Chapter LVI: Appendix: XIII (3)

Marina was 18 when she arrived in Minsk. She had had boyfriends in Leningrad but was not interested in marriage. In October 1960 she started work in the drug section of the Third Clinical Hospital where she earned about 450 rubles per month;[A13-660] at about the same time she became a member of the local Komsomol, the Communist youth organization.[A13-661] Her friends were mostly students, whose social life consisted of meeting in cafes to sip coffee, read newspapers, gossip, and carry on discussions. The group of friends “ran together,” and Marina did not attach herself to a particular boyfriend. She enjoyed this life, which she had been leading for about 7 months when she met Oswald at the dance at the Palace of Culture in March 1961.[A13-662]

When Marina met Oswald, she thought he was from one of the Russian-speaking Baltic countries because he spoke with an accent; later that same evening she learned that he was an American.[A13-663] She met him again at another dance a week later.[A13-664] They danced together most of the evening, at the end of which he walked home with her. They arranged to meet again the following week.[A13-665] Before the scheduled time, Oswald called to say that he was in the hospital and that Marina should visit him there.[A13-666] Medical records furnished to the Commission by the Russian Government show that Oswald was admitted to the Clinical Hospital--Ear, Nose, and Throat Division, on Thursday, March 30, 1961.[A13-667] Marina visited him often,[A13-668] taking advantage of her uniform to visit him outside regular visiting hours, which were only on Sunday.[A13-669] On Easter Sunday, the first Sunday after his admission to the hospital, she brought him an Easter egg.[A13-670] On a subsequent visit, he asked her to be his fiancee, and she agreed to consider it.[A13-671] He left the hospital on April 11.[A13-672]

During these visits, Marina apparently discussed with Oswald his reasons for coming to Russia and his current status. According to her later account, he told her that he had surrendered his American documents to the Embassy in Moscow and had told American officials that he did not intend to return to the United States. He did not say definitely that he was no longer an American citizen, but said in answer to a question about his citizenship that he could not return to the United States.[A13-673]

Oswald visited Marina regularly at her aunt and uncle’s apartment; they were apparently not disturbed by the fact that he was an American and did not disapprove of her seeing him. He continued to ask her to marry him and, according to her recollection, she accepted his proposal on April 20;[A13-674] Oswald’s diary puts the date 5 days earlier.[A13-675] Marina testified that she believed that Oswald could not return to the United States when she agreed to marry him, and that she had not married him in hope of going to the United States.[A13-676]

After filing notice of their intent to marry at the registrar, obtaining the special consent necessary for an alien to marry a citizen, and waiting the usual 10 days, they were married on April 30.[A13-677] The diary entry for the wedding day reads:

two of Marinas girl friends act as bridesmaids. We are married.
At her aunts home we have a dinner reception for about 20
friends and neboribos who wish us happiness (in spite of
my origin and accept [accent?] which was in general rather
disquiting to any Russian since for. are very rare in the
soviet Union even tourist. After an evening of eating and
drinking in which * * * [Marina’s uncle] started a fright
[fight?] and the fuse blow on an overloaded circite we take our
leave and walk the 15 minutes to our home. We lived near each
other, at midnight we were home.[A13-678]

They both took 3 days off from their jobs, which they spent in Minsk.[A13-679]

Oswald wrote in his diary for May 1, 1 day after the wedding: “In spite of fact I married Marina to hurt Ella I found myself in love with Marina.”[A13-680] The next entry, marked simply “May,” reads in part:

The trasistion of changing full love from Ella to Marina was
very painfull esp. as I saw Ella almost every day at the
factory but as the days & weeks went by I adjusted more and
more [to] my wife mentaly * * * She is maddly in love with me
from the very start. Boat rides on Lake Minsk walks through
the parks evening at home or at Aunt Valia’s place mark
May.”[A13-681]

And in June: “A continuence of May, except that; we draw closer and closer, and I think very little now of Ella.”[A13-682]

Sometime within the first month or two after they were married Oswald told his wife that he was anxious to return to the United States. The diary says that he told her “in the last days” of June and that she was “slightly startled” but encouraged him to do as he wished.[A13-683] Marina’s recollection is that she learned of his plan between May and July. Embassy records show that Oswald notified the Embassy in a letter received on May 25 that he was married and his wife would seek to accompany him to the United States.[A13-684] At about this time, the Oswalds began to make inquiries in Soviet offices about exit visas.[A13-685]

While these preparations were being made, the Oswalds apparently enjoyed their new life.[A13-686] They ate most of their meals in cafes or at restaurants where they worked.[A13-687] For amusement, they went boating, attended the opera, concerts, the circus, and films; occasionally, they gathered with a group of friends for a cooperative meal at someone’s apartment.[A13-688] His Russian improved, but he retained an accent and never learned to speak grammatically or to write well.[A13-689] He read the English language edition of the Daily Worker and books, also in English, on Marxism and Leninism; he also read some Russian newspapers.[A13-690]

Before he married Marina (and presumably before February, when he had begun his efforts to return to the United States) Oswald had applied for admission to the Patrice Lumumba Friendship University in Moscow. He received a letter dated May 3 apologizing for the delay in responding to his application and turning it down on the ground that the university had been established exclusively for students from the underdeveloped countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America.[A13-691] Oswald expressed his disappointment at having been turned down to Marina.[A13-692]

Oswald reopened his correspondence with his family on May 5, with a friendly letter to his brother Robert. He said nothing about his contacts with the American Embassy, but mentioned that he had married, and that he had a job as a “metal-smith” and was living well. He asked his brother for their mother’s address, and encouraged him to come to Minsk for a visit.[A13-693] Robert answered the letter quickly. On May 31, Oswald wrote again and expressed his pleasure at having heard from Robert after so long. Apparently in response to an offer to send him whatever he needed, Oswald wrote that he needed nothing and thanked Robert for the thought; he suggested, however, that Marina might like a small wedding present. At the end of the letter he said that he did not know whether he would ever return to the United States; he said that before he could return he would have to obtain the permission of the Soviet Union for him and Marina to leave and insure that no charges would be lodged against him in the United States. In this letter, he mentioned that he was in touch with the Embassy in Moscow.[A13-694] At about this time, Oswald wrote also to his mother.[A13-695]

On May 25, the Embassy received a letter mailed in Minsk about 10 days before, in which Oswald asked for assurances that he would not be prosecuted if he returned to the United States, and informed the Embassy that he had married a Russian woman who would want to accompany him.[A13-696] The Embassy communicated this development to Washington[A13-697] and did not answer Oswald immediately. In addition, he had had no word since March concerning the return of his passport. Impatient for action,[A13-698] he appeared without warning at the Embassy on July 8; it was a Saturday and the offices were closed.[A13-699] He used the house telephone to reach Snyder, who came to the office, talked with him briefly, and suggested that he return on the following Monday.[A13-700] Oswald called Marina and asked her to join him in Moscow. She arrived on Sunday, July 9,[A13-701] and they took a room at the Hotel Berlin,[A13-702] where he had stayed when he first arrived in Russia.

Oswald returned to the Embassy on Monday. Marina waited outside during his interview with Snyder,[A13-703] who asked to see Oswald’s Soviet papers and questioned him closely about his life in Russia and possible expatriating acts. Oswald stated that he was not a citizen of the Soviet Union and had never formally applied for citizenship, that he had never taken an oath of allegiance to the Soviet Union, and that he was not a member of the factory trade union organization. He said that he had never given Soviet officials any confidential information that he had learned in the Marines, had never been asked to give such information, and “doubted” that he would have done so had he been asked.[A13-704] Some of Oswald’s statements during this interview were undoubtedly false. He had almost certainly applied for citizenship in the Soviet Union[A13-705] and, at least for a time, been disappointed when it was denied.[A13-706] He possessed a membership card in the union organization.[A13-707] In addition, his assertion to Snyder that he had never been questioned by Soviet authorities concerning his life in the United States is simply unbelievable.

Oswald showed anxiety, already displayed in his letters, that he might be prosecuted and imprisoned if he returned to the United States. Snyder told him informally that he did not know any grounds on which he would be prosecuted but that he could give no assurances in this regard.[A13-708] Snyder testified that Oswald seemed to have matured while he was in Russia and did not show the bravado and arrogance which characterized his first contacts with the Embassy. Oswald told him that he had “learned a hard lesson the hard way” and had acquired a new appreciation of the United States and the meaning of freedom.[A13-709]

Since Oswald’s passport would expire on September 10, 1961,[A13-710] before which date he probably would not be able to obtain Russian exit papers, he filled out an application for its renewal.[A13-711] On a questionnaire attached to the application,[A13-712] he reiterated his oral statements that he had obtained only a residence permit in the Soviet Union and was still an American national. On the basis of Oswald’s written and oral statements, Snyder concluded that he had not expatriated himself and returned his passport, stamped valid only for direct travel to the United States,[A13-713] to him. Accompanied by his wife,[A13-714] Oswald came to the Embassy again on the following day,[A13-715] to initiate procedures for her admission to the United States as an immigrant; they had a routine interview with McVickar, Snyder’s assistant.[A13-716] Three days later, they returned to Minsk.[A13-717]

On the same day, Oswald wrote to his brother. He told Robert that he had his passport again and that he and Marina were doing everything possible to leave the Soviet Union. Apparently referring to his initial reappearance at the Embassy in quest of his passport, he wrote: “I could write a book about how many feeling have come and gone since that day.” The letter closed with an affectionate greeting to his brother and his family.[A13-718] The letter’s tone of firm purpose to return to the United States in the face of heavy odds reflected Oswald’s attitude thereafter.

As soon as they returned to Minsk, the Oswalds began to work with local authorities for permission to leave the country.[A13-719] His diary entry for July 16 through August 20 reads,

We have found out which blanks and certificates are nessceary
to apply for a exit visa. They number about 20 papers; birth
certificates, affidavit, photos, ect. On Aug 20th we give
the papers out they say it will be 3½ months before we know
wheather they let us go or not. In the meantime Marina has had
to stade 4 differant meeting at the place of work held by her
boss’s at the direction of “someone” by phone. The Young Comm.
leauge headquttes also called about her and she had to go see
them for 1½ hours. The purpose (expressed) is to disuade her
from going to the U.S.A. Net effect: Make her more stubborn
about wanting to go. Marina is pregnet. We only hope that the
visas come through soon.[A13-720]

In a letter dated July 15, he reported their efforts to the Embassy, and said that he would keep it informed “as to the overall picture.” The letter mentioned that Marina was having difficulties at work because of her decision to leave but added that such “tactics” were “quite useless” and that Marina had “stood up well, without getting into trouble.”[A13-721] For August 21 through September 1, the diary reads:

I make repeated trips to the passport & visa office, also
to Ministry of For. Affairs in Minsk, also Min. of Internal
Affairs, all of which have a say in the granting of a visa. I
extrackted promises of quick attention to us.[A13-722]

For September through October 18, “No word from Min. (‘They’ll call us.’).”[A13-723]

Marina testified that when the news of her visit to the American Embassy in July reached Minsk, she was dropped from membership in “Komsomol,” the Communist Youth Organization,[A13-724] and that “meetings were arranged” at which “members of the various organizations” attempted to dissuade her from leaving the Soviet Union.[A13-725] Her aunt and uncle did not speak to her for “a long time.”[A13-726] Paul Gregory, to whom Marina taught Russian in the United States, testified that she once referred to this period of her life in Minsk as “a very horrible time.”[A13-727]

Oswald wrote to the Embassy again on October 4, to request that the U.S. Government officially intervene to facilitate his and his wife’s applications for exit visas.[A13-728] He stated that there had been “systematic and concerted attempts to intimidate [Marina] * * * into withdrawing her application for a visa” which had resulted in her being hospitalized for a 5-day period on September 22 for “nervous exhaustion.”[A13-729] Marina has denied that she was hospitalized for a nervous disorder[A13-730] and he made no mention of it in his diary or letters to his family; he probably lied to the Embassy. The Embassy replied to his letter on October 12, saying that it had no way of influencing Soviet conduct on such matters and that its experience had been that action on applications for exit visas was “seldom taken rapidly.”[A13-731]

In October 1961 Marina took her annual vacation.[A13-732] She and Oswald agreed that she should get a “change of scenery,”[A13-733] and she spent about 3 weeks with an aunt in Khar’kov. It is possible that they were not getting along well together during this period.[A13-734] A diary entry after her return indicates that they were having some quarrels and that she was wavering in her decision to go to the United States, which Oswald attributed to anxiety about their applications for visas and the fact that she was pregnant; he in turn dreaded the approach of the “hard Russian winter.”[A13-735] He noted in his diary that he was lonely while she was gone, but that he and his friend “Erich,” presumably Erik Titovyets, went to some dances and other public amusements.[A13-736] On his 22nd birthday he went alone to see his favorite opera, “The Queen of Spades.”[A13-737] Marina sent him a gold and silver cup, inscribed “To my dear husband on his birthday, 18/x/61” and other gifts, for which he wrote to thank her.[A13-738] She returned on November 12, in Oswald’s words, “radient, with several jars of preserses for me from her aunt.”[A13-739]

Sometime after Marina’s return Oswald applied for an interview with Col. Nicolay Aksenov, an official in the local MVD, in an effort to expedite their application for exit visas; he was told by the colonel’s subordinates that they were competent to handle the matter. Oswald then insisted that Marina seek an interview; she agreed reluctantly. The interview was granted;[A13-740] Marina thought that this might have been due to the fact that her uncle was also a high-ranking official in the Minsk MVD, but she did not believe that he would personally have presumed on his official position to obtain special treatment.[A13-741] Colonel Aksenov questioned her about her reasons for wanting to go to the United States and, noticing that she was pregnant, suggested that she at least delay her departure so that her child could be born in Russia, but did not otherwise try to discourage her. He finally told her that there were many others seeking visas and that she and her husband would have to wait their turn.[A13-742]

Throughout this period, Oswald continued to correspond with his mother and brother. His letters contained the usual chatter among members of a family and occasional references to the progress of the visa applications.[A13-743] He wrote to the Embassy on November 1, saying that if, as he anticipated, his residence permit were renewed in January for another year, it would be over his protest.[A13-744] On November 13 the Embassy replied, telling Oswald that retention of his Soviet passport, which was of the kind issued to persons considered to be stateless, or an extension of it, would not prejudice his claim to American citizenship. The letter added that he could discuss the renewal of his American passport whenever he appeared in person at the Embassy to do so.[A13-745]

Late in December, Oswald wrote a letter to Senator John G. Tower of Texas, which was received in Washington near the end of January. He stated that he was an American citizen and that the Soviet Government refused to permit him and his wife to leave the Soviet Union. He asked Senator Tower to raise “the question of holding by the Soviet Union of a citizen of the U.S., against his will and expressed desires.” The letter was referred to the State Department and no further action concerning it was taken.[A13-746] On December 25, Marina was called to the Soviet Passport Office and told that exit visas would be granted to her and her husband; she was surprised, having doubted that she would ever be permitted to leave. Oswald wrote to the Embassy on December 27 that they would be given visas and asked that his passport be extended without another trip to Moscow; he added, however, that he would come to Moscow if this would expedite the processing of his application. In his diary, he wrote, “It’s great (I think?).”[A13-747] Before the year ended, Marina went on maternity leave from her job.[A13-748] They spent New Year’s Eve at a dinner party given by the Zigers.[A13-749]

Oswald wrote to his mother on January 2, 1962, and told her that he and his wife expected to arrive in the United States sometime around March. He asked her to contact the local Red Cross and request that it put his case before the International Rescue Committee or some other group which aids immigrants to the United States. He told her that he would need about $800 and that she should insist on a gift rather than a loan; he told her not to send any of her own money.[A13-750] Despite his instructions, she requested a loan from the Red Cross.[A13-751] On January 13, Oswald wrote to the International Rescue Committee himself; he asked for $800 with which to purchase two tickets from Moscow to Texas.[A13-752] He wrote to the Committee again on January 26, this time asking for $1,000.[A13-753]

In the meantime, letters of Oswald[A13-754] and the American Embassy,[A13-755] both dated January 5, crossed in the mail. The Embassy’s letter suggested that since there might be difficulties in obtaining an American visa for Marina, he consider returning alone and bringing her over later. He replied on the 16th that he would not leave Russia without her.[A13-756] In his letter, Oswald requested that the U.S. Government loan him the money for his and Marina’s airplane tickets or arrange a loan from another source. The Embassy replied on January 15 that Marina had not yet obtained an American visa and that no evidence had yet been submitted that she would not become a public charge in the United States.[A13-757] It suggested that Oswald’s mother or some other close relative file an affidavit of support in Marina’s behalf. Before receiving this letter, Oswald wrote out such a document himself[A13-758] and mailed it to the Embassy.[A13-759]

On January 23, after receiving the Embassy’s letter, he wrote that his own affidavit should be sufficient, since he had been away from the United States for more than 2 years and could not be expected to obtain an affidavit from someone else.[A13-760] But on the same day, he wrote to his mother asking that she file an affidavit of support with the Immigration and Naturalization Service.[A13-761] On January 24, the Embassy acknowledged receipt of his affidavit, but again suggested that he obtain one from someone else.[A13-762]

Late in January, Oswald received a letter from his mother telling him that he had been given a dishonorable discharge from the Marines.[A13-763] (The discharge had actually been “undesirable,” a less derogatory characterization.)[A13-764] This apparently revived his fear of prosecution, and on January 30, he wrote to his brother for more information.[A13-765] On the same day he wrote also to John B. Connally, Jr., then Governor of Texas, who Oswald believed was still Secretary of Navy. The letter read:

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

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

This person in answers to questions put to him by reporteds
in Moscow criticized certain facets of american life. The
story was blown up into another “turncoat” sensation, with the
result that the Navy department gave this person a belated
dishonourable discharge, although he had received an honourable
discharge after three years service on Sept. 11, 1959 at El
Toro, Marine corps base in California.

These are the basic facts of _my_ case.

I have and allways had the full sanction of the U.S. Embassy,
Moscow USSR, and hence the U.S. goverment. In as much as I
am returning to the U.S.A. in this year with the aid of the
U.S. Embassy, bring with me my family (since I married in the
USSR) I shall employ all means to right this gross mistake or
injustice to a boni-fied U.S. citizen and _ex_-service man. The
U.S. government has no charges or complaints against me. I ask
you to look into this case and take the neccessary steps to
repair the damage done to me and my family. For information I
would direct you to consult the American Embassy, Chikovski St.
19/21, Moscow, USSR.[A13-766]

Connally referred the letter to the Department of the Navy,[A13-767] which sent Oswald a letter stating that the Department contemplated no change in the undesirable discharge.[A13-768] On March 22, Oswald wrote to the Department insisting that his discharge be given a further, full review.[A13-769] The Department promptly replied that it had no authority to hear and review petitions of this sort and referred Oswald to the Navy Discharge Review Board.[A13-770] Oswald filled out the enclosed application for review in Minsk but did not mail it until he returned to the United States.[A13-771]

The Department of State had notified Oswald’s mother that it would need $900 to make the travel arrangements for her son and daughter-in-law.[A13-772] On February 1, Oswald sent his mother a brief letter rejecting her suggestion that she try to raise money by telling the newspapers about his financial plight.[A13-773] Five days later, the Embassy wrote to Oswald and asked him to make formal application for a loan.[A13-774] Oswald wrote to his mother again on February 9, reminding her to file an affidavit of support and asking that she send him clippings from the Fort Worth newspapers about his defection to Russia, a request which he later repeated to his brother. He told her that he wanted to know what had been written about him, so that he could be “forewarned.”[A13-775]

Oswald took Marina to the hospital on the morning of February 15. A baby girl was born at about 10 a.m.[A13-776] He had gone on to the factory where news of the birth awaited him on his arrival.[A13-777] In accordance with regular hospital practice,[A13-778] he did not see the baby until Marina left the hospital.[A13-779] He was excited by the child,[A13-780] who was named “June Lee” in accordance with the Russian custom and law that a child’s second name must be the father’s first name or a variation of it. He had wanted to name his child “June Marina,” and protested the application of the law to her, since he had a United States passport. His diary contains the wry comment, “Po-Russki.”[A13-781] His coworkers at the factory gave the Oswalds “one summer blanket, 6 light diapers, 4 warm diapers, 2 chemises, 3 very good warm chemises, 4 very nice suits and two toys” for the baby.[A13-782] Marina came home on February 23.[A13-783]

There was less urgency about the departure for the United States after June Lee was born.[A13-784] Oswald wrote to his mother,[A13-785] and brother,[A13-786] that he would probably not arrive for several months. The Embassy received a letter on March 3, in which Oswald applied for a loan of $800;[A13-787] the Embassy replied that it was authorized to loan him only $500.[A13-788] It had in the meantime decided that his own affidavit of support for Marina would be sufficient under the circumstances.[A13-789] On March 15, he received notification from the Immigration and Naturalization Service that Marina’s application for a visa had been approved.[A13-790] By March 28, he had received an affidavit of support in Marina’s behalf from his mother’s employer, Byron K. Phillips,[A13-791] which he filed although it was no longer necessary to do so.[A13-792] A few days before, Marina, still on maternity leave, had quit her job.[A13-793] Discussions with the Embassy to complete financial and travel arrangements continued in April and May.[A13-794] In a letter to Robert on April 12, Oswald wrote that only “the American side” was holding up their departure, but added that the winter being over, he didn’t “really * * * want to leave until the beginning of fall, since the spring and summer * * * [in Russia] are so nice.”[A13-795]

On May 10, the Embassy wrote that everything was in order and suggested that Oswald come to the Embassy with his family to sign the final papers.[A13-796] At his request,[A13-797] he was discharged from the factory on about May 18.[A13-798] His work had apparently never been very good. Marina testified that he was rather lazy and resented having to take orders.[A13-799] This estimate is confirmed by a report of the plant director and personnel department chief, filed on December 11, 1961, which was apparently a routine assessment of his work. The report noted that he did not “display the initiative for increasing his skill” in his job, that he was “over-sensitive * * * to remarks from the foremen, and * * * careless in his work”; Oswald took “no part in the social life of the shop” and kept “very much to himself.”[A13-800]

Oswald picked up his Soviet exit visa on May 22;[A13-801] at about this time, he also had an interview with an official of the MVD to obtain final clearance for his departure.[A13-802] He wrote to Robert that he and his family would leave for Moscow on the following day and depart for England 10 to 14 days later. He expected to cross the Atlantic by ship, probably docking in New Orleans. Returning to a point which he had made in an earlier letter to his mother, he commented that he knew from the newspaper clippings what Robert had said about him when he left for Russia; he thought that Robert had talked too much at that time, and asked that Robert say nothing to the newspapers now.[A13-803]

The Oswalds arrived in Moscow by May 24[A13-804] and on that date filled out various documents at the American Embassy;[A13-805] Marina was given her American visa.[A13-806] Final arrangements for their emigration were made with Soviet officials.[A13-807] On June 1, Oswald signed a promissory note at the Embassy for a repatriation loan of $435.71.[A13-808] He and his family boarded a train for Holland,[A13-809] which passed through Minsk that night.[A13-810] They crossed the Soviet frontier at Brest on June 2. Two days later, they departed from Holland on the SS _Maasdam_.[A13-811] Onboard ship, the Oswalds stayed by themselves; Marina testified that she did not often go on deck because she was poorly dressed and Oswald was ashamed of her.[A13-812]

Probably while he was on board the _Maasdam_ Oswald wrote some notes on ship stationery, which appear to be a summary of what he thought he had learned by living under both the capitalist and Communist systems. The notes reflect his unhappy and deepening feeling of disillusionment with both the Soviet Union and the United States. Oswald observed that although reform groups may oppose the government in power, they always declare that they are for their people and their country, and he asked what “would happen if somebody was to stand up and say he was utterly opposed not only to the governments, but to the people, too the entire land and complete foundations” of his society. He condemned existing political groups and proposed the formation of a third choice between communism and capitalism, neither of which was acceptable to him. “I have lived,” he said, “under both systems, I have _sought_ the answers and although it would be very easy to dupe myself into believing one system is better than the other, I know they are not.” In these notes, he acknowledged that his “Red Cross” subsidy had been paid by the Soviet Government rather than the international organization, and said, “I shall never sell myself intentionlly, or unintentionlly to anyone again.”[A13-813] (Commission Exhibit No. 25, p. 273.) It was probably also onboard ship that Oswald wrote two sets of answers to questions which he anticipated about his decision to go to Russia and later to return to the United States. Although the sets of answers are somewhat similar, but the tone of one is apologetic, while the other suggests that Oswald went to Russia to study the Soviet system, but remained a loyal American and owed no apologies.[A13-814]

The _Maasdam_ landed at Hoboken, N.J., on June 13.[A13-815] The Oswalds were met by Spas T. Raikin, a representative of the Traveler’s Aid Society, which had been contacted by the Department of State; Raikin had the impression that Oswald was trying to avoid meeting anyone. He told Raikin that he had only $63 and had no plans either for that night or for travel to Fort Worth, and accepted the society’s help, according to Raikin, “with confidence and appreciation.”[A13-816] They passed through the immigration office without incident,[A13-817] and Raikin helped them through customs.[A13-818]

The society referred the Oswalds to the New York City Department of Welfare, which helped them find a room at the Times Square Hotel.[A13-819] Oswald told both Raikin and representatives of the welfare department that he had been a marine stationed at the American Embassy in Moscow, had married a Russian girl, renounced his citizenship, and worked in Minsk; he soon found out, he said, that the Russian propaganda was inaccurate but had not been able to obtain an exit visa for his wife and child for more than 2 years. He said also that he had paid the travel expenses himself.[A13-820]

The welfare department called Robert Oswald’s home in Fort Worth. His wife answered and said that they would help. She contacted her husband who sent $200 immediately.[A13-821] Oswald refused to accept the money and insisted that the department itself should pay the fare to Texas; he threatened that they would go as far as they could on $63 and rely on local authorities to get them the rest of the way. In the end he accepted the money.[A13-822] On the afternoon of June 14, the Oswalds left New York by plane for Fort Worth.[A13-823]

FORT WORTH, DALLAS, NEW ORLEANS

Oswald had originally indicated that he and his family would stay with his mother in Vernon, Tex.[A13-824] His decision to stay with Robert Oswald in Fort Worth apparently had been prompted by his brother’s invitation in a letter to him in Russia.[A13-825] Oswald listed only his brother as a relative on an “Intake Interview” form which he prepared for the New York Department of Welfare.[A13-826]

Robert took his wife and children to Love Field, the Dallas airport, to meet Lee and Marina and their baby, June Lee.[A13-827] He testified that the most noticeable change in his brother’s appearance was that he had become rather bald; he seemed also to be somewhat thinner than he had been in 1959. Robert thought that his brother had picked up “something of an accent” but, except for these changes was “the same boy” whom he had known before.[A13-828] Lee commented on the absence of newspaper reporters and seemed to Robert to be disappointed that none had appeared.[A13-829] Later on, Lee was anxious to avoid publicity.[A13-830]

Robert drove the Oswalds to his home at 7313 Davenport Street.[A13-831] For a few days, Lee seemed tense,[A13-832] but the brothers got along well,[A13-833] and to Robert it was “more or less * * * [as if Lee] had not been to Russia”; they were “just together again.”[A13-834] They did not discuss politics, according to Robert because of a “tacit agreement” between them.[A13-835] Lee indicated to his brother that he hoped to have his undesirable discharge from the Marines corrected.[A13-836] Robert and his wife “took to Marina and June,” and enjoyed showing Marina “things that she had never seen before.”[A13-837] Marina rested and took care of her baby, and when she could, helped in the household.[A13-838] She testified that, apart from a trip to the library, Lee spent about a week “merely talking.”[A13-839]

On June 18, 4 days after he arrived in Fort Worth, Oswald went to the office of Mrs. Pauline Virginia Bates, a public stenographer whose name he had found in the telephone directory,[A13-840] and asked her to type a manuscript from the “scraps of paper,” on which he had recorded his impressions of the Soviet Union.[A13-841] Intrigued by his tale that he had just returned from the Soviet Union and had smuggled his notes out of that country, she agreed to type the notes for $1 per page or $2 an hour, 50 cents less than her usual hourly rate.[A13-842] On that day and the succeeding 2 days, Mrs. Bates spent 8 hours typing for Oswald while he remained in her office helping her with the notes and translating portions of them which were in Russian.[A13-843] At the end of each session he collected his notes and as much of the manuscript as she had done and took them away with him.[A13-844] On June 20, he gave Mrs. Bates $10 for the 10 completed pages; he told her that he had no more money and refused to accept her offer to postpone payment or continue the work for nothing.[A13-845]

Oswald told Mrs. Bates that there was an engineer in Fort Worth who wanted to help him publish his notes.[A13-846] On June 19,[A13-847] he had called Peter Gregory, a petroleum engineer who was born in Siberia and taught Russian at the Fort Worth Public Library as a “civic enterprise.”[A13-848] He asked if Gregory could give him a letter testifying to his ability to read and speak Russian, so that he could obtain work as an interpreter or translator. Gregory suggested that Oswald come to his office, where Gregory opened a Russian book at random and asked Oswald to read from it. Oswald read well, and Gregory gave him the letter he wanted.[A13-849] Gregory and Oswald had lunch together and discussed Oswald’s life in the Soviet Union,[A13-850] but, according to Gregory’s testimony, nothing was said about publishing Oswald’s manuscript.[A13-851] About a week later, Gregory and his son Paul, a college student, visited the Oswalds at Robert Oswald’s home and arranged for Marina to give Paul lessons in Russian during the summer.[A13-852]

On June 26, Oswald was interviewed by FBI agents in Fort Worth.[A13-853] One of the agents who interviewed him described him as tense and “drawn up”; he said that Oswald “exhibited an arrogant attitude * * * and [was] inclined to be just a little insolent.”[A13-854] Oswald declined to say why he had gone to Russia, saying that he refused to “relive the past.”[A13-855] He said that he had not attempted to obtain Soviet citizenship, had not been approached by Soviet officials for information about his experiences in the Marines, and had not offered them such information. Marina’s Soviet passport required her to notify the Soviet Embassy in Washington of her address in this country, and Oswald told the agents that he planned to contact the Embassy for this purpose within a few days.[A13-856] He promised to notify the FBI if he were contacted by Soviet agents “under suspicious circumstances or otherwise.”[A13-857] Oswald told his brother about the interview, saying that it had been “just fine.”[A13-858]

Oswald and his family remained with Robert for about a month.[A13-859] While they were there his mother moved to Fort Worth from Crowell, Tex.,[A13-860] and, sometime in July they moved into her apartment at 1501 West Seventh Street.[A13-861] Mrs. Oswald testified that she had visited them at Robert’s house in June[A13-862] and moved to Fort Worth because she thought that the house was too crowded and wanted to help them.[A13-863] Mrs. Oswald described the period when her son and his family lived with her as “a very happy month”; according to her testimony, she and her son and daughter-in-law got along well. She mentioned that she not only helped Marina keep house and care for the baby but also aided her son in his efforts to find employment.[A13-864] Marina testified, however, that Lee did not get along well with his mother and that he decided after several weeks that they should move to their own apartment.[A13-865] He did not file a change-of-address card at the post office when the family moved to West Seventh Street, as he did when they made their next move,[A13-866] so he may have contemplated from the beginning that they would stay with his mother for only a short while. Around the middle of August,[A13-867] the Oswalds moved to a one-bedroom furnished apartment at 2703 Mercedes Street, for which they paid $59.50 in advance for 1 month’s rent.[A13-868]

In the third week in July, Oswald had obtained a job as a sheet metal worker with the Louv-R-Pak Division of the Leslie Welding Co.,[A13-869] a manufacturer of louvers and ventilators,[A13-870] to which he had been referred by the Texas Employment Commission.[A13-871] On his application for employment, filled out several days before, he wrote falsely that he had had experience as a sheet metal worker and machinist in the Marines and had been honorably discharged.[A13-872] He usually worked 8 or 9 hours a day, for which he was paid $1.25 an hour.[A13-873] Marina testified that Oswald did not like his work,[A13-874] but he was regarded as a good employee[A13-875] and remained with the company until October, when he quit.[A13-876] On the job, he kept to himself and was considered uncommunicative.[A13-877]

Mrs. Oswald visited her son and his family at their apartment and tried to help them get settled; she testified that she bought some clothes for Marina and a highchair for the baby but that Oswald told her that he did not want her to buy “things for his wife that he himself could not buy.”[A13-878] Finally, Oswald apparently decided that he did not want his mother to visit the apartment anymore and he became incensed when his wife permitted her to visit despite his instructions.[A13-879] After he moved to Dallas in October, Oswald did not see his mother or communicate with her in any way until she came to see him after the assassination.[A13-880] Witnesses have described the Mercedes Street apartment as “decrepit” and very poorly furnished;[A13-881] there was no telephone service.[A13-882] Acquaintances observed that Marina and the baby were poorly clothed, that the Oswalds had little food, and that at first there was not a bed for the baby.[A13-883]

On August 16, the FBI again interviewed Oswald. This interview took place in the back seat of a car in front of his home and covered substantially the same material as the previous interview. Oswald again denied having made any deal with representatives of the Soviet Union. He protested his undesirable discharge from the Marines, and stated that his wife was registered at the Soviet Embassy. He still refused to discuss why he had gone to the Soviet Union, but he was less hostile than he had been during the previous interview.[A13-884] According to his wife, however, he was very upset by the interest the FBI showed in him.[A13-885]

The Oswalds became acquainted with a growing number of people of the Russian-speaking community in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, who were tied together socially by a common origin, language, and religion. The group was not restricted to people from Russia but was composed primarily of people from Eastern European countries.[A13-886] The Oswalds’ initial contact with this group was through Peter Gregory. Marina gave conversational Russian lessons to Paul Gregory 2 days a week during August and early September, for which she was paid $35. Most of the lessons took place at the Mercedes Street apartment and Oswald was generally present.[A13-887] In addition, Paul Gregory occasionally took the Oswalds shopping; after they became friendly, he had a number of discussions with Oswald, some of them politically oriented.[A13-888]

Sometime around August 25, Peter Gregory invited the Oswalds and several members of the Russian community to his house for dinner. One of the guests was George Bouhe, a Dallas accountant and a leader of the Russian community. He was very interested in meeting and conversing with Marina, because she had spent much of her life in Leningrad, which was his birthplace.[A13-889] Also present was Mrs. Anna Meller, the Russian-born wife of a Dallas department store employee.[A13-890] Near the end of August, the Oswalds met Declan Ford, a consulting geologist in the Dallas area, and his Russian-born wife at Mrs. Meller’s home. The Oswalds were also introduced to Mrs. Elena Hall, who was born in Tehran, Iran, of Russian parentage. She worked in a dental laboratory and at this time was divorced from her former husband John Hall, whom she subsequently remarried. In order to obtain dental aid for Marina, George Bouhe had brought her to Mrs. Hall’s house.[A13-891] In early September, the Oswalds met Alexander Kleinlerer, another member of the Russian group, who was then courting Mrs. Hall.[A13-892] Mrs. Max Clark was introduced to Marina during this period by George Bouhe and Anna Meller. Max Clark met the Oswalds at a later time.[A13-893] At about the same time, they were visited by George De Mohrenschildt, a petroleum engineer born in Russia,[A13-894] who had heard of them from one of the Russian-speaking group.[A13-895] Later on, the Oswalds met his wife, Jeanne, and his daughter and son-in-law, Gary and Alexandra Taylor.[A13-896]

Most of the members of the Russian community were interested in the Oswalds not only because they needed help, but also because they could provide the latest information about what was happening in Russia.[A13-897] Some members of the group were at first apprehensive about them because the apparent ease with which they had left Russia seemed suspicious.[A13-898] Nevertheless, many of the group provided small amounts of money, groceries, clothing, and furniture for the Oswalds; George Bouhe, Anna Meller, and Elena Hall were the primary contributors, although others provided help in the form of transportation and groceries.[A13-899] These acquaintances occasionally visited the Oswalds, and the Oswalds in turn visited some of them in Dallas.[A13-900]

It was evident that Oswald did not appreciate the help of the Russian community.[A13-901] At least once he flew into a rage and shouted that he did not need any of the things that people were giving to him.[A13-902] Some felt that he resented the gifts because he could not give his wife what the others were providing;[A13-903] he apparently was critical of them also because he felt that they were overly concerned with improving themselves economically.[A13-904]

Oswald became increasingly unpopular with his Russian-speaking acquaintances, partly because of his resentment of their assistance.[A13-905] Alexander Kleinlerer stated that none of them cared for Oswald “because of his political philosophy, his criticism of the United States, his apparent lack of interest in anyone but himself and because of his treatment of Marina.”[A13-906] Some of them believed that Oswald was mentally disturbed.[A13-907] However, they felt sorry for Marina and the child and continued to help.[A13-908]

On a weekend afternoon early in October, the Oswalds were visited by his mother and a number of people from the Russian community, including George Bouhe, Anna Meller, the Halls, the De Mohrenschildts, and the Taylors.[A13-909] Oswald had apparently decided to look for a new job, and discussed his lack of job prospects and the fact that his rent was overdue.[A13-910] He was advised to seek employment in the Dallas area.[A13-911] Elena Hall invited Marina to move into her house in Fort Worth until Oswald found a job in Dallas. She accepted the proposal, and Mrs. Hall moved Marina, her daughter June, and the Oswalds’ few household goods in a pickup truck belonging to the dental laboratory where she was employed.[A13-912]

Oswald worked at the Leslie Welding Co. on Monday, October 8, but failed to appear on the following day. He was already in Dallas.[A13-913] He falsely told his wife that he had been discharged,[A13-914] and told George Bouhe that the job had been a temporary one.[A13-915] Sometime later, the company received an undated letter from him stating that he had “moved permanently to Dallas,” and asking that the wages due him be forwarded to him at box 2915 in Dallas.[A13-916] He did not tell his mother that he was leaving Fort Worth.[A13-917]

While they were in Fort Worth, the Oswalds were having marital problems.[A13-918] Several people noted that Marina had a blackened eye when they visited her at the Mercedes Street apartment.[A13-919] She told her mother-in-law and George Bouhe that her husband had struck her, but said to Anna Meller that she had walked into a door.[A13-920] It seems clear that Oswald had in fact hit her.[A13-921] People observed friction between the Oswalds on various occasions,[A13-922] although their disputes became more apparent later. Marina has written that this was a difficult period for them and that her husband was “very irritable” and sometimes some completely trivial thing would “drive him into a rage.”[A13-923]

She testified that:

* * * immediately after coming to the United States Lee
changed. I did not know him as such a man in Russia. * * * He
helped me as before, but he became a little more of a recluse
* * * He was very irritable, sometimes for a trifle * * *[A13-924]

She has denied, however, that their separation was the result of quarrels between them.[A13-925]

Marina spent the first few weeks after Oswald’s departure at Elena Hall’s house in Fort Worth, except for a brief stay at Gary Taylor’s house in Dallas after one of her appointments at the Baylor Dental Clinic.[A13-926] While she was in Dallas, Mrs. De Mohrenschildt brought her to the clinic on October 8, October 10, and October 15;[A13-927] George Bouhe had given Mrs. De Mohrenschildt the money to cover the expense of Marina’s dental care.[A13-928]

Even before Oswald went to Dallas, some of his acquaintances were helping him in his effort to find a job there.[A13-929] George De Mohrenschildt directed him to Samuel B. Ballen, a Dallas financial consultant, but no employment resulted.[A13-930] George Bouhe recommended that Oswald go to the Texas Employment Commission in Dallas; and Anna Meller had her husband ask Mrs. Helen Cunningham, a counselor in the clerical and sales division of the Dallas office of the employment commission, to help Oswald find a job.[A13-931] Oswald first came into the office of the employment commission on October 9. He was reluctant to accept industrial employment, and was placed in the clerical category and turned over to Mrs. Cunningham for counseling. He indicated that he had an interest in writing. The results of general aptitude tests which he had taken at the Fort Worth employment office had been transmitted to the Dallas office, and indicated that he had some aptitude in this direction and for clerical work. It was noted on his application form that he had “outstanding verbal-clerical potential.” He demonstrated ability to perform many skilled and semi-skilled jobs, and there was some indication that he could do college work. Mrs. Cunningham gave him three special tests: for general clerical work, work as an insurance claims examiner, and drafting work. He scored high on all three. His application form indicated that he did not have a driver’s license, and noted: “well-groomed and spoken, business suit, alert replies--expresses self extremely well.” He told Mrs. Cunningham that he hoped to develop qualifications for responsible junior executive employment by a work-study program at a local college but that this must be delayed because of his immediate financial needs and responsibilities.[A13-932]

Mrs. Cunningham concluded that although Oswald would be classified for clerical work, she should try to get him any available job, since he badly needed money. He was referred to an architect for an opening as a messenger but was not hired. On October 11, he was referred to Jaggars-Chiles-Stovall Co., a graphic arts company, in response to a call from John Graef, head of the photographic department of the company, who had told the employment commission that he needed a photoprint trainee. Oswald was enthusiastic about his prospects and apparently made a good impression; Graef picked him over several other applicants.[A13-933] On the following day he began working in his new position as a trainee making prints of advertising material. He worked a 40-hour week at approximately $1.35 per hour; his take-home pay varied from $49 to $74 a week.[A13-934] According to his wife, “he liked his work very much.”[A13-935]

Oswald moved into the YMCA on October 15, and stayed there until October 19, paying $2.25 a night.[A13-936] He had used the Taylors’ address and telephone number as a place where he could be reached,[A13-937] but on October 9 had also rented post office box 2915 under his own name at the main post office on Ervay Street.[A13-938] On October 10, he filed a change-of-address form indicating that mail for 2703 Mercedes Street should be forwarded to the box.[A13-939] Marina has written that Oswald wrote her letters and telephoned her during the separation.[A13-940]

On October 16, Mrs Hall brought Marina and June to Dallas to have June baptized. Marina apparently did this surreptitiously, because her husband opposed baptism; they did not contact him in Dallas, but left birthday gifts for him at the Taylors. Oswald did not appear very disturbed when he found out about the baptism.[A13-941]

Two days later, Mrs. Hall had an automobile accident and went to the hospital, where she remained until October 26; Marina remained in the Hall house. Mrs. Max Clark and Alexander Kleinlerer, a friend of Mrs. Hall, checked up to make sure that she was getting along without too much trouble.[A13-942] After Oswald left the YMCA on October 19, he moved to a room or apartment somewhere in Dallas,[A13-943] which has not been located.[A13-944] It seems likely, however, that during that time he spent several weekends with Marina at the Hall house.[A13-945]

Four days after Mrs. Hall returned from the hospital, she left for New York to visit friends. By the time she returned, Marina had moved to a three-room apartment at 604 Elsbeth Street in Dallas, which Oswald had rented on Saturday, November 3;[A13-946] the landlady stated that he had looked at the apartment about a week before. The monthly rent was $68, in addition to which he had to pay several dollars a month for utilities. He paid the rent plus a $5 deposit on November 3,[A13-947] but probably spent that night with Marina at the Hall house. On Sunday the Taylors helped the Oswalds move their belongings to the Elsbeth Street apartment with a rented trailer.[A13-948] Oswald had asked Kleinlerer to help them move, and Kleinlerer also was present when they departed.[A13-949]

Soon after the Oswalds were reunited, their marital difficulties started again. While they were moving to Elsbeth Street, Kleinlerer noticed that Oswald slapped his wife for not having the zipper on her dress completely closed.[A13-950] They argued over his refusal to allow her to smoke.[A13-951] There was a quarrel also when he told the landlady that Marina was from Czechoslovakia; he was angered when Marina, who disapproved of this deception, told the landlady the truth.[A13-952]