PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION
ON THE ASSASSINATION OF
PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY
STATE OF LOUISIANA,
_Parish of Orleans, ss_:
J. Rachal, of New Orleans, La., being duly sworn says:
1. My name is J. Rachal. I am now and have for a number of years
past been employed by the Louisiana Department of Labor, Division of
Employment Security, Professional Unit.
2. In my capacity as Placement Interviewer in the Professional Unit
of the Louisiana State Employment Security Division of the Louisiana
Department of Labor, I had occasion to become acquainted with one Lee
Harvey Oswald. I recall his being in my office and at my desk on April
26, 1963, which was his initial visit.
3. At that time Louisiana Department of Labor Exhibit number 1[L] was
filled out, in part by Mr. Oswald and in part by me. Said Exhibit
number 1 is the Registration Card so made out by Lee Harvey Oswald and
myself, recording Oswald's registration as an unemployed worker who had
come from Texas and was seeking employment in New Orleans.
4. The hand-printing, with the exception of the block entitled "Skills,
Knowledge, Abilities, and Experience," and the notations in the block
entitled "Special information and employment counseling statement," and
the letters "RIF" in the upper right-hand corner of the inside face
of Exhibit number 1, is that of the applicant, Lee Harvey Oswald. The
writing other than that of Lee Harvey Oswald is that of affiant. The
signature appearing at the foot of the inside face of Exhibit number 1
is that of affiant. Exhibit number 1 is part of the books and records
of the aforesaid Division of Employment Security of the Louisiana
Department of Labor, kept in the usual and regular course of business.
5. Exhibit number 1 reflects that Lee Harvey Oswald first called at
the Unemployment Division on April 26, 1963, and at that time was
interviewed by me and supplied the personal data and prior employment
and experience facts recited on Exhibit No. 1.
6. Upon noting that Oswald had listed Photographer as one of his
skills, I telephonically contacted the George Reppel Studio, 5220
Elysian Fields, to determine if they needed the services of a
photographer. Upon learning that they could employ the services of a
photographer, I directed Oswald to report to that company for possible
employment, and I recorded that reference on the reverse side of
Exhibit number 1. A few days later I recontacted the studio and learned
that Oswald had not appeared there.
7. Exhibit number 1 also reflects the fact that on April 29, 1963,
Oswald again reported to the Unemployment Compensation Office at 630
Camp Street, which is the claims office, and filed an interstate claim
against the State of Texas for unemployment compensation. This was a
reactivation of his claim. I had learned from my earlier interview that
Oswald had therefore been employed for relatively short periods of time
at Fort Worth, Texas, and Dallas, Texas. The letters "RIF" appearing
in the upper right-hand corner of Exhibit number 1 are an abbreviation
for the words "Reduction in Force." The presence of those letters on
Exhibit number 1 means that Oswald advised me that the reason for
his termination of employment at Jaggars, Chiles, Stovall of Dallas,
Texas, was a reduction in force, a prerequisite to a valid claim for
unemployment compensation.
8. I recall that Oswald was neatly dressed with a suit, dress shirt,
and tie on the occasion of our initial interview. On July 22, 1963, he
was more casually dressed.
9. Oswald returned after the April 29, 1963, visit to our office on
July 22, 1963. Between the April 29 and July 22 dates, the application
card had been green-lined in the right hand column either because the
applicant had not come in in four weeks or his claim had been cancelled
or terminated sometime during that period. Sometime subsequent to July
22, 1963, Oswald's application card was again green-lined for one of
the two reasons above stated. This application card is marked Exhibit
number 1.
10. I recall that Oswald returned some time, either late in July or
the forepart of August 1963, seeking employment assistance. In the
meantime, the incident involving the Fair Play for Cuba Committee had
come to my attention. I had seen Oswald on a television broadcast
showing him distributing Fair Play for Cuba handbills. There was
reference in the broadcast to his having lived in Russia, marrying
a Russian girl, and returning to this country. I discussed the
matter with my supervisor, Miss Hope Kristofferson. As a result, it
was determined that we should not undertake to furnish employment
references for him. This was the last contact I had with Mr. Oswald.
11. Louisiana Department of Labor Exhibit numbers 10 and 11[M] are also
records of the Division of Employment Security of the Department of
Labor of Louisiana in New Orleans. The forms themselves are identical
with Exhibit number 1, and the recorded information is substantially
identical with the information set forth in Exhibit number 1. Exhibits
numbers 10 and 11 were prepared in another section of my Division and
reflect the fact that on May 28, 1963, Oswald was referred to Commerce
Pictures Company of New Orleans for possible employment as a developer,
and the initials "NR" appearing in green crayon on the reverse side of
Exhibit number 10 reflect the fact that Oswald did not report to the
Commerce Picture Company. Serial number 259 appearing under the heading
"Remarks" on the same line on which the green crayoned letters "NR"
appear means that the unemployed person failed to respond and that his
unemployment compensation would be delayed one week to make further
determination of the applicant's status.
12. Inasmuch as Oswald was an interstate claimant and the libel was
against the State of Texas, his weekly appearances for the purposes
of keeping his interstate claim alive were furnished to the Texas
Employment Commission in Austin, Texas, and they in turn would issue an
unemployment check which would be mailed directly to Oswald. Oswald's
weekly appearances at our office were recorded on Form 1-B-2.
Signed this 22d day of June 1964.
(S) John Russell Rachal,
J. RACHAL.
[L] Louisiana Department of Labor Exhibit No. 1 was
subsequently relabeled Rachal Exhibit No. 1.
[M] Louisiana Department of Labor Exhibits Nos. 10 and 11
were subsequently relabeled Rachal Exhibits Nos. 2 and 3,
respectively.