weeks,307 during which he may have visited his mother inFort Worth.308

On March 18, he reported to the Naval Air Technical TrainingCenter at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Fla.309 For the next6 weeks he attended an Aviation Fundamental School, in which hereceived basic instruction in his specialty, including such subjectsas basic radar theory, map reading, and air traffic controlprocedures.310 This course, as well as his next training assignment atKeesler Air Force Base, required Oswald to deal with confidentialmaterial.311 He was granted final clearance up to the "confidential"level on May 3, "after [a] careful check of local records haddisclosed no derogatory data." 312 He completed the course on the sameday, ranking 46th in a class of 54 students.313 On the previous day,he had been promoted to private, first class, effective May 1.314 AtJacksonville, he received ratings of 4.7 in conduct and 4.5 inproficiency, the highest ratings he ever attained.315

Oswald left for Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Miss., on theday his course was completed; 316 he traveled, probably by overnighttrain, in a group of six marines led by Pfc. Daniel P. Powers, thesenior marine in charge.317 At Keesler, he attended the AircraftControl and Warning Operator Course, which included instruction inaircraft surveillance and the use of radar.318 Powers was not surewhether he had met Oswald before the trip to Biloxi 319 but remembershim there as "a somewhat younger individual less matured than theother boys," who "was normally outside the particular group of marinesthat were in this attachment to Keesler." 320 (Oswald was in fact 3years younger than Powers.) 321 Powers testified that Oswald had thenickname "Ozzie Rabbit." 322 Oswald generally stayed to himself, oftenread-

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ing; he did not play cards or work out in the gym with the others.323He spent his weekends alone, away from the base; Powers thought heleft Biloxi and perhaps went "home" to New Orleans, less than 100miles away.324 He finished the course seventh in a class of 30 marineson June 17,325 and on June 25, was given an MOS (military occupationalspecialty) of Aviation Electronics Operator.326 On June 20, he went onleave,327 possibly visiting his mother.328 His ratings at Keesler were4.2 in conduct. and 4.5 in proficiency,329 which Powers thought was"pretty good." 330

On July 9, Oswald reported at the Marine Corps Air Station at ElToro, Calif., near Santa Ana.331 He was classified as a replacementtrainee and attached to the Fourth Replacement Battalion.332 Six weekslater, on August 22, he departed from San Diego for Yokosuka, Japan,on board the U.S.S. Bexar.333 Powers testified that while on board,Oswald taught him to play chess, which they played frequently,sometimes for more than 4 hours a day.334 Like most of the men onboard, Oswald read a lot from the books which were available. Powersthought he read "a good type of literature," remembering in particularWhitman's "Leaves of Grass." 335

The Bexar docked at Yokosuka on September 12.336 Oswald wasassigned to Marine Air Control Squadron No. 1 (MACS-1), Marine AirGroup 11, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, based at Atsugi, about 20 mileswest of Tokyo.337 Oswald was a radar operator in MACS-1, which hadless than 100 men.338 Its function was to direct aircraft to theirtargets by radar, communicating with the pilots by radio.339 Thesquadron had also the duty of scouting for incoming foreign aircraft,such as straying Russian or Chinese planes, which would be interceptedby American planes.340

On October 27, when Oswald opened his locker to remove some gear,a derringer .22 caliber pistol fell to the floor and discharged; thebullet hit him in the left elbow.341 Paul Edward Murphy, a fellowmarine who was in the next cubicle, heard the shot, rushed in, andfound Oswald sitting on the locker looking at his arm; withoutemotion, Oswald said to Murphy, "I believe I shot myself." 342 He wasin the naval hospital at Yokosuka until November 15.343

The Judge Advocate General concluded that Oswald had "displayed acertain degree of carelessness or negligence" by storing a loadedrevolver in his locker, but that his injury was incurred "in the lineof duty" and was not the result of his own misconduct." 344 He was,however, charged with possession of an unregistered privately ownedweapon in violation of general orders. A court-martial followed onApril 11, 1958, when Oswald's unit returned from maneuvers, and onApril 29 he was sentenced to be confined at hard labor for 20 days, toforfeit $25 per month for 2 months, and to be reduced to the grade ofprivate.345 The confinement was suspended for 6 months, after whichthat portion of the sentence was to be remitted.346

Five days after Oswald left the hospital, MACS-1 embarked aboardthe Terrell County, LST 1157, for maneuvers in the Philippine Islands

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area.347 According to Powers' recollection, the squadron was expectedto return to Atsugi after maneuvers were completed, but aninternational crisis developed; since another operation was scheduledfor a few months later, the squadron debarked at Cubi Point (SubicBay) in the Philippines and set up a temporary installation.348 Whilehe was in the Philippines, Oswald passed a test of eligibility for therank of corporal; 349 in a semiannual evaluation, however, he wasgiven his lowest ratings thus far: 4.0 in conduct and 3.9 inproficiency.350 The unit participated in exercises at Corregidor, fromwhich it sailed for Atsugi on March 7, 1958, aboard the U.S.S. WexfordCounty, LST 1168.351 The Wexford County reached Atsugi 11 dayslater.352

Oswald was court-martialed a second time on June 27, for using"provoking words" to a noncommissioned officer (a sergeant) on June20, at the Bluebird Cafe in Yamato, and assaulting the officer bypouring a drink on him.353 The findings were that Oswald spilled thedrink accidentally, but when the sergeant shoved him away, Oswaldinvited the sergeant outside in insulting language.354 Oswald admittedthat he was rather drunk and had invited the sergeant outside but didnot recall insulting him.355 He was sentenced to be confined at hardlabor for 28 days and to forfeit $55; 356 in addition, suspension ofthe previous sentence of confinement was withdrawn.357 He was inconfinement until August 13.358 Meanwhile, a previously grantedextension of oversea duty was canceled,359 and he was given ratings of1.9 in conduct and 3.4 in proficiency.360

On September 14, Oswald sailed with his unit for the South ChinaSea area; the unit was at Ping Tung, North Taiwan on September 30, andreturned to Atsugi on October 5.361 On October 6, he was transferredout of MACS-1 and put on general duty, in anticipation of his returnto the United States.362 He spent several days thereafter in theAtsugi Station Hospital.363 On October 31, he received his lastoversea ratings: 4.0 in both conduct and proficiency.364

Oswald appears generally to have been regarded by his fellowsoverseas as an intelligent person who followed orders and did his workwell, but who complained frequently.365 He did not associate much withother marines and continued to read a great deal.366 Paul Murphytestified that Oswald could speak "a little Russian" while he wasoverseas.367 Powers believed that Oswald became more assertive inJapan and thought that he might have had a Japanese girl friend.368 Hedeparted from Yokosuka on board the USNS Barbet on November 2, andarrived in San Francisco 13 days later.369 On November 19, he took 30days' leave.370

On December 22, Oswald was assigned to Marine Air Control SquadronNo. 9 (MACS-9) at the Marine Corps Air Station at El Toro, where hehad been briefly before he went overseas.371 He was one of about sevenenlisted men and three officers who formed a "radar crew," engagedprimarily in aircraft surveillance.372 This work probably gave himaccess to certain kinds of classified material, some of which, such asaircraft call signs and radio frequencies, was

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changed after his defection to Russia.373 For part of his time at ElToro, Oswald may have been assigned to clerical or janitorial tasks onthe base.374 Some of his associates believed rumors,375 incorrectaccording to official records,376 that he had lost his clearance towork on radar crews; one recalled hearing that Oswald had once hadclearance above the "confidential" level and had lost it because he"had poured beer over a staff NCO's head in an enlisted club in Japan,and had been put in the brig." 377

The officer in command of the radar crew, Lt. John E. Donovan,found him "competent in all functions," and observed that he handledhimself calmly and well in emergency situations.378 Donovan thoughtOswald was not a leader but that he performed competently on occasionswhen, as the senior man present, he served as crew chief.379 Thisestimate was generally shared by his fellows, most of whom thoughtthat he performed his assigned duties adequately but was deficient indisciplinary matters and such things as barracks inspection.380 One ofthem recalled that after a number of bad inspections, the othermembers of Oswald's quonset hut complained about him and secured histransfer to another hut.381 He was thought to be an intelligentperson, somewhat better educated and more intellectually oriented thanother men on the base.382 A few of the men thought it more accurate todescribe him as someone who wanted to appear intelligent.383 He had apronounced interest in world affairs, in which he appears to have beenbetter informed than some of the officers, whose lack of knowledgeamused and sometimes irritated him; he evidently enjoyed drawingothers, especially officers, into conversations in which he coulddisplay his own superior knowledge.384

It seems clear from the various recollections of those who knewhim at El Toro that by the time Oswald returned to the United States,he no longer had any spirit for the Marines; the attitudes which hadprompted his enlistment as soon as he was eligible were entirely gone,and his attention had turned away from the Marines to what he might doafter his discharge. While no one was able to predict his attempt todefect to Russia within a month after he left the Marines, thetestimony of those who knew him at El Toro in contrast to that of hisassociates in Japan, leaves no doubt that his thoughts were occupiedincreasingly with Russia and the Russian way of life. He had studiedthe Russian language enough by February 25, 1959, to request that hebe given a foreign language qualification test; his rating was "poor"in all parts of the test.385 Most of the marines who knew him wereaware that he was studying Russian; 386 one of them, Henry J. Roussel,Jr., arranged a date between Lee and his aunt, Rosaleen Quinn, anairline stewardess who was also studying Russian.387 (Miss Quinnthought that Oswald spoke Russian well in view of his lack of formaltraining; she found the evening uninteresting.388 Donovan, with whomshe had a date later, testified that she told him that Oswald was"kind of an oddball.") 389 He read, and perhaps subscribed to, anewspaper, possibly printed in Russian, which his associates connectedwith his Russian bent.390

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Most of those who knew him were able to recount anecdotes whichsuggest that he was anxious to publicize his liking for thingsRussian, sometimes in good humor and sometimes seriously. Some of hisfellows called him "Oswaldskovich," apparently to his pleasure.391 Heis said to have had his name written in Russian on one of hisjackets;392 to have played records of Russian songs "so loud that onecould hear them outside the barracks"; 393 frequently to have maderemarks in Russian 394 or used expressions like "da" or "nyet," 395 oraddressed others (and been addressed) as "Comrade";396 to have comeover and said jokingly, "You called?" when one of the marines playeda particular record of Russian music.397

Connected with this Russophilia was an interest in and acceptanceof Russian political views and, to a lesser extent, Communistideology. Less obvious to his fellows generally,398 it neverthelessled him into serious discussions with some of them. Donovan, who was agraduate of the School of Foreign Service of Georgetown University,399thought Oswald was "truly interested in international fairs" 400 and "very well versed, at least on the superficial facts ofa given foreign situation." 401 He recalled that Oswald had aparticular interest in Latin America 402 and had a good deal ofinformation about Cuba in particular.403 Oswald expressed sympathy forCastro but, according to Donovan, "what he said about Castro was notan unpopular belief at that time." 404 Donovan believed that Oswaldsubscribed to the Russian newspaper--which Donovan thought was aCommunist newspaper--not only in order to read Russian but alsobecause he thought it "presented a very different and perhaps equallyjust side of the international affairs in comparison with the UnitedStates newspapers." 405 Donovan was clear, on the other hand, that henever heard Oswald "in any way, shape or form confess that he was aCommunist, or that he ever thought about being a Communist." 406

Private Kerry Thornley described himself as a close acquaintance,but not a good friend, of Oswald, whom he met in the spring of 1959;he later wrote an unpublished novel in which he drew heavily on hisimpressions of Oswald.408 Thornley generally corroborates Donovan'stestimony but thought Oswald definitely believed that "the Marxistmorality was the most rational morality to follow" and communism, "thebest system in the world." 409 Thornley thought this belief was"theoretical," a "dispassionate appraisal" which did not indicate "anyactive commitment to the Communist ends"; he described Oswald as "idlein his admiration for communism." 410 He recalled discussions aboutMarxism in which Oswald criticized capitalism and praised the Sovieteconomic system.411 Thornley testified that his association withOswald ended when, in response to Oswald's criticism of a parade inwhich they both had to march, he said "Well, comes the revolution youwill change all that." Oswald, he said, looked at him "like a betrayedCaesar" and walked away.412 Thornley attributed Oswald's decision togo to Russia to a growing disillusionment with the United States,especially its role in the Far East, and a conviction that communism

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would eventually prevail.413 He was surprised by the decision butexpected Oswald to adjust to Russian life and remain in Russiapermanently

Another marine, Nelson Delgado, met Oswald soon after the latterarrived at El Toro.415 They were about the same age and had similarinterests; Oswald enjoyed trying to speak Spanish with Delgado, whospoke it fluently.416 Delgado regarded him as a "complete believerthat our way of government was not quite right," but did not think hewas a Communist.417 Their discussions were concerned more with Cubathan Russia.418 They both favored the Castro government andtalked--"dreaming," Delgado said--about joining the Cuban Army orGovernment and perhaps leading expeditions to other Caribbean islandsto "free them too." 419 Oswald told Delgado that he was in touch withCuban diplomatic officials in this count; which Delgado at first,took to be "one of his ... lies," 420 but later believed.421

Oswald's interest in Russia and developing ideological attachmentto theoretical communism apparently dominated his stay at El Toro. Hewas still withdrawn from most of his fellows, although his specialinterests appear to have made him stand out more there than he had atother posts and to have given him a source for conversation which hehad hitherto lacked.422 According to several of the witnesses, nameslike "Ozzie Rabbit" still clung to him; 423 others recalled nonickname or only shortened versions of his real name.424 His readingacquired direction; books like "Das Kapital" and Orwell's "AnimalFarm" and "1984" are mentioned in the testimony concerning thisperiod. He played chess; 426 according to one of his opponents he chose the redpieces, expressing a preference for the "Red Army." 427 He listened toclassical music.428 For a short time, he played on the squadronfootball team.429 According to Donovan, who coached the team, Oswaldwas not very good; he lacked team spirit and often tried to call theplays, which was not his job.430 Delgado thought Oswald was a mediocreplayer.431 Donovan did not know whether Oswald quit or was thrown offthe team.432 He spent most of his weekends alone, as he had atKeesler, and did not leave the post as often as the other men.433Delgado once rode with him on the train to Los Angeles but separatedfrom him there; Oswald returned to the base after one night.434Delgado recalls that on another weekend Oswald accepted hisinvitation to go to Tijuana; they stayed there for one night.435

At the end of January 1959 and at the end of July, Oswald wasgiven his semiannual ratings, scoring 4.0 in conduct both times, and4.0 and 4.2 in proficiency.436 (The July ratings were repeated inSeptember, when he was transferred from MACS-9 in preparation for hisdischarge.)437 On March 9, he was promoted as of March 1, to the rankof private, first class, for the second time.438 He took a series ofhigh school level general educational development tests on March 23and received an overall rating of "satisfactory." His best scores, inthe 76th and 79th U.S. percentiles, were in English composition andphysical sciences; his worst was English literature, in which heplaced in the 34th percentile.439

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In the spring, Oswald applied to Albert Schweitzer College inChurwalden, Switzerland, for admission to the spring term in 1960; theapplication is dated March 19.440 Schweitzer is a small school, whichspecializes in courses in religion, ethics, science, and literature.He claimed a proficiency in Russian equal to 1 year of schoolingand that he had completed high school by correspondence with anaverage grade of 85 percent.442 He listed philosophy, psychology,ideology, football, baseball, tennis and stamp-collecting as specialinterests, and writing short stories "on contemporary American life"as his vocational interest.443 Jack London, Charles Darwin, and NormanVincent Peale were listed as favorite authors.444 He claimedmembership in the YMCA and the "A.Y.H. Association," and said that hehad participated in a "student body movement in school" for thecontrol of juvenile delinquency.445 Asked to give a general statementof his reasons for wanting to attend the college, he wrote:

In order to aquire a fuller understanding of that subject whichinterest me most, Philosophy. To meet with Europeans who can broadenmy scope of understanding. To receive formal Education by Instructersof high standing and character. To broaden my knowlege of German andto live in a healty climate and Good moral atmosphere.446

On the basis of these representations, Oswald's application wasapproved by the college.447 He enclosed a registration fee of $25 ina letter dated June 19, in which he said that he was "looking forwardto a fine stay." 448 Few of the other marines seem to have known aboutthis application. He told Delgado, however, that he planned to attenda Swiss school to study psychology, and Delgado knew that someapplication had been made.449 Another marine, Richard Call, also knewsomething of his plans.450

Oswald was obligated to serve on active duty until December 7,1959 (the date having been adjusted to compensate for the period ofconfinement).451 On August 17, he submitted a request for a dependencydischarge, on the ground that his mother needed his support.452 Therequest was accompanied by an affidavit of Mrs. Oswald andcorroborating affidavits from an attorney, a doctor, and two friends,attesting that she had been injured at work in December 1958, and wasunable to support herself.453 Oswald had previously made a voluntaryallotment of part of his salary to his mother, under which arrangementshe received $40 in August, and had submitted an application for a "Q"allotment (dependency allowance) in her behalf of $91.30; one paymentof the "Q" allotment, for the month of August, was made inSeptember.454 On August 28, the Wing Hardship or Dependency DischargeBoard recommended that Oswald's request for a discharge be approved;455 approval followed shortly.456 On September 4, he was transferredfrom MACS-9 to the H. & H. Squadron,457 and on September 11, he wasreleased from active duty and transferred to the Marine Corps Reserve,in which he was expected to

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serve until December 8, 1962.458 He was assigned to the Marine AirReserve Training Command at the Naval Air Station in Glenview, Ill.459

Almost exactly 1 year later, on September 13, 1960, Oswald wasgiven an "undesirable discharge" from the Marine Corps Reserve,460based on:

reliable information which indicated that he had renounced his U.S.citizenship with the intentions of becoming a permanent citizen of theUnion of Soviet Socialist Republics. Further, that petitioner broughtdiscredit to the Marine Corps through adverse newspaper publicity,which was generated by the foregoing action, and had thereby, in theopinion of his commanding officer, proved himself unfit for retentionin the naval service.461

On September 4, the day on which he was transferred out of MACS-9in preparation for his discharge, Oswald had applied for a passportat the Superior Court of Santa Ana, Calif. His application statedthat he planned to leave the United States on September 21 to attendthe Albert Schweitzer College and the University of Turku in Finland,and to travel in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, England, FranceGermany, and Russia.462 The passport was routinely issued 6 dayslater.463

Oswald went directly home after his discharge, and arrived in FortWorth by September 14.464 He told his mother that he intended to get ajob on a ship or possibly in the "export-import business." 465 If hestayed in Fort Worth, he said, he would be able to earn only about $30per week; on a ship, he would earn "big money" and be able to sendsubstantial amounts home.466 Three days after he arrived in FortWorth, he left for New Orleans.467 While he was in Fort Worth he hadregistered his dependency discharge and entry into the Marine Reserveat the Fort Worth Selective Service Board,468 and visited his brotherRobert and his family.469 He also gave his mother $100.470

On September 17, Oswald spoke with a representative of TravelConsultants, Inc., a New Orleans travel bureau; he filled out a"Passenger Immigration Questionnaire," on which he gave his occupationas "shipping export agent" and said that he would be abroad for 2months on a pleasure trip. He booked passage from New Orleans to LeHavre, France, on a freighter, the SS Marion Lykes, scheduled to sailon September 18, for which he paid $220.75.471 On the evening ofSeptember 17, he registered at the Liberty Hotel.472

The Marion Lykes did not sail until the early morning of September20.473 Before its departure, Oswald wrote his mother a letter, whichwas her last news of him until she read stories of his defection inFort Worth newspapers:

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Dear Mother:

Well, I have booked passage on a ship to Europe, I would of hadto sooner or later and I think it's best I go now. Just remember aboveall else that my values are very different from Robert's or your's. Itis difficult to tell you how I feel, Just remember this is what I mustdo. I did not tell you about my plans because you could harly beexpected to understand.

I did not see aunt Lilian while I was here. I will write again assoon as I land.

Lee 474

The Marion Lykes carried only four passengers.475 Oswald sharedhis cabin with Billy Joe Lord, a young man who had just graduated fromhigh school and was going to France to continue his education. Lordtestified that he and Oswald did not discuss politics but did have afew amicable religious arguments, in which Oswald defended atheism.Oswald was "standoffish," but told Lord generally about hisbackground, mentioning that his mother worked in a drugstore in FortWorth and that he was bitter about the low wages which she received.He told Lord that he intended to travel in Europe and possibly toattend school in Sweden or Switzerland if he had sufficient funds.476The other two passengers were Lt. Col. and Mrs. George B. Church, Jr.,who also found Oswald unfriendly and had little contact with him.Oswald told them that he had not liked the Marine Corps and that heplanned to study in Switzerland; they observed some "bitterness" abouthis mother's difficulties, but did not discuss this with him. No oneon board suspected that he intended to defect to Russia.477

Oswald disembarked at Le Havre on October 8. He left for Englandthat same day, and arrived on October 9.478 He told English customsofficials in Southampton that he had $700 and planned to remain in theUnited Kingdom for 1 week before proceeding to a school inSwitzerland. But on the same day, he flew to Helsinki, Finland, wherehe registered at the Torni Hotel; on the following day, he moved tothe Klaus Kurki Hotel.479

Oswald probably applied for a visa at the Russian consulate onOctober 12, his first business day in Helsinki.480 The visa was issuedon October 14. It was valid until October 20 and permitted him to takeone trip of not more than 6 days to the Soviet Union.481 He alsopurchased 10 Soviet "tourist vouchers" which cost $30 apiece.482 Heleft Helsinki by train on the following day, crossed theFinnish-Russian border at Vainikkala, and arrived in Moscow on October16.483

He was met at the Moscow railroad station by a representative of"Intourist," the state tourist agency, and taken to the Hotel Berlin,where he registered as a student.484 On the same day he met theIntourist guide assigned to him during his stay in Russia, a youngwoman named Rima Shirokova. They went sightseeing the next day. Almostimmediately he told her that he wanted to leave

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the United States and become a citizen of the Soviet Union. Accordingto Oswald's "Historic Diary," she later told him that she had reportedhis statement to Intourist headquarters, which in turn had notifiedthe "Passport and Visa Office" (probably the Visa and RegistrationDepartment of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the MVD 485). She wasinstructed to help Oswald prepare a letter to the Supreme Sovietrequesting that he be granted citizenship. Oswald mailed such a letterthat same day.486 (The "Historic Diary" is Oswald's handwrittenaccount of his life in Russia.487 The earlier entries were writtenafter the events which they describe; later, in Minsk, he probablykept a contemporaneous record of his experiences. 488 The Commissionhas used the diary, which Oswald may have written with future readersin mind, only as Oswald's record of his private life and personalimpressions as he sought to present them and has relied whereverpossible on official documents, correspondence, and the testimony ofwitnesses.)

The diary records that when Oswald told Rima Shirokova that heintended to defect she was "flabbergassted," but agreed to help.489She was "politly sympathetic but uneasy" when he told her that hewanted to defect because he was "a Communist, ect." 490 As anIntourist guide, Rima toured parts of Moscow with Oswald in the nextfew days. His primary concern, however, appeared to be his effort tobecome a Soviet citizen, and she also aided him in his dealings withthe Soviet Government.491 He thought that Rima felt sorry for him andtried to be a friend because he was "someth. new." 492 On his 20thbirthday, 2 days after he arrived in Russia, she gave him Dostoevski's"The Idiot," 493 in which she had written: "Dear Lee, Greatcongratulations! Let all your dreams come true! 18.X 1959" 494

On October 19, Oswald was probably interviewed in his hotel roomby a man named Lev Setyayev, who said that he was a reporter for RadioMoscow seeking statements from American tourists about theirimpressions of Moscow,495 but who was probably also acting for theKGB.496 Two years later, Oswald told officials at the American Embassythat he had made a few routine comments to Setyayev of no politicalsignifiance. The interview with Setyayev may, however, have been theoccasion for an attempt by the KGB, in accordance with regularpractice, to assess Oswald or even to elicit compromising statementsfrom him; the interview was apparently never broadcast.497 (Asdiscussed in ch. VI of this report, the Commission is aware that manyof the Soviet officials with whom Oswald came into contact wereemployees of the KGB, the agency which has primary jurisdiction forthe treatment of defectors.)

On the following day, Rima Shirokova told him that the "Pass. andVisa Dept." wanted to see him,498 and on the morning of October 21, hewas interviewed by an official concerning his application forcitizenship. The official offered little information and noencouragement; he told Oswald only that he would check to see if thevisa could

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be extended. Oswald returned to the Hotel Berlin.499 That afternoon,he was notified that his visa had expired and that he had to leaveMoscow within 2 hours.500

Oswald responded to the unfavorable decision by cutting himselfabove his left, wrist, in an apparent suicide attempt. Rima Shirokovafound him unconscious in his hotel room and had him taken to theBotkinskaya Hospital. His diary states: "Poor Rimmea stays by my sideas interrpator (my Russian is still very bad) far into the night, Itell her 'Go home' (my mood is bad) but she stays, she is 'myfriend.'" 501

For 3 days Oswald was confined in the psychiatric ward of thehospital. He was examined by a psychiatrist, who concluded that he wasnot dangerous to other people and could be transferred to the"somatic" department. Hospital records containing the results of theexamination 502 state that Oswald came to Russia in order to apply forcitizenship, and that "in order to postpone his departure he inflictedthe injury upon himself." 503 They note that Oswald understood someRussian and, presumably based on information which he provided, thathe had "graduated from a technical high school in radio technology andradio electronics." 504 The record states: "He claims he regrets hisaction. After recovering he intends to return to his homeland." 505

Oswald resented being in the psychiatric ward and told RimaShirokova that he wanted a transfer.506 She visited him at thehospital frequently and his diary records that "only at this moment"did he "notice [that] she is preety." 507 Another entry for thehospital period says: "Afternoon I am visited by Roza Agafonova of thehotel tourist office, who askes about my health, very beautiful,excelant Eng., very merry and kind, she makes me very glad to bealive." 508 These entries reflect an attitude gentler and friendlierthan his attitude before the suicide attempt, when he seemed to becoldly concerned only with his status in Russia. Once Oswald was outof the psychiatric ward, he found the hospital more pleasant. The newward, which he shared with 11 other patients, was "airy," and the foodwas good. His only complaint, according to his diary, was that an"elderly American" patient was distrustful of him because he had notregistered at the American Embassy and because he was evasive aboutthe reasons for his presence in Moscow and confinement in thehospital.509

He was released from the hospital on October 28,510 and,accompanied by Rima Shirokova, was driven to the Hotel Berlin in anIntourist car. After he said goodby to Lyudmila Dmitrieva, head of theIn-tourist office at the Berlin, and to Roza Agafonova, anotherIntourist employee at the hotel, he checked out of the Berlin andregistered at the Metropole, 511 a large hotel under the sameadministration as the Berlin.512 The Government had undoubtedlydirected him to make the change. His visa had expired while he was inthe hospital, and his presence in Russia was technically illegal; hehad received no word that the decision that he must leave had beenreversed. Later that day, however, Rima told him that the "Pass andRegistration Office" wished

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to talk to him about his future.513 According to the diary, whenOswald appeared at the office he was asked whether he still wanted tobecome a Soviet citizen and he replied that he did; he provided hisMarine Corps discharge papers for identification. He was told that hecould not expect a decision soon, and was dismissed. During thisinterview, Oswald was apparently questioned about the interview whichpreceded his hospitalization, which led him to conclude that there hadbeen no communication between the two sets of officials.514 Thatevening he met Rima, on whom he vented his frustration at being putoff by the authorities.515

Oswald ate only once on the following day; he stayed near thetelephone, fully dressed and ready to leave immediately if he weresummoned. He remained in his room for 3 days, which seemed to him"like three years," 516 until October 31, when he decided to act. Hemet Rima Shirokova at noon and told her that he was impatient, but didnot say what he planned to do; she cautioned him to stay in his room"and eat well." 517 She left him after a short while and, a fewminutes later, he took a taxi to the American Embassy, where he askedto see the consul. (See Commission Exhibits Nos. 24, 912, 913, pp.264, 263, 261.) When the receptionist asked him first to sign thetourist register, he laid his passport on the desk and said that hehad come to "dissolve his American citizenship." Richard E. Snyder,the Second Secretary and senior consular official,518 was summoned,and he invited Oswald into his office.519

Oswald's meeting with Snyder, at which Snyder's assistant, John A.McVickar, was also present, is more fully discussed in appendix XV tothe Commission's report. Oswald declared that he wanted to renouncehis American citizenship; he denounced the United States and praisedthe Government of the Soviet Union. Over Oswald's objections, Snydersought to learn something of Oswald's motives and background and toforestall immediate action. Oswald told him that he had alreadyoffered to tell a Soviet official what he had learned as a radaroperator in the Marines. The interview ended when Snyder told Oswaldthat he could renounce his citizenship on the following Monday, 2 dayslater, if he would appear personally to do so. During the interview,Oswald handed to Snyder a note 520 which suggests that he had studiedand sought to comply with section 349 of the Immigration andNationality Act, which provides for loss of American citizenship.521The note contains paragraphs which read like inartistic attempts tocast off citizenship in three of the ways specified by the statute.The attempts failed but there is no reason to doubt that they weresincere. Snyder has testified that he believed that Oswald wouldimmediately have formally renounced his citizenship had he beenpermitted to do so.522

The interview lasted for less than an hour. Oswald returned to hishotel angry about the delay but "elated" by the "showdown" and surethat he would be permitted to remain after his "sign of ... faith"in the Russians.523 Soon after he returned to the hotel, he was

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approached by A. I. Goldberg, a reporter for the Associated Press,whom the Embassy had told about Oswald's actions. Oswald refused tospeak to him.524 He answered a few questions for two other reporters,R. J. Korengold and Miss Aline Mosby, but again refused to beinterviewed.525 Thereafter, the news services made repeatedunsuccessful attempts to interview him, which he thought was anindirect form of pressure from the Embassy to return to the UnitedStates.526

On the day after Oswald's meeting with Snyder, his family read inthe newspapers about his appearance at the Embassy and tried tocontact him. Mrs. Oswald testified that she was shocked at her son'sdecision to defect but, respected his motives for doing so; later shesuspected that he had been forcibly removed to Russia.527 She placed atelephone call to him,528 but he either refused to speak to her 529 orcut her off very quickly.530 So too, on November 2, he rejected theEmbassy's efforts to deliver or read on the telephone a telegram fromhis brother Robert.531 A call from Robert was either canceled beforeit was completed or was refused.532 Robert's telegram, along with amessage asking Oswald to contact, him immediately, which Robert hadasked the State Department to deliver,533 was finally sent to Oswaldfrom the Embassy by registered mail.534

A few days later, the Embassy received a letter from Oswald datedNovember 3 which requested that his citizenship be revoked.535 Theletter stated that he had appeared at the Embassy "for the purpose ofsigning the formal papers to this effect" and protested against the"conduct of the official" who had refused him "this legal right."Oswald noted that his application for Soviet citizenship was pendingand said that if it were granted he would ask the Soviet Government"to lodge a formal protest" on his behalf.536 The Embassy replied onNovember 9 that Oswald could renounce his citizenship by appearing atthe Embassy and executing the necessary papers.537

Oswald's diary describes the period from November 2 to November15, during which he continued to isolate himself, as "days of utterloneliness." 538 On November 8, he wrote to his brother:

Dear Robert

Well, what shall we talk about, the weather perhaps? Certainly youdo not wish me to speak of my decision to remain in the Soviet Unionand apply for citizenship here, since I'm afraid you would not be ableto comprehend my reasons. You really dent know anything about me.Do you know for instance that I have waited to do this for well over ayear, do you know that I ... [phrase in Russian] speak a fair amountof Russian which I have been studing for many months.

I have been told that I will not have to leave the Soviet Union ifI do not care to. this than is my decision. I will not leave thiscountry, the Soviet Union, under any conditions, I will never returnto the United States which is a country I hate.

Someday, perhaps soon, and than again perhaps in a few years, Iwill become a citizen of the Soviet Union, but it is a very legal

process, in any event, I will not have to leave the Soviet Union and Iwill never ... [word missing].

I recived your telegram and was glad to hear from you, only oneword bothered me, the word "mistake." I assume you mean that I havemade a "mistake" it is not for you to tell me that you cannotunderstand my reasons for this very action.

I will not speak to anyone from the United States over thetelephone since it may be taped by the Americans.

If you wish to corespond with me you can write to the belowaddress, but I really don't, see what we could take about if you wantto send me money, that I can us, but I do not expect to be able tosend it back.

LEE 589

Oswald's statement that he had been told that he could remain inRussia was not true. According to his diary, he was not told untillater that he could remain even temporarily in Russia,540 and only inJanuary was he told the he could remain indefinitely.541 The Embassytried to deliver a typed copy of a telegram from his brother John onNovember 9; Oswald refused to answer the knock on his door, and themessage was then sent to him by registered mail.542

Toward the end of this waiting period, probably on November 13,Aline Mosby succeeded in interviewing Oswald.543 A reporter for UnitedPress International, she had called him on the telephone and was toldto come right over, Oswald's explanation being that he thought shemight "understand and be friendly" because she was a woman.544 She wasthe first person who was not a Soviet citizen to whom he granted aninterview since his meeting with Snyder at the Embassy on October 31.Miss Mosby found him polite but stiff; she said that be seemed full ofconfidence, often showing a "small smile, more like a smirk," and thathe talked almost "non-stop." Oswald said to her that he had been toldthat he could remain in the Soviet Union and that job possibilitieswere being explored; they thought it probably would be best, he said,to continue his education. He admitted that his Russian was bad butwas confident that it would improve rapidly. He based his dislike forthe United States on his observations of racial prejudice and thecontrast between "the luxuries of Park Avenue and workers' lives onthe East Side," and mentioned his mother's poverty; he said that if hehad remained in the United States he too would have become either acapitalist or a worker. "One way or another." he said, "I'd lose inthe United States. In my own mind, even if I'd be exploiting otherworkers. That's why I chose Marxist ideology."

Oswald told his interviewer that he had been interested inCommunist theory since he was 15, when "an old lady" in New Yorkhanded him "a pamphlet about saving the Rosenbergs." But when Mosbyasked if he were a member of the Communist Party he said that he hadnever met a Communist and that he "might bare seen" one only once,when he saw that "old lady." He told her that while

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he was in the Marine Corps he had seen American imperialism in action,and had saved $1,500 in secret preparation for his defection toRussia. His only apparent regrets concerned his family: his mother,whom he had not told of his plans, and his brother, who might lose hisjob as a result of the publicity.545

The interview lasted for about 2 hours. According to Oswald's ownaccount, he exacted a promise from Miss Mosby that she would show himthe story before publication but she broke the promise; he found thepublished story to contain distortions of his words.546 Miss Mosby'snotes indicate that he called her to complain of the distortions,saying in particular that his family had not been "poverty-stricken"and that his defection was not prompted by personal hardship but thatwas "a matter only of ideology."

According to the diary, Oswald was told in mid-November that hecould remain temporarily in Russia "until some solution was found withwhat to do" with him. 548 Armed with this "comforting news," 549 hegranted a second interview, again to a woman, on November 16.550 MissPriscilla Johnson of the North American Newspaper Alliance knocked onthe door of his room at the Metropole, and Oswald agreed to come toher room at the hotel that evening. This interview lasted about 5hours, from 9 p.m. until about 2 in the morning. During the interviewhe frequently mentioned the fact that he would be able to remain inRussia, which gave him great pleasure, but he also showeddisappointment about the difficulties standing in the way of hisrequest for Soviet citizenship. He repeated most of the information hehad given Aline Mosby and again denied having been a member of theCommunist Party or even ever having seen a Communist in the UnitedStates. When Miss Johnson asked him to specify some of the socialistwriters whose works he had read during the past 5 years, he could nameonly Marx and Engels; the only title he could recall was "DasKapital." They talked for a long while about Communist economictheory, which Miss Johnson thought was "his language"; she becameconvinced that his knowledge of the subject was very superficial.551He commented that the Russians treated his defection as a "legalformality," neither encouraging nor discouraging it.552 When shesuggested that if he really wished to renounce his Americancitizenship he could do so by returning to the Embassy, he said thathe would "never set foot in the Embassy again," since he was sure thathe would be given the "same run-around" as before. He seemed to MissJohnson to be avoiding effective renunciation, consciously orunconsciously, in order to preserve his right to reenter the UnitedStates.553

For the rest of the year, Oswald seldom left his hotel room wherehe had arranged to take his meals, except perhaps for a few trips tomuseums. He spent most of his time studying Russian,hours a day" his diary records. The routine was broken only by anotherinterview at the passport office; occasional visits from RimaShirokova; lessons in Russian from her and other Intourist guides; anda New Year's visit from Roza Agafonova, who gave

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him a small "Boratin" clown as a New Year's present.554 He replied toa letter from Robert in a letter quoted at length in chapter VII ofthis report which contains his most bitter statements against theUnited States.555 Robert received a third letter on December 17, inwhich Oswald said that he would not write again and did not wishRobert to write to him. The letter concluded:

I am starting a new life and I do not wish to have anything to dowith the old life.

I hope you and your family will always be in good health.

Lee 556

His mother mailed him a personal check for $20 dated December 18. Itwas returned to her on January 5 with the notation that he could not"use this check, of course"; he asked her to send him $20 in cash andadded that he had little money and needed "the rest," presumably areference to the $100 he had given her in September. Mrs. Oswald latersent him a money order for about $25.557

On January 4, Oswald was summoned to the Soviet Passport Officeand given Identity Document for Stateless Persons No. 811479.558 Hewas told that he was being sent to Minsk,559 an industrial citylocated about 450 miles southwest of Moscow and with a population in1959 of about 510,000.560 His disappointment that he had not beengranted Soviet citizenship was balanced by relief that the uncertaintywas ended; he told Rima Shirokova that he was happy.561 On thefollowing day, he went to a Government agency which the Russians callthe "Red Cross"; it gave him 5,000 rubles (about 500 new rubles, or$500 at the official exchange rate).562 He used 2,200 rubles to payhis hotel bill and 150 rubles to purchase a railroad ticket toMinsk. 563

Oswald arrived in Minsk on January 7. He was met at the station bytwo "Red Cross" workers who took him to the Hotel Minsk. Two Intouristemployees, both of whom spoke excellent English, were waiting forhim.564 One of them, a young woman named Roza Kuznetsova, became hisclose friend and attended his 21st birthday party in October 1960.565(See Commission Exhibit No. 2609, p. 271.) On the following day,Oswald met the "Mayor," who welcomed him to Minsk, promised him arent-free apartment, and warned him against "uncultured persons" whosometimes insulted foreigners.566

Oswald reported for work at the Belorussian Radio and TelevisionFactory on January 13.567 Two days earlier he had visited the factoryand met Alexander Ziger, a Polish Jew who had emigrated to Argentinain 1938 and went to Russia in 1955. Ziger was a department head at thefactory; he spoke English, and he and his family became good friendsof Oswald and corresponded with him after his return to the UnitedStates.568 The factory, a major producer of electronic parts andsystems, employed about 5,000 persons.569 Oswald's union carddescribed him as a "metal worker"; 570 Marina testified that hefashioned parts on a lathe.571 As Oswald later described it, the shopin

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which he worked, called the "experimental shop," 572 employed 58workers and 5 foremen. It was located in the middle part of thefactory area in a 2-story building made of red brick. The workdaybegan at 8 o'clock sharp. Work was assigned according to "pay levels," whichwere numbered from one to five plus a top "master" level. A workercould ask to be tested for a higher level at any time.573

Oswald had hoped to continue his education in Russia, and wasdisappointed by his assignment to a factory.574 His salary varied from700 to perhaps as high as 900 rubles per month ($70-$90) Although highcompared with the salaries of certain professional groups in Russia,which in some areas have not grown proportionately with the wages offactory workers,576 his salary was normal for his type of work.577 Itwas supplemented, however, by 700 rubles per month, which he receivedfrom the "Red Cross," and, according to Oswald, his total income wasabout equal to that of the director of the factory.578 In August heapplied for membership in the union; he became a dues-paying member inSeptember.580

Undoubtedly more noteworthy to most Russians than his extra incomewas the attractive apartment which Oswald was given in March 1959. Itwas a small flat with a balcony overlooking the river,581 for which hepaid only 60 rubles a month.582 (See Commission Exhibit No. 2606, p.271.) Oswald describes it in his diary as "a Russian-dream." 583 HadOswald been a Russian worker, he would probably have had to wait forseveral years for a comparable apartment, and would have been givenone even then only if he had a family.584 The "Red Cross" subsidy andthe apartment were typical of the favorable treatment which the SovietUnion has given defectors.585

Oswald's diary records that he enjoyed his first months in Minsk.His work at the factory was easy and his coworkers were friendly andcurious about life in the United States; he declined an invitation tospeak at a mass meeting. He took Roza Kuznetsova, his interpreter andlanguage teacher,586 to the theater, a movie, or an opera almost everynight, until he moved into his apartment and temporarily lost contactwith her. He wrote in his diary, "I'm living big and am verysatisfied." 587 In March or April, he met Pavel Golovachev, aco-worker at the factory, whom Oswald described as intelligent andfriendly and an excellent radio technician. (See Commission ExhibitNo. 2609, p. 271.) Oswald helped Golovachev with English.588 Theybecame friends,589 and corresponded after Oswald returned to theUnited States until at least as late as September 1963.590

The spring and summer passed easily and uneventfully. There werepicnics and drives in the country, which Oswald described as "greenbeauty." 591 On June 18, he obtained a hunting license and soonafterward purchased a 16-gage single-barrel shotgun. His huntinglicense identifies him as "Aleksy Harvey Oswald." (He was called"Alec" by his Russian friends, because "Lee" sounded foreign to themand was difficult for them to pronounce.)592 He joined a local chapterof the Belorussian Society of Hunters and Fishermen, a hunting clubsponsored by his factory, and hunted for small game in the

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farm regions around Minsk about half a dozen times in the summer andfall. The hunters spent the night in small villages and often lefttheir bag with the villagers; Oswald described the peasant life whichhe saw as crude and poor.593 Sometime in June, he met. Ella German, aworker at the factory, of whom he later said he "perhaps fell in lovewith her the first minute" he saw her.594 (See Commission Exhibit No.2609, p. 271.)

At the same time, however, the first signs of disillusionment withhis Russian life appeared. He noted in his diary that he felt "uneasyinside" after a friend took him aside at a party and advised him toreturn to the United States.595 Another entry compared life in Minskwith military life:

I have become habituatated to a small care which is where I dine inthe evening. The food is generaly poor and always eactly the same,menue in any care, at any point in the city. The food is cheap and Idon't really care about quiality after three years in the U.S.M.C.596

In an entry for August-September, he wrote that he was becoming"increasingly concious of just what sort of a society" he lived in.597

He spent New Year's Day at the home of Ella German and her family.They ate and drank in a friendly atmosphere, and he was "drunk andhappy" when he returned home. During the walk back to his apartment hedecided to ask Ella to marry him. On the following night, after he hadbrought her home from the movies, he proposed on her doorstep. Sherejected him, saying that she did not love him and that she was afraidto marry an American. She said that the Polish intervention in the1920's had led to the arrest of all people in the Soviet Union ofPolish origin and she feared that something similar might happen toAmericans some day. Oswald was "too stunned to think," and concludedthat she had gone out with him only because she was envied by theother girls for having an American as an escort.598 But in one of theentries in the diary he appears to have attributed her failure to lovehim to "a state of fear which was always in the Soviet Union." 599 Hisaffection for Ella German apparently continued for some time; 600 hehad his last formal date with her in February and remained on friendlyterms with her as long as he was in Russia.601

After he returned to the United States, Oswald often commented onRussian life. He discussed the Soviet systems of public education andmedical care.603 He observed to one acquaintance that everyone inRussia was trained to do something,604 and discussed with another thesystem of regular wage and salary increases.605 His most frequentcriticisms concerned the contrast between the lives of ordinaryworkers and the lives of Communist Party members. He told anacquaintance in Dallas that the working class in the Soviet Union madejust about enough to buy clothing and food and that only party memberscould afford luxuries.606 On another occasion, he remarked

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that if he had as much money as some of the "managers," he couldhave visited the Black Sea resorts.607 He complained about the lack offreedom in Russia; 608 the lack of opportunity to travel; 609inadequate housing; 610 and the chronic scarcity of food products.611To one acquaintance, he observed that the party members were all"opportunists," who "shouted the loudest and made the most noise," butwho were interested only in their own welfare.612

He expressed similar views in a manuscript which he worked on inRussia 613 and probably intended to publish; soon after he returned tothe United States, he hired a stenographer to prepare a typed draftfrom his notes.614 Oswald described the manuscript, which amounted to50 typed pages, as "a look into the lives of work-a-day averageRussians."615

The manuscript describes the factory in which Oswald worked andsuggests that political considerations of which Oswald disapproveddominated its operation. He attributed the lack of unemployment to theshortage of labor-saving machinery and the heavy load of bureaucracy,which kept "tons of paper work" flowing in and out of the factory andrequired a high foreman-worker ratio.616 In addition, he wrote, therewas "a small army of examiners, committees, and supply checkers andthe quality-control board."

He described life in Russia, including life at the factory, ascentered around the "Kollective." The head of the Kollective in hisshop, Comrade Lebizen, saw to it that everyone maintained shopdiscipline, attended party meetings, and received all the newpropaganda as it came out. He hung the walls of the shop with signsand slogans of the Communist Party. Meetings of the Kollective were"so numerous as to be staggering." In a single month, there werescheduled one meeting of the professional union, four politicalinformation meetings, two young Communist meetings, one meeting of theproduction committee to discuss ways of improving work, two CommunistParty meetings, four meetings of the "School of Communist Labor," andone sports meeting. All but one of them were compulsory for CommunistParty members and all but three were compulsory for everyone.618(Marina Oswald testified that her husband did not attend the coursesin Marxism and Leninism given in the factory for party members andthose who wished to become party members.)619 They were scheduled soas not to interfere with work, and lasted anywhere from 10 minutes to2 hours. Oswald said that no one liked the meetings, which wereaccepted "philosophically"; at the political meetings especially,everyone paid strict attention, and party members were posted in theaudience to watch for the slightest sign that one's attention mightrelax, even for a moment.620

Oswald wrote that the "spontaneous" demonstrations on Sovietholidays or for distinguished visitors were almost as well organizedas the Kollectivist meetings at the factory.621 He noted thatelections were supervised to ensure that everyone voted, and that theyvoted for the candidates of the Communist Party. The manuscripttouches on other aspects of Soviet life--as the housing shortage andthe corrup-

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tion which it evoked, the "rest-homes" where workers had theirvacations, television and the omnipresent radio, and Russian readinghabits.622 This writing also may include only what Oswald thoughtmight be acceptable.

On January 4, 1961, I year after he had been issued his"stateless" residence permit, Oswald was summoned to the passportoffice in Minsk and asked if he still wanted to become a Sovietcitizen. He replied that he did not, but asked that his residencepermit be extended for another year.623 The entry in his diary forJanuary 4-31 reads: "I am stating to reconsider my disire aboutstaying. The work is drab. The money I get has nowhere to be spent. Nonightclubs or bowling allys, no places of recreation acept the tradeunion dances. I have had enough." 624

The American Embassy in Moscow had not heard from Oswald after itreceived his letter of November 3, 1959.625 On February 13, 1961, itreceived an undated letter from him which had been mailed in Minskabout a week earlier. He asked for the return of his passport andstated that he wanted to return to the United States if he could "cometo some agreement [with the American Government] concerning thedropping of any legal proceedings" against him. He noted that he hadnot become a Soviet citizen and was living in Russia with"nonpermanent type papers for a foreigner," and said that he did notappear personally because he could not leave Minsk without permission.The letter concluded: "I hope that in recalling the responsibility Ihave to America that you remember yours in doing everything you can tohelp me, since I am an American citizen." 626 In this letter, Oswaldreferred to a previous letter which he said had gone unanswered; thereis evidence that such a letter was never sent.627

The Second Secretary, Richard Snyder, answered on February 28 thatOswald would have to appear at the Embassy personally to discuss hisreturn to the United States.628 In the meantime, Oswald's mother, whoin January had inquired at the Department of State about hiswhereabouts,629 had been notified of his letter.630 A second letterfrom Oswald, posted on March 5, reached the Embassy on March 20; itreiterated that he was unable to leave Minsk without permission andasked that "preliminary inquiries ... be put in the form ofquestionnaire" and sent to him.631 His diary entry for this periodrecords his "state of expectation about going back to the U.S.," andadds that a friend had approved his plans but warned him not todiscuss them with others.632 (The Soviet authorities had undoubtedlyintercepted and read the correspondence between Oswald and the Embassyand knew of his plans.633 Soon after the correspondence began, hismonthly payments from the "Red Cross" were cut off.)634 Havinginformed Washington,635 the Embassy wrote to Oswald on March 24,stating again that he would have to come to Moscow.636 Later, theDepartment of State decided that Oswald's passport should be returnedto him only if he appeared at the Embassy for it and the Embassy wassatisfied, after exploring the matter with him, that he had notrenounced his citizenship.637

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Sometime in the second week of March, Miss Katherine Mallory, whowas on tour in Minsk with the University of Michigan symphonic band,found herself surrounded by curious Russian citizens. A young man whoidentified himself as a Texan and former marine stepped out of thecrowd and asked if she needed an interpreter; he interpreted for herfor the next 15 or 20 minutes. Later he told her that he despised theUnited States and hoped to stay in Minsk for the rest of his life.Miss Mallory is unable to swear that her interpreter was Oswald, butis personally convinced that it was he.638

A few days later, probably on March 17, Oswald attended a tradeunion dance with a friend, Erik Titovyets, at the Palace of Culturefor Professional Workers in Minsk.639 The dance followed a lecture bya Russian woman who had recently returned from a trip to the UnitedStates.640 Marina Nikolayevna Prusakova arrived too late to hear thelecture 641 but was at the dance. Oswald noticed her and asked YuriyMerezhinskiy, the son of the lecturer and a friend of both Oswald andMarina, to introduce him to her. Oswald asked her to dance. Accordingto the diary, they liked each other immediately and he obtained hertelephone number before she left.642 Marina testified that she toldOswald that she might see him at another dance, but did not give himher telephone number.643 Oswald was smitten.644

Marina Prusakova was 19 years old when she met Oswald. (SeeCommission Exhibit No. 1395, p. 270.) She was born on July 17, 1941,at Severodvinsk (formerly Molotovsk),Arkhangel Oblast', Russia.645 Afew years later, her mother, Klavdiya Vasilievna Prusakova, marriedAleksandr Ivanovich Medvedev, who became the only father Marinaknew.646 While she was still a young girl, Marina went toArkhangel'sk, Arkhangel Oblast', to live with her maternalgrandparents, Tatyana Yakovlevna Prusakova and Vasiliy Prusakov. Hergrandfather died when Marina was about 4 years old; she continued tolive with her grandmother for some time.647 When she was not more than7, she moved to Zguritva, Moldavian SSR (formerly called Bessarabia)to live with her mother and stepfather, who was an electricalworker.648 In 1952, the family moved to Leningrad,649 where herstepfather obtained a job in a power station.650 Marina testified thatneither he nor her mother was a member of the Communist Party.651

In Leningrad, Marina attended the Three Hundred and Seventy-FourthWomen's School. After she had completed the seventh grade at theschool in 1955,652 she entered the Pharmacy Teknikum for specialtraining, which she had requested on the ground that her mother wasill and Marina might need to have a specialty in order to supportherself. While she was st the Teknikum, she joined the Trade Union forMedical Workers 653 and, in her last year there, worked part time inthe Central Pharmacy in Leningrad. She graduated from the Teknikumwith a diploma in pharmacy in June 1959.

Marina's mother had died in 1957, during Marina's second year atthe Teknikum; she continued to live with her stepfather, but hadlittle contact with him. She testified that she did not get along with

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her stepfather, whom she displeased by her fresh conduct; she saidthat she was not easily disciplined 654 and was a source of concern tohim.655 Because of the friction between them, Marina regarded herchildhood as an unhappy one.

After her graduation, Marina was assigned to a job preparing andpacking orders in a pharmaceutical warehouse in Leningrad; as a newemployee she had the right to leave this job within 3 days after theassignment,656 and she did so after the first day. She took no job forthe next 2 months, at the end of which she went to live in Minsk withan aunt and uncle, the Prusakova, who had no children. She had knownthem since she was a child and there was a mutual affection betweenher and them.657 Her uncle, a member of the Communist Party,658 wasassigned to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and headed the localbureau concerned with lumber. The Prusakova had one of the bestapartments in a building reserved for MVD employees.659

Marina was 18 when she arrived in Minsk. She had boyfriends inLeningrad but was not interested in marriage. In October 1960 shestarted work in the drug section of the Third Clinical Hospital whereshe earned about 450 rubles per month;660 at about the same time shebecame a member of the local Komsomol, the Communist youthorganization.661 Her friends were mostly students, whose social lifeconsisted of meeting in cafes to sip coffee, read newspapers, gossip,and carry on discussions. The group of friends "ran together," andMarina did not attach herself to a particular boyfriend. She enjoyedthis life, which she had been leading for about 7 months when she metOswald at the dance at the Palace of Culture in March 1961.662

When Marina met Oswald, she thought he was from one of theRussian-speaking Baltic countries because he spoke with an accent;later that same evening she learned that he was an American.663 Shemet him again at another dance a week later. 664 They danced togethermost of the evening, at the end of which he walked home with her. Theyarranged to meet again the following week. 665 Before the scheduledtime, Oswald called to say that he was in the hospital and that Marinashould visit him there. 666 Medical records furnished to theCommission by the Russian Government show that Oswald was admitted tothe Clinical Hospital--Ear, Nose, and Throat Division, on Thursday,March 30, 1961.667 Marina visited him often,668 taking advantage ofher uniform to visit him outside regular visiting hours, which wereonly on Sunday. 669 On Easter Sunday, the first Sunday after hisadmission to the hospital, she brought him an Easter egg.670 On asubsequent visit, he asked her to be his fiancee, and she agreed toconsider it.671 He left the hospital on April 11.672

During these visits, Marina apparently discussed with Oswald hisreasons for coming to Russia and his current status. According to herlater account, he told her that he had surrendered his Americandocuments to the Embassy in Moscow and had told American officialsthat he did not intend to return to the United States. He did not saydefinitely that he was no longer an American citizen, but said inanswer

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to a question about his citizenship that he could not return to theUnited States.673

Oswald visited Marina regularly at her aunt and uncle's apartment;they were apparently not disturbed by the fact that, he was anAmerican and did not disapprove of her seeing him. He continued to askher to marry him and, according to her recollection, she accepted hisproposal on April 20; 674 Oswald's diary puts the date 5 daysearlier.675 Marina testified that she believed that Oswald could notreturn to, the United States when she agreed to marry him, and thatshe had not married him in hope of going to the United States.676

After filing notice of their intent to marry at the registrar,obtaining the special consent necessary for an alien to marry acitizen, and waiting the usual 10 days, they were married on April30.677 The diary entry for the wedding day reads:

two of Marinas girl friends act as bridesmaids. We are married. Ather aunts home we have a dinner reception for about 20 friends andneboribos who wish us happiness (in spite of my origin and accept[accent?] which was in general rather disquiting to any Russian sincefor are very rare in the soviet Union even tourist. After an eveningof eating and drinking in which ... [Marina's uncle] started afright [fight?] and the fuse blow on an overloaded circite we take ourleave and walk the 1-5 minutes to our home. We lived near each other,at midnight we were home.678

They both took 3 days off from their jobs, which they spent inMinsk.679

Oswald wrote in his diary for May 1, 1 day after the wedding:"In spite of fact I married Marina to hurt Ella I found myself inlove with Marina." 680 The next entry, marked simply "May," reads inpart:

The trasistion of changing full love from Ella to Marina was verypainfull esp. as I saw Ella almost every day at the factory but as thedays & weeks went by I adjusted more and more [to] my wife mentaly ... She is maddly in love with me from the very start. Boat rides onLake Minsk walks through the parks evening at home or at Aunt Valia'splace mark May." 681

And in June: "A continuence of May, except that; we draw closer andcloser, and I think very little now of Ella." 682

Sometime within the first month or two after they were marriedOswald told his wife that he was anxious to return to the UnitedStates. The diary says that he told her "in the last days" of June andthat she was "slightly startled" but encouraged him to do as hewished.683 Marina's recollection is that she learned of his planbetween May and July. Embassy records show that Oswald notified theEmbassy in a letter received on May 25 that he was married and hiswife would

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seek to accompany him to the United States.684 At about this time, theOswalds began to make inquiries in Soviet offices about exit visas.685

While these preparations were being made, the Oswalds apparentlyenjoyed their new life.686 They ate most of their meals in cares or atrestaurants where they worked.687 For amusement, they went boating,attended the opera, concerts, the circus, and films; occasionally,they gathered with a group of friends for a cooperative meal atsomeone's apartment.688 His Russian improved, but he retained anaccent and never learned to speak grammatically or to write well.689He read the English language edition of the Daily Worker and books,also in English, on Marxism and Leninism; he also read some Russiannewspapers.690

Before he married Marina (and presumably before February, when hehad begun his efforts to return to the United States) Oswald hadapplied for admission to the Patrice Lumumba Friendship University inMoscow. He received a letter dated May 3 apologizing for the delay inresponding to his application and turning it down on the ground thatthe university had been established exclusively for students from theunderdeveloped countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. 691Oswald expressed his disappointment at having been turned down toMarina.692

Oswald reopened his correspondence with his family on May 5, witha friendly letter to his brother Robert. He said nothing about, hiscontacts with the American Embassy, but mentioned that he had married,and that he had a job as a "metal-smith" and was living well. He askedhis brother for their mother's address, and encouraged him to come toMinsk for a visit.693 Robert answered the letter quickly. On May 31,Oswald wrote again and expressed his pleasure at having heard fromRobert after so long. Apparently in response to an offer to send himwhatever he needed, Oswald wrote that he needed nothing and thankedRobert for the thought; he suggested, however, that Marina might likea small wedding present. At the end of the letter he said that he didnot know whether he would ever return to the United States; he saidthat before he could return he would have to obtain the permission ofthe Soviet Union for him and Marina to leave and insure that nocharges would be lodged against him in the United States. In thisletter, he mentioned that he was in touch with the Embassy inMoscow.694 At about this time, Oswald wrote also to his mother. 695

On May 25, the Embassy received a letter mailed in Minsk about 10days before, in which Oswald asked for assurances that he would not beprosecuted if he returned to the United States, and informed theEmbassy that he had married a Russian woman who would want toaccompany him.696 The Embassy communicated this development toWashington 697 and did not answer Oswald immediately. In addition, hehad no word since March concerning the return of his passport.Impatient for action,698 he appeared without warning at the Embassy onJuly 8; it was a Saturday and the offices were closed.699 He used thehouse telephone to reach Snyder, who came

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to the office, talked with him briefly, and suggested that he returnon the following Monday.700 Oswald called Marina and asked her joinhim in Moscow. She arrived on Sunday, July 9, 701 a room at the HotelBerlin,702 where he had stayed when he first arrived in Russia.

Oswald returned to the Embassy on Monday. Marina waited outsideduring his interview with Snyder,703 who asked to see Oswald's Sovietpapers and questioned him closely about his life in Russia andpossible expatriating acts. Oswald stated that he was not a citizen ofthe Soviet Union and had never formally applied for citizenship, thathe had never taken an oath of allegiance to the Soviet Union, and thathe was not a member of the factory trade union organization. He saidthat he had never given Soviet officials any confidential informationthat he had learned in the Marines, had never been asked to give suchinformation, and "doubted" that he would have done so had he beenasked.704 Some of Oswald's statements during this interview wereundoubtedly false. He had almost certainly applied for citizenship inthe Soviet Union 705 and, at least for a time, been disappointed whenit was denied.706 He possessed a membership card in the unionorganization.707 In addition, his assertion to Snyder that he hadnever been questioned by Soviet authorities concerning his life in theUnited States is simply unbelievable.

Oswald showed anxiety, already displayed in his letters, that hemight be prosecuted and imprisoned if he returned to the UnitedStates. Snyder told him informally that he did not know any grounds onwhich he would be prosecuted but that he could give no assurances inthis regard.708 Snyder testified that Oswald seemed to have maturedwhile he was in Russia and did not show the bravado and arrogancewhich characterized his first contacts with the Embassy. Oswald toldhim that he had "learned a hard lesson the hard way" and had acquireda new appreciation of the United States and the meaning of freedom.709

Since Oswald's passport would expire on September 10, 1961,710before which date he probably would not be able to obtain Russian exitpapers, he filled out an application for its renewal.711 On aquestionnaire attached to the application,712 he reiterated his oralstatements that he had obtained only a residence permit in the SovietUnion and was still an American national. On the basis of Oswald'swritten and oral statements, Snyder concluded that he had notexpatriated himself and returned his passport, stamped valid only fordirect travel to the United States,713 to him. Accompanied by hiswife,714 Oswald came to the Embassy again on the following day,715 toinitiate procedures for her admission to the United States as animmigrant; they had a routine interview with McVickar, Snyder'sassistant.716 Three days later, they returned to Minsk.717

On the same day, Oswald wrote to his brother. He told Robert thathe had his passport again and that he and Marina were doing everythingpossible to leave the Soviet Union. Apparently referring to hisinitial reappearance at the Embassy in quest of his passport, he

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wrote: "I could write a book about how many feeling have come and gonesince that day." The letter closed with an affectionate greeting tohis brother and his family.718 The letter's tone of firm purpose toreturn to the United States in the face of heavy odds reflectedOswald's attitude thereafter.

As soon as they returned to Minsk, the Oswalds began to work withlocal authorities for permission to leave the country.719 His diaryentry for July 16 through August 20 reads,

We have found out which blanks and certificates are nessceary toapply for a exit visa. They number about 20 papers; birthcertificates, affidavit, photos, ect. On Aug 20th we give the papersout they say it will be 3.5 months before we know wheather they let usgo or not. In the meantime Marina has had to stade 4 differant meetingat the place of work held by her boss's at the direction of "someone"by phone. The Young Comm. leauge headquttes also called about her andshe had to go see them for 1-1/2 hours. The purpose (expressed) is todisuade her from going to the U.S.A. Net effect: Make her morestubborn about wanting to go. Marina is pregnet. We only hope that thevisas come through soon.720

In a letter dated July 15, he reported their efforts to the Embassy,and said that he would keep it informed "as to the overall picture."The letter mentioned that Marina was having difficulties at workbecause of her decision to leave but added that such "tactics" were"quite useless" and that Marina had "stood up well, without gettinginto trouble." 721 For August 21 through September 1, the diary reads:

I make repeated trips to the passport & visa office, also toMinistry of For. Affairs in Minsk, also Min. of Internal Affairs, allof which have a say in the granting of a visa. I extrackted promisesof quick attention to us.722

For September through October 18, "No word from Min. ('They'11 callus.')." 723

Marina testified that when the news of her visit to the AmericanEmbassy in July reached Minsk, she was dropped from membership in"Komsomol," the Communist Youth Organization, 724 and that "meetingswere arranged" at which "members of the various organizations"attempted to dissuade her from leaving the Soviet Union.725 Her auntand uncle did not speak to her for "a long time." 726 Paul Gregory, towhom Marina taught Russian in the United States, testified that sheonce referred to this period of her life in Minsk as "a very horribletime." 727

Oswald wrote to the Embassy again on October 4, to request thatthe U.S. Government officially intervene to facilitate his and hiswife's applications for exit visas.728 He stated that there had been"systematic and concerted attempts to intimidate [Marina] ... intowith-

drawing her application for a visa" which had resulted in her beinghospitalized for a 5-day period on September 22 for "nervousexhaustion." 729 Marina has denied that she was hospitalized for anervous disorder 730 and he made no mention of it in his diary orletters to his family; he probably lied to the Embassy. The Embassyreplied to his letter on October 12, saying that it had no way ofinfluencing Soviet conduct on such matters and that its experience hadbeen that action on applications for exit visas was "seldom takenrapidly." 731

In October 1961 Marina took her annual vacation. 732 She andOswald agreed that she should get a "change of scenery," 733 and shespent about 3 weeks with an aunt in Khar'kov. It is possible that theywere not getting along well together during this period. 734 A dairyentry after her return indicates that they were having some quarrelsand that she was wavering in her decision to go to the United States,which Oswald attributed to anxiety about their applications for visasand the fact that she was pregnant; he in turn dreaded the approach ofthe "hard Russian winter." 735 He noted in his dairy that he waslonely while she was gone, but that he and his friend "Erich,"presumably Erik Titovyets, went to some dances and other publicamusements.736 On his 22nd birthday he went alone to see his favoriteopera, "The Queen of Spades." 737 Marina sent him a gold and silvercup, inscribed "To my dear husband on his birthday, 18/x/61" and othergifts, for which he wrote to thank her.738 She returned on November12, in Oswald's words, "radient, with several jars of preserses for mefrom her aunt." 739

Sometime after Marina's return Oswald applied for an interviewwith Col. Nicolay Aksenov, an official in the local MVD, in an effortto expedite their application for exit visas; he was told by thecolonel's subordinates that they were competent to handle the matter.Oswald then insisted that Marina seek an interview; she agreedreluctantly. The interview was granted; 740 Marina thought that thismight have been due to the fact that her uncle was also a high-rankingofficial in the Minsk MVD, but she did not believe that he wouldpersonally have presumed on his official position to obtain specialtreatment.741 Colonel Aksenov questioned her about her reasons forwanting to go to the United States and, noticing that she waspregnant, suggested that she at least delay her departure so that herchild could be born in Russia, but did not otherwise try to discourageher. He finally told her that there were many others seeking visas andthat she and her husband would have to wait their turn.742

Throughout this period, Oswald continued to correspond with hismother and brother. His letters contained the usual chatter amongmembers of a family and occasional references to the progress of thevisa applications.743 He wrote to the Embassy on November 1, sayingthat if, as he anticipated, his residence permit were renewed inJanuary for another year, it would be over his protest. 744 OnNovember 13 the Embassy replied, telling Oswald that retention of hisSoviet passport, which was of the kind issued to persons considered tobe stateless, or an extension of it, would not prejudice his claim toAmeri-

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can citizenship. The letter added that he could discuss the renewal ofhis American passport whenever he appeared in person at the Embassy todo so.745

Late in December, Oswald wrote a letter to Senator John G. Towerof Texas, which was received in Washington near the end of January. Hestated that he was an American citizen and that the Soviet Governmentrefused to permit him and his wife to leave the Soviet Union. He askedSenator Tower to raise "the question of holding by the Soviet Union ofa citizen of the U.S., against his will and expressed desires." Theletter was referred to the State Department and no further actionconcerning it was taken.746 On December 25, Marina was called to theSoviet Passport Office and told that exit visas would be granted toher and her husband; she was surprised, having doubted that she wouldever be permitted to leave. Oswald wrote to the Embassy on December 27that they would be given visas and asked that his passport be extendedwithout another trip to Moscow; he added, however, that he would cometo Moscow if this would expedite the processing of his application. Inhis diary, he wrote, "It's great (I think?)." 747 Before the yearended, Marina went on maternity leave from her job.748 They spent NewYear's Eve at a dinner party given by the Zigers.749

Oswald wrote to his mother on January 2, 1962, and told her thathe and his wife expected to arrive in the United States sometimearound March. He asked her to contact the local Red Cross and requestthat it put his case before the International Rescue Committee or someother group which aids immigrants to the United States. He told herthat he would need about $800 and that she should insist on a giftrather than a loan; he told her not to send any of her own money.750Despite his instructions, she requested a loan from the Red Cross.751On January 13, Oswald wrote to the International Rescue Committeehimself; he asked for $800 with which to purchase two tickets fromMoscow to Texas.752 He wrote to the Committee again on January 26,this time asking for $1,000.753

In the meantime, letters of Oswald 754 and the AmericanEmbassy,755 both dated January 5, crossed in the mail. The Embassy'sletter suggested that since there might be difficulties in obtainingan American visa for Marina, he consider returning alone and bringingher over later. He replied on the 16th that he would not leave Russiawithout her.756 In his letter, Oswald requested that the U.S.Government loan him the money for his and Marina's airplane tickets orarrange a loan from another source. The Embassy replied on January 15that Marina had not yet obtained an American visa and that noevidence had yet been submitted that she would not become a publiccharge in the United States.757 It suggested that Oswald's mother orsome other close relative file an affidavit of support in Marina'sbehalf. Before receiving this letter, Oswald wrote out such a documenthimself 758 and mailed it to the Embassy.759

On January 28, after receiving the Embassy's letter, he wrote thathis own affidavit should be sufficient, since he had been away from

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the United States for more than 2 years and could not be expected toobtain an affidavit from someone else.760 But on the same day, hewrote to his mother asking that she file an affidavit of support withthe Immigration and Naturalization Service.761 On January 24, theEmbassy acknowledged receipt of his affidavit, but again suggestedthat he obtain one from someone else.762

Late in January, Oswald received a letter from his mother tellinghim that he had been given a dishonorable discharge from theMarines.763 (The discharge had actually been "undesirable," a lessderogatory characterization.) 764 This apparently revived his fear ofprosecution, and on January 30, he wrote to his brother for moreinformation.765 On the same day he wrote also to John B. Connally,Jr., then Governor of Texas, who Oswald believed was still Secretaryof Navy. The letter read:

I wish to call your attention to a case about which you may havepersonal knowlege since you are a resident of Ft. Worth as I am.

In November 1959 an event was well publicated in the Ft. Worthnewspapers concerning a person who had gone to the Soviet Union toreside for a short time, (much in the same way E. Hemingway resided inParis.)

This person in answers to questions put to him by reporteds inMoscow criticized certain facets of american life. The story was blownup into another "turncoat" sensation, with the result that the Navydepartment gave this person a belated dishonourable discharge,although he had received an honourable discharge after three yearsservice on Sept. 11, 1959 at El Toro, Marine corps base in California.

These are the basic facts of my case.

I have and allways had the full sanction of the U.S. Embassy,Moscow USSR. and hence the U.S. government. In as much as I amreturning to the U.S.A. in this year with the aid of the U.S. Embassy,bring with me my family (since I married in the USSR) I shall employall means to right this gross mistake or injustice to a boni-fied U.S.citizen and ex--service man. The U.S. government has no charges orcomplaints against me. I ask you to look into this case. and take theneccessary steps to repair the damage done to me. and my family. Forinformation I would direct you to consult the American Embassy,Chikovski St. 19/21, Moscow, USSR.766

Connally referred the letter to the Department of the Navy,767 whichsent Oswald a letter stating that the Department contemplated nochange in the undesirable discharge. 768 On March 22, Oswald wrote tothe Department insisting that his discharge be given a further, fullreview.769 The Department promptly replied that it had no authority tohear and review petitions of this sort and referred Oswald to the NavyDischarge Review Board.770 Oswald filled out

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the enclosed application for review in Minsk but did not mail it untilhe returned to the United States.771

The Department of State had notified Oswald's mother that it wouldneed $900 to make the travel arrangements for her son anddaughter-in-law.772 On February 1, Oswald sent his mother a briefletter rejecting her suggestion that she try to raise money by tellingthe newspapers about his financial plight.773 Five days later, theEmbassy Oswald wrote to his mother again on February 9, reminding herto file an affidavit of support and asking that she send him clippingsfrom the Fort Worth newspapers about his defection to Russia, arequest which he later repeated to his brother. He told her that hewanted to know what had been written about him, so that he could be"forewarned."

Oswald took Marina to the hospital on the morning of February 15.A baby girl was born at about 10 a.m.776 He had gone on to the factorywhere news of the birth awaited him on his arrival.777 In accordancewith regular hospital practice,778 he did not see the baby untilMarina left the hospital.779 He was excited by the child,780 who wasnamed "June Lee" in accordance with the Russian custom and law that achild's second name must be the father's first name or a variation ofit. He had wanted to name his child "June Marina," and protested theapplication of the law to her, since he had a United States passport.His diary contains the wry comment, "Po-Russki." 781 His coworkers atthe factory gave the Oswalds "one summer blanket, 6 light diapers, 4warm diapers, 2 chemises, 3 very good warm chemises, 4 very nice suitsand two toys" for the baby.782 Marina came home on February 23.783

There was less urgency about the departure for the United Statesafter June Lee was born.784 Oswald wrote to his mother,785 andbrother,786 that he would probably not arrive for several months. TheEmbassy received a letter on March 3, in which Oswald applied for aloan of $800; 787 the Embassy replied that it was authorized to loanhim only $500.788 It had in the meantime decided that his ownaffidavit of support for Marina would be sufficient under thecircumstances.789 On March 15, he received notification from theImmigration and Naturalization Service that Marina's application for avisa had been approved.790 By March 28, he had received an affidavitof support in Marina's behalf from his mother's employer, Byron K.Phillips, 791 which he filed although it was no longer necessary to doso.792 A few days before, Marina, still on maternity leave, had quither job. 793 Discussions with the Embassy to complete financial andtravel arrangements continued in April and May.794 In a letter toRobert on April 12, Oswald wrote that only "the American side" washolding up their departure, but added that the winter being over, hedidn't "really ... want to leave until the beginning of fall, sincethe spring and summer ... [in Russia] are so nice." 795

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On May 10, the Embassy wrote that everything was in order andsuggested that Oswald come to the Embassy with his family to sign thefinal papers.796 At his request,797 he was discharged from the factoryon about May 18.798 His work had apparently never been very good.Marina testified that he was rather lazy and resented having to takeorders.799 This estimate is confirmed by a report of the plantdirector and personnel department chief, filed on December 11, 1961,which was apparently a routine assessment of his work. The reportnoted that he did not, "display the initiative for increasing hisskill" in his job, that he was "over-sensitive ... to remarks fromthe foremen, and ... careless in his work"; Oswald took "no part inthe social life of the shop" and kept "very much to himself." 800

Oswald picked up his Soviet, exit visa on May 22; 801 at aboutthis time, he also had an interview with an official of the MVD toobtain final clearance for his departure. 802 He wrote to Robert thathe and his family would leave for Moscow on the following day and departfor England 10 to 14 days later. He expected to cross the Atlantic byship, probably docking in New Orleans. Returning to a point which hehad made in an earlier letter to his mother, he commented that he knewfrom the newspaper clippings what Robert had said about him when heleft for Russia; he thought that Robert had talked too much at thattime, and asked that Robert say nothing to the newspapers now. 803

The Oswalds arrived in Moscow by May 24 804 and on that datefilled out various documents at the American Embassy; 805 Marina wasgiven her American visa.806 Final arrangements for their emigrationwere made with Soviet officials. 807 On June 1, Oswald signed apromissory note at the Embassy for a repatriation loan of $435.71.808He and his family boarded a train for Holland,809 which passed throughMinsk that night.810 They crossed the Soviet frontier at Brest on June2. Two days later, they departed from Holland on the SSMaasdam. 811Onboard ship, the Oswalds stayed by themselves; Marina testified thatshe did not often go on deck because she was poorly dressed and Oswaldwas ashamed of her.812

Probably while he was on board theMaasdam Oswald wrote some noteson ship stationery, which appear to be a summary of what he thought hehad learned by living under both the capitalist and Communist systems.The notes reflect his unhappy and deepening feeling of disillusionmentwith both the Soviet Union and the United States. Oswald observed thatalthough reform groups may oppose the government in power, they alwaysdeclare that they are for their people and their country, and he askedwhat "would happen if somebody was to stand up and say he was utterlyopposed not, only to the governments, but to the people, too theentire land and complete foundations" of his society. He condemnedexisting political groups and proposed the formation of a third choicebetween communism and capitalism. neither of which was acceptable tohim. "I have lived," he said, under both systems I have sought theanswers and although it would

Page 713

be very easy to dupe myself into believing one system is better thanthe other, I know they are not." In these notes, he acknowledged thathis "Red Cross" subsidy had been paid by the Soviet Government ratherthan the international organization, and said, "I shall never sellmyself intentionlly, or unintentionlly to anyone again."(Commission Exhibit No. 25, p. 273.) It was probably also onboard shipthat Oswald wrote two sets of answers to questions which heanticipated about his decision to go to Russia. and later to return tothe United States. Although the sets of answers are somewhat similar,but the tone of one is apologetic, while the other suggests thatOswald went to Russia to study the Soviet system, but remained a loyalAmerican and owed no apologies.814

The Maasdam landed at Hoboken, N.J., on June 13.815 The Oswaldswere met by Spas T. Raikin, a representative of the Traveler's AidSociety, which had been contacted by the Department of State; Raikinhad the impression that Oswald was trying to avoid meeting anyone. Hetold Raikin that he had only $63 and had no plans either for thatnight or for travel to Fort Worth, and accepted the society's help,according to Raikin, "with confidence and appreciation."816 Theypassed through the immigration office without incident,817 and Raikinhelped them through customs.818

The society referred the Oswalds to the New York City Departmentof Welfare, which helped them find a room at the Times SquareHotel.819 Oswald told both Raikin and representatives of the welfaredepartment that he had been a marine stationed at the American Embassyin Moscow, had married a Russian girl, renounced his citizenship, andworked in Minsk; he soon found out, he said, that the Russianpropaganda was inaccurate but had not been able to obtain an exit visafor his wife and child for more than 2 years. He said also that he hadpaid the travel expenses himself.820

The welfare department called Robert Oswald's home in Fort Worth.His wife answered and said that they would help. She contacted herhusband who sent $200 immediately.821 Oswald refused to accept themoney and insisted that the department itself should pay the fare toTexas; he threatened that they would go as far as they could on $63and rely on local authorities to get them the rest of the way. In theend he accepted the money.822 On the afternoon of June 14, the Oswaldsleft New York by plane for Fort Worth.823

Return to Top

FORT WORTH, DALLAS, NEW ORLEANS

Oswald had originally indicated that he and his family would staywith his mother in Vernon, Tex.824 His decision to stay with RobertOswald in Fort Worth apparently had been prompted by his brother'sinvitation in a letter to him in Russia.825 Oswald listed only hisbrother as a relative on an "Intake Interview" form which he preparedfor the New York Department of Welfare.826

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Robert took his wife and children to Love Field, the Dallasairport, to meet Lee and Marina and their baby, June Lee.827 Hetestified that the most noticeable change in his brother's appearancewas that he had become rather bald; he seemed also to be somewhatthinner than he had been in 1959. Robert thought that his brother hadpicked up "something of an accent" but, except for these changes was"the same boy" whom he had known before.828 Lee commented on theabsence of newspaper reporters and seemed to Robert to be disappointedthat none had appeared.829 Later on, Lee was anxious to avoidpublicity.830

Robert drove the Oswalds to his home at 7313 Davenport Street.831For a few days, Lee seemed tense,832 but the brothers got alongwell,833 and to Robert it was "more or less ... [as if Lee] had notbeen to Russia"; they were "just together again." 834 They did notdiscuss politics, according to Robert because of a "tacit agreement"between them.835 Lee indicated to his brother that he hoped to havehis undesirable discharge from the Marines corrected.836 Robert andhis wife "took to Marina and June," and enjoyed showing Marina "thingsthat she had never seen before." 837 Marina rested and took care ofher baby, and when she could, helped in the household.838 Shetestified that, apart from a trip to the library, Lee spent about aweek "merely talking." 839

On June 18, 4 days after he arrived in Fort Worth, Oswald went tothe office of Mrs. Pauline Virginia Bates, a public stenographer whosename he had found in the telephone directory,840 and asked her to typea manuscript from the "scraps of paper," on which he had recorded hisimpressions of the Soviet Union.841 Intrigued by his tale that he hadjust returned from the Soviet Union and had smuggled his notes out ofthat country, she agreed to type the notes for $1 per page or $2 anhour, 50 cents less than her usual hourly rate.842 On that day and thesucceeding 2 days, Mrs. Bates spent 8 hours typing for Oswald while heremained in her office helping her with the notes and translatingportions of them which were in Russian.843 At the end of each sessionhe collected his notes and as much of the manuscript as she had doneand took them away with him.844 On June 20, he gave Mrs. Bates $10 forthe 10 completed pages; he told her that he had no more money andrefused to accept her offer to postpone pay-merit or continue the workfor nothing.845

Oswald told Mrs. Bates that there was an engineer in Fort Worthwho wanted to help him publish his notes.846 On June 19,847 he hadcalled Peter Gregory, a petroleum engineer who was born in Siberia andtaught Russian at the Fort Worth Public Library as a "civicenterprise." 848 He asked if Gregory could give him a lettertestifying to his ability to read and speak Russian, so that he couldobtain work as an interpreter or translator. Gregory suggested thatOswald come to his office, where Gregory opened a Russian book atrandom and asked Oswald to read from it. Oswald read well, and Gregorygave him the letter he wanted.849 Gregory and Oswald had lunchtogether and discussed Oswald's life in the Soviet Union,850 but,according to Gregory's testimony, nothing was said about publishingOswald's

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manuscript.851 About a week later, Gregory and his son Paul, a collegestudent, visited the Oswalds at Robert Oswald's home and arranged forMarina to give Paul lessons in Russian during the summer.852

On June 26, Oswald was interviewed by FBI agents in Fort Worth.853One of the agents who interviewed him described him as tense and"drawn up"; he said that Oswald "exhibited an arrogant attitude ...and [was] inclined to be just a little insolent." 854 Oswald declinedto say why he had gone to Russia, saying that he refused to "relivethe past." 855 He said that he had not attempted to obtain Sovietcitizenship, had not been approached by Soviet officials forinformation about his experiences in the Marines, and had not offeredthem such information. Marina's Soviet passport required her to notifythe Soviet Embassy in Washington of her address in this country, andOswald told the agents that he planned to contact the Embassy for thispurpose within a few days.856 He promised to notify the FBI if he werecontacted by Soviet agents "under suspicious circumstances orotherwise."857 Oswald told his brother about the interview, sayingthat it had been "just fine." 858

Oswald and his family remained with Robert for about a month.859While they were there his mother moved to Fort Worth from Crowell,Tex.,860 and sometime in July they moved into her apartment at 1501West Seventh Street.861 Mrs. Oswald testified that she had visitedthem at Robert's house in June 862 and moved to Fort Worth because shethought that the house was too crowded and wanted to help them.863Mrs. Oswald described the period when her son and his family livedwith her as "a very happy month"; according to her testimony, she andher son and daughter-in-law got along well. She mentioned that she notonly helped Marina keep house and care for the baby but also aided herson in his efforts to find employment.864 Marina testified, however,that Lee did not get along well with his mother and that he decidedafter several weeks that they should move to their own apartment.855He did not file a change-of-address card at the post office when thefamily moved to West Seventh Street, as he did when they made theirnext move,866 so he may have contemplated from the beginning that theywould stay with his mother for only a short while. Around the middleof August,867 the Oswalds moved to a one-bedroom furnished apartmentat 2703 Mercedes Street, for which they paid $59.50 in advance for 1month's rent.868

In the third week in July, Oswald had obtained a job as a sheetmetal worker with the Louv-R-Pak Division of the Leslie WeldingCo.,869 a manufacturer of louvers and ventilators,870 to which he hadbeen referred by the Texas Employment Commission.871 On hisapplication for employment, filled out several days before, he wrotefalsely that he had experience as a sheet metal worker andmachinist in the Marines and had been honorably discharged.872 Heusually worked 8 or 9 hours a day, for which he was paid $1.25 anhour.873 Marina testified that Oswald did not like his work,874 but hewas regarded as a good employee 875 and remained with the companyuntil October,

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when he quit.876 On the job, he kept to himself and was considereduncommunicative.877

Mrs. Oswald visited her son and his family at their apartment andtried to help them get settled; she testified that she bought someclothes for Marina and a highchair for the baby but that Oswald toldher that he did not want her to buy "things for his wife that hehimself could not buy." 878 Finally, Oswald apparently decided that hedid not want his mother to visit the apartment anymore and he becameincensed when his wife permitted her to visit despite hisinstructions.879 After he moved to Dallas in October, Oswald did notsee his mother or communicate with her in any way until she came tosee him after the assassination.880 Witnesses have described theMercedes Street apartment as "decrepit" and very poorly furnished;881 there was no telephone service.882 Acquaintances observed thatMarina and the baby were poorly clothed, that the Oswalds had littlefood, and that at first there was not a bed for the baby.883

On August 16, the FBI again interviewed Oswald. This interviewtook place in the back seat of a car in front of his home and coveredsubstantially the same material as the previous interview. Oswaldagain denied having made any deal with representatives of the SovietUnion. He protested his undesirable discharge from the Marines, andstated that his wife was registered at the Soviet Embassy. He stillrefused to discuss why he had gone to the Soviet Union, but he wasless hostile than he had been during the previous interview.884According to his wife, however, he was very upset by the interest theFBI showed in him.885

The Oswalds became acquainted with a growing number of people ofthe Russian-speaking community in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, who weretied together socially by a common origin, language, and religion. Thegroup was not restricted to people from Russia but was composedprimarily of people from Eastern European countries.886 The Oswalds'initial contact with this group was through Peter Gregory. Marina gaveconversational Russian lessons to Paul Gregory 2 days a week duringAugust and early September, for which she was paid $35. Most of thelessons took place at the Mercedes Street apartment and Oswald wasgenerally present.887 In addition, Paul Gregory occasionally took theOswalds shopping; after they became friendly, he had a number ofdiscussions with Oswald, some of them politically oriented.888

Sometime around August 25, Peter Gregory invited the Oswalds andseveral members of the Russian community to his house for dinner. Oneof the guests was George Bouhe, a Dallas accountant and a leader ofthe Russian community. He was very interested in meeting andconversing with Marina, because she had spent much of her life inLeningrad, which was his birthplace.889 Also present was Mrs. AnnaMeller, the Russian- born wife of a Dallas department storeemployee.890 Near the end of August, the Oswalds met Declan Ford, aconsulting geologist in the Dallas area, and his Russian-born wife atMrs. Meller's home. The Oswalds were also introduced to Mrs.

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Elena Hall, who was born in Tehran, Iran, of Russian parentage. Sheworked in a dental laboratory and at this time was divorced from herformer husband John Hall, whom she subsequently remarried. In order toobtain dental aid for Marina, George Bouhe had brought her to Mrs.Hall's house.891 In early September, the Oswalds met AlexanderKleinlerer, another member of the Russian group, who was then courtingMrs. Hall.892 Mrs. Max Clark was introduced to Marina during thisperiod by George Bouhe and Anna Meller. Max Clark met the Oswalds at alater time.893 At about the same time, they were visited by George DeMohrenschildt, a petroleum engineer born in Russia.894 who had heardof them from one of the Russian-speaking group.895 Later on, theOswalds met his wife, Jeanne, and his daughter and son-in-law, Garyand Alexandra Taylor.896

Most of the members of the Russian community were interested inthe Oswalds not only because they needed help, but also because theycould provide the latest information about what was happening inRussia.897 Some members of the group were at first apprehensive aboutthem because the apparent ease with which they had left Russia seemedsuspicious.898 Nevertheless, many of the group provided small amountsof money, groceries, clothing, and furniture for the Oswalds; GeorgeBouhe, Anna Meller, and Elena Hall were the primary contributors,although others provided help in the form of transportation andgroceries.899 These acquaintances occasionally visited the Oswalds,and the Oswalds in turn visited some of them in Dallas.900

It was evident that Oswald did not appreciate the help of theRussian community.901 At least once he flew into a rage and shoutedthat he did not need any of the things that people were giving tohim.902 Some felt that he resented the gifts because he could not givehis wife what the others were providing;903 he apparently was criticalof them also because he felt that they were overly concerned withimproving themselves economically.904

Oswald became increasingly unpopular with his Russian-speakingacquaintances, partly because of his resentment of theirassistance.905 Alexander Kleinlerer stated that none of them cared forOswald "because of his political philosophy, his criticism of theUnited States, his apparent lack of interest in anyone but himself andbecause of his treatment of Marina."906 Some of them believed thatOswald was mentally disturbed.907 However, they felt sorry for Marinaand the child and continued to help.908

On a weekend afternoon early in October, the Oswalds were visitedby his mother and a number of people from the Russian community,including George Bouhe, Anna Meller, the Halls, the De Mohrenschildts,and the Taylors.909 Oswald had apparently decided to look for a newjob, and discussed his lack of job prospects and the fact that hisrent was overdue.910 He was advised to seek employment in the Dallasarea.911 Elena Hall invited Marina to move into her house in FortWorth until Oswald found a job in Dallas. She accepted the proposal,and Mrs. Hall moved Marina. her daughter June, and the

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Oswalds' few household goods in a pickup truck belonging to the dentallaboratory where she was employed.912

Oswald worked at the Leslie Welding Co. on Monday, October 8, butfailed to appear on the following day. He was already in Dallas.913 Hefalsely told his wife that he had been discharged,914 and told GeorgeBouhe that the job had been a temporary one.915 Sometime later, thecompany received an undated letter from him stating that he had "movedpermanently to Dallas," and asking that the wages due him be forwardedto him at box 2915 in Dallas.916 He did not tell his mother that hewas leaving Fort Worth.917

While they were in Fort Worth, the Oswalds were having maritalproblems.918 Several people noted that Marina had a blackened eye whenthey visited her at the Mercedes Street apartment.919 She told hermother-in-law and George Bouhe that her husband had struck her, butsaid to Anna Meller that she had walked into a door.920 It seems clearthat Oswald had in fact hit her.921 People observed friction betweenthe Oswalds on various occasions,922 although their disputes becamemore apparent later. Marina has written that this was a difficultperiod for them and that her husband was "very irritable" andsometimes some completely trivial thing would "drive him into a rage."923

She testified that:

... immediately after coming to the United States Lee changed. I didnot know him as such a man in Russia. ... He helped me as before,but he became a little more of a recluse ... He was very irritable,sometimes for a trifle ... 924

She has denied, however, that their separation was the result ofquarrels between them.925

Marina spent the first few weeks after Oswald's departure at ElenaHall's house in Fort Worth, except for a brief stay at Gary Taylor'shouse in Dallas after one of her appointments at the Baylor DentalClinic.926 While she was in Dallas, Mrs. De Mohrenschildt brought herto the clinic on October 8, October 10, and October 15; 927 GeorgeBouhe had given Mrs. De Mohrenschildt the money to cover the expenseof Marina's dental care.928

Even before Oswald went to Dallas, some of his acquaintances werehelping him in his effort to find a job there.929 George DeMohrenschildt directed him to Samuel B. Ballen, a Dallas financialconsultant, but no employment resulted.930 George Bouhe recommendedthat Oswald go to the Texas Employment Commission in Dallas; and AnnaMeller had her husband ask Mrs. Helen Cunningham, a counselor in theclerical and sales division of the Dallas office of the employmentcommission, to help Oswald find a job.931 Oswald first came into theoffice of the employment commission on October 9. He was reluctant toaccept industrial employment, and was placed in the clerical categoryand turned over to Mrs. Cunningham for counseling. He

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indicated that he had an interest in writing. The results of generalaptitude tests which he had taken at the Fort Worth employment officehad been transmitted to the Dallas office, and indicated that he hadsome aptitude in this direction and for clerical work. It was noted onhis application form that he had "outstanding verbal-clericalpotential." He demonstrated ability to perform many skilled andsemi-skilled jobs, and there was some indication that he could docollege work. Mrs. Cunningham gave him three special tests: forgeneral clerical work, work as an insurance claims examiner, anddrafting work. He scored high on all three. His application formindicated that he did not have a driver's license, and noted:"well-groomed and spoken, business suit, alert replies--expresses selfextremely well." He told Mrs. Cunningham that he hoped to developqualifications for responsible junior executive employment by awork-study program at a local college but that this must be delayedbecause of his immediate financial needs and responsibilities.932

Mrs. Cunningham concluded that although Oswald would be classifiedfor clerical work, she should try to get him any available job, sincehe badly needed money. He was referred to an architect for an openingas a messenger but was not hired. On October 11, he was referred toJaggars-Chiles-Stovall Co., a graphic arts company, in response to acall from John Graef, head of the photographic department of thecompany, who had told the employment commission that he needed aphotoprint trainee. Oswald was enthusiastic about his prospects andapparently made a good impression; Graef picked him over several otherapplicants.933 On the following day he began working in his newposition as a trainee making prints of advertising material. He workeda 40-hour week at approximately $1.35 per hour; his take-home payvaried from $49 to $74 a week.934 According to his wife, "he liked hiswork very much." 935

Oswald moved into the YMCA on October 15, and stayed there untilOctober 19, paying $2.25 a night.936 He had used the Taylors' addressand telephone number as a place where he could be reached,937 but onOctober 9 had also rented post office box 2915 under his own name atthe main post office on Ervay Street.938 On October 10, he filed achange-of-address form indicating that mail for 2703 Mercedes Streetshould be forwarded to the box.939 Marina has written that Oswaldwrote her letters and telephoned her during the separation.940

On October 16, Mrs Hall brought Marina and June to Dallas to haveJune baptized. Marina apparently did this surreptitiously, because herhusband opposed baptism; they did not contact him in Dallas, but leftbirthday gifts for him at the Taylors. Oswald did not appear verydisturbed when he found out about the baptism.941

Two days later, Mrs. Hall had an automobile accident and went tothe hospital, where she remained until October 26; Marina remained inthe Hall house. Mrs. Max Clark and Alexander Kleinlerer, a friend ofMrs. Hall, checked up to make sure that she was getting

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along without too much trouble.942 After Oswald left the YMCA onOctober 19, he moved to a room or apartment somewhere in Dallas,943which has not been located.944 It seems likely, however, that duringthat time he spent several weekends with Marina at the Hall house.945

Four days after Mrs. Hall returned from the hospital, she left forNew York to visit friends. By the time she returned, Marina had movedto a three-room apartment at 604 Elsbeth Street in Dallas, whichOswald had rented on Saturday, November 3; 946 the landlady statedthat he had looked at the apartment about a week before. The monthlyrent was $68, in addition to which he had to pay several dollars amonth for utilities. He paid the rent plus a $5 deposit on November3,947 but probably spent that night with Marina at the Hall house. OnSunday the Taylors helped the Oswalds move their belongings to theElsbeth Street apartment with a rented trailer.948 Oswald had askedKleinlerer to help them move, and Kleinlerer also was present whenthey departed.949

Soon after the Oswalds were reunited, their marital difficultiesstarted again. While they were moving to Elsbeth Street, Kleinlerernoticed that Oswald slapped his wife for not having the zipper on herdress completely closed.950 They argued over his refusal to allow herto smoke.951 There was a quarrel also when he told the landlady thatMarina was from Czechoslovakia; he was angered when Marina, whodisapproved of this deception, told the landlady the truth.952

Although several people tried to help Marina improve her scantyknowledge of English, Oswald discouraged this,953 perhaps because hewanted to keep up his Russian.954 Some witnesses testified that shecommented about his sexual abilities.955 He apparently continued tobeat her, and once she suggested to George De Mohrenschildt that sheshould "get away" from Oswald. When De Mohrenschildt criticizedOswald's conduct, Oswald replied, "It is my business."956 Marinatestified that when they moved into the Elsbeth Street apartment, herhusband became "nervous and irritable" and was very angry over"trifles." 957 She said that it was sometimes her fault that he beather,958 for example when she wrote to an old boyfriend in Russia thatshe wished she had married him; the letter was returned for postagedue, and Oswald read it.959

Because of this quarreling, a few of their acquaintances felt thatMarina would be better off alone. George Bouhe offered to help her ifshe promised to leave Oswald permanently.960 Finally, in earlyNovember, Marina, helped by the De Mohrenschildts, moved into AnnaMeller's house with the intention not to return to Oswald. He wasapparently quite upset and did not want Marina to leave him.961

Oswald did not visit his wife at Anna Meller's house,962 and for ashort time did not even know where she was.963 According to Marina, hecalled her after she moved and they met at De Mohrenschildt's house.He asked her to return home. She insisted that he stop quarreling andthat he change his ways. He said that he could not change. Marinawould not agree to return home with him and he left.964

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Marina was uncomfortable at the Meller house, where there was verylittle room. She moved to Katherine Ford's house 965 where sheapparently stayed from November 11 to 17. She indicated that she haddecided never to return to her husband; 966 it was Mrs. Ford'simpression that Marina was going to stay at other people's housesuntil a permanent place could be found for her.967 When Mr. Fordreturned from a business trip on November 17, Marina and June moved tothe home of Mrs. Frank Ray, where they spent the day. Mrs. Ray, thewife of a Dallas advertising man, was also of Russian origin. SinceMrs. Ray had no baby bed, Marina returned to the Fords that evening.On the next day, however, Marina moved her belongings to the Rays'house. That same day, Oswald called and asked to visit his wife, whomhe had called and written. Mr. Ray picked him up and took him toMarina.968

Marina testified that at this meeting Oswald professed his lovefor her. She stated: "I saw him cry ... [he] begged me to come back,asked my forgiveness, and promised that he would try to improve, ifonly I would come back." 969 On another occasion she said: "... hecried and you know a woman's heart--I went back to him. He said hedidn't care to live if I did not return? 970 That same day she decidedto return to him. Mr. Ray packed her belongings and took her back tothe Elsbeth Street apartment.971

Members of the Russian community who had taken care of Marina sothat she would not have to live with Oswald felt that their effortshad been in vain. George Bouhe was so irritated that he never againtried to help either of the Oswalds.972 Contacts between them andmembers of the Russian community diminished markedly.973 Oswald didnot care for most of these people and made his feelings apparent.974Even the De Mohrenschildts, whom he liked most, saw much less ofthem.975 Lydia Dymitruk, another Russian born woman in the Dallas-FortWorth area, testified that she saw the Oswalds on only one occasion,and did not care to see them again. She drove Marina and June, who hada high fever, to the hospital; Oswald told the hospital that he wasunemployed in order to avoid paying for June's treatment and laterleft Mrs. Dymitruk without thanking her.976 Mrs. Ford testified thatMarina had told her that she contemplated suicide during this periodbecause Oswald was treating her badly and she had no friends; she feltthat she had "no way out." 977 Marina acknowledged to the Commissionthat she had such thoughts.978

In an effort to renew family ties, Robert Oswald wrote to Lee andJohn Pic on November 17, inviting them and their families toThanksgiving dinner. Lee accepted the invitation. He and Marinatraveled to Fort Worth by bus on Thanksgiving Day, and John Pic andRobert met them at the station.979 Pic had not seen his half-brotherfor 10 years. He observed, as many others have also attested, that Leeseemed to be a good father and to take an active interest in June.980After dinner, Marina phoned Paul Gregory, who later drove the Oswaldsto his house for sandwiches and then took them to the bus station forthe return trip to Dallas.981 Thereafter, Robert spoke to his

Page 722

brother once by telephone and received a post card and a letter fromhim, but he eventually lost contact with Lee and did not see him againuntil after the assassination.982

Despite his disillusionment with Soviet life, Oswald kept up hisinterest in Russia. He wrote to the Soviet Embassy in Washington forinformation on how to subscribe to Russian periodicals and for "anyperiodicals or bulletins which you may put out for the benefit of yourcitizens living, for a time, in the U.S.A." 983 He subsequentlysubscribed to several Russian journals.984 In December 1962, theSoviet Embassy received a card in Russian, signed "Marina and LeeOswald," which conveyed New Year's greetings and wishes for "health,success and all of the best" to the employees at the Embassy.985 TheOswalds continued to correspond with acquaintances in Russia.986

Soon after his return to this country, Oswald had started tocorrespond with the Communist Party, U.S.A., and the Socialist WorkersParty. He subscribed to the Worker in August 1962.987 He wrote foradditional literature from these organizations, and attempted to jointhe Socialist Workers Party, which, however, had no branch inTexas.988 He sent samples of his photographic work to the SocialistWorkers Party, the Worker, and the Hall-Davis Defense Committee, andoffered to aid them in printing and photographic work in connectionwith posters; these offers were not accepted.989

He continued to read a great deal on a variety of subjects.990George Bouhe testified that Oswald's fare consisted of books by Marx,Lenin, "and similar things." 991 Marina said that he read books of ahistorical nature, including H. G. Wells' two volume "Outline ofHistory," and biographies of Hitler, Kennedy, and Khrushchev.992

Despite the Oswalds' break with the Russian community, DeMohrenschildt, knowing that they would be alone during the Christmasseason, asked the Fords whether he could bring the Oswalds to a partycelebrating the Russian Christmas at the Fords' home; the Fordsassented. The party was attended by many members of the Russiancommunity.993 Oswald spoke at length with Yaeko Okui, a Japanese womanwho had been brought to the party by Lev Aronson, first cellist of theDallas Symphony Orchestra; 994 she told Federal investigators that shenever saw Oswald again.995 The Oswalds were not invited to three otherRussian Christmas season gatherings which occurred during the next fewdays.996

Marina visited the De Mohrenschildts several times afterChristmas.997 They invited both Lee and Marina to a small dinner partyin February 1963; also present were Everett Glover, a chemist employedin Dallas, and his roommate Volkmar Schmidt.998 On February 22, Gloverhad a gathering at his house, one of the purposes of which was topermit his friends, many of whom were studying Russian, to meet theOswalds.999 They were the objects of much attention.1000 Marinaconversed at length with another guest named Ruth Paine, who hadrecently separated from her husband, Michael Paine, a researchengineer at the Bell Helicopter plant in Fort Worth. Mrs. Paine, whowas studying Russian, obtained Marina's address 1001 and

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shortly thereafter wrote Marina asking to see her. Marina responded byinviting Mrs. Paine to visit her.1002

The Oswalds moved out of their Elsbeth Street apartment on March3, 1963, to an upstairs apartment several blocks away at 214 WestNeely Street. Oswald inquired about the apartment in response to a"For Rent" sign; the rent was $60 per month, not includingutilities.1003 They moved without assistance, carrying theirbelongings in their hands and in a baby stroller.1004 Marina preferredthe Neely Street apartment because it had a porch and was, she felt,more suitable for June.1005

Aware of Oswald's difficulties in obtaining employment, GeorgeBouhe had advised him as early as October 1962 to attend a nightschool in Dallas.1006 On January 14, Oswald enrolled in a typingcourse in the night school of Crozier Technical High School, andstarted attending on January 28. The class ran from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m.on Mondays, Tuesday, and Thursdays. Although Oswald reviewed a typingtextbook at home, he attended the course irregularly and stopped goingaltogether on about March 28.1007

Ruth Paine and Marina started to exchange visits in March. Mrs.Paine invited the Oswalds for dinner, and on April 20 she took them ona picnic. When Oswald was not present, the two women frequentlydiscussed their respective marital problems, and Marina disclosed toMrs. Paine that she was pregnant.1008 Marina wrote of these meetings:

One day we were invited to a friend's house, where I met RuthPaine, who was studying Russian here in America and wanted to improveher conversational knowledge. We began to see each other. Ruth wouldcome to see me with her children. This was very good for both me andfor June. She was growing up alone and becoming terribly wild, so thecompany of other children was good for her. Sometimes we went out onpicnics at a nearby lake. Lee loved to fish, and we would look andrejoice if he caught a little fish. Several times we went to visitRuth who lived in Irving.1009

Using the name of A. J. Hidell, Oswald had ordered a Smith &Wesson .38 revolver from Los Angeles on a form which he dated January27. On March 12, he ordered a rifle from Klein's Sporting Goods inChicago under the name of A. Hidell.1010 Oswald used the name "AlekJames Hidell" on identification cards which he probably produced atJaggars-Chiles-Stovall. One of his fellow employees taught him variousphotographic techniques, which he could have used to prepare not onlythese cards, but also the samples of his work which he sent to variousorganizations.1011

Both weapons were shipped on March 20.1012 Oswald kept the riflein a small storeroom at the Neely Street apartment. He spent longperiods of time in the storeroom, which he told Marina she was not toenter.1013 He told her that he intended to use the rifle for hunt-

Page 724

ing 1014 and that he practiced with it. She saw him leave with itonce, and clean it several times.1015 He also posed for two pictures,taken by Marina in the backyard of the Neely apartment, in which heheld his rifle and copies of the Worker and the Militant and therevolver was strapped to his belt. He gave one of the pictures to hiswife and asked her to keep it for June.1016

Over the weekend of March 9-10, Oswald photographed the alleywhich runs behind the home of Gen. Edwin Walker, and probably at aboutthe same time he photographed the rear of Walker's home and a nearbyrailroad track and right-of-way.1017 He prepared and studied anotebook in which he outlined a plan to shoot General Walker, and helooked at bus schedules.1018 He went to the Walker residence on theevening of April 6 or 7, planning to make his attack. However, hechanged his plans, hid his rifle nearby, and determined to act on thefollowing Wednesday, April 10, when a nearby church was planning ameeting which, Oswald reasoned, would create a diversion that wouldhelp him escape.1019 On Wednesday, Oswald left a note for Marinatelling her what to do if he were apprehended. He retrieved his rifleand fired at Walker, but the bullet narrowly missed Walker's head.Oswald secreted his rifle again and took the bus home.1020

When Oswald told Marina what he had done, she became angry andmade him promise never to repeat such an act. She testified that shekept his letter, intending to give it to the authorities if herepeated his attempt. He told Marina that he was sorry he had missedWalker and said that the shooting of Walker would have been analogousto an assassination of Hitler.1021 Several days later, the DeMohrenschildts visited the Oswalds, bringing an Easter present forJune. During the visit, Jeanne De Mohrenschildt saw the rifle and toldher husband about it. Without any knowledge of the truth, DeMohrenschildt jokingly intimated that Oswald was the one who had shotat Walker. Oswald apparently concluded that Marina had told DeMohrenschildt of his role in the attempt and was visibly shaken.1022

On April 6, Oswald was dropped by Jaggars-Chiles-Stovall because,in his supervisor's opinion, he could not do the work, although he wastrying; in addition, he did not get along with his fellowemployees.1023 The fact that he brought a Russian newspaper to workmay also have been of some significance.1024 Marina testified that herhusband, who had always worried about his job security atJaggars-Chiles-Stovall,1025 was quite upset by the loss of his jobsince he had liked the work.1026

Oswald again resorted to the Texas Employment Commission.1027 OnApril 8, he informed the Commission that he was seeking employment butwas referred to no employers. He stated that he had been laid off atJaggars-Chiles-Stovall due to lack of work." 1028 On April 12, he madea claim for unemployment benefits; 4 days later the commission mailedhim a determination disapproving his claim because of insufficientwage credits.1029

For a while after the Oswalds moved into the Neely Streetapartment they got along well,1030 but they soon began to quarrel.1031

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Oswald was apparently still preventing Marina from learningEnglish,1032 and there is some indication that he continued to beather.1033 Since February, he had been urging her to return toRussia.1034 Marina wrote several letters to the Russian Embassyrequesting a visa to return to Russia.; 1035 she testified, however,that Oswald forced her to write them, and that she never wanted toreturn to Russia.1036

When Ruth Paine visited the Oswalds at their apartment on April24, she was surprised to learn that Oswald was packed and ready toleave for New Orleans by bus. He explained that he had been unable tofind employment in or around Dallas, and that Marina had suggestedthat he go to New Orleans since he had been born there.1037 Marina hastestified that the real reason behind her suggestion was that shewanted to get him out of town because of the Walker incident.1038 Mrs.Paine offered to drive Marina to New Orleans at a later date, and alsoto have Marina and June stay with her rather than at the apartment inthe meantime. Oswald helped the women pack Mrs. Paine's car, and thetwo women moved everything from the Neely Street apartment to thePaine house in Irving.1039

When he arrived at the bus station in New Orleans, Oswaldtelephoned his aunt, Lillian Murret, to ask if he could stay at herhome at 757 French Street while he looked for employment. She had beenunaware that he had returned from Russia or that he was married andhad a child and was surprised to hear from him. She said that she didnot have room to accommodate three guests, but that since he wasalone he was welcome.1040

Oswald had been born in New Orleans, and on his return showedgreat interest in finding out what had happened to the other membersof his father's family. He visited the cemetery where his father wasburied and called all the Oswalds in the telephone book. By thismethod he located one relative, Mrs. Hazel Oswald of Metairie, La.,the widow of William Stout Oswald, his father's brother. He visitedher at her home; she gave him a picture of his father and told himthat as far as she knew the rest of the family was dead.1041

On April 26, Oswald began his search for employment. He went tothe employment office of the Louisiana Department of Labor and statedthat he was qualified as a commercial photographer, shipping clerk, or"darkroom man." The interviewer noted on Oswald's application card:"Will travel on limited basis. Will relocate. Min. $1.25 hr. Neat.Suit. Tie. Polite." 1042 Although the employment commission made a fewreferrals, Oswald relied primarily upon newspaper advertisements, andapplied for a number of positions.1043 Mrs. Murret testified that hewould spend the day job hunting, return to her home for supper, watchtelevision, and go to bed.1044

On April 29, he filed a request for reconsideration of theemployment commission's disapproval of his unemployment compensationclaim. His complaint that he had not been credited for his employmentat Jaggars-Chiles-Stovall was ruled valid on May 8, and he wasgranted maximum benefits of $369, payable at the rate of $33 per week.He filed interstate claims on May 7 and 15, and received

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$33 in response to the latter; the former claim was filed before theexpiration of the prescribed wailing period.1045 Not only had Oswaldin fact been working since May 10, but he included on his claim sheet,as concerns with which he had sought work, fictitious employers andemployers whom he apparently had not contacted.1046

Oswald wrote to Marina: "All is well. I am living with AuntLillian. She has very kindly taken us in. I am now looking for work.When I find it I will write you." 1047 And on May 3, he wrote toMarina and Ruth Paine: "Girls, I still have not found work, but Ireceive money from the unemployment office in the amount 15 to 20dollars. They were mistaken in the Dallas office when they refused,but I straightened everything out. Uncle 'Dyuz' offered me a loan of$200.00 if needed. Great, eh?!" 1018

On May 9, responding to a newspaper advertisement, Oswaldcompleted an application for employment with William B. Reily Co.,Inc., at 640 Magazine Street, an enterprise engaged in the roasting,grinding, canning, bagging, and sale of coffee. On his applicationform, Oswald listed as references in addition to John Murret, "Sgt.Robert Hidell" and "Lieut. J. Evans," both apparently fictitiousnames.1049 His application was approved and he began work on May 10,at the rate of $1.50 per hour. His task was the lubrication of thecompany's machinery.1050 Oswald did not enjoy this work,1051 and toldhis wife and Mrs. Paine that he was working in commercialphotography.1052

Also on May 9, Oswald obtained an apartment at 4905 MagazineStreet with the help of Myrtle Evans, who had known him when he was achild. The rent was $65 a month. Oswald moved in on May 10,1053 aftertelephoning Marina on the ninth and asking her to come to New Orleans.Ruth Paine testified that the invitation elated Marina: "Papa naslubet"--"Daddy loves us," she repeated again and again. Mrs. Painedrove Marina and June to New Orleans; they left Dallas on May 10,spent the night in Shreveport, and arrived on the 11th. Mrs. Painestayed with the Oswalds for 8 days; the three of them, with June andMrs. Paine's children, toured the French Quarter. On May 14, Mrs.Paine left New Orleans to return to her home.1054

The Murrets and the Oswalds exchanged visits from time to time;Marina testified that the Murrets were very good to them.1055 Mrs.Murret's daughter, Marilyn, took the Oswalds on an outing.1056 But,according to Marina's testimony, aside from Ruth Paine and RuthKloepfer and her daughters, the Murrets were the only social visitorsthe Oswalds had.1057 Ruth Kloepfer was a clerk of the Quaker Meetingin New Orleans whom Ruth Paine had written in the hope that she mightknow some Russian-speaking people who could visit Marina. Mrs.Kloepfer herself visited the Oswalds but made no attempt to direct anyRussian-speaking people to them.1058

On July 19, Oswald was dismissed by Reily because of inefficiencyand inattention to his work. He had spent many of his working hoursnext door at the Crescent City Garage, where he read gun magazines anddiscussed guns with one of the owners, Adrian Alba.1059 On the

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following Monday, July 22, Oswald again visited the Louisianaemployment office to seek new employment and file a claim forunemployment compensation. Thereafter, he collected unemploymentcompensation weekly and, although apparently making some effort toobtain another job, again listed a number of fictitious jobapplications on his unemployment compensation claim forms.1060 He soongave up his search for employment, and began to spend his days at homereading.1061 He received another setback on July 25, when he wasnotified that in response to the request for review which he had madein 1962, his undesirable discharge from the Marine Corps had beenaffirmed.1062

During this period, Oswald began to evidence thoughts of returningto the Soviet Union or going to Cuba. On June 24 he applied for a newpassport, which he received on the following day.1063 Apparently atOswald's request,1064 Marina wrote to the Russian Embassy, expressinga desire to return to Russia and indicating that she would beaccompanied by her husband. She explained that she wanted to returnbecause of family problems, including the impending birth of hersecond child.1065 Accompanying her letter was a letter written byOswald dated July 1, in which he asked the Embassy to rush an entrancevisa for his wife and requested that his visa be consideredseparately.1066 Marina believed that Oswald was really planning to goonly to Cuba.1067 She testified that "his basic desire was to get toCuba by any means, and that all the rest of it was window dressing forthat purpose." 1068

During the early days of the New Orleans period, the Oswalds'marriage was more harmonious than it had been previously. Marinawrote:

... our family life in New Orleans was more peaceful. Lee took greatsatisfaction in showing me the city where he was born. We often wentto the beach, the zoo, and the park. Lee liked to go and hunt crabs.It is true, that he was not very pleased with his job ... We did nothave very much money, and the birth of a new child involved newexpenses ... As before, Lee spent a great deal of time reading.1069

Marina testified, however, that after they had been in New Orleans fora while, Oswald became depressed and that she once found him alone inthe dark crying.1070 She wrote to Ruth Paine that his "love" hadceased soon after Mrs. Paine had left New Orleans.1071 Mrs. Painetestified, however, that she had noticed friction between the Oswaldsbefore she left.1072 On July 11, Mrs. Paine wrote Marina that ifOswald did not wish to live with her any more and preferred that shereturn to the Soviet Union, she could live at the Paines' house.Although Mrs. Paine had long entertained this idea, this was the firsttime she explicitly made the invitation. She renewed the invitation onJuly 12, and again on July 14; she attempted to overcome any feelingwhich Marina might have that she would be a burden by stating that

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Marina could help with the housework and help her learn Russian, andthat she would also provide a tax advantage.1073

Marina replied that she had previously raised the subject of aseparation and that it had led to arguments. She stated that she washappy and that for a considerable period of time Oswald had been goodto her. She attributed this improved attitude to the fact that he wasanticipating their second child. Marina turned down Mrs. Paine'sinvitation but said that she would take advantage of it if thingsbecame worse.1074 Mrs. Paine replied that she was taking a trip northto visit her parents and would visit Marina in New Orleans aboutSeptember 18. She also suggested that Marina come to her house for thebirth of the baby.1075

On July 6, Eugene Murret, a cousin of Oswald who was studying tobe a Jesuit Priest in Mobile, Ala., wrote and asked if Oswald couldcome to Mobile and speak at the Jesuit House of Studies about"contemporary Russia and the practice of Communism there." Oswaldaccepted, and on July 27 he and his family, joined by some of theMurrets, traveled to Mobile; Charles Murret paid the expenses. Oswaldspoke concerning his observations in Russia and conducted a questionand answer period; he impressed his listeners as articulate. Heindicated that he had become disillusioned during his stay in Russia,and that in his opinion the best political system would be one whichcombined the best points of capitalism and communism.1076 While heleft his listeners with the impression that he was an atheist, heavoided a direct discussion of religion. The group returned to NewOrleans on July 28.1077

In late May and early June, Oswald had apparently begun toformulate plans for creating a New Orleans branch of the Fair Play forCuba Committee. Using the name "Lee Osborne" he ordered a number ofprinted circulars demanding "Hands off Cuba" in large letters, andapplication forms and membership cards for the proposed chapter.1078On August 5, he visited a store managed by Carlos Bringuier, a Cubanrefugee and avid opponent of Castro and the New Orleans delegate ofthe Cuban student directorate. Oswald indicated an interest in joiningthe struggle against Castro. He told Bringuier that he had been amarine and was trained in guerrilla warfare, and that he was willingnot only to train Cubans to fight Castro but also to join the fighthimself. The next day Oswald returned to the store and left his"Guidebook for Marines" for Bringuier.1079

On August 9, Bringuier saw Oswald passing out Fair Play for Cubaleaflets. Bringuier and his companions became angry and a disputeresulted. Oswald and the three Cuban exiles were arrested fordisturbing the peace.1080 Oswald spent the night in jail and wasinterviewed the next day by a lieutenant of the New Orleans PoliceDepartment. At Oswald's request, an FBI agent also interviewed him.Oswald maintained that he was a member of the New Orleans branch ofthe Fair Play for Cuba Committee which, he claimed, had 35 members. Hestated also that he had been in touch with the president of thatorganization, A. J. Hidell.1081 Oswald was in fact the

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only member of the "New Orleans branch," which had never beenchartered by the National Fair Play for Cuba Committee.1082 Later thatday Oswald was released on bail, and 2 days later he pleaded guilty tothe charges against him and paid a $10 fine. The charges against theCuban exiles were dismissed.1083 Marina testified that the arrestupset Lee and that he "became less active, he cooled off a little"after it.1084

On August 16, Oswald, assisted by at least one other person whowas a hired helper, again passed out Fair Play for Cuba literature,this time in front of the International Trade Mart. That night,television newscasts ran pictures of Oswald's activities.1085 (Thishindered Oswald's subsequent attempts to obtain employment in NewOrleans.) 1086 Bringuier sent one of his friends to Oswald's home topose as a Castro sympathizer and attempt to obtain information aboutOswald, but Oswald apparently saw through the ruse.1087

William Stuckey, a radio broadcaster with a program called "LatinListening Post," had long been looking for a member of the Fair Playfor Cuba Committee to appear on his program. He learned about Oswaldfrom Bringuier, and visited Oswald on August 17. Later that day,Stuckey recorded an interview with Oswald which was cut to about 5 minutes and played back on the show that evening.1088Two days later, Stuckey asked the news director of the station if hecould run the entire tape, but the director felt that a debate with alocal opponent of Castro would be of greater public interest.Consequently, Stuckey arranged for a debate between Oswald andBringuier on a 25-minute daily public affairs program called"Conversation Carte Blanche," which took place on August 21.1089Oswald defended the Castro regime and discussed Marxism. He was put onthe defensive when his defection to Russia was brought up,1090 andStuckey later testified that he thought that the program had finishedthe Fair Play for Cuba Committee in New Orleans.1091 However, Stuckeyalso testified that Oswald seemed to be a clean-cut and intelligentperson who conducted himself very well during the interviews anddebates.1092

Oswald wrote several times to V. T. Lee, then national director ofthe Fair Play for Cuba Committee, telling him, sometimes inexaggerated terms, of his activities.1093 He wrote also to theCommunist Party and asked whether, in view of his prior defection, heshould "continue to fight, handicapped as it were, by ... [his] pastrecord, [and] compete with anti-progressive forces, above-ground or ... should always remain in the background, i.e., underground." 1095The Party replied that "often it is advisable for some people toremain in the background, not underground." 1095 And although Oswaldwrote four letters to V. T. Lee during the summer,1096 there is noevidence that Oswald heard from him after May 29.

Ruth Paine arrived in New Orleans on September 20, and spent threenights with the Oswalds. During this stay, Mrs. Paine found relationsbetween them much improved. Nonetheless, it was decided that Marinawould go back with her to Irving for the birth of the

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baby. Marina and Mrs. Paine toured Bourbon Street while Oswald stayedhome and did some packing for Marina's return to Texas.1097 OnSunday, September 22, Oswald and Mrs. Paine finished loading thestation wagon with the Oswalds' household belongings.1098

Return to Top

MEXICO CITY

Marina Oswald testified that sometime in August her husband firsttold her of his plan to go to Mexico and from there to Cuba, where heplanned to stay; he had given up a plan to hijack an airplane and flydirectly to Cuba, which plan Marina consistently opposed.1099 OnSeptember 17, he obtained from the Mexican consulate general in NewOrleans a "Tourist Card," FM-8 No. 24085, good for one journey intoMexico for no longer than 15 days. Typed in the blank, "Appelidos ynombre" was "Lee, Harvey Oswald," "Fotogrofo"; the intendeddestination was shown as Mexico City.1100 (The comma between "Lee" and"Harvey" seems to have been an error.)1101 On the application Oswaldstated that he was employed at "640 Rampart"; he was in factunemployed.1102 (See Commission Exhibits Nos. 2478, 2481, p. 300.)

Marina and June departed with Mrs. Ruth Paine for Irving on themorning of September 23.1103 Before she left, Oswald told Marina thatshe should not tell anyone about his impending trip to Mexico.1104Marina kept this secret until after the assassination.1105 On theprevious day, Oswald's landlord had seen Mrs. Paine's car being packedand had asked Oswald whose rent was about 15 days overdue, whether hewas leaving. Oswald told him that Marina was leaving temporarily butthat he would remain.1106 A neighbor testified that on the evening ofSeptember 24, he saw Oswald, carrying two pieces of luggage, hurriedlyleave the Magazine Street apartment and board a bus.1107 Thoughuncertain of the exact date, a city busdriver recalls that at the sametime of day and at the same location he picked up a man who wascarrying two suitcases of different sizes and helped him place them sothat they would not disturb the other passengers. The driver remembersthat the man asked directions to the Greyhound bus station. Hedischarged the passenger at an intersection where he could board aCanal Street car and transfer to another bus which would go past theGreyhound and Continental Trailways stations.1108 The landlord foundOswald's apartment vacant on September 25.1109

Oswald appears to have taken with him a Spanish-Englishdictionary; 1110 his address book; 1111 his 1963 passport and oldpassport; 1112 his correspondence with the Communist Party and withthe Soviet Embassy in Washington, some of which was in Russian; 1113proof of his marriage; 1114 newspaper clippings concerning his arrestand his interest in the activities of the Fair Play for Cuba Committee1115 (activities which, Marina testified, he had undertaken because hethought that they would help him when he got to Cuba); 1116 evidencethat he

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was the "Director" of the New Orleans chapter of the Committee; 1117and various other cards, such as a work card, which he had obtained inRussia.1118 He took also several sheets of notepaper on which he hadwritten a summary of important events in his life which he presumablyintended to call to the attention of Cuban and Soviet officials inMexico City to convince them to let him enter Cuba. On these sheets hehad recorded facts about his Marine service, including the dates ofhis enlistment and discharge, the places where he had served, and thediplomas that he had received from military school. Recorded also werenotes on his stay in the Soviet Union, his early interest in Communistliterature, his ability to speak Russian, his organization of the NewOrleans chapter of the Fair Play for Cuba Committee, his contact withpolice authorities in connection with his work for the Committee, andhis experience in "street agitation," as a "radio speaker andlecturer," and as a photographer.1119 The two pieces of luggage whichOswald took with him were a small, blue, zipper bag 1120 and a large,olive-colored bag,1121 both made of cloth. He carried the smaller bagwith him throughout the trip, but, at least from Nuevo Laredo toMexico City, checked the larger one through to his destination.1122

Oswald remained in New Orleans until September 25. His precisewhereabouts on the night of September 24 are uncertain, but in view ofhis limited finances, he probably returned to the apartment to sleepafter checking his luggage at a bus station or spent the night at aninexpensive hotel or roominghouse. Some time after 5 a. m. onSeptember 25, he collected a Texas unemployment compensation check for$33 at his New Orleans post office box. He cashed the check between 8a.m. and noon at a store about six blocks from his apartment onMagazine Street.1123 This gave him about $200 for the trip toMexico.1124

He left New Orleans by bus,1125 probably on Continental TrailwaysBus No. 5121, departing New Orleans at 12:20 p.m. on September 25, andscheduled to arrive in Houston at 10:50 p.m.; that bus is the only oneon which Oswald could have left New Orleans after noon on September 251126 and arrived in Houston before midnight.1127 Sometime in theevening he called the home of Horace Elroy Twiford, a member of theSocialist Labor Party who had received Oswald's name from the party'sheadquarters in New York and sent him a copy of its officialpublication, the "Weekly People." 1128 Mrs. Twiford, who answered thetelephone,1129 believes that the call was made locally, before 10 p.m.It may have been made from Beaumont or some other stop on the route;however, in view of the bus schedule, it probably was made in Houstonlater than Mrs. Twiford remembered.1130 Oswald told Mrs. Twiford thathe was a member of the Fair Play for Cuba Committee and that he hopedto see her husband for a few hours that evening before he flew toMexico. He wanted also to find out how Twiford had obtained his nameand address. Mrs. Twiford told Oswald that her husband, a merchantseaman, was at sea but would be happy to see him at some other time;she offered to take a message.

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Oswald said that he could not await her husband's return because hewas flying to Mexico.1131 The Twifords have stated that they had noother contact with Oswald.1132

An employee of the U.S. Selective Service System has stated thatan individual calling himself "Harvey Oswald" appeared at her officein Austin, Tex., immediately after lunch on September 25, anddiscussed with her the possibility of rectifying his undesirabledischarge from the Marine Corps.1133 Despite the employee'sreputability and apparent sincerity, all of the information which shefurnished with respect to Oswald's appearance and conversation couldhave been derived from news media, consciously or unconsciously, bythe time she told the FBI her story. Other persons in Austin who,according to the employee's testimony, should also have observedOswald failed to corroborate her testimony.1134 No other evidencetending to show that Oswald was in Austin at this time has beendiscovered.

The telephone call which Oswald made to the Twifords on theevening of September 25, indicates that he was either in Houston or onhis way there when he made it, since the purpose of the call was tomake an appointment to see Twiford in Houston that evening. Oswaldcould not have left New Orleans on September 25, been in Austin 521miles away by early afternoon, and returned 162 miles to Houston bynight unless he traveled by air; airline records contain no indicationthat Oswald was on such flights.1135 It is very unlikely that he hadwith him enough money beyond what he needed for the trip to MexicoCity to take such flights, and the poor state of his finances at thistime plus his well-established frugality make it extremely unlikelythat he would have considered it worthwhile to do so even if he could.There is no evidence that Oswald was in such a hurry to reach Mexicothat he would have felt it necessary to travel by airplane rather thana less expensive means of travel. He took a bus from Houston to MexicoCity, lived very inexpensively there, and took a bus back to Dallas;there is no apparent reason why he would have interrupted such aninexpensive trip to fly to Austin and then to Houston. He told apassenger whom he met on the next leg of his trip that he had comefrom New Orleans, and made no reference to Austin.1136

On September 26, Oswald boarded Continental Trailways bus No. 5133in Houston and departed at 2:35 a.m. for Laredo, Tex., via CorpusChristi and Alice.1137 Two British tourists, Dr. and Mrs. John B.McFarland, who boarded No. 5133 in Houston, noticed Oswald when theyawoke at about 6 a.m. Oswald told them that he was going to Cuba viaMexico City, and they inferred from conversation with him that he hadleft New Orleans early in the afternoon of September 25 and that hewas going to Cuba via Mexico City. He said also that he was secretaryof the New Orleans branch of the Fair Play for Cuba Committee and thathe hoped to see Fidel Castro in Cuba. The bus was scheduled to arrivein Laredo at approximately 1:20 p.m.1138

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Oswald crossed the border from Laredo to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico,between 1:30 and 2 p.m.1139 From Nuevo Laredo, he traveled to MexicoCity aboard bus No. 516 of the Flecha Roja Bus Line, which departed at2:15 p.m. and was scheduled to arrive in Mexico City at 9:45 a.m. onthe following day; he held baggage claim check No. 320435.1140 He wasseen on the bus by the McFarlands and by two Australian girls whoboarded the bus on the evening of September 26 at Monterrey.1141 Heoccupied the seat next to an elderly Englishman, who told the girlsthat the young man sitting next to him apparently had been to Mexicobefore.1142 The man next to Oswald was probably Albert Osborne, anative of the British Isles who has worked as an itinerant preacher inthe Southern United States and Mexico for many years. Osborne deniedthat he sat beside Oswald; but in view of his inconsistent and untrueresponses to Federal investigators concerning matters not directlyrelated to Oswald, the Commission believes that his denial cannot becredited. It appeared to the other passengers on the bus that Osborneand Oswald had not previously met; extensive investigation hasrevealed no other contact between them.1143

In the course of the 20-hour bus trip, Oswald initiated twoconversations with the Australian girls, during which he mentioned hisvisit to Russia and recommended the Hotel Cuba in Mexico City as aclean and cheap" hotel; he told them, apparently falsely, that he hadstayed there on previous occasions. He said that when he had seen themboard the bus with their heavy suitcases, he had been under theimpression that they were Mexican and had therefore asked the man nextto him how to say "How can I help you?" in Spanish. From this theyinferred that Oswald did not speak Spanish, an impression which isshared by every witness who met Oswald on his trip and is supported bynotations which he made on documents that he carried.1144 He got offthe bus at every stop and ate large meals, always eating by himself;the girls thought he ate so much because he could not make himselfunderstood in Spanish and had to order by pointing at the menu.1145The bus arrived in Mexico City 15 minutes late, at 10 a.m.1146 Oswaldleft the bus station by himself and had no known further contact withany of the people with whom he had spoken on the bus.1147

Oswald registered at the Hotel del Comercio within an hour of hisarrival in Mexico City. He stayed there throughout his visit.1148 Thehotel, located not far from the commercial heart of the city andwithin four blocks of the bus station, is one of a group of hotelslocated near the intercity bus terminals and has perhaps the bestappearance of the group.1149 It is known by personnel in other hotelsthat the owner of the Hotel del Comercio can understand and speak alittle English.1150 Oswald registered as "Lee, Harvey Oswald," andgave his occupation as "photo." 1151 He had room 18 which cost $1.28per day.1152

After he had registered, Oswald turned promptly to the task ofobtaining permission to enter Cuba. Mexican officials would not permita U.S. citizen without a Cuban visa to board a plane for Cuba

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even if he had an American passport, but would permit passage if hehad a visa even though the passport proscribed travel to Cuba.1153Oswald had a 1963 American passport (stamped invalid for travel toCuba)1154 but had neither a regular Cuban visa nor an intransit visawhich would permit a short stay in Cuba on his way to Russia or someother country. His address book contained the telephone number andaddress of a Cuban airline, but there is evidence that he nevervisited its office.1155

He visited the Cuban Embassy on Friday, September 27 and spokewith Senora Silvia Tirado de Duran, a Mexican citizen employed there.Senora Duran later made a signed statement to the Mexican police thatOswald:

... applied for a visa to Cuba in transit to Russia and basedhis application on his presentation of his passport in which it wasrecorded that, he had been living in the latter country for a periodof three years, his work permit from that same country written in theRussian language and letters in the same language, as well as proof ofhis being married to a woman of Russian nationality and being theapparent Director in the city of New Orleans of the organizationcalled "Fair Play for Cuba" with the desire that he should be acceptedas a "friend" of the Cuban Revolution ... 1156

He apparently also stated that he was a member of the Communist Partyand displayed documents which he claimed to be evidence of hismembership.1157 He said that he intended to go to Cuba on September 30and to remain there for 2 weeks, or longer if possible, and then go onto Russia.1158 Senora Duran took down the relevant date and filled outthe appropriate application. Oswald left the Embassy but was to returnin the afternoon.1159

Then, or possibly even before his initial visit to the CubanEmbassy Oswald went to the Soviet Embassy where he spoke with eitherPavel Antonovich Yatskov or Valeriy Vladimirovich Kostikov.1160 Theyare both consular officials serving also as agents of the KGB.1161Oswald later said that he had dealt with "Kostin," 1162 undoubtedly areference to Kostikov. He was unable to obtain a Soviet visa then.Marina said that the officials at the Soviet Embassy "refused to haveanything to do with him." 1163

Oswald returned to the Cuban Embassy later that afternoon, thistime bringing with him passport photographs which he may have obtainedin the United States.1164 Senora Duran telephoned the Soviet Embassyto inquire about the status of Oswald's Russian visa and was told thatthere would be a delay of about 4 months.1165 Oswald became "highlyagitated and angry," particularly when he learned that he could notobtain an intransit visa to Cuba before he acquired a Russian visa.Senora Duran called the Cuban consul, then Eusibio Azque, to speak tohim. The discussion between Oswald and Azque developed into a heatedargument, which ended when Azque told Oswald that in

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his opinion people like Oswald were harming the Cuban Revolution andthat so far as Azque was concerned, he would not give Oswald avisa.1166 Senora Duran wrote her name and the phone number of theEmbassy on a piece of paper which she gave to Oswald in case he wishedto contact her again. He copied this information into his addressbook.1167 Senora Duran forwarded the Cuban visa application to Havana;1168 the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs replied on October 15 thatthe visa could be issued only after Oswald had obtained a Russianvisa.1169 (See Commission Exhibit, No. 2564, p. 303.)

Oswald contacted the Russian and Cuba Embassies again during hisstay in Mexico.1170 He had no greater success than he had before.Marina testified that when he returned to Texas, he was convinced thathis trip had been a failure and disappointed at having been unable togo to Cuba.1171 A month later, in a painstakingly composed 1172 letterto the Soviet Embassy in Washington, Oswald ascribed his failure to "agross breach of regulations" on the part of the Cuban Embassy. "Ofcorse," he wrote, "the Soviet Embassy was not at fault, they were, asI say unprepared."

The hotel maid said that Oswald generally was gone by the time shearrived at 9 a.m. The night watchman said he usually returned at aboutmidnight,1174 which is not unusual, in view of the late hour at whichMexico City's evening activities begin. He ate several lunches at asmall restaurant immediately adjacent to the hotel, coming to therestaurant shortly after 2 p.m., and ordering food by pointing to themenu, apparently with some consideration of cost; he spent between 40and 48 cents for each meal. He ate the soup of the day, rice, andeither meat or eggs, but refused dessert and coffee; the waitressconcluded that Oswald did not realize that the items which he refusedwere included in the price of the lunch.1175 He was seen with no otherperson either at his hotel or at the restaurant.1176 A hotel gueststated that on one occasion he sat down at a table with Oswald becausethere was no empty table in the restaurant, but that neither spoke tothe other because of the language barrier.1177

Although the Soviet and Cuban Embassies are within two blocks ofeach other, they are some distance from Oswald's hotel.1178 He must,therefore, have traversed a substantial portion of the city on morethan one occasion. Marina testified that he told her that he had seena bullfight,1179 which would normally have been on Sunday afternoon,and that he had visited museums 1180 and done some sightseeing.1181 Heapparently also saw one or more motion pictures, either American withSpanish subtitles or Mexican with English subtitles.1182 Fromnotations in his Spanish-English dictionary and on his guide map ofMexico City, it appears that Oswald intended to attend a jai alai game1183 but he almost certainly did not do so.1184

He purchased several postcards depicting bullfights and touristattractions, which he brought back to Marina.1185 She had told him be-

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fore he left that she would like Mexican silver bracelets as asouvenir, and he brought her a silver bracelet inscribed with hername.1186 Marina suspected, almost certainly correctly, that thebracelet, of Japanese origin, did not come from Mexico.1187 No suchjewelry is known to be sold in or around Mexico City, because of ahigh duty 1188 but the bracelet is of a type commonly sold in5-and-10-cent stores in Dallas.1189 Oswald did not buy the Mexicanphonograph records which Marina had requested, despite the notation,"records," which he had placed in his dictionary.1190

On Monday, September 30, Oswald began to prepare for his return tothe United States. He appeared at the Agencia de Viages, TransportesChihuahuenses,1191 and purchased international exchange orders costing$20.30 for travel on a Transportes del Norte bus from Mexico City toLaredo and by Greyhound bus directly from Laredo to Dallas. The travelagency made a reservation for him on Transportes del Notre bus No.332, departing Mexico City at 8:30 a.m. on October 2. The seat, No.12, was reserved in the name of the travel agency, which recorded thereservation in the name of "H. O. Lee." 1192 The employee who made thereservation testified that he probably wrote the name that way becausehe was copying from Oswald's tourist card, which read "Lee, HarveyOswald." 1193 (The manifest for Transportes Frontera bus No. 340,leaving Mexico City for Monterrey and Nuevo Laredo at 1 p.m. onWednesday, October 2, 1963, contains the name "Oswld" [sic], whichapparently was added to the manifest after the trip; 1194 in anyevent, Oswald did not take bus 340.) 1195

On October 1, Oswald paid his hotel bill through that night.1196The hotel night watchman remembers helping Oswald obtain a taxicab atabout 6:30 or 7 on the following morning.1197 Transportes del Nortebus No. 332 left as scheduled at about 8:30 a.m.; at Monterrey thepassengers were shifted to a relief bus, No. 373, scheduled to departfor Laredo at 10 p.m. that evening.1193 Fellow passengers recall thatOswald was pulled off the bus by Mexican officials at the border,because of some alleged irregularity in his Mexican tourist papers;one passenger overheard him mumbling complaints about the Mexicanimmigration officials when he returned to the bus.1199 They rememberalso that Oswald was hurriedly "gulping" down a banana after the busreached customs, perhaps because he believed that he could not takefruit into the United States.1200 (Marina has testified that herhusband liked bananas and frequently ate them.)1201 One of thepassengers testified that Oswald annoyed him by keeping his overheadlight on to read after 10 p.m.1202 He may have conversed with anelderly woman on the bus, but he was not traveling with her.1203

At about 1:35 a.m. on October 3, Oswald crossed the InternationalBridge from Nuevo Laredo into Texas.1204 He traveled from Laredo toDallas via San Antonio, on Greyhound bus No. 1265, substantiallyfollowing Interstate Route 35 for the entire trip 1205 leaving Laredoat 3 a.m. and arriving in Dallas at about 2:20 p.m. on the sameday.1206

Oswald did not contact his wife immediately when he returned toDallas. He went to the office of the employment commission, where hefiled an unemployment compensation claim 1207 and announced that hewas again looking for work.1208 He spent the night at the YMCA, wherehe registered as a serviceman in order to avoid paying the membershipfee.1209 On the following day, he applied for a job as a typesettertrainee at the Padgett Printing Co. He made a favorable impression onthe department foreman, but the plant superintendent calledJaggars-Chiles-Stovall and decided not to hire Oswald because of theunfavorable responses which his inquiries produced.1210 Later thatday, Oswald telephoned Marina and asked her to have Mrs. Paine pickhim up in Dallas. Marina refused, and he hitchhiked out to the Painehome,1211 where he spent part or all of the weekend.1210 Marinatestified that although her husband "changed for the better" andtreated her better after his Mexican trip,1213 she did not want tolive with him because she was pregnant and thought it would be better"to be with a woman who spoke English and Russian." 1214 On Monday,October 7, Mrs. Paine drove Oswald to the bus station, and he returnedto Dallas to look for a job and a place to live.1215

Oswald thought that the YMCA was too expensive for him, andintended to rent a room.1216 He inquired about a room at 1026 NorthBeckley, where he lived later, but on October 7 there were novacancies.1217 He next responded to a "For Rent" sign at a roominghouse at 621 Marsalis Street. He obtained a room, for which he paidthe weekly rent of $7 in advance, and moved in on the same day.1218 Heimmediately resumed his job-hunting, relying partially on referralsby the employment commission.1219 He spent much of the time when hewas not looking for work in his room.1220 He telephoned his wifedaily.1221 She wrote: "Lee called twice a day, was worried about myhealth and about June." 1222 On Friday, Oswald told his landlady, Mrs.Mary Bledsoe, that he was going to Irving for the weekend but wouldreturn the following week. She refused to rent the room to him foranother week because she didn't like him.1223

Oswald spent the weekend of October 12-13 at Mrs. Paine's home,during which time she gave him a driving lesson.1224 He told her thathe had received the last of the unemployment checks due him, and thatit had been smaller than the previous ones. Mrs. Paine testified thatOswald was extremely discouraged because his wife was expecting ababy, he had no job prospects in sight, and he no longer had anysource of income.1225

On Monday, Mrs. Paine drove Oswald into Dallas, since she hadother business there.1226 He picked up his bag from Mrs. Bledsoe'sroominghouse 1227 and later that day rented a room at 1026 NorthBeckley Avenue from Mrs. A. C. Johnson for $8 a week. He registered asO. H. Lee and moved in immediately.1228 Oswald felt that this room wasmore comfortable than the previous one, particularly

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because he had television and refrigerator privileges.1229 Heapparently continued to spend most of his evenings in his room.1230He borrowed books from the library 1231 and had subscriptions tovarious periodicals, including Time, the Worker, the Militant, andsome Russian periodicals.1232

On that Monday, Mrs. Paine mentioned the Oswalds' financial andemployment problems to neighbors whom she was visiting. Mrs. LinnieMac Randle, who was also present, remarked that she thought that heryounger brother, Buell Wesley Frazier, who worked at the Texas SchoolBook Depository, had said that there was a job opening there. WhenMarina heard of this, she asked Mrs. Paine to call the Depository tosee if there was an opening.1233 Mrs. Paine called Roy S. Truly,superintendent of the Depository, who indicated that he would talk toOswald if he would apply in person.1234 When Oswald telephoned thePaine house on Monday evening, Mrs. Paine told him about thispossibility.1235 On the next day, Oswald was interviewed by Truly andhired in a temporary capacity. He began work on Wednesday, October 16.His duties were to fill book orders; his hours were 8 a.m. to 4:45p.m., for which he received $1.25 an hour.1236

Both the Oswalds were elated with the new job,1237 although itapparently required little skill or experience 1238 and he indicatedthat he still hoped to obtain a better job.1239 He did a satisfactoryjob at the Depository,1240 but he kept to himself and very few of hisfellow employees got to know him.1241

During his first week at work, Oswald became acquainted with Frazier, with whom he arranged to ride to Irving on weekends.1242 On Friday, October 18, Frazier drove him from work to the Paine home; 1243 since it was his birthday, Marina and Ruth Paine had arranged a small celebration.1244 On Sunday, he stayed with June and the Paine children, while Mrs. Paine drove Marina to Parkland Hospital where she gave birth to a second daughter, Rachel.1245 He went to work on Monday, but that evening visited Marina in the hospital and spent the night in Irving.1246 Marina wrote:

Monday evening Lee visited me in the hospital. He was very happy at the birth of another daughter and even wept a little. He said that two daughters were better for each other--two sisters. He stayed with me about two hours.1247
Oswald returned to Dallas the next morning.1248

Oswald wrote to Arnold Johnson of the Communist Party, U.S.A., that on the evening of October 23, he had attended an "ultra right" meeting headed by Gen. Edwin A. Walker.1249 Two evenings later, he accompanied Michael Paine to a meeting of the American Civil Liberties Union, held at Southern Methodist University.1250 At this meeting, a statement was made to the effect that members of the John Birch Society should not be considered anti-Semitic; Oswald rose and stated that at the meeting which he had attended 2 days earlier, he had heard a number of anti-Semitic and anti-Catholic statements.

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Later in the evening, Oswald became involved in a discussion with several people, including Frank Krystinik, who was employed with Paine at the Bell Helicopter plant. During this conversation, Oswald expressed Marxist views and declared that he was a Marxist, although denying that he was a Communist. He admitted that the United States was superior to the Soviet Union in the area of civil liberties and praised President Kennedy for his work in that connection.1251 Krystinik testified that he got the impression that Oswald did not fully understand the views he was expounding.1252

Throughout that week Oswald telephoned his wife to inquire about her health and that of the baby. He spent the weekend at the Paine home, to which Marina and Rachel had returned during the week.1253 On Friday, November 1, he obtained post office box No. 6225 at the Terminal Annex Post Office Station. He indicated that the box would also be used to receive mail for the Fair Play for Cuba Committee and the American Civil Liberties Union.1254 Once again he spent the weekend in Irving.1255

Throughout this period, the FBI had been aware of the whereabouts of the Oswalds. There was a record in the Dallas office of the FBI that Oswald subscribed to the Worker, engaged in Fair Play for Cuba Committee activities and had traveled to Mexico.1256 An FBI agent visited the Paine home on November and, accompanied by another agent, again on November 5, and spoke briefly with Mrs. Paine. On neither occasion was Oswald present.1257 Ruth Paine noted the agent's name and telephone number and, in accordance with her husband's instructions, Marina noted the license number of the agent's automobile, all of which was subsequently reported to Oswald.1258 Both Mrs. Paine and Marina testified that Oswald was troubled by the FBI's interest in him.1259 He declared that the FBI was "trying to inhibit" his activities,1260 and wrote the Soviet Embassy in Washington:

The Federal Bureu of Investigation is not now interested in my activities in the progressive organization "Fair Play for Cuba Committee" of which I was secretary in New Orleans (state Louisiana) since I no longer reside in that state. However, the F.B.I. has visted us here in Dallas, Texas, on November 1st. Agent James P. Hasty warned me that if I engaged in F.P.C.C. activities in Texas the F.B.I. will again take an "interest" in me.
This agent also 'suggested' to Marina Nichilayeva that she could remain in the United States under F.B.I. 'protection', that is, she could defect from the Soviet Union, of couse, I and my wife strongly protested these tactics by the notorious F.B.I.

Please inform us of the arrival of our Soviet entrance visa's as soon as they come.1261 (See Commission Exhibit 15, p. 311.)

Marina testified that the statements, both by and to the FBI agents, to which her husband referred in this letter, were in fact never made.1262

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The following Friday, November 8, Oswald as usual drove to the Paine house with Frazier.1263 On Saturday Mrs. Paine took him to the Texas Drivers' License Examining Station, but because it was an election day the station was closed. Oswald stayed at the Paines through Monday, November 11, which was Veterans Day. During the weekend, Mrs. Paine gave Oswald a second driving lesson.

Oswald did not go to Irving on the next weekend. His wife had asked him not to come because Michael Paine, with whom Oswald did not get along, would be there to celebrate his daughter's birthday. Also, she felt that because he had stayed for 3 days the preceding weekend, he would abuse Mrs. Paine's hospitality if he returned so soon. Oswald telephoned Marina on Saturday afternoon and said that he had returned to the drivers' license examining station that morning but had not waited because there was a long line.1265

On Sunday, November 17, at Marina's request, Ruth Paine telephoned Oswald at the Beckley Avenue number, which he had given to Marina. When she asked for him, she was told that no one by that name lived at the address, which greatly surprised her. On the next day, Oswald telephoned his wife. When she indicated that she had been upset by the fact that there had been no Lee Oswald at the number which she had asked Mrs. Paine to call Oswald became angry; he said that he was using a fictitious name and that she should not have called the Beckley Avenue number.1266 He did not telephone on the following day, which was unusual.1267

On the morning of Thursday, November 21, Oswald asked Frazier to take him to Irving when he went home that evening, saying that he wanted to pick up some curtain rods.1268 His arrival was a surprise because he generally asked Mrs. Paine's permission before arriving for a visit.1269 The women thought that he had come to Irving because he felt badly about arguing with his wife about the use of the fictitious name.1270 He said that he was lonely, because he had not come the preceding weekend, and told Marina that he "wanted to make his peace" with her.1271 He spent the time before dinner on the lawn playing with his daughter.1272 However, when he attempted to talk to his wife she would not answer, which upset him. He asked her to live with him in Dallas, and she refused.1273 After supper, Oswald watched television while the women cleaned the house and prepared their children for bed.1274 He retired early in the evening at about 9.1275

Bibliographic note: Web version based on Report of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office, 1964. 1 volume, 888 pages. The formatting of this Web version may differ from the original.