Mr. JOHNSON. I was. This was after the assassination date by a week.
Mr. RANKIN. Did you answer that letter?
Mr. JOHNSON. No.
Mr. RANKIN. You did not?
Mr. JOHNSON. No.
Mr. RANKIN. You remember receiving it personally rather than someone in
your office at that time?
Mr. JOHNSON. It was brought in by the mail carrier in the normal--in
the afternoon, and then was delivered to me within the office, yes.
Mr. RANKIN. Will you place your initials under mine?
(Witness complies.)
Mr. RANKIN. Do you know any reason for the delay in the letter?
Mr. JOHNSON. I really do not. That's an unusual delay. I could readily
see a delay occurring after the 22d, but to have a delay from the 1st
to that date seems to me to be beyond all normal procedure. Even when
mails are held and checked during a thing like that, they wouldn't
stand so long. I cannot understand.
Mr. RANKIN. Did you make any examination at the time to determine
whether Exhibit 7 had been opened by anyone before you received it?
Mr. JOHNSON. No; except that the envelope has the unusual line on the
back which indicates that there was possibly an opening and return. But
that could also be the way it was folded or something like that. But
you can see the line here [indicating].