The testimony of William J. Waldman was taken on May 20, 1964, at 4540
West Madison Street, Chicago, Ill., by Mr. David W. Belin, assistant
counsel of the President's Commission.
William J. Waldman, called as a witness herein, having been first duly
sworn, was examined and testified as follows:
Mr. BELIN. Would you please state your full name?
Mr. WALDMAN. William J. Waldman.
Mr. BELIN. And where do you live, Mr. Waldman?
Mr. WALDMAN. 335 Central Avenue, Wilmette, Ill.
Mr. BELIN. Is that a suburb of Chicago?
Mr. WALDMAN. It's a suburb of Chicago.
Mr. BELIN. And what is your occupation?
Mr. WALDMAN. Vice president of Klein's Sporting Goods, Inc.
Mr. BELIN. How long have you been with Klein's?
Mr. WALDMAN. Approximately 12 years.
Mr. BELIN. And in your capacity as vice president, what are your
general areas of work?
Mr. WALDMAN. Supervising office, warehouse, and retail operations,
participating in the merchandising and advertising.
Mr. BELIN. What kinds of products does Klein's sell?
Mr. WALDMAN. Sporting goods in the majority, with some few specialty
items which appeal to the male consumer.
Mr. BELIN. Would these include goods such as fishing items or hunting
items?
Mr. WALDMAN. Yes.
Mr. BELIN. What is the fact as to whether or not included in the
products handled by Klein's are rifles?
Mr. WALDMAN. Would you restate the question?
Mr. BELIN. Does Klein's Sporting Goods, Inc., handle rifles in their
line of sporting goods?
Mr. WALDMAN. They do.
Mr. BELIN. For the record, we would like to have a little bit more of
your overall background. Were you originally born in Chicago?
Mr. WALDMAN. No; I was born in Sedalia, Mo., November 16, 1912.
Education: I don't know just what you're after.
Mr. BELIN. Well, you went through high school?
Mr. WALDMAN. I completed high school, attended Carnegie Institute of
Technology, New York University. I don't know the nature of how far you
want this developed.
Mr. BELIN. Well, you had some college work then?
Mr. WALDMAN. Yes.
Mr. BELIN. And after you got out of college, what did you do?
Mr. WALDMAN. I got out of college and I was employed by Sears and
Roebuck, Spiegel's, Inc., and various other employment, served in the
U.S. Army, Air Corps branch.
Mr. BELIN. This is during World War II?
Mr. WALDMAN. During World War II. Following which I was employed for a
brief period in a family business, and subsequently by Klein's Sporting
Goods.
Mr. BELIN. Mr. Waldman, I hand you what is being marked as Waldman
Deposition Exhibit 1 and ask you to state if you know what this is.
Mr. WALDMAN. I do.
Mr. BELIN. Could you please tell us what that statement constitutes?
Mr. WALDMAN. This constitutes a purchase order of Klein's directed to
Crescent Firearms Co. for Italian Carcano rifles prepared on January 2,
19--, oh, wait a minute; hold that a moment, January 24, 1963, calling
for 200 units at a cost of $8.50.