[[ Put on JFK Place by David Reitzes December 1, 1998 ]]
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INVESTIGATION OF ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY NOVEMBER 22,1963
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
JOHN EDGAR HOOVER, DIRECTOR
PREFACE
Part I briefly relates the assassination of the President and the
identification of Oswald as his slayer.
Part II sets forth the evidence conclusively showing that Oswald did
assassinate the President.
Part III is in two sections. The first sets forth what the FBI knew about
Oswald prior to the assassination; and the second section sets forth the
results of our investigation of Oswald's back-ground, activities,
associates, et cetera, subsequent to the assassination.
Three sets of exhibits accompany this report. The first sets out evidence
tying in Oswald with the assassination of the President; the other two set
out documents relative to Oswald's contacts with the Soviets, the
Communist Party, et cetera.
We are continuing to receive leads concerning Oswald and, consequently, at
the conclusion of the report, it is stated this investigation will continue
in order to resolve them.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. THE ASSASSINATION
A. Assassin in Building
B. Patrolman Tippit Killed
II. THE EVIDENCE
A. Events Prior to the Assassination
B. Events Following the Assassination
Oswald's Movements
Identified on Bus
In a Taxicab
Arrival at Room
Oswald's Murder of Patrolman Tippit
Eyewitnesses to Tippit's Killing
C. Oswald's Apprehension
Gun Misfired
Revolver Traced to Oswald
D. Interview of Assassin
E. The Assassination Weapon
Rifle Ordered by Oswald
Tests of Rifle
Textile Examination
Cartridges Fired in Oswald's Rifle
Palm Print on Rifle
F. Other Evidence
Cardboard Cartons
Paraffin Test
Photograph
Map in Oswald's Effects
G. Prior Similar Act
III LEE HARVEY OSWALD
A. Before Assassination of President Kennedy
Biographical Data
Military Service
Defection to USSR
1. Preparation for Trip
2. Saved Money in Marine Corps
3. Affirmed Allegiance to USSR
4. Disillusioned with Life in U. S.
5. Offered To Disclose Military Information
6. Accepted as Resident Alien
Return to the U.S.
1. Denied Any Allegiance to USSR
2. Passport Renewed
3. Letter to Secretary of Navy
4. Letter to Marine Corps
5. Repatriation Loan
6. Arrival in U.S.
FBI Investigation Instituted
1. First interview with Oswald
2. Reinterview by FBI
Related Subversive Activities
1. Communist Party, USA
2. Fair Play for Cuba Committee
Oswald Again Interviewed
Activities of One A. S. Hidell
Publicly Avowed Marxist
Oswald's Return to Texas
B. After Assassination of President Kennedy
Early Years
1. Elementary School Period
2. Junior High School Period
a. Psychiatric Analysis in New York
b. Return to New Orleans
3. High School Period
Military Duty
Trip to the Soviet Union
Oswald's Suicide Attempt
Life in the Soviet Union
Oswald's Version of Soviet Payments
Oswald's Proposed Book
Views on Communism
Additional Writings
Questions and Answers
Views on Interviews
Financial Picture of Trip
Employment in Fort Worth
Move to Dallas
1. Contact with Communist Party
2. Contact with Socialist Workers Party
3. Employment and Domestic Difficulties
Move to New Orleans
Role in Fair Play for Cuba Committee
Continued Contacts with Communist Party
Mrs. Oswald's Move to Texas
Obtained Passport
Trip to Mexico
Soviet Consular File
Arrival in Dallas
Oswald's Income
Personal Resume
Observations of Marina Oswald
I. THE ASSASSINATION
President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, at
approximately 12:29 p.m. (CST) on November 22, 1963. At the time, the
President was en route from Love Field to the Trade Mart in Dallas to
address a luncheon sponsored by several civic groups. Among those in the
motorcade with the President were his wife, Vice President and Mrs. Lyndon
B. Johnson, and Texas Governor John B. Connally and his wife.
A. Assassin in Building
As the motorcade was traveling through downtown Dallas on Elm Street about
fifty yards west of the intersection with Houston Street, three shots rang
out. Two bullets struck President Kennedy, and one wounded Governor
Connally. The President, who slumped forward in the car, was rushed to
Parkland Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:00 p.m.
Eyewitnesses at the scene of the shooting saw an individual holding a rifle
in a sixth-floor window of the Texas School Book Depository Building
located on the corner of Houston and Elm Streets. One individual stated
that after he heard what he believed to be a second shot, he looked up, and
saw this man take deliberate aim with a rifle and fire in the direction of
the Presidential motorcade as it passed.
B. Patrolman Tippit Killed
An immediate investigation was launched to identify and apprehend the
President's assailant. Within the hour, at approximately 1:15 p. m., Dallas
Patrolman J. D. Tippit, presumably acting on the basis of a broadcast over
the police radio, stopped a possible suspect on Tenth Street just east of
Patton Street. The man drew a gun and shot Patrolman Tippit three times,
resulting in the officer's death. The assailant, subsequently identified as
Lee Harvey Oswald, was apprehended in the Texas Theater, 231 West Jefferson
Boulevard. In the course of the apprehension, which took place about 2:00
p. m., he resisted violently and attempted to shoot still another police
officer.
Identified as an employee in the building from which the shots were fired
at President Kennedy and Governor Connally. Oswald became a prime suspect
in the assassination of President Kennedy. However, when interviewed
following his apprehension, Oswald denied any knowledge of or participation
in the assassination of the President or Tippit's murder.
Nevertheless, evidence developed in the investigation points conclusively
to the assassination of President Kennedy by Lee Harvey Oswald, avowed
Marxist, a former defector to the Soviet Union and the self-appointed
Secretary of the New Orleans Chapter of the Fair Play for Cuba Committee, a
pro-Castro organization.
Oswald, aged 24, attended schools In New Orleans, Louisiana, Fort Worth,
Texas, and New York, New York, and served in the U.S. Marine Corps from
1956 to 1959, during which time he qualified as a sharpshooter. In 1959 he
traveled to the Soviet Union where he was employed for approximately three
years as a factory worker. He publicly announced his intention of becoming
a Russian citizen, but apparently changed his mind and returned to the
United States In 1962 with a Russian wife and child. A second child has
since been born. Subsequent to his return, he was employed for brief
periods in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Dallas, Texas.
II. THE EVIDENCE
A. Events Prior to the Assassination
Lee Harvey Oswald, using the name O. H. Lee, rented a furnished room at
1026 North Beckley Street in Dallas, Texas, on October 14, 1963. He used
the room during the week and, on weekends, traveled to Irving, Texas, where
his wife and children resided. He had made arrangements with a fellow
employee, Buell W. Frazier, to drive him to Irving every Friday night and
normally returned with Mr. Frazier to Dallas every Monday morning.
On Thursday evening, November 21, 1963, Oswald departed from his customary
schedule of travel to Irving. Claiming to Mr. Frazier that he wanted to
obtain some curtain rods for his room from Mrs. Ruth Paine, his landlady in
Irving, he arranged to ride with Mr. Frazier to Irving that night. It is
the only known instance in which Oswald departed from his practice of
making the trip on other than a weekend.
Mrs. Ruth Paine, 2515 West Fifth Street, landlady at the residence in which
Oswald's wife resided in Irving, said that Oswald made no mention of
curtain rods to her on the evening of November 21, 1963, nor did she plan
to give him any curtain rods. But Oswald's wife, Marina, has revealed that
her husband owned a rifle which he kept wrapped in a blanket in the garage
at the Irving residence. She said he spent the night of November 21, 1963,
with her and left early the following morning before she had awakened. On
November 22, 1963, she noticed that the blanket in which the rifle had been
wrapped was still in the garage, but the rifle was gone.
Subsequent to the assassination, the blanket was examined at the FBI
Laboratory. Body hairs located on it were found to match in microscopic
characteristics the body hairs of Lee Harvey Oswald.
When Oswald left Irving, Texas, on the morning of November 22, 1963, he
carried a long package wrapped in brown paper. Mr. Frazier, with whom he
customarily rode, described it as a "kind of sack that one obtains in a
five-and-ten-cent store." Oswald told him it contained curtain rods. On
arrival in Dallas, Mr. Frazier, after parking his car, saw Oswald enter the
Texas School Book Depository Building carrying the package. After the
assassination of President Kennedy, brown wrapping paper in the shape of a
long bag was found near the window from which the shots were fired on the
sixth floor of the Depository Building.
A latent fingerprint developed by the FBI Identification Division on the
long paper bag was determined to be identical with the left index
fingerprint impression of Lee Harvey Oswald.
A latent palm print developed on the same paper was identified as being
identical with the right palm print of Oswald.
Mr. Frazier, after viewing the long brown paper bag found on the sixth
floor of the Texas School Book Depository Building, could not definitely
state whether the bag was the one observed by him in Oswald's possession on
the morning of November 22, 1953, Mr. Frazier's sister, Mrs. Linnie May
Randle, examined the bag and advised that it could have been the long paper
bag she saw Oswald place in her brother's car on that morning as they
departed for work.
In addition to having been seen by Mr. Frazier entering the building with a
brown paper package the morning of the assassination. Oswald was seen in
the building later that morning by several fellow employees. Between 11:30
and 12:00 noon, Oswald was observed on the fifth floor by three employees.
During this period, he requested one of the employees, Charles D. Givens,
who was describing in the elevator, to close the elevator gates when he got
off so he, Oswald, could summon the elevator to the sixth floor.
Events Following the Assassination
Oswald's Movements
In the search that was initiated within the Texas School Book Depository
Building by the police immediately after the assassination. Oswald was
determined to be still on the premises. He was seen by Roy S. Truly,
Warehouse Superintendent, and a police officer in a small lunchroom on the
second floor. He was not questioned at the time inasmuch as Mr. Truly
Identified him to the officer as an employee of the building. Shortly
thereafter, Mr. Truly accounted for the whereabouts of all of his employees
except Oswald and so advised the police.
Identified on Bus
A short time later, Oswald was observed by his former land-lady, Mrs. Mary
E. Bledsoe, 621 North Marsalis Avenue, boarding a city bus about seven
blocks from the scene of the assassination. Mrs. Bledsoe, who was riding on
the bus, stated that he appeared to be somewhat nervous. She also noted
that Oswald was wearing dirty clothing, a marked change from his usual neat
appearance.
Cecil J. McWatters, the driver of the bus, selected Oswald from a police
line-up as resembling a passenger who entered his bus on November 22, 1963,
in the general vicinity of the assassination. Mr. McWatters was unable to
definitely establish the time or place where Oswald boarded the bus but
recalled that it was shortly after the assassination. He remembered
commenting to this passenger, "I wonder where they shot the President," He
said the passenger replied, "They shot him in the temple."
Mr. McWatters also identified a bus transfer in Oswald's possession at the
time of his apprehension as one he had issued on November 22, 1963.
Mrs. Bledsoe stated that Oswald traveled less than two blocks on the bus.
She pointed out that traffic had become congested and a motorist alongside
commented to the bus driver that the President had been shot. Mrs. Bledsoe
said Oswald left the bus and disappeared in the crowd.
In a Taxicab
William W. Whaley, a taxicab driver, positively identified Oswald in a
police line-up on November 23, 1963, at the Dallas Police Department as a
passenger in his cab on November 22, 1963. He was unable to remember the
exact time, but was certain he picked up Oswald between 12:30 and 12:45 p.
m, at the Greyhound Bus Terminal Taxi Stand, approximately seven blocks
from the scene of the assassination, and transported him about two and
three quarter miles to the 500 block of North Beckley Street in Dallas. As
previously noted, the room rented by Oswald was at 1026 North Beckley
Street.
Arrival at Room
Mrs. Earlene Roberts, housekeeper at 1026 North Beckley Street, positively
identified Oswald as the man who had rented the room from her on October
14, 1963, under the name O. H. Lee. She said Oswald came home shortly after
she heard the news that the President had been shot. She estimated the time
as approximately 1:00 p. m. He obtained a jacket from his room and left
hurriedly. She also said that while she had never observed Oswald in
possession of a gun, she noticed a holster for a hand gun in his room late
on the afternoon of November 22, 1963.
Oswald's Murder of Patrolman Tippit
At about 1:15 p.m. on November 22, 1963, a taxicab driver, W. W. Scoggins,
observed a uniformed police officer (Patrolman J. D. Tippit) talking to a
man alongside the officer's police vehicle at 10th Street just east of
Patton Street. The driver said he heard a gun firing and saw the officer
fall beside the police car. His assailant ran west on 10th Street, south on
Patton Street, and then west on Jefferson Boulevard.
Eyewitnesses to Tippit's Killing
On November 23, 1963, this same taxi driver identified Oswald at a police
line-up as Officer Tippit's assailant. Another eyewitness to the killing
identified Lee Harvey Oswald as the assailant who drew a hand gun from
inside his shirt and shot Tippit.
C. Oswald's Apprehension
Acting on information from a police radio broadcast reporting that a
suspect in the killing of a police officer was seen entering the Texas
Theater, 231 West Jefferson Boulevard, Dallas police apprehended Oswald at
about 2:00 p. m., in the theater. One of the officers took a .38 Special
revolver out of Oswald's right hand.
Gun Misfired
One of the arresting officers stated that when Oswald was first approached
in the theater he attempted to pull a revolver from his shirt. In the
ensuing struggle with the police officer, Oswald pulled the trigger but the
gun did not fire. An examination of this gun confirmed that one of the six
cartridges taken from the weapon had a hammer indentation on the primer but
had not fired.
Revolver Traced to Oswald
FBI investigation determined that the .38 Special Smith and Wesson
revolver, serial number V510210, taken from Lee Harvey Oswald was shipped
on March 20, 1963, from George Rose and Company, Incorporated, Los Angeles,
California, to A. J. Hidell, Post Office Box 2915, Dallas, Texas. The cost
of the weapon was $29.95. Examination by the FBI Laboratory determined that
the writing on the mail order coupon used in the purchase of this weapon
was written by Lee Harvey Oswald.
Four cartridge cases found in the immediate vicinity of the shooting of
Officer Tippit on November 22, 1963, were furnished to the FBI by Dallas
police. An examination of these cartridge cases by the FBI Laboratory
determined that they had been fired in Oswald's .38 Special Smith and
Wesson revolver.
D. Interview of the Assassin
Lee Harvey Oswald, upon interview after his apprehension on November 22,
1963, admitted that he had been living at 1026 North Beckley Street:
Dallas, Texas, under the name of O. H. Lee. He also admitted that he was in
the Texas School Book Depository Building where he was employed, on
November 22, 1963. Oswald claimed, however, that he was on the first floor
of the building when the Presidential motorcade passed. Following the
shooting of the President, he said he believed that there would be no
further work performed and he decided to go home. He said he went to his
Dallas residence, changed his clothes, and then went to a movie.
Oswald admitted he carried a gun with him to the movie and stated that he
did this because he "felt like it." He offered no other explanation. Oswald
denied that he ever ordered, owned or possessed a rifle. However, in a
subsequent search of Oswald's residence In Irving, Texas, by officers of
the Dallas Police Department, a photograph was found showing Oswald wearing
a sidearm and holding a rifle. The rifle in the photograph is similar in
appearance to the 6.5 millimeter; bolt-action rifle which, as will be
shown, had been previously purchased by Oswald. Oswald, upon interview,
also denied bringing any package to work with him on the morning of
November 22, 1963.
Included in his personal effects at the time of Oswald's arrest were a
Selective Service card in the name of Alek James Hidell and a card issued
to Lee H. Oswald dated May 28, 1963, by the Fair Play for Cuba Committee.
Oswald said that he had been secretary of the New Orleans Chapter of the
Fair Play for Cuba Committee. Oswald refused to discuss the Selective
Service card in his possession. Examination in the FBI Laboratory
determined that the Selective Service card is fraudulent and counterfeit.
Oswald stated he had never been in Mexico except to visit Tijuana on one
occasion (date not furnished). He admitted having resided in the Soviet
Union for three years where he had many friends.
When a Special Agent of the FBI sought to obtain a physical description and
background data from Oswald, the latter commented: "I know your tactics;
there is a similar agency in Russia. You are using the soft touch and, of
course, the procedure in Russia would be quite different."
In accounting for his activities on the afternoon of November 22, 1963,
Oswald stated he was on the second floor of the Texas School Book
Depository Building at the time the building was searched. He stated Mr.
Truly, the building superintendent and a police officer entered the room
and Mr. Truly identified Oswald to the officer as an employee. Oswald
related that he then took the Coca-Cola which he had just purchased to the
first floor, where he stood around and then had lunch in the employees'
lunchroom on the second floor. Thereafter, he stated, he went outside the
building, stood around for five to ten minutes, and then went home because
he did not believe there was going to be any more work that day due to the
confusion in the building. Oswald advised that following arrival at his
residence he left to attend a movie where he was apprehended by the Dallas
police.
On subsequent interview on November 22 1963, Oswald denied telling Mr.
Frazier that the purpose his visit to Irving, Texas, on the night of
November 21, 1963, us to obtain some curtain rods from Mrs. Ruth Paine.
Oswald stated information previously furnished by him to the effect that he
rode a bus from his place of employment to his residence on November
22,1963, was not entirely true. On this latter Interview Oswald stated he
did board a city bus at his place of employment but after riding a block or
two he left the bus due to the traffic congestion and took a city cab to
his apartment on North Beckley Street. Oswald stated that after arriving at
his apartment he changed his shirt and trousers because they were dirty.
Oswald denied that he had kept a rifle in the garage at Mrs. Paine's
residence in Irving, Texas, but stated he did have some property, including
two sea bags and a couple of suitcases, stored there.
Oswald denied that he was a member of the Communist Party and stated he had
nothing against President Kennedy personally. He stated, however, that in
view of the charges against him he did not desire to discuss the matter
further. Oswald denied shooting President Kennedy and added that he was not
aware of the fact that Governor John Connally had also been shot.
The photograph of Oswald holding a rifle and wearing a holstered pistol was
exhibited to him and Oswald stated he would not discuss the photograph.
Oswald stated the head of the individual in the photograph could be his but
it was entirely possible that the police department had superimposed this
part of the photograph over the body of someone else.
E. The Assassination Weapon
During the police search of the Texas School Book Depository Building, a
rifle of Italian manufacture was found between some boxes on the sixth
floor near the northwest or opposite corner of the building from which the
fatal shots were fired. On examination, it was determined to be a 6.5
millimeter. Mannlicher-Carcano, bolt-action, clip-fed rifle, serial number
C 2766, equipped with a four-power telescopic sight of Japanese
manufacture.
A diagram of the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository Building
shows the location of the window from which the fatal shots were fired and
shows the location where the rifle was found by Dallas police officers.
A photograph of the rifle and of the blanket and long brown paper bag
previously referred to is included showing the relative size of each.
Rifle Ordered by Oswald
FBI investigation determined that this rifle was part of a shipment of
surplus Italian military weapons purchased for resale in the United States
by Klein's Sporting Goods, Chicago, Illinois. The company's records
disclose that the rifle, identified by serial number C 2766, was shipped,
with rifle scope mounted) on March 20, 1963, by parcel post to A. Hidell,
Post Office Box 2915, Dallas, Texas. The gun was ordered by airmail and the
envelope was postmarked March 12, 1963, at Dallas. Payment was made by U.S.
Postal Money Order 2, 202, 130, 462 in the amount of $21.45, issued at
Dallas, Texas, March 12, 1963, payable to Klein's Sporting Goods. It was
signed by A. Hidell, Post Office Box 2915, Dallas, Texas. Post Office Box
2915 had been rented on October 9, 1962, through an application signed by
Lee H. Oswald and was relinquished on May 14, 1963. The FBI Laboratory
conducted handwriting examinations based on known handwriting specimens of
Oswald's from a 1963 passport application and from a letter dated January
30, 1961, which he sent to John B. Connally, now the Governor of Texas,
formerly Secretary of the Navy.
The FBI laboratory examination of the handwriting on the envelope addressed
to Klein's Sporting Goods) in which the rifle order was contained,
determined that the envelope was addressed by Oswald.
The examination by the FBI Laboratory of the hand printing appearing on the
above order form for the rifle determined that it was prepared by Oswald.
The handwriting on the money order issued in payment for the rifle was
determined by the FBI Laboratory to have been prepared by Oswald.
It was determined by the FBI Laboratory examination that the handwriting on
the application for Post Office Box 2915 was prepared by Oswald.
It should be noted that the above rifle was sent to Oswald using the alias
A. J. Hidell, at Post Office Box 2915 in Dallas, on the same date that the
revolver previously referred to as having killed Officer Tippit was shipped
to him from Los Angeles.
Tests of Rifle
By actual tests It has been demonstrated by the FBI that a skilled person
can fire three accurately aimed shots with this weapon in five seconds.
Textile Examination
When apprehended, Oswald was wearing a long-sleeved, multicolored sport
shirt. A small tuft of textile fibers was found adhering to a jagged area
on the left side of the metal butt plate of the rifle owned by Oswald.
Included in this tuft were gray-black, dark blue, and orange-yellow fibers
which the FBI Laboratory determined matched in microscopic characteristics
the fibers in the shirt worn by Lee Harvey Oswald.
According to Mrs. Bledsoe, Oswald's former landlady, Oswald was wearing
this sport shirt on the bus shortly after the assassination.
Cartridges Fired in Oswald's Rifle
Three empty cartridge cases were found near the window from which the shots
were fired on the sixth floor of the building. These cartridge cases were
examined by the FBI Laboratory, and it was determined that all three had
been fired in the rifle owned by Oswald.
Immediately after President Kennedy and Governor Connally were admitted to
Parkland Memorial Hospital, a bullet was found on one of the stretchers.
Medical examination of the President's body revealed that one of the
bullets had entered just below his shoulder to the right of the spinal
column at an angle of 45 to 60 degrees downward, that there was no point of
exit, and that the bullet was not in the body. An examination of this
bullet by the FBI Laboratory determined that it had been fired from the
rifle owned by Oswald. (Exhibit 23)
Bullet fragments found in the automobile in which President Kennedy was
riding were examined in the FBI Laboratory. It was definitely established,
from markings on two of the fragments that they had been fired from the
rifle owned by Oswald.
Palm Print on Rifle
Dallas police lifted a latent impression off the underside of the gun
barrel near the end of the foregrip of the rifle recovered on the sixth
floor of the Texas School Book Depository Building. When the rifle was
properly assembled, this impression was concealed by the wooden foregrip.
This impression has been identified by the FBI Identification Division as
the right palm print of Lee Harvey Oswald.
Other Evidence
Cardboard Cartons
A latent palm print which was located on a cardboard carton found by police
in the room from which the shots were fired was identified as the right
palm print of Oswald. (Exhibit 26) One latent fingerprint and latent left
palm print developed on another box from this same room were also
identified as Oswald's impressions.
Paraffin Tests
Following Oswald's apprehension on November 22, 1963, Dr. M. F. Mason of
Dallas concluded, after tests, that paraffin casts made of Oswald's hands
contained traces of nitrate consistent with the residue on the hands of a
person who had recently handled or fired a firearm.
Photograph
Film which was furnished by spectators at the scene of the assassination
was reviewed. One film shows an object in the window of the sixth-floor
room from which the shots were fired as the President's car passed the
Depository Building.. This object is not susceptible to identification
because of the quality of the picture. (Exhibit 29)
Map in Oswald's Effects
In the search of Oswald's belongings at his Dallas Beckley Street room,
police found a street map of Dallas and vicinity which bore markings to
indicate particular locations. (Exhibit 30) Mrs. Ruth Paine stated she gave
an ENCO map of Dallas and vicinity to Oswald on October 7, 1963, when he
was looking for employment. While this map may have been used by Oswald in
seeking employment, the significance of the markings is not known.
G. Prior Similar Act
Mrs. Marina Oswald was interviewed on December 3, 1963, by the FBI
concerning an undated note which was called to the attention of the FBI the
same day. According to Mrs. Oswald this note, which was written in Russian,
was found by her one night last spring in a room where her husband kept his
things at their residence at 214 West Neely Street, Dallas. English
translation, Exhibit 32) On that night, although Oswald told her he was
going to attend a typewriting class at an evening school in Dallas, he came
rushing into the house around midnight very pale and agitated. Mrs. Oswald
asked what was wrong had he replied that he had tried to kill General
Walker by shooting him with a rifle and he did not know If he had hit him.
At this time Oswald told her that General Walker was the leader of the
fascists in Dallas and it was necessary to remove him. Mrs. Oswald said she
thought the rifle used by her husband to shoot at General Walker and the
rifle he kept in Mrs. Paine's garage in Irving, Texas, were one and the
same.
Mrs. Oswald said she kept the note written in Russian by Oswald, which was
evidently a farewell letter, and threatened Oswald with going to the police
with the letter if he ever planned another such crazy scheme. She advised
that as a result of this incident she insisted that they move from Dallas.
The writing on this note has been identified by the FBI Laboratory as being
handwriting of Lee Harvey Oswald.
It is noted that former Major General Edwin A Walker resides in Dallas and
a rifle bullet was shot through the window of his home on April 10, 1963,
narrowly missing General Walker. The person firing the shot was never
identified.
Investigation showed that Mr. and Mrs. Oswald resided at 214 West Neely
Street in Dallas during April, 1963, and left that address on April 24,
1963, when they moved to New Orleans. At that time, in April, 1963, Oswald
was renting mall box number 2915 in the main post office on Ervay Street in
Dallas, which he relinquished as of May 14, 1963.
In this note Oswald also mentioned 'You and the baby." In April, 1963. Mrs.
Oswald had one child and the second child was born October 20, 1963.
The bullet which was fired into General Walker's house on April 10, 1963
was recovered by the Dallas Police Department. Examination of this bullet
by the FBI Laboratory disclosed that while the bullet is extremely
distorted and mutilated it has the general characteristics of those bullets
fired from the 6. 5 millimeter Mannlicher-Carcano rifle belonging to
Oswald. This rifle was found in the Texas School Book Depository Building
following the assassination of President Kennedy. Because of the mutilation
of this bullet and because the gun barrel may have changed since April 10,
1963, it was not possible to determine whether or not this bullet was fired
from Oswald's rifle.
III. LEE HARVEY OSWALD
A. Before Assassination of President Kennedy
Prior to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22,
1963 the FBI had investigated Lee Harvey Oswald to determine if, as a
result of his residence in the Soviet Union, he had been recruited by
Soviet intelligence and to ascertain the nature of his activities in
connection with the pro-Castro Fair Play for Cuba Committee. Oswald was
interviewed by the FBI concerning these matters on three separate
occasions. The investigation, of which these interviews were a part,
developed the following information concerning Oswald prior to November 22,
1963.
Biographical Data
Lee Harvey Oswald was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on October 18, 1939.
His mother was the former Marguerite Claverie. His father, Robert E. Lee
Oswald, had died a short time before Lee Harvey was born.
In his early years, Oswald lived at home and, in accordance with moves the
family made, attended schools in New Orleans, Louisiana; Fort Worth, Texas;
and New York, New York. According to his mother, during that period of time
he was a studious type who read books that were considered "deep."
An acquaintance of Oswald's during part of that period said that he was a
"peculiar boy. " It was said that he kept very much to himself in high
school, had few friends and very little social life. He preferred to sit at
home and read, which reportedly provoked many arguments between him and his
mother, who urged that he seek employment instead. He did work for a brief
time with an import-export company in New Orleans.
Military Service
When he was 17 years old, Oswald enlisted in the United States Marine Corps
on October 24 , 1956, at Dallas, Texas. He served in California, Florida,
and the Far East. He attained the rank of Private First Class and qualified
as a sharpshooter.
Oswald's Marine Corps service record revealed that he was convicted by two
summary courts-martial hearings, both in 1958. The first was based on the
charge that he possessed a privately owned weapon, a .22 caliber derringer,
that was not registered. The second was based on the charge that he had
wrongfully used provoking words to a staff noncommissioned officer.
Oswald was released from active duty on September 11, 1959, on a
"dependency" release and transferred to the Marine Corps Reserve with
obligated service until December 8, 1962. However, he was later given an
undesirable discharge, effective September 13, 1960, based on information
that he had taken steps to renounce his American citizenship and become a
citizen of the Soviet Union.
Defection to USSR
His mother told FBI agents on April 28, 1960, that, after his release from
the Marine Corps in September, 1959, he visited her in Fort Worth. He said
he would like to travel and mentioned he might go to Cuba. After spending a
few days with her, he left for New Orleans, indicating he planned to resume
work at the Import-export company where he had been employed for a short
time prior to his Marine Corps enlistment. Not long after, however, she
received a letter from him in which he said he had booked passage on a ship
going to Europe. In it, he also said, "Just remember above all else that my
values are very different from Robert or yours." The Robert to whom he
referred is an older brother.
1. Preparation for Trip
Subsequent investigation disclosed that Oswald apparently had more definite
plans about travel than he had indicated to his mother at the time of his
visit with her. He had been issued a United States passport on September
10, 1959 (the day before his release from the Marine Corps), at Los
Angeles. In the application for the passport, he stated he planned to
depart the United States on September 21, 1959, for a four-month trip to
attend the "College of A. Schweitzer" (sic) in Switzerland and the
University of Turku in Finland. He planned tourist visits to Switzerland,
Finland, Cuba, Dominican Republic, England, France, Germany, and Russia.
His mother later advised that some-time during the Spring or Summer of
1959. Oswald had made arrangements to attend the Albert Schweitzer College
in Switzerland. She had been advised by the college that he was expected to
arrive in April, 1960. School officials disclosed that he had not attended
this College although he had paid a $25 deposit toward the school fee
during June of 1959.
2. Saved Money in Marine Corps
Oswald's mother said that he had saved about $1,600 while in the Marine
Corps. She also stated that to repay $100 she owed him, she had mailed him
a check for $20 in December, 1959, to the Metropole Hotel in Moscow, but
that he had returned the check and requested cash." She later mailed him
$20 in cash to the same address but the letter containing the money was
returned to her in February, 1960, showing that he did not reside at the
Metropole Hotel. In January, 1960, she also sent him a $25 bank draft
purchased at the First National Bank in Fort Worth, Texas.
3. Affirmed Allegiance to USSR
Records of the United States Department of State disclose that Oswald
appeared at the American Embassy in Moscow on October 31, 1959, and stated
that he wished to renounce his American citizenship. He said he had applied
to become a citizen of the Soviet Union and presented his passport and an
undated, handwritten statement In which he requested his American
citizenship be revoked, indicating that he had entered the Soviet Union for
the express purpose of applying for citizenship. He further indicated the
step was taken for political reasons. He stated, "I affirm that my
allegiance is to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics." Displaying an
aggressive, arrogant, and uncooperative attitude to the American Embassy
official, Oswald declared, "I am a Marxist."
4. Disillusioned with Life in U.S.
Newspaper reports of Oswald's defection to the Soviet Union quoted him as
being completely disillusioned with life In the United States. He
reportedly stated he had become interested in Marxism at the age of
fifteen, that he had studied Marxist economic theories, and had regarded
Karl Marx' book, "Das Kapital," as a bible for him. He was quoted as
stating that he wanted to spend the rest of his life in the Soviet Union
and never wanted to return to the United States.
5. Offered To Disclose Military Information
During his interview at the American Embassy, Oswald said he had been a
radar operator in the Marine Corps. Oswald did receive training as a radar
operator while in the Marine Corps. He said he told Soviet officials that
as a Soviet citizen he would make known to them information he possessed
about the Marine Corps and his specialty, indicating he might know
something of special interest to them.
6. Accepted as Resident Alien
The "Washington Post and Times Herald" for November 16, 1959, carried an
article reporting that Oswald's "dream" of achieving Soviet citizenship
appeared unattainable. Oswald reportedly had stated that Soviet authorities
would not grant him citizenship but had said he could live in Russia as a
resident alien.
Return to the U.S.
In 1961 Oswald initiated efforts to return to the United States. State
Department records contain an undated letter from him postmarked Minsk,
USSR, February 5, 1961, requesting the return of his American passport. He
said he would like to return to the United States if "we could come to some
agreement concerning the dropping of any legal proceedings against me." He
advised he could not leave Minsk without permission and was, therefore,
writing instead of visiting the American Embassy. Another letter was
received from him postmarked March 5, 1961 at Minsk in which he requested
that a questionnaire be sent him since a personal interview was precluded
because he could not leave Minsk without permission. He addressed another
letter to the American Embassy in Moscow in May, 1961, reiterating his
desire to return to the United States contingent upon an agreement there
would be no legal action taken against him upon his return. Meanwhile,
Oswald had married a Soviet citizen, Marina Nikolaevna Prusakova, on April
30, 1961. The following month, he notified the American Embassy of his
marriage.
1. Denied Any Allegiance to USSR
On July 8, 1961, Oswald appeared at the American Embassy and advised he had
taken no oath of allegiance of any kind to the Soviet Union. He said he had
not been required to sign any paper in connection with his employment in a
radio and television factory in Minsk. He exhibited a Soviet internal
"stateless" passport, number 311479, issued January 14, 1960. This was
considered by the State Department as prima-facie evidence that Oswald was
not regarded as a Soviet citizen.
2. Passport Renewed
On July 10, 1961, Oswald executed an application for renewal of passport at
the American Embassy. On August 18, 1961, the State Department authorized
the American Embassy In Moscow to renew it for direct travel to the United
States. On October 4 1961, Oswald asked the American Embassy to assist him
in obtaining exit visas for himself and his wife.
3. Letter to Secretary of Navy
In February, 1962, John B. Connally, former Secretary of the Navy, received
a letter dated January 30, 1961, from Oswald who was still in the Soviet
Union. (The 1961 date was possibly an error on Oswald's part.) In the
letter, he protested his "belated dishonorable discharge" from the Marine
Corps Reserve. (On November 22, 1963, a copy of this letter to Mr. Connally
was forwarded to the FBI by the Navy Department.) (Exhibit 17)
4. Letter to Marine Corps #a41
On April 26, 1962, the Office of Naval Intelligence in Washington, D. C. ,
furnished the FBI a copy of a letter dated March 22, 1962, addressed to R.
MSS. Tompkins, Brigadier General, Marine Corps, Assistant Director of
Personnel, from Oswald. Oswald acknowledged a letter from Tompkins which
described the process by which his undesirable discharge was accomplished.
He stated, in part, "My request to the Secretary of the Navy, his referral
to you and your letter to me, did not say anything about a Review which is
what I was trying to arrange." Oswald reiterated that he had violated no
United States laws and stated, "Therefore you have no legel (sic) or even
moral right to reverse my honorable discharge from the U.S. M. C. Sept. 11,
1961, into an undeserable (sic) discharge." He further stated, "You may
consider this letter a request by me for a full review of my case . . . ,"
and indicated that he was prepared to appear before a review board after
his return to the United States.
5. Repatriation Loan
State Department records show that on February 24, 1962, Oswald filed an
application at the American Embassy in Moscow for a repatriation loan. This
loan, in the amount of $435.71, was approved by the State Department on
March 7, 1962. A check of State Department records on November 22, 1963,
disclosed that it was repaid in full following Oswald's return to the
United States. This financial assistance loan was made under regulations of
the State Department authorizing loans for repatriation of destitute United
States nationals who are in complete and unquestioned possession of their
citizenship rights and entitled to receive United States passports. (For a
copy of State Department regulations concerning such loans see Exhibit 34.)
6. Arrival in U.S.
State Department records show that the American Embassy in Moscow renewed
Oswald's passport on May 24, 1962, for his direct return to the United
States. On that date, Oswald and his wife recorded at the Embassy the birth
of a child, June Lee Oswald, to them on February 15, 1962.
Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service disclosed that Lee H.
Oswald; his wife, Marina; and their daughter, June, arrived in the United
States aboard the SS "Maasdam" on June 13, 1962, at Hoboken, New Jersey. He
was admitted as a U. S. citizen, and his wife was admitted with an
Immigration visa as the spouse of a U. S. citizen. They were destined to
7313 Davenport Street, Fort Worth, Texas, the residence of his brother
Robert.
An Immigration officer advised that Oswald told him he had threatened to
renounce his U.S. citizenship but had never carried out the threat. He said
that, while living in the Soviet Union, he had worked as a mechanic, had
never voted there, and had held no position in the Russian Government.
FBI Investigation Instituted
In view of the circumstances surrounding Oswald's trip and residence in the
Soviet Union, his re-entry into the United States presented the possibility
that he had been recruited by the Soviets for an Intelligence mission in
this country. In that connection, an FBI investigation of Oswald had been
instituted on May 31, 1962, so that the FBI would be notified of his
re-entry by Immigration authorities. The purpose of this investigation was
to determine if Oswald had been recruited by a Soviet intelligence service.
This investigation included interviews with Oswald.
1. First Interview with Oswald
Oswald was interviewed by agents of the FBI on June 26, 1962, at Fort
Worth, Texas. During the interview, he was arrogant and generally
uncooperative. He was curt and short in many of his answers.
Oswald denied that he had renounced his U. S. citizenship or had sought
Soviet citizenship. He stated that Soviet officials had never attempted to
obtain information from him about his knowledge of or experiences in the U.
S. Marine Corps. He said that never at any time had he given the Soviets
any information which could be used to the detriment of the United States
and that the Soviets had never sought such information from him. He also
denied ever having offered to reveal to the Soviets information he had
acquired as a radar operator in the Marine Corps.
Oswald also denied that he had been recruited by any Soviet intelligence
organization and stated that he had made no deal with the Soviets in order
to obtain permission to return to the United States.
Oswald claimed that newspaper reports concerning his trip to the Soviet
Union had been greatly exaggerated. He said he had taught himself the
Russian language while in the Marine Corps and could, therefore, speak
Russian on his arrival in that country. He declined to say why he went to
Russia but denied that he went out of admiration for the Soviet system or
because of lack of sympathy for the United States. He admitted that in the
past he had been interested in Marxist economic theories but denied ever
having been a member of the Communist Party In the United States. He later
added that he went to Russia to "see the country."
Oswald said that the "exaggerated newspaper reports" which had appeared in
October, 1959, when he arrived in the Soviet Union had depicted him as
being out of sympathy with the United States and had made him look
attractive to the Russians. As a result, he said, he received better
treatment than he otherwise would have received. He stated that on his
arrival in the Soviet Union in October, 1959, he had been sent immediately
to Minsk and given a job as a metal worker in a television factory where he
read blueprints and translated blueprint instructions. He said he earned 80
rubles per month, the equivalent of $72 in American money, and was
permitted to reside at Minsk as a resident alien.
Oswald said the Soviets had made it difficult for his wife to leave the
Soviet Union and that the process of obtaining permission for her departure
had been lengthy and had required much paper work. He added that, under
Soviet law, his wife was required to keep the Soviet Embassy in this
country advised of her current address and he planned to contact the Soviet
Embassy in Washington, D. C., within a few days to comply with that
regulation.
Oswald concluded with the observation that he held no brief for the Soviets
or the Soviet system and agreed that, in the event he was contacted by
Soviet intelligence agents in the United States, he would promptly notify
the FBI.
2. Reinterview by FBI
As a follow-up, Oswald was reinterviewed on August 16, 1962, in Fort Worth,
Texas. He stated that he had informed the Soviet Embassy in Washington, D.
C. of his wife's current address and that she would advise the Soviet
Embassy of any future changes of address.
Oswald said that his undesirable discharge from the U. S. Marine Corps
Reserve had not been reviewed, and he did not know when his case would be
heard. He volunteered the information that he had never enjoyed his service
in the Marine Corps and added that he had not enjoyed his trip to the
Soviet Union any more than he had enjoyed his service in the Marine Corps.
Oswald advised that no one acting in behalf of the Soviet Union had
contacted him since his return to the United States. He again denied that
he had, on October 31, 1959, or at any other time, requested that his U. S.
citizenship be revoked. He also denied again that he ever took any steps to
apply for Soviet citizenship and stated that he never at any time affirmed
allegiance to the Soviet Union or indicated a willingness to do so.
Oswald said he had been interviewed by representatives of the Soviet MVD
(Ministry of Internal Affairs) when he first arrived in the Soviet Union
and again before he left. He stated that he was not asked to undertake
anything or do anything for the MVD and that he never made any "deals" with
the MVD. He declared that no representative of the MVD or any other Soviet
intelligence agency had attempted to recruit him and that no one in the
Soviet Union had ever attempted to elicit from him any secret information
concerning the United States. He again denied that he told the Soviets he
would make available to them information Concerning his U. S. Marine Corps
specialty.
Oswald stated that he might have to return to the Soviet Union in about
five years so that his wife could visit her relatives but that be had
formulated no definite plans in this regard. He still declined to explain
why he went to the Soviet Union. He said that he considered it "nobody's
business." He finally stated that he went to the Soviet Union for his "own
personal reasons" and that it was a "personal matter." He also said, "I
went and I came back. It was something that I did."
Oswald again agreed to notify the FBI if at any time any individual
contacted him under circumstances indicating that he represented the Soviet
Union. He stated that he could see no reason why the Soviets would desire
to contact him but promised to report any such contacts to the FBI.
Related Subversive Activities
1. Communist Party, USA
In September, 1962, Oswald was reliably reported to be a subscriber to "The
Worker," an east coast communist newspaper. In July, 1963, the FBI learned
that Oswald had advised this publication of his change of address.
In June, 1963, Oswald notified "The Worker" that he had been a long-time
subscriber and had formed a Fair Play for Cuba Committee in New Orleans in
an effort to attract the broad mass of people to a popular struggle. He
also sent honorary membership cards to Gus Hall, general secretary, and
Benjamin Davis, Jr. national secretary of the Communist Party, USA. He
asked "The Worker" to send him as much literature as possible so that he
could pass it out with Fair P lay for Cuba leaflets.
2. Fair Play for Cuba Committee
During April, 1963, Oswald was in contact with the Fair Play for Cuba
Committee in New York City. The Fair Play for Cuba Committee is a
pro-Castro organization which is known to have been heavily infiltrated by
the Communist Party and the Socialist Workers Party and is known to have
been furnished funds by the Cuban Government for the Committee's use in
support of its activities in the United States.
Oswald advised the Committee that he had passed out pamphlets for it and
had utilized a placard around his neck reading: "Hands Off Cuba - Viva
Fidel."
Records of the New Orleans Police Department show that on August 9, 1963,
Oswald was arrested by officers of the New Orleans Police Department. He
was charged with "Disturbing the Peace by Creating a Scene." The records
disclose that Oswald claimed to be a member of the Fair Play for Cuba
Committee, that he was passing out circulars in the 700 block of Canal
Street, and became involved in an argument with three Cuban immigrants.
Municipal Court records at New Orleans disclose that Oswald appeared before
Second Municipal Court Judge Edwin A. Babylon on August 12, 1963, and
entered a plea of guilty at which time he was sentenced to pay a fine of
$10 or serve ten days in jail. He elected to pay the fine. Court records
further disclose that three persons who were arrested with Oswald were
discharged.
Oswald Again Interviewed
At his request, Oswald was interviewed on August 10, 1963, at the First
District Station, New Orleans Police Department, by an FBI agent. Oswald
advised he had established residence in New Orleans about four months
earlier and that after coming to New Orleans he had begun reading various
types of literature distributed by the Fair Play for Cuba Committee. He
said that he did not consider the Fair Play for Cuba Committee to be a
communist or communist-controlled group and expressed the belief that the
main objective of the group was to prevent the United States from attacking
Cuba or interfering in Cuban political affairs.
Activities of One A. J. Hidell
Oswald said that he had sent a letter to the Fair Play for Cuba Committee
Headquarters in New York City together with $5 advising that he wished to
join this group. According to Oswald, in late May, 1963, he received a Fair
Play for Cuba Committee national membership card dated May 28, 1963, and
signed by V. T. Lee. Shortly thereafter, he said, he also received a
membership card for the New Orleans Chapter of the Fair Play for Cuba
Committee dated June 6, 1963, and signed by one A. J. Hidell. Oswald
exhibited both cards. (Exhibits 11, 35) Oswald said that subsequent to
joining the Fair Play for Cuba Committee he had received a monthly circular
from this group and had spoken with Hidell on the telephone on several
occasions concerning general matters regarding Fair Play for Cuba Committee
business. However, he said he had never personally met Hidell and could not
recall the latter's telephone number. Oswald claimed Hidell had previously
had a telephone but that it had been discontinued.
Oswald further stated that the Fair Play for Cuba Committee did not have
any offices in New Orleans but that he had attended two meetings of the
group at private residences. He claimed that at each meeting there were
about five individuals present to whom he was introduced only on a
first-name basis; that he did not recall any of the names of these persons;
and that at each meeting a different group of individuals was in
attendance. Oswald claimed one meeting was at his home and, when asked how
he had notified other members concerning this meeting, he declined to
comment. Oswald claimed that Hidell had written him on August 7, 1963, and
asked him to distribute some Fair Play for Cuba Committee literature in the
downtown New Orleans area. Oswald said he had accordingly undertaken to
distribute this literature on August 9, 1963. He had previously received it
from the Fair Play for Cuba Committee Headquarters. While engaged in this
activity, he had been accosted by three Cubans who subsequently became
involved in a heated argument with him. This led to the arrest of Oswald
and the three Cubans by local police.
Investigation by the FBI in New Orleans at that time did not disclose the
existence of a person in New Orleans named A. J. Hidell.
Publicly Avowed Marxist
During his appearance on the radio program, "Conversation Carte Blanche,"
broadcast on August 21, 1963, over Station WDSU, New Orleans. Oswald was
asked whether or not he agreed with the speech of Fidel Castro on July 26,
1963, in which Castro described President Kennedy as "A ruffian and a
thief" In reply, Oswald said: "I would not agree with that particular
wording. However, I and the Fair Play for Cuba Committee does (sic) think
that the U. S. Government through certain agencies, namely the State
Department and CIA, has made monumental mistakes in its relations with
Cuba. Mistakes which are pushing Cuba to the sphere of activity of, let's
say, a very dogmatic communist country as China is."
No other direct mention was made of President Kennedy during this program.
During the course of the program, Oswald acknowledged that he was a
"Marxist" and identified himself as Secretary of the New Orleans chapter of
the Fair Play for Cuba Committee.
Oswald's Return to Texas
On October 1, 1963, the rental agent for the Oswald residence In New
Orleans advised the FBI that, on September 25, 1963, Oswald and his family
had vacated the apartment at 4905 Magazine Street and that Mrs. Oswald and
the child had departed in a station wagon with Texas license plates driven
by the woman who had, about June, 1963, brought Mrs. Oswald to New Orleans
from Texas. The rental agent also stated that Mrs. Oswald was expecting a
baby and that the Oswald's still owed $17 rent for the apartment.
Investigation was initiated to ascertain the whereabouts of the Oswald's.
In October, 1963, the FBI received reports that a person Possibly identical
with Lee Harvey Oswald had been in Mexico City during the latter part of
September and the first part of October, 1963, where he was in touch with
the Soviet Embassy to inquire if a response had been received from
Washington. It was later determined that this referred to his request for a
visa to enter the Soviet Union.
B. After Assassination of President Kennedy
After President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, and
Lee Harvey Oswald was implicated, the investigation of Oswald was expanded
to include every facet of his life.
Early Years
Following his birth in New Orleans, Louisiana, on October 18, 1939, Lee
Harvey Oswald's life was marked during his early years by frequent changes
of residence and attendance at various elementary schools.
1. Elementary School Period
During the first five years of his life, Oswald's family moved from the
place of his birth, New Orleans, to Dallas, Texas, and then to Fort Worth,
Texas. They resided in what was known as the Benbrook suburb of Fort Worth
prior to making another move to Covington, Louisiana.
Covington Grammar School records show Oswald attended that school from
September, 1946, to January 24, 1947. His grades were good, and he received
a "B" in conduct. The records indicate he left the school because the
family was moving to Texas.
According to Oswald's brother, Robert, the family moved at that time to
Fort Worth. School records there show Oswald attended the Ridglea
Elementary School in that city from 1947 to 1952. He left when the family
moved to New York City.
2. Junior High School Period
Following his arrival in New York City, Oswald attended Junior High School
#117 in the Bronx. School records there give evidence of personal
difficulties in Oswald's life. He attended the school from September 30,
1952, until January 16, 1953. During that period, he was absent a total of
48 days and failed six of nine courses.
a. Psychiatric Analysis in New York
Oswald's excessive absences from school were brought to the attention of
the Children's Court, Probation Bureau, and after a court hearing he was
remanded to the Bronx Youth House for psychiatric study when he was 13
years of age. The results of this study were not available previously and
were brought to the attention of the FBI on November 27, 1963, when a
presiding judge of the Appellate Division instructed that Oswald's record
should be revealed because it was now pertinent to a matter of national
interest. Ordinarily, such records cannot be divulged because they are
confidential under law.
The psychiatric report disclosed that Oswald displayed traits indicative of
a greatly disturbed person. He was described as a seriously detached,
withdrawn youngster and diagnosed as having a personality-pattern
disturbance with schizoid features and passive-aggressive tendencies. He
was said to be suffering the impact of existing emotional isolation and
deprivation, lack of affection, absence of family life, and rejection by a
self-involved and conflicted mother.
The report further indicated that Oswald enjoyed a fantasy life revolving
around his own omnipotence and power-- a fantasy life through which he
tried to compensate for his frustrations, He acknowledged fantasies about
being powerful and sometimes hurting or killing people.
The report also indicated that Oswald disliked everyone. He maintained a
barrier between himself and others, exhibiting strongly resistive and
negativistic features.
During most of the period that he was being afforded psychiatric study,
Oswald attended Junior High School #44 in the Bronx. The records there show
his attendance from March 23, 1953, to January 12, 1954. They indicate an
improvement in attendance. He was absent only 18 full days and 11 half days
in an attendance period of 200 days. His grades similarly improved, and he
passed six of eight subjects.
Notations in the school record also show, however, that Oswald had a quick
temper, that he constantly lost control, and was involved in fights with
others. This was supported by the psychiatric report, wherein it was noted
that, while his attendance at school had improved, his conduct was still
unsatisfactory. He consistently refused to salute the flag, yet his
occupational goal was to join the Army.
Oswald's last report at that school showed he received a satisfactory
rating in courtesy, social participation, and effort. He was rated
unsatisfactory in congeniality, self-control and dependability. An
instructor recalled him as a quiet, lonely boy who appeared to be
preoccupied and living in a dream world.
The psychiatric progress report on Oswald in November, 1953, showed that he
had improved in behavior and would then salute the flag. Despite this
improvement, it was said he should receive psychotherapeutic treatment. His
mother, according to the report, had consistently refused to contact
Oswald's probation officer during his period of supervision because of her
employment, and she objected to the recommended psychotherapeutic treatment
in view of the progress he was making. In January, 1954, she wrote a letter
to the probation officer indicating that she intended to move to New
Orleans. The case was discharged by the court shortly thereafter in view of
the fact that Oswald was no longer in New York.
b. Return to New Orleans
Upon return to New Orleans, the Oswald family took up residence at 1454 St.
Mary's Street. They remained at this address until approximately May, 1955,
when they moved to 126 Exchange Place, New Orleans. Neighbors in the
vicinity of these two addresses advised that Oswald and his mother were
hard-pressed financially during this period. They also said that Oswald
appeared to have no close friends and stayed at home a great deal of the
time.
While residing at these addresses, Oswald attended the Beauregard Junior
High School, New Orleans, from the Spring of 1954 until June, 1955. He
entered as an eighth-grade student arid left after completion of his ninth
year. His academic performance was rated satisfactory and his grades ranged
from mid-to-high 70's in courses which included civics, general
mathematics, physical education, science, English, and industrial arts.
Nine individuals acquainted with Oswald during his attendance at this
school described him as a "loner" who appeared to have no close friends. He
read a great deal and did not appear to have an interest in group
activities.
3. High School Period
Oswald began attending high school in New Orleans. He entered the Warren
Easton High School there on September 8, 1955. School records show he liked
courses in civics, mathematics, and science. He least liked English and
art. He listed his vocational choices as biology and mechanical drawing. On
October 14, 1955, he withdrew from the school, indicating that his family
was leaving the area.
Oswald did not leave the New Orleans area immediately instead, remained out
of school for a year. In the Fall of and the Winter of 1956, he was
employed in New Orleans as a messenger and office boy for several firms. He
worked for Gerard F. Tujague, Inc., as a messenger from November 10, 1955,
until January 14, 1956.
Mr. Tujague recalls Oswald as a quiet, nonsocial person who normally would
go home to eat lunch with his mother. Four of his former fellow employees
there recalled him but they were unable to add any additional pertinent
information about his activities there.
In January, 1956, Oswald worked briefly as an office boy and runner for J.
R. Michels, Inc., in New Orleans, and subsequently was employed for a
period of "not more than a few months" as a messenger for the Pfisterer
Dental Laboratory in the same city.
A former employee of Oswald at the Pfisterer Dental Laboratory in New
Orleans advised on November 23, 1963, that in a discussion he had with
Oswald, when they worked together. Oswald had made the statement that the
President at that time, Dwight D. Eisenhower, was exploiting the working
class. According to this individual, Oswald had added, in a most serious
vein, that he would like to kill President Eisenhower.
This former co-worker recalled that Oswald had been very serious about what
he considered to be the virtues of communism and had praised Soviet leader
Nikita Khrushchev with the observation that he was sincere in attempting to
improve the lot of working people.
When Oswald resigned from his employment at the Pfisterer Dental
Laboratory, he indicated that he was going to Texas, where he had a job
selling shoes.
On September 4, 1956, Oswald registered at the Arlington Heights Senior
High School in Fort Worth, Texas. Oswald's records were transferred to
Arlington Heights Senior High School from Warren Easton High School,
indicating he had not attended school elsewhere during the intervening
period. However, Oswald's return to high school was only for a brief
period. it will be recalled that he enlisted In the Marine Corps on October
24, 1956.
At this point it should be noted that in the process of verifying and
checking Oswald's residences, attendance at various schools, and employment
up to the time he entered military service, numerous individuals were
interviewed. Many with whom he had come into contact during that period did
not recall him. Those who did could offer little other than that there was
common agreement that he was a "loner" and a seeming misfit who was quite
often rude, arrogant, and self-centered.
Associates during Oswald's brief high school days 'said he appeared to be
bitter about the fact that his lather had died before he was born. He felt,
they said, that he had received "a raw deal out of life." This bitterness
did not, however, appear to be directed against anyone in particular, they
said.
Military Duty
Oswald's active duty tours in military service as obtained from his Marine
Corps records show the following assignments:
10/26/56 - 1/20/57 Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California
1/20/57 - 2/26/57 Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, California
3/18/57 - 5/3/57 Marine Air Detachment Naval Air Technical Training Center
Jacksonville, Florida
5/4/57 - 6/19/57 Detached Duty, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi
7/9/57 - 9/12/57 Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California
9/12/57 - 12/22/58 Fleet Marines, Pacific Area
12/22/58 - 9/11/59 Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California
During the period that Oswald was in the U. S. Marine Corps, he received
training in the use of the M- I rifle, Browning Automatic Rifle, riot gun,
and .45 caliber pistol.
Peter F. Connor, a former Marine who served at the Naval Air Station at
Atsugi, Japan, during parts of 1957 and 1958 with Oswald, said Oswald had
the reputation of being a good worker, but he also said Oswald was a "real
sloppy Marine." He described Oswald as a troublemaker who engaged in "a few
fights." In connection with Oswald's being court-martialed for possession
of an unregistered, privately owned weapon, he recalled that Oswald had a
privately owned derringer in the barracks at Atsugi and that on one
occasion it discharged, grazing Oswald. This incident is corroborated by
Marine Corps records.
A number of Oswald's other fellow Marines recalled him as a self contained,
disorganized young man with no friends. They said he kept to himself and
was resentful of authority.
Some also commented on Oswald's procommunist tendencies. He was said to
have expressed admiration for the Soviet form of government, and he did, as
he had said, study the Russian language while stationed in Japan. A fellow
Marine also noted that Oswald received a newspaper, "The Worker," which, as
was previously noted, is an east coast communist newspaper. They said he
also subscribed to several Soviet publications. On one occasion in a
barracks discussion, Oswald took a pro-Castro stand.
Trip to the Soviet Union
After Oswald left the Marine Corps and briefly visited his mother in Fort
Worth in September, 1959, he went to New Orleans where he boarded the SS.
"Marion Lykes" for Europe. The ship's manifest shows that the ship departed
port September 19, 1959, and that Lee H. Oswald was listed as a passenger
on the vessel. It also shows that he paid $215 fare, plus $5.75 tax.
Oswald' s American passport, which was among his personal effects at the
time of his death, contained stamps indicating he arrived at Le Havre,
France, on October 8, 1959. He left Le Havre the same day and arrived at
Southampton, England, the following day. The day after that he embarked at
London Airport and arrived in Helsinki, Finland, on October 10, 1959. Five
days later, he arrived in the Soviet Union.
Oswald's Suicide Attempt
Among Oswald's personal effects obtained following his arrest was a
hand-printed "Historic Diary" which deals largely with his activities in
the Soviet Union from the time he arrived in Moscow, until his arrival in
Minsk on January 7, 1960. In this diary, Oswald sets forth, again, the
reasons he desired to "dissolve" his United States citizenship. The diary
also contains an account of Oswald's attempted suicide on October 21, 1959,
when he was ordered to leave the Soviet Union by 8 that day when his visa
expired. Oswald was "shocked," his "dreams were shattered," and he
attempted suicide by slashing his left wrist. He was found about an hour
later by his Intourist guide and rushed to a hospital where five stitches
were taken in his wrist and he was confined in the "insanity" ward.
Life in the Soviet Union
He details his efforts to obtain Russian citizenship and to renounce his
American citizenship. He also related that he was told on January 4, 1960,
that he could stay in Russia and would receive money from the "Red Cross"
to pay his hotel bills and expenses. The following day, he received 5,000
rubles and, on January 7, 1960, left Moscow by train for Minsk. His Moscow
hotel bill was 2,200 rubles and the train ticket to Minsk, 150 rubles. On
that date, he states, he wrote to his mother and brother indicating that he
did not want to contact them again. He said he was beginning a new life and
added, "I don't want any part of the old."
He related that on January 8, 1960, he was welcomed to Minsk by the mayor.
He obtained a job earning 700 rabies per month in a factory and, in
addition, received a check from the "Red Cross" for 700 rubles on the fifth
of every month. Oswald claimed he earned as much as the director of the
factory.
On May 1, 1960, a Soviet acquaintance suggested that he return to the
United States and described many things not known to him about the USSR
which made him begin to feel uneasy. The entries for the period August -
September, 1960, indicate that he began to realize the disadvantages of the
society in which he was living and working and, in January, 1961, he was
reconsidering his desire to stay in the Soviet Union. Thereafter, he took
steps to return to the United States.
The FBI Laboratory has identified the handwriting and hand-printing in the
diary as Oswald's.
Oswald's Version of Soviet Payments
It will be recalled that Oswald, upon his return from the Soviet Union,
consistently denied that he had in any way done anything to hurt the United
States while abroad. Yet, a statement found in his personal effects after
his arrest disclosed that he considered the money he had received from the
Soviet Government while in that country as payment for his denunciation of
the United States.
The statement was prepared on stationery of the Holland-American Line and
would appear to have been written while Oswald was en route back to the
United States in 1962. The statement discusses the merits of the communist
and capitalist systems; the activities of such groups as the extreme right
and anarchists; the possibility of conflict between the capitalist and
communist systems; some of the fallacies of the theories of Marx; the
political development of the Soviet state; and some of his activities in
the Soviet Union.
Oswald indicated that he considered the monthly payments which came to him
through the "Red Cross'" as payments from the MVD (Ministry of Internal
Affairs) in return for his denunciation of the United States; that he
accepted the money because he was hungry; that soon as he had become
completely disgusted with the Soviet Union and negotiations with the
American Embassy in Moscow for return to the United States, this "Red
Cross" allotment was discontinued. He wrote, "I have never mentioned the
fact of these monthly payments to anyone. I do so in order to state that I
shall never sell myself intentionally, or unintentionally to anyone again."
Examination by the FBI Laboratory has determined that this document was
prepared by Oswald.
Oswald's Proposed Book
What appear to be a handwritten manuscript and a typewritten version of a
proposed book by Oswald also were discovered among his personal effects.
This material consists of 49 typewritten pages with hand-printed
corrections, a handwritten foreword, and a table of contents. It sets
forth, In progressively more disorganized form, his description of Soviet
society. Both the handwritten and hand-printed portions of these materials
were determined, after examination by the FBI Laboratory, to have been
prepared by Oswald.
Views on Communism
Also found among the personal effects of Oswald were eight and one-half
sheets of lined paper containing hand-printing which appeared to be a draft
of an article for publication. The following are quotations from this
article:
"The Communist Party of the United States has betrayed itself!
"It has turned itself into the traditional lever of a foreign power to
overthrow the Government of the United States, not in the name of freedom
or high ideals, but in servile conformity to the wishes of the Soviet Union
and in anticipation of Soviet Russia's complete domination of the American
continent.
"There can be no sympathy for those who have turned the idea of communism
into a vill (sic) curse to western man. "The Soviets have committed crimes
unsurpassed even by their early day capitalist counterparts, the
imprisonment of their own people, with the mass extermination so typical of
Stalin, and the individual surpresstion (sic) and regimentation under
Krushchev (sic).
"We have no interest in violently opposeing (sic) the U. S. Goverment
(sic), why should we manifest opposition when there are far greater forces
at work, to bring about the fall of the United States Government, than we
could ever possibly muster."
Examination by the FBI Laboratory has determined that this document was
prepared by Oswald.
Additional Writings
Oswald's personal effects included a handwritten note headed "speech
before" which appeared to be notes prepared for a speaking engagement. In
the notes, he suggested that the U. S. Marine Corps could execute a
military coup in the United States and described the Marine Corps as a
"right wing infiltrated organization" which he urged should be abolished.
These notes ended with the following: "In going to Russia I followed the
old priciple (sic) 'thou shall seek the trueth (sic), and the truth shall
make you free,' in returning to the U. S. I have done nothing more or less
than select the lesser of two evils."
The FBI Laboratory has determined that these notes were written by Oswald.
Oswald's personal effects also contained handwritten notes commenting on
communism and capitalism and a third system "opposed to Communism,
Socialism, and Capitalism."
The FBI Laboratory has identified the handwriting in these notes as
Oswald's. (Exhibit 41)
Also found among Oswald's personal effects were hand-printed notes
containing biographical data. The FBI Laboratory determined that these also
were hand-printed by Oswald.
Questions and Answers
Among Oswald's personal effects were two sets of handwritten questions and
answers. The questions, eight in number, were the same in each set, but the
answers were different. For example, in answer to the question as to why he
went to the USSR, in one answer he indicates that he went to see the
country and, in the other, that he went to protest against American
policies in foreign countries and "discontent and horror at the line of
reasoning of the U. S. Government."
One answer to the question as to whether he made statements against the
United States was "yes" and the other "no." One answer to the question as
to whether he broke any laws by residing and working in the USSR indicated
that he took an oath of allegiance to the USSR and the other indicated that
he did not. One answer to the question "are you a communist" was "no, of
course not" and the other was "yes basically, although I hate the USSR and
socialist system I still think Marxism can work under different
circumstances."
The FBI Laboratory determined that both sets of notes were written by
Oswald. (Exhibit 43)
Views on Interviews
In addition to the account of his efforts to renounce his American
citizenship set forth in his diary, Oswald's personal effects contained a
hand-printed account of his meeting with an American Embassy official on
October 31, 1959. In this account he indicates that he told the official
that he was a Marxist and requested that he be allowed to renounce his
American citizenship.
The FBI Laboratory determined that this hand-printing was prepared by
Oswald. (Exhibit 44)
Oswald's personal effects contained an account of his interview with Miss
Aline Mosby, a United Press International foreign correspondent, on
November 15, 1959. He relates that in answer to her question why he went to
Russia he told her that he had waited for two years to "dissolve" his
American citizenship and first started studying Marxism when he was 15
years of age. This account ends, "I saw the American military hauling a
cannon up a montain (sic) side, the tools of war and opprestion (sic) I
learned to hate the U. S. imperalistic (sic) military." The FBI Laboratory
determined that this account is in Oswald's handwriting.
Oswald's personal effects also contained a handwritten account of his
amorous affairs in the USSR. The FBI Laboratory determined that this
account was in Oswald's handwriting. (Exhibit 46)
Financial Picture of Trip
Oswald's mother had advised the FBI on April 28, 1960, that her son had
saved approximately $1,600 while in the Marine Corps. When Oswald arrived
in England on October 9, 1959, he declared $700. For his return to the
United States from the Soviet Union, he borrowed $435.71 under a Department
of State repatriation loan and, on his arrival in the United States on June
13, 1962, was destitute. Records of the U. S. Department of Health,
Education, and Welfare, which agency assists in repatriation matters, show
that his brother, Robert, paid $200 for the travel expenses of Oswald's
family from New York City to Fort Worth, Texas.
State Department records show that the repatriation loan was repaid in full
in installments. The first payment, $10, was paid August 7, 1962.
Thereafter, a payment of $9.71 was made September 1, 1962; two separate
payments of $10 were made, one on October 6, 1962, another on November 14,
1962. Then three large payments were made, one of $190 on December 7, 1962,
the second for $100 on January 5, 1963, and the final payment of $106 with
which the account was posted paid in full on February 7, 1963. All payments
but the first, which was in cash, were made by postal money orders mailed
from various points in Texas. During the period of time in which the
payments were made, Oswald is known to have earned approximately $1,525
through employment he obtained.
Employment in Fort Worth
When Oswald arrived in Fort Worth following his return to the United
States, he resided for a month with his brother, Robert, On July 16, 1962,
he obtained employment with the Leslie Welding Company as a sheet metal
worker and, about the same time, moved to a residence at 2703 Mercedes
Street in Fort Worth. His employment with the Leslie Welding Company
terminated October 8, 1962. Three officials of the company confirmed the
employment but could add nothing additional of a pertinent nature.
Move to Dallas
A few days after he terminated his employment at the Leslie Welding Company
in Fort Worth, Oswald moved to Dallas. There, through the Texas Employment
Commission, he was referred to Jaggars-Chiles Stovall, Inc., a graphic arts
company, where he was hired as a trainee.
On November 30, 1963, Robert L. Stovall, president of the company, said
that he had heard that Oswald talked frequently about Russia and
occasionally had communist newspapers with him
1. Contact with Communist Party
During the period of that employment, Oswald received correspondence from
the Communist Party in New York City. One of the items found in his
personal effects after his death was a letter dated December 13, 1962, on
the letterhead of the '"Gus Hall-Benjamin J. Davis, Defense Committee." It
acknowledged receipt of samples of photographic work and expressed
appreciation for Oswald's offer to do this type of work for the Committee.
(Exhibit 47)
Gus Hall is general secretary of the Communist Party, USA, and Benjamin J.
Davis, Jr., is its national secretary.
Another letter in Oswald's personal effects was one dated December 19,
1962, on the letterhead of "The Worker." It thanked Oswald for the "blow
ups" and for his "kind offer." It said that "from time to time we shall
call on you."
2. Contact with the Socialist Workers Party
Items from Oswald's personal effects also indicate that, at about the same
time, he also was in contact with the Trotskyite Socialist Workers Party, a
bitter rival of the Communist Party, USA. One of the items is a letter
dated November 5, 1962, on the letterhead of the Socialist Workers Party,
acknowledging his request for an application for membership and advising
him that there was no branch of the organization in Dallas. (Exhibit 49)
Another item is a letter dated December 9, 1962, signed by Bob Chester, 116
University Place, New York City, indicating that Oswald's letter and
"reproductions" were turned over to Chester by the "SWP Office" (presumably
the Socialist Workers Party) and inquiring as to Oswald's photographic
ability.
Still another item is a letter dated March 27, 1963, on the letterhead of
the Socialist Workers Party and signed by Joseph Task, He thanked Oswald
for his letter of March 24, 1963, and the clipping which had been enclosed
with it. He said that because of Oswald's age and location his name was
being referred to the Young Socialist Alliance, a Youth organization of the
Socialist Workers Party.
In addition, there was in Oswald's personal effects a letter dated April
26, 1963, from Mrs. V. Halstead, Pioneer Publishers, 116 University Place,
New York City. It indicated that in response to Oswald's request, he was
being furnished with the words to the "Internationale," revolutionary
socialist song.
Mrs. Virginia Halstead is the manager of Pioneer Publications, a business
owned and operated by the Socialist Workers Party at 116 University Place,
New York, New York.
3. Employment and Domestic Difficulties
Meanwhile, Oswald was experiencing difficulties both with his employment
and his family life, Mr. John Graef, director of the Jaggars-Chiles-Stovall
photographic department, recalled that there had been reports of friction
between Oswald and other employees.
Neighbors interviewed by FBI agents subsequent to the assassination, as
well as prior thereto in March, 1963, stated there was friction between
Oswald and his wife. They had been living in an apartment at 604 Elsbeth
Street in Dallas, but were forced to move because neighbors complained that
Oswald drank to excess and beat his wife. At the same time, Oswald's wife
had contacted the Soviet Embassy asking for material aid to return to the
Soviet Union.
Mr. Graef recalled that by April, 1963, it was felt that Oswald had not
lived up to expectations as a trainee at the graphic arts company, and his
employment there was terminated on April 6, 1963.
Move to New Orleans
A few days later Oswald went to New Orleans. He stayed for a few days with
an aunt, Mrs. Charles Murret, and made a claim for unemployment
compensation to the New Orleans Office of the Louisiana Employment
Commission on April 29, 1963.
On May 10,1963, Oswald was employed as an oiler-machinist assistant by the
William B. Reily and Company, Inc., a coffee plant, and moved into an
apartment at 4905 Magazine Street in New Orleans.
Oswald's employment at the Reily Company terminated on July 19, 1963, when
he was discharged due to unsatisfactory services. Seven officials and
employees of the company were interviewed concerning Oswald and all
indicated that he was a quiet individual who had no close friends at the
firm. He was not well liked by the other employees and was not considered a
good worker.
Following Oswald's dismissal by the Reily Company, he collected
unemployment compensation benefits for an extended period of time.
Regularly each week from July 22, 1963, through September 24, 1963, he
collected checks in the amount of $33.
Role in Fair Play for Cuba Committee
Oswald's period of unemployment enabled him to devote more time to
activities in support of the Fair Play for Cuba Committee. Among Oswald's
personal effects which were found following his arrest on November 22,
1963, was a letter to him dated May 22, 1963, on the letterhead of the Fair
Play for Cuba Committee. It acknowledged receipt of a notice of change of
address and enclosed a renewal form as well as a copy of the current
literature catalogue.
Found In Oswald's possession after his arrest was a card Issued to Lee H.
Oswald dated May 28, 1963, and signed by V. T. Lee, Executive Secretary for
the Fair Play for Cuba Committee.
Among Oswald's effects was a letter to him dated May 29, 1963, on the
letterhead of the Fair Play for Cuba Committee. It enclosed "your card and
receipt," expressed appreciation for Oswald's interest In trying to form a
Committee chapter in New Orleans. The letter gave him detailed advice
concerning such an endeavor and encouraged him in it. (Exhibit 53)
In an apparent acknowledgment of the above letter, Oswald sent an undated
letter to "Dear Mr. Lee" and expressed appreciation for the advice
concerning his "try" at organizing a New Orleans chapter of the Fair Play
for Cuba Committee. He stated that, according to the advice of Mr. Lee, he
had taken a post office box but, contrary to Mr. Lee's advice, he had
decided to open an office. He enclosed a circular and stated, "you may
think the circular is too provocative, but I want it to attract attention
even if it is the attention of the lunatic fringe. I had 2000 of them run
oft" He continued by outlining his proposals for recruiting members and
distributing literature. He advised that he would keep the addressee posted
and solicited advice and any other help which he might offer.
On his person at the time of his arrest on November 22, 1963, Oswald also
carried a card of the "Fair Play for Cuba Committee, New Orleans Chapter."
It was issued to L. H. Oswald, dated June 15, 1963, and signed by A. J.
Hidell, Chapter President. Along with it in Oswald's possession at the time
was a fraudulent Selective Service card containing Oswald's photograph and
identifying him as Alek James Hidell. (Exhibits 35, 10)
At the time that Oswald was arrested in August, 1963, by the New Orleans
Police Department, he was passing out leaflets which Included an
application for membership in the "Fair Play for Cuba Committee, New
Orleans Charter Member Branch, A. J. Hidell, PO Box 30016, New Orleans,
La." Post Office records revealed that Box 30016 was nonexistent, but that
Box 30061 was rented under the name of L. H. Oswald from June 3, 1963, to
September 24, 1963. In addition to L. H. Oswald, A. J. Hidell and Marina
Oswald were listed as persons entitled to receive mail through the box.
Also at the time of his August, 1963, arrest, Oswald had been passing out
publications bearing the stamp "FPCC, 544 Camp Street, New Orleans, La."
But Mr. S. M. Newman, owner of the building at that address, advised he had
never rented office space to the Fair Play for Cuba Committee or to anyone
using any of the aliases Oswald had been known to use. Neither could Mr.
Newman identify photographs of Oswald as having been the occupant of office
space in the building.
A Tulane University graduate student residing currently in New Orleans,
advised on November 26, 1963, that he has participated in Fair Play for
Cuba activities in other areas of the country but has never known of any
organized activity of the organization in New Orleans.
A teacher at St. Martin's Episcopal School in a suburb of New Orleans, said
he had been interested in joining the Fair Play for Cuba Committee after
his arrival from Cuba and before he became disenchanted with Fidel Castro.
He stated that he had never heard of a New Orleans Chapter of the
Committee.
An investigation was conducted in the vicinity of the neighborhood on
Magazine Street where Oswald had resided in New Orleans, and there was no
indication Oswald had ever held any meetings of any kind at his residence.
Vincent Ted Lee, National Chairman of the Fair Play for Cuba Committee, was
interviewed December 3, 1963. He stated he had no knowledge of a charter
having been issued by him to Oswald or anyone else for a Committee chapter
in New Orleans. Lee said he could not recall ever having met Oswald and had
no recollection of any personal correspondence with him.
Continued Contacts with Communist Party
While engaged at the time in activities supporting the Fair Play for Cuba
Committee, Oswald continued to maintain contact with the Communist Party.
Items found, for example, among his personal effects after his arrest on
November 22, 1963, included:
A letter dated July 31, 1963, on the letterhead of the Communist Party,
USA, and signed by Arnold Johnson, Director, Information and Lecture
Bureau. This letter acknowledged Oswald's previously described letter to
"The Worker," forwarded literature, and expressed approval that "movements"
in support of fair play for Cuba had developed in New Orleans.
A letter dated September 19, 1963, from Arnold Johnson acknowledging
Oswald's letter of August 28th to Elizabeth G. Flynn, national chairman of
the Communist Party, USA, which was turned over to Johnson for reply. It
also acknowledged Oswald's letter of September 1, 1963, which indicated he
was planning to move to Baltimore and suggested that, after he moved, he
get in touch "with us here and we will find some way of getting in touch
with you in that city." He also gave Oswald advice concerning participation
in organizations.
On December 3, 1963, John J. Abt, New York attorney who is representing the
Communist Party, USA, in the legal proceedings against the Party under the
Internal Security Act of 1950, turned over to the FBI, on behalf of his
client, Arnold Johnson, correspondence between Oswald and the Party.
Included in this correspondence are previously mentioned letters from
Johnson to Oswald dated July 31, 1963, and September 19, 1963. (Exhibits 54
and 55). In addition, there are included six handwritten letters from
Oswald to Johnson, "The Worker" and the Communist Party, USA, in which
Oswald describes his activities in New Orleans and Dallas, requests a job
with "the Worker" and solicits advice on his role in "the struggle for
progress and freedom."
The FBI Laboratory has determined that the six handwritten letters to
Johnson were prepared by Oswald..
Mrs. Oswald's Move to Texas
Meanwhile, Oswald's wife continued her efforts to obtain assistance in
returning to the Soviet Union. A letter to her from the Soviet Embassy
dated August 5, 1963, advised her that her request to enter the Soviet
Union for permanent residence had been forwarded to Moscow for processing.
Toward the end of September, 1963, Oswald's wife left New Orleans and went
to live in Irving Texas, with a friend, Mrs. Ruth Paine. The latter, who
resides at 2515 West 5th Street in Irving, advised on November 23, 1963,
that she had first become acquainted with the Oswald's at a social
gathering in February, 1963. Mrs. Paine said she developed a friendship
with Oswald's wife because the latter spoke only Russian and Mrs. Paine,
who also speaks Russian, wanted someone to converse with in that language.
Mrs. Paine said that after the Oswalds went to New Orleans) where Oswald
was arrested for distributing pro-Castro literature, she felt sorry for his
wife, who was then in the late stages of pregnancy. As a result, she drove
to New Orleans and brought Mrs. Oswald back to live with her at her home in
Irving, where they arrived on September 24, 1963.
When they left New Orleans, according to Mrs. Paine, Oswald was still in
New Orleans; however, she said, she subsequently determined from a rough
draft of a letter Oswald later left lying around her house that he
apparently had gone to Mexico City from New Orleans, where he contacted the
Soviet Embassy and the Cuban Embassy.
Obtained Passport
State Department records checked on November 22, 1963, disclosed that
Oswald had applied for an American passport at New Orleans Louisiana, on
June 24, 1963. In his application, he had stated that he intended to depart
New Orleans during the period October to December, 1963, for proposed
travel as a tourist to England, France, Germany, Holland, Russia, Finland,
Italy, and Poland.
He was issued Passport Number D092526 at New Orleans on June 25, 1963. This
passport was valid for three years for travel to all countries except
Albania, Cuba and those portions or China, Korea, and Vietnam under
communist control. This passport was found among his effects after his
arrest on November 22, 1963.
Trip to Mexico
On September 17, 1963, Oswald applied for and received Mexican Tourist Card
Number 24085 at New Orleans. It was issued in his correct name and showed
his correct address. The handwriting on the application has been identified
by the FBI Laboratory as Oswald's. The tourist card was valid for 15 days'
travel in Mexico from the date of issuance. As proof of citizenship, Oswald
presented a birth certificate and claimed to be taking $300 to Mexico as an
in-transit tourist. He indicated that his travel to Mexico would be by bus.
The tourist card showed he intended to travel from Mexico to some country,
but the records do not show the country of destination.
On the date that Oswald received his tourist card in New Orleans, 18 other
cards were issued. Fourteen of the people to whom they were issued have
been contacted, but none were able to furnish any information concerning
Oswald or his travel.
On September 26, 1963, Oswald entered Mexico at Nuevo Laredo. He gave his
age as 23, his occupation as photographer, his residence as New Orleans,
and his destination as Mexico City. His mode of transportation was not
indicated. Immigration officials who checked the entry could furnish no
additional information of value.
On September 27, 1963, Oswald checked into the Hotel Del Commercio, in
Mexico City, where he was identified by a hotel employee.
A female Mexican national employed in the Consular Office of the Cuban
Embassy in Mexico City Identified Oswald as an individual who had called at
the Cuban establishment in late September or early October, 1963, seeking a
visa to Cuba in transit to the Soviet Union. The employee referred Oswald
to the Soviet Embassy in Mexico City, advising him that a Soviet visa was
necessary before issuance of permission to travel to Cuba. The employee of
the Cuban establishment furnished Oswald her name and the telephone number
of the Cuban Consular Office for future reference. Her name and the above
telephone number were found in an address book among Oswald's personal
possessions after his arrest on November 22, 1963.
Oswald traveled from Mexico City to Nuevo Laredo on October 2, 1963. Record
of this travel is contained on the manifest for that date of the
Transportes Frontera, a Mexican bus line. Records of the Hotel Del
Commercio showed that Oswald checked out on October 1, 1963; however, he
had paid for his room for that evening, and the probability exists that he
remained there that night. The bus trip from Mexico City takes
approximately 17 hours. On October 2, 1963, the bus left Mexico City at 1
p. m. and arrived at Nuevo Laredo at 6 a. m. on the following day.
Immigration records at Nuevo Laredo show that Oswald entered the United
States at that point on October 3, 1963. He had been checked at Nuevo
Laredo by an Immigration official who works the midnight to 8 a. m. shift.
Soviet Consular File
On November 30, 1963, Soviet Ambassador to the United States Anatoly F.
Dobrynin voluntarily turned over to Secretary of State Dean Husk a Soviet
consular file on Lee Harvey Oswald. This file contained the correspondence
dealing with the efforts of Lee and Marina Oswald to obtain visas to return
to the Soviet Union. In one undated letter to the Soviet Embassy,
Washington, D. C., Lee Harvey Oswald requested that, if possible, this
matter be expedited. He also asked for subscription information concerning
Soviet periodicals, as well as any bulletins or periodicals issued by the
Soviet Embassy'" for the benefit of your citizens living, for a time, in
the U.S.A." (Exhibit 57)
Arrival in Dallas
The records of the Young Men's Christian Association In Dallas show that
Oswald registered there on October 3, 1963, and departed on the following
day. When he left, he went to the residence of Mrs. Ruth Paine in Irving,
Texas, where his wife and child were staying.
Mrs. Paine permitted Oswald to remain with his wife at her home several
days. On October 7, 1963, he obtained a room at 621 N. Marsalis Street in
Dallas and paid $7 for one week's rent. He stayed there, with the exception
of the nights of October 12 and 13, 1963, which he spent with his wife at
Mrs. Paine's residence, and returned to the rooming house briefly on the
morning of October 14, 1963. Mrs. Mary Bledsoe, the owner of the residence,
said that, during the time he was there, Oswald had no visitors and left
the room only for very brier periods in the evenings.
On the same day, Oswald rented a room at 1026 N. Beckley Street, Dallas, in
the name of O. H. Lee. Mrs. Paine recalled that, on November 18, 1963, at
Marina Oswald's request, she had attempted to place a telephone call to Lee
Oswald at his rooming house in Dallas. She had asked for him by his true
name, and he apparently became quite upset by what she had done because he
was living at the rooming house under a different name.
Mrs. Paine stated That Oswald claimed to be a Marxist but that she just
considered him a little odd. She said that her real friendship with the
Oswalds was with Oswald's wife, Marina.
Oswald's Income
On November 24, 1963, Mrs. Paine stated that, in regard to Mrs. Oswald's
residence in her house, the physical separation of the Oswalds was
occasioned by financial difficulties, since Oswald did not make enough
money to support both himself and his wife, while Oswald's income generally
was very small, he managed, by practicing the utmost thrift, to live within
it. Through his wages and the unemployment benefits he received, for
example, during the period July 16, 1962, to November 22, 1963, Oswald had
a total income of approximately $3,380. His known expenditures during that
period, exclusive of food and clothing, amounted to approximately $1,000.
But Mrs. Paine pointed out that she was paid no rent by the Oswalds during
the time Oswald's wife and children resided with her. Mrs. Gladys Johnson,
at whose rooming house in Dallas Oswald lived under the name O. H. Lee from
October 14, 1963, until November 22, 1963, advised on November 27, 1963,
that Oswald usually prepared his meals, consisting of bread, lunch meat,
and jelly, in his room and only paid $8 a week for room rent.
Personal Resume
After Oswald's arrest on November 22, 1963, a search of his personal
effects in the garage of the residence where his wife resided in Irving,
Texas, revealed a seven-page resume of his personal background written in
pencil on lined paper. This resume set forth Oswald's evaluation of his
background and qualifications in several lines of endeavor, among them as
an organizer for the Fair Play for Cuba Committee in New Orleans, as a
photographer, as a street agitator, as a student of Marxism, as a Russian
linguist, and as a radio speaker and lecturer. It also included background
on his military service in the U. S. Marine Corps and his residence in the
Soviet Union. In discussing proficiency in the photographic arts, the
resume stated, "'1 have submitted and been commended for photowork by the
party."
This resume has been determined by the examination or the FBI Laboratory to
have been prepared by Oswald.
Observations of Marina Oswald
On December 2, 1963, Marina Oswald, in an interview with FBI agents,
furnished a number of observations concerning her late husband's character
and nature.
Speaking of her initial relationship with Oswald in the Soviet Union, she
said that he had lived in Minsk prior to her first meeting with him and she
had not known that he was an American until so informed by a Soviet friend.
Mrs. Oswald stated that she knew of no suicide attempt by Oswald at any
time and expressed the opinion that he was incapable of such an act. She
said she noticed an old scar on his left inner wrist after they were
married, but that he refused to answer her when she asked him about it. She
advised that the scar was completely healed when she first saw it.
Oswald had decided to return to the United States, his wife said,
approximately three months after they were married, and she agreed to the
move. She added that she had not shared her husband's political views and,
in fact, could not understand them. She recalled that, at one time, he had
said that he wanted to help Cuba, and she had told him that Cuba did not
need his help. She expressed the opinion that Oswald had adopted the alias
Hidell because of its phonetic parallel to Fidel.
Mrs. Oswald's observations were reminiscent of an earlier statement she had
made to some of his relatives In July, 1963, when he took his wife and
child for a visit to his aunt, Mrs. Charles Murret in New Orleans. On
November 30, 1963, Mrs. Joyce O'Brien, who is the daughter of Mrs. Murret,
recalled that she was present during the visit and, when Mrs. Oswald was
asked how she liked America, she replied, "Me like America. Lee no like
Russia. Lee no like America, Lee like moon." Mrs. O'Brien added that her
cousin, Lee Harvey Oswald, had lived completely within himself and was
"against everything."
Daring another interview with FBI agents on November 27, 1963, Marina
Oswald stated that in the light of what had been told to her concerning her
husband's implication in the assassination on November 22, 1963, she was
convinced that Lee Harvey Oswald had killed President John F. Kennedy.
PART TWO: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING LEE HARVEY OSWALD
I. Personal History
A. Birth
Records in the Office of the Registrar of Births, Marriages, and Deaths for
the Parish of Orleans and the City of New Orleans, Louisiana, disclose that
Lee Harvey Oswald was born October 18, 1939, at the French Hospital in New
Orleans. His mother was Marguerite Claverie Oswald. His father was Robert
E. Lee Oswald, who, the records indicated, was deceased at the time of Lee
Oswald's birth. The records showed that his father was an insurance clerk
who was 43 years of age at the time of his death.
B. Education
Lee Harvey Oswald's attendance at the following schools was verified
through school records:
Covington Grammar School Covington, Louisiana September 19, 1946 - January
23, 1947
Lily B. Clayton School Fort Worth, Texas 1947
George Clark Elementary School Fort Worth Texas 1948
Arlington Heights Elementary School Fort Worth, Texas 1948
Ridglea West Elementary School Fort Worth, Texas September 1949 - June 1952
Junior High School # 117 Bronx, New York September 30, 1952 - January 16,
1953
Junior High School # 44 Bronx, New York March 23, 1953 - January 12, 1954
Beauregard Junior High School New Orleans, Louisiana January 13, 1954 -
June 10, 1955
Warren Easton High School New Orleans, Louisiana September 8, 1955 -
October 14, 1955
Arlington Heights Senior High School Fort Worth, Texas September 5, 1956 -
September 28, 1956
Crozier Tech High School Dallas, Texas (Evening typing class) January 28,
1963 - March 28, 1963
In March, 1959, while in the United States Marine Corps, Oswald took a
battery of five GED (General Educational Development) high school level
tests and received a rating of satisfactory. According to an official of
the United States Armed Forces Institute, Madison, Wisconsin, the purpose
of these tests was to determine a student's educational level as compared
with a typical high school senior, and a rating of satisfactory was
recognized by many state educational departments and employers as
indicating a level equivalent to a high school education.
During FBI's verification of Oswald's education, numerous former teachers
and fellow students were interviewed, but no additional pertinent
information was developed.
C. Residences
Set forth below is a list of all the known residences of Lee Harvey Oswald
disclosed and verified through the investigation of his background:
2109 Alvar Street New Orleans, Louisiana October 18, 1939 - Spring 1940
1242 Congress New Orleans, Louisiana November 10, 1940 - March 1941
1010 Bartholomew Street New Orleans, Louisiana March 1941 - January 16,
1942
831 Pauline New Orleans, Louisiana January 17, 1942 - May 1942
*Evangelical Lutheran Bethlehem Orphan Asylum 9100 Grant Street New
Orleans, Louisiana December 26, 1942 - January 29, 1944
4801 Victor Dallas, Texas About 1945 - 1946
600 West 24th Street Covington, Louisiana Summer 1946
311 Vermont Street Covington, Louisiana September 1946 - January 1947
1505 8th Avenue Fort Worth, Texas Several months in Summer 1947 or 1948
101 San Saba Benbrook, Texas Several months in Summer 1948
3300 Willing Street Fort Worth, Texas 1948
7408 Ewing Fort Worth, Texas About 1949 - 1952
325 East 92nd Street New York, New York July and August 1952
825 East 178th Street and 1455 Sheridan Avenue New York, New York September
1952 - January 1954
1452 [and] 1454 St. Mary's Street New Orleans, Louisiana Spring 1954 - May
1955
126 Exchange Place New Orleans, Louisiana May 1955 - Spring 1956
4936 Collingswood Street Fort Worth. Texas Spring 1956 - October 1956
United States Marine Corps October 24, 1956 - September 11, 1959
Trip to the Soviet Union September 19, 1959 - June 13, 1962
7313 Davenport Street Fort Worth, Texas June 1962 - July 1962
2703 Mercedes Street Fort Worth, Texas July 1962 - October 1962
Young Men's Christian Association Dallas, Texas October 15, 1962 - October
19, 1962
604 Elsbeth Dallas, Texas November 1962 - March 1963
214 West Neely Dallas, Texas March 1963 - May 1, 1963
757 French Street New Orleans, Louisiana 3 - 5 nights April 1963
4905 Magazine New Orleans, Louisiana May 1963 - September 25, 1963
Hotel Del Commercio Mexico City, Mexico September 27, 1963 - October 2,
1963
Young Men's Christian Association Dallas, Texas October 3, 1963
2515 West 5th Street Irving, Texas October 4, 1963 - October 6, 1963
621 North Marsalis Dallas, Texas October 7, 1963 - October 14, 1963
1026 North Beckley Dallas, Texas October 14, 1963 - November 22, 1963
Officials of the Asylum have requested that, if possible, the institution
not be publicly identified in view of the adverse effect it might have on
the children currently there.
During the period of October 7, 1963, to November 22, 1963, Oswald usually
spent the weekends with his family at the Paine residence, 2515 West 5th
Street, Irving, Texas.
During the course of verifying Oswald's residences, numerous former
neighbors were interviewed regarding him but could furnish Do additional
pertinent information.
In addition to the above residence addresses, Oswald used the following
Post Office boxes:
Post Office Box 2915, Dallas, Texas--rented on October 9, 1962, and
relinquished on May 14, 1963.
Post Office Box 30061, New Orleans, Louisiana--rented on June 3, 1963, and
relinquished on September 24, 1963.
Post Office Box 6225, Dallas, Texas--rented on November 1, 1963.
D. Employment
The following is a chronological listing of the various jobs held by Oswald
as revealed by investigation.
Included for chronological continuity is the period covered by his military
service, the details of which were submitted in the initial report, as well
as the period covered by his trip to the Soviet Union, the details of which
also were included in the initial report.
Gerard F. Tujague, Inc. New Orleans, Louisiana (messenger) November 10,
1955 - January 14, 1956
J.R. Michels, Inc. New Orleans, Louisiana (office boy) One week in January
1956
Dolly Shoe Company New Orleans, Louisiana (office boy) Company records have
been destroyed, but apparently he worked briefly in 1956
Pfisterer Dental Laboratory New Orleans, Louisiana (messenger) Company
records have been destroyed, but apparently he worked briefly in 1956
United States Marine Corps October 24, 1956 - September 11, 1959
Trip to the Soviet Union September 19, 1959 - June 13, 1962
Leslie Welding Company, Inc. Fort Worth, Texas (sheet-metal worker) July
16, 1962 - October 8, 1962
Jaggars-Chiles-Stovall, Inc. Dallas, Texas (trainee photographer) October
12, 1962 - April 6, 1963
William B. Reily Company, Inc. New Orleans, Louisiana (oiler-machinist) May
10, 1963 - July 19, 1963
Texas School Book Depository Dallas, Texas (laborer) October 16, 1963 -
November 22, 1963
When Oswald began his employment at the Texas School Book Depository on
October 16, 1963, he had been unemployed since July 19, 1963, and was in
need of a job. He applied at this company after Mrs. Ruth Paine had called
that company and arranged for an interview with a company official for him
Mrs.. Paine's call to that company was prompted by the fact she had learned
from a neighbor, Mrs. Linnie Mae Randle, that her brother, Wesley Buell
Frazier, had obtained employment at that company. It is noted that Oswald
began his employment at the Texas School Book Depository prior to any
announcement of President Kennedy's motorcade route past that building. The
route of motorcade was publicized On November 19, 1963.
In verifying Oswald's employment, numerous employers and fellow workers
were interviewed regarding him but could furnish no additional pertinent
information.
II. Relatives
During the course of investigation, all of Lee Harvey Oswald's living
relatives were identified and located. They were all interviewed with the
exception of the infant children. Following is a list of these relatives
(an asterisk designates relatives on his father's side of the family):
A. Immediate
Mother: Marguerite Oswald 2220 Thomas Place Fort Worth, Texas
Father: Robert E. Lee Oswald (deceased before the birth of Lee Harvey
Oswald)
Stepfather: Edwin A. Ekdahl (deceased January 26, 1953)
Wife: Marina Oswald (born July 17, 1941, Russia)
Children: June and Rachel
Brother: Robert Lee Oswald 109 Sierra Denton, Texas
Half-brother Staff Sergeant John Edward Pic United States Air Force
B. Other
*Aunt: Mrs. Arthur A.P. Barre 2311 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans,
Louisiana
*Aunt: Mrs. Edmond C. Carter (nee Ethel Oswald) 2031 St. Charles Avenue New
Orleans, Louisiana
*Aunt: Mrs. James Coker (nee Hattie Oswald) Andrew Jackson Apartments 2nd
Street and St. Charles New Orleans, Louisiana
Aunt: Mrs. Charles F. Murret 757 French Street New Orleans, Louisiana
*Aunt: Mrs. Adele F. Oswald (widow of Thomas Oswald) 2018 General Pershing
Street New Orleans, Louisiana
*Aunt: Mrs. Hazel Oswald (widow of William Stout Oswald, Sr.) 136 Elmeer
Street Metairie, Louisiana
*Cousin: Mrs. Tony Bevinetto (nee Shirley Oswald) 1914 South Carrollton
Avenue New Orleans, Louisiana
*Cousin: Mrs. William Brown (nee Floy Oswald) 3944 Virgil Boulevard New
Orleans, Louisiana
Cousin: Charles W. Murret 636 Norton Avenue Arabi, Louisiana
Cousin: Eugene John Murret Jesuit House of Studies Mobile, Alabama
Cousin: John M. Murret 6622 Louis XIV Street New Orleans, Louisiana
Cousin: Miss Marilyn Murret 757 French Street New Orleans, Louisiana
Cousin: Mrs. Joyce O'Brien 1615 Fairway Beaumont, Texas
*Cousin: Miss Adele Oswald 2018 General Pershing Street New Orleans,
Louisiana
*Cousin: Lowell Oswald 132 Elmeer Street Metairie, Louisiana
*Cousin: Norman Oswald 706 Division Street Metairie, Louisiana
*Cousin William Stout Oswald, Jr. 136 Elmeer Street Metairie, Louisiana
*Cousin: William Stout Oswald, III 706 Division Street Metairie, Louisiana
C. Interviews with Relatives
The individuals listed herein before who are relatives of Lee Harvey Oswald
on his father's side all stated they had never met him and could furnish no
information concerning him.
None of Oswald's relatives on his mother's side could supply any
information regarding Oswald's activities in connection with the
assassination of President Kennedy. Together, their interviews resulted in
a composite of background information on Oswald's family history, and a few
were able to provide bits of pertinent information pertaining to Oswald's
personality.
Oswald's mother, Marguerite Claverie Oswald, was interviewed at her
residence, 2220 Thomas Place, Fort Worth, Texas, on November 22, 1963,
following President Kennedy's assassination. She stated that she was
employed as a practical nurse and said she had not seen her son for
approximately a year prior to that date.
Dr. Charles W. Murret, a dentist in Arabi, Louisiana, who was a cousin of
Oswald, was interviewed on November 29, 1963. He said he had not seen
Oswald since he was six years old but added that he felt Oswald's mother
had been the type of person who would remind her son of the difficult times
she had had after the death of his father and of how hard she had worked to
rear her children. Dr. Murret said Lee Oswald probably felt resentment
toward the world because of his own inability to provide for his own family
in a better way.
Staff Sergeant John Edward Pic, assigned to the Wilford Hall Hospital,
Medical Squadron, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, was interviewed November
29, 1963. Be said be had been a half-brother of Lee Harvey Oswald inasmuch
as his mother, the former Marguerite Claverie, had been married to his
father, Edward John Pic, prior to her marriage to Oswald's father, Robert
E. Lee Oswald Sergeant Pic said he had not had any close association with
Lee Oswald since they were boys but recalled that he once had made an
effort to have Oswald adopt a better attitude toward his mother when, at
about age 13, he was disrespectful toward her.
Mrs. Pic, Sergeant Pic's wife, advised on December 10, 1963, that when she
first met Mrs. Oswald about August, 1952, Mrs. Oswald stated she and Lee
wanted to live permanently with the Pics, but Mrs. Pic privately told her
she would not agree to this. Thereafter, Mrs. Oswald did all she could to
turn everyone, including Sergeant Pic and Lee, against Mrs. Pic and
constantly started arguments over minor household matters, the details of
which are not now recalled. Mrs. Pic said that during one such argument,
now believed to have developed because Mrs. Pic protested Lee's playing a
television set owned by Mrs. Oswald, Lee pulled out a small pocket knife,
opened the blade, and moved toward Mrs. Pic in Mrs. Oswald's presence. Mrs.
Pic said this scared her. She said she backed away and Lee did nothing. She
reported this threat to Sergeant Pic when he returned from work, but Mrs.
Oswald denied to him that Lee had threatened Mrs. Pic with a knife. Mrs.
Pic expressed the belief that her husband was actually in doubt as to the
true facts.
Mrs. Pic stated that after the latter incident she told Mrs. Oswald to get
out or she would have her thrown out. Mrs. Oswald then threatened to jump
out the window. Subsequently, Mrs. Oswald moved away voluntarily with her
son.
Eugene John Murret was interviewed on November 29, 1963. He advised that
his mother and Oswald's mother are sisters and that he Is thirty-one-years
old, about seven years older than Lee Harvey Oswald. Mr. Murret is
currently attending the Jesuit House of Studies as a Scholastic at Spring
Hill College, Mobile, Alabama. He stated that when he learned from his
mother that Lee Oswald had returned to the United States from Russia, he
contacted him and requested him to visit and address the students at a
seminary in Mobile, Alabama. Oswald came to Mobile in the latter part of
July, 1963, and gave an address to the students concerning his knowledge of
and experiences in Russia. Mr. Murret said Oswald's speech was somewhat
critical of the Soviet Union, for Oswald indicated he had been
disillusioned with life in the Soviet Union and felt that communism was too
oppressive to the people there. He also stated Oswald evaded the subject of
religion, and he received the impression that Oswald was an atheist. Mr.
Murret stated he had no further contact with Oswald.
Mrs. Joyce O'Brien, 1615 Fairway, Beaumont, Texas, was interviewed on
November 30, 1963. She stated she was a cousin of Lee Harvey Oswald
inasmuch as her mother, Mrs. Charles Murret, 757 French Street, New
Orleans, Louisiana, is a sister of Oswald's mother. Mrs. O'Brien stated
that while visiting her mother in August, 1963, she received a telephone
call from Lee Harvey Oswald who was in jail in New Orleans. Oswald asked
her to post $25 for his bond. Mrs. O'Brien went to the New Orleans Police
Department and was informed Oswald was charged with "disturbing the peace"
for carrying posters. She said that, after she saw a poster bearing the
words "VIVA CASTRO" and other pamphlets, she decided against putting up
bond for him. She subsequently received a second call from Oswald, who
instructed her to contact his wife. However, Mrs. O'Brien telephoned Mr.
Emile Bruneau, a friend of her father, and Bruneau made the arrangements
through which Oswald was released.
D. Interviews with Marina Oswald
In interviews, Marina Oswald said she first met Lee Harvey Oswald at a
social function in Minsk, USSR, in March, 1961, and married him April 30,
1961, in that city. She maintained that she did not know of Oswald's desire
to return to the United States at the time of their marriage and, had she
known of such a desire, she probably would not have married him.
Mrs. Oswald admitted requesting permission of Soviet authorities in
mid-1961 to take up residence in the United States. She said that in late
1961 she was advised by Soviet authorities that she would be permitted to
leave the Soviet Union and travel to the United States, whereupon she
submitted formal application for an exit visa. In May, l962, she received
her exit document. She admitted surprise at being granted permission to
leave the Soviet Union.
It was Mrs. Oswald's opinion that Oswald received preferential treatment in
the Soviet Union, such as being permitted to live in an apartment rather
than a dormitory. She cited, in addition, payment by the Soviet Government
of a hotel bill that he incurred at a Moscow hotel and, later, the action
of the Soviet Government in sending to Minsk. She said that to her
knowledge Oswald was never questioned by Soviet authorities in Moscow and
that she herself had never been approached by Soviet intelligence and had
not been given any intelligence assignment to perform while in the United
States. In connection with possible referential treatment of her husband by
Soviet authorities, she was of the opinion that foreigners are generally
treated better than Soviet citizens.
Mrs. Oswald recounted the activities of Oswald and herself since entering
the United States on June 13, 1962, and furnished information concerning
their residences in Fort Worth and Dallas, their move to New Orleans in
May, 1963, and their final return to the Dallas area in the Fall of 1963.
She stated that their move to New Orleans in May, 1963, was at her behest
after Oswald admitted to her that he had attempted to kill General Edwin A.
Walker. She stated that she had no reason to suspect Oswald of harboring
any intention to assassinate President Kennedy since he had never spoken
disparagingly of the President. On the contrary, she said that on one
occasion Oswald had indicated President Kennedy was a good President,
particularly in regard to his policies on civil rights. She stated she did
not know Jack Ruby and added that, to her knowledge, Ruby was unknown to
Oswald.
Mrs. Oswald claimed to have no knowledge of how her husband's rifle was
transported from Dallas to New Orleans In late April or early May, 1963,
although she admitted seeing the gun in a room in their New Orleans
residence where Oswald kept most of his personal effects. She denied
knowledge as to how the weapon was transported to Mrs. Paine's home in
Irving, Texas, when she moved there from New Orleans in late September. She
admitted, however, seeing the gun wrapped in a blanket in the garage at the
Paine residence.
Mrs. Oswald broadened the picture of her husband by stating that he rarely
missed an opportunity to glorify himself and added that everything he did
was designed to place his name in history. She expressed the belief that
his statement that he was a Marxist was incorrect and was only a statement
her husband made to direct attention to himself.
According to Mrs. Oswald, her husband was a self-contained person with no
friends and was avidly interested in studying various systems of civil
authority. She said Oswald frequently spoke in favor of Castro and
indicated a desire to live in Cuba. She denied, however, any knowledge of
her husband's attempting to obtain a visa to travel to that country or of
his trip to Mexico in late September and early October, 1963. Mrs. Oswald
commented that she knew her husband would not like Cuba. She volunteered
that the only place he would like would be the moon, where there are no
people.
III. Associates
Set forth below is the additional information received from and developed
about individuals known to have been associated with Oswald in one way or
another prior to the time of President Kennedy's assassination.
A. George and Jeanne De Mohrenschildt
Information was developed during the course of investigation that George
and Jeanne De Mohrenschildt, current residents of Port-au-Prince, Haiti,
were considered the closest friends the Oswalds had in the Dallas-Fort
Worth area following Oswald's return from the Soviet Union. At the request
of the FBI, an official of the American Embassy in Port-au-Prince
interviewed them and obtained the following information.
The De Mohrenschildts, American citizens who have been residing at
Port-au-Prince since the spring of 1963, became acquainted with the Oswalds
during the summer of 1962 through some friends who had become interested in
helping the Oswalds financially. Thereafter, they saw them on a number of
occasions at Fort Worth and Dallas between the summer of 1962 and early
1963.
When they first met the Oswalds, the latter were in dire financial straits,
because Oswald had lost his job as a sheet-metal worker. Sometime in 1962,
Oswald gave George De Mohrenschildt a typed resume of about 20 pages which
detailed his experiences in a factory in Minsk, Russia, and criticized many
aspects of Soviet life. In response to Mr. De Mohrenschildt's question as
to why he returned to the United States, Oswald commented, "I did not find
there what I was looking for."
Mrs. De Mohrenschildt obtained the impression that Oswald opposed
segregation and that he was favorable toward the policies of the United
States Government. Oswald did express admiration for Castro as an
individual but never gave any indication he was connected with any type of
organization.
Both De Mohrenschildts considered Oswald to be a "complete lone-wolf." They
further considered him "cuckoo" but not "bad" in the sense of being likely
to resort to physical violence. However, they both stated that the general
impression of people in Dallas who knew Oswald was one of distaste and even
fear of him because of his brutality toward his wife and his "mental
instability" Oswald resented the sympathies and interest accorded his wife
by various people in Dallas, and he would sometimes insult those who were
trying to assist his family.
According to Mrs. De Mohrenschildt, sometime in the Fall of l962, while she
was visiting Mrs. Oswald, the latter stated, "Look how crazy he is, now he
has bought a gun." On that occasion, Mrs. De Mohrenschildt said, she saw a
gun, which she described as being about "four feet long" but she did not
handle it or closely examine it. She did not know whether it was a rifle or
a shotgun and was not certain whether it had a telescopic sight.
Mrs. Oswald has stated that she recalls the incident described by Mrs. De
Mohrenschildt but remembers that it definitely occurred at the Oswald
residence at 214 West Neely Street, Dallas. This would fix the time as
March or April, 1963. Mrs. Oswald added that she knows of no rifle her
husband had, other than the one which has been identified as the
assassination weapon.
Arrangements were made to have the De Mohrenschildts reinterviewed on
December 19, 1963, concerning the gun Mrs. De Mohrenschildt said she had
seen. Upon reflecting further about the matter, both she and her husband
agreed the incident had occurred around Easter in April, 1963. In addition,
Mrs. De Mohrenschildt recalled the apartment in which the Oswalds had been
living at the time and consulted her personal telephone list which gave the
Neely Street address in Dallas.
B. Alexandra Taylor
Alexandra Taylor, Dover Plains, New York, who is employed as an attendant
at the Harlem Valley State Hospital, Wingdale, New York, advised on
November 30, 1963, that her father, George De Mohrenschildt, called her in
September, l962, and asked if she could put up Marina Oswald for a short
while, stating that Oswald and his wife had recently arrived from Russia
and were without funds. Taylor was then residing with her husband, Gary, in
Dallas, Texas. Marina Oswald and her baby stayed with the Taylors for about
two weeks, but Oswald, she believed, resided at the YMCA. Oswald did visit
occasionally during Marina's stay with the Taylors, at which times Gary
Taylor and Oswald had frequent heated political discussions.
Mrs. Taylor obtained the impression that Oswald considered himself to be a
socialist, but she was of the opinion he disliked both the United States
and Russia and, in fact, disliked almost everything. Oswald, however, never
expressed any dislike for President Kennedy but did express a personal
antipathy toward Governor Connally of Texas. She did not know why Oswald
disliked Mr. Connally. Alexandra Taylor became friendly with Oswald's wife
and expressed the opinion that Marina had married Oswald to get out of the
Soviet Union.
Mrs. Taylor said that Oswald was strongly anti-religious and berated his
wife for having their child baptized in the Russian Orthodox Church. She
described Oswald as "bright," one who could argue logically and
persuasively, and who was positive in his ideas and strong in his
convictions. she said she found it hard to believe he would want to kill
President Kennedy.
C. Gary E. Taylor
Gary E. Taylor, 4115 Falls Drive, Dallas, Texas, on interview on December
2, 1963, confirmed the information furnished by Alexandra Taylor. In
addition, he stated that from his first discussion with Oswald, he had
gained the impression that Oswald was looking for a Utopia, and he felt
that what Oswald regarded as a good government was impractical. Oswald had
admitted that the Soviet-type government was not his ideal because the
people were repressed. Oswald believed people should have as much power as
those who governed them; that people should live on an equal basis, receive
the same wages, and live in the same size houses. Most of Taylor's
discussions with Oswald were long and drawn out, usually ending up exactly
where they began. According to Taylor, Oswald never mentioned President
Kennedy or Governor Connally or their administrations or policies in his
presence.
The Taylors, who are now separated, were the individuals who described her
parents, the De Mohrenschildts, as possibly the closest friends the Oswalds
had.
D. Ruth Hyde Paine
Ruth Hyde Paine, 2515 West 5th Street, Irving, Texas, who was separated
from her husband, Michael Ralph Paine, when interviewed, furnished the
following information on November 23, 1963, and subsequent dates.
Mrs. Paine first met the Oswalds about February, 1963, at a social
gathering in Dallas. About two months later, Oswald and his wife had dinner
at Mrs. Paine's residence. She developed a friendship with Mrs. Oswald
because Mrs. Oswald spoke only Russian and Mrs. Paine, who also speaks
Russian and teaches the Russian language, wanted someone to converse with
in that language to improve her own knowledge of it.
After Oswald lost his job at Jaggars-Chiles-Stovall in Dallas and went to
New Orleans to seek another, Mrs. Paine drove Oswald's wife and child to
New Orleans to join him. In September, 1963, Mrs. Paine picked up Marina
Oswald and the child at New Orleans and drove them to the Paine residence
in Irving, Texas, where they remained until November 22, 1963. Oswald
visited his family on weekends at Irving, but paid none of the expenses
connected with his wife's stay at the Paine home.
In conversations with Mrs. Paine, Oswald claimed to be a Marxist, but she
considered him to be nothing more than some-what odd. Although she did not
regard him as a very logical person, she said that at no time did he ever
give any indication to her that he would commit violence or murder. She
said her friendship with the Oswalds was based on her fondness for Mrs.
Oswald.
The April 26, 1958, issue of the "Friends Journal," a Quaker weekly
published by the Friends Publishing Corporation, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, reported that "Young Friends" had made final plans for a
six-week summer visit of four Russians to the United States. The article
stated that six Americans were to accompany the Russians by automobile, and
their plans included contact with Friends, visits to industry, farms, and
schools, as well as visits to areas of public interest to Soviet young
people. The article identified the members of the planning group, among
them being the name "Ruth Hyde Paine."
On December 18, 1963, Mrs. Paine advised that in 1958 when she was a member
of a Quaker youth group known as "Young Friends" three Russian students
visited in Philadelphia. According to Mrs. Paine, the only contact she had
with these three Russians occurred at a party held at an unrecalled
location in Philadelphia. At that time she could not speak Russian and she
had only limited conversation with them. Mrs. Paine advised th