Mr. JOHNSON. It may be worthwhile to check it with a handwriting expert
on that.
Mr. RANKIN. A conversation with V. T. Lee or any others in regard to
the Fair Play for Cuba matter and Lee Harvey Oswald?
Mr. JOHNSON. At no time.
Mr. RANKIN. Did you have any conversation with anyone about the effect
of the assassination by Lee Harvey Oswald and his connection with the
Fair Play for Cuba effort in New Orleans on the Communist Party?
Mr. JOHNSON. Will you state that again?
Mr. RANKIN. Read the question, please.
(Question read.)
Mr. JOHNSON. Not in that sense, no. Not in relationship to Fair Play
for Cuba et cetera.
Mr. RANKIN. In some other sense, did you?
Mr. JOHNSON. Well, normally, just within our own--among our own people,
I would naturally discuss it and say that somebody could try to make a
false charge against us in some fashion, and that we of necessity would
have to react quickly to it so as to make clear that he was never a
member of the Communist Party, never associated with us in any fashion
of a political or organizational character.
Mr. RANKIN. Did you make any inquiry to determine whether or not any
members of the Communist Party of the United States were involved in
any conspiracy with Lee Harvey Oswald about the assassination?
Mr. JOHNSON. Oh, I would say very definitely that they were not. There
was never any such relationships at all. There was nobody that I know
of who had any contact whatsoever, and I think I would have known.