Mr. RAIGORODSKY. He just smiled and smiled with that understanding
smile, you see, as if I were taking away from his achievement.
Mr. JENNER. Was he a man of extraordinary dress or attire?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Anything but ordinary in attire.
Mr. JENNER. He was not only provocative in his habits, but provocative
in his attire in the sense of nonconforming?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. He is--he is absolutely nonconformist--that's the best
definition I can give you.
Mr. JENNER. Does he speak Russian?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Oh, yes; he speaks Russian quite well with a
by-the-Baltic German accent.
Mr. JENNER. Does his wife Jeanne speak Russian?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Yes.
Mr. JENNER. Does she have any peculiarity of accent?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Well, I say her's would be Polish, but you know, it
is very hard to say. I don't think she was born in Russia, I think
she was born in France or somewhere, or maybe China, but George's was
definitely, because he was born in Russia. Now, to me George--now this
is again my idea----
Mr. JENNER. We are trying to get a background on him and we want your
idea.
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. I don't believe that George is a Communist, because I
don't think that the Communists would stand for the behavior of George
in the United States. I mean, that is the only thing that I can give
him credit for. To them it is a religion. You see, communism is a
religion to them and they lead, as we should, I understand they lead
the Spartan life, I mean, they are supposed to, but George led anything
but the Spartan life in this country.
Mr. JENNER. Did you have some business relations with him?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. I had some small stock deals with him, oil deals when
he would drill a well and I would buy a certain portion of the deal,
maybe one-sixteenth or something like that. He had one dry hole I can
remember and one well that came in very small and nothing to brag about
and he tried to get me to go with him in business with him in Haiti.
Mr. JENNER. To whom?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. To the banker--the banker--Commercial de Haiti. You
can read that and pick up anything you want here and tell me what you
want [referring to deponent's file]. He writes all the time--he was
trying to get a $100,000 corporation set up here to do business with
Duvalier, the head of the Haitian Government in the making of hemp and
they were giving him concessions and lots of acreage which you could
pick up for drilling and everything else, and he was trying to get
people to come here and subscribe to stock but he didn't do anything. I
believe that I have reported that incident and then there are lots of
Russians here and some others told me about that trip of George's.
Mr. JENNER. Down through Mexico?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Down through Mexico, and I believe I called the FBI
and told them. I said, "I don't know whether it means anything or
nothing."
Mr. JENNER. Who is Mr. John De Menil?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Mr. John De Menil is a very close friend of mine.
He is the financial head of Schlumberger Co. and when I wouldn't go
with George in the deal, he asked me to give him any suggestion as
to who may be interested, so I suggested John De Menil because the
Schlumberger Co. is a worldwide organization and they deal with every
country in the world--you know what I am trying to say?
Mr. DAVIS. Yes; I do. I am familiar with the name Schlumberger.
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. And that he might be interested in going in business
in Haiti, and at my suggestion he called him and went to see him and
nothing came out of it because John De Menil finally turned him down
after the investigation.
Now, I am very sorry that in the past years I have had some
correspondence with George but I didn't keep it, but then when things
began to pop up and his name appeared in so many different things, I
thought I better keep a file on him.
Mr. JENNER. Apparently this Haitian venture was in gestation or in the
works as far back as 1962, is that what you understand?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Yes; you know, he was consultant to the Yugoslav
Government?
Mr. JENNER. He was a consultant to the Yugoslavian Government?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. He was a consultant to the Yugoslavian Government.
In fact, he was sent to Yugoslavian Government with the blessing of
our Government, maybe--I don't know under what protocol that we were
helping the Yugoslavians, and he went over there but peculiarly, in
order to receive the appointment he had to have recommendations of some
man known in the industry, and he didn't come to me--I can say this--I
don't brag, but if he came to me that would have meant something to him
because I was with the Government on a couple or two or three times,
but instead of that he goes to Jake Hamon, a close friend of mine, and
asked him for a recommendation on that job. Jake said he would not give
him a recommendation unless he consults me. That surprised me that he
wouldn't ask me right off the bat, but he went around about way. What
could I do? Of course I said, technically on the job he is perfectly
all right, I mean, he is a good engineer--good petroleum engineer.
Mr. JENNER. And that's your opinion of him?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Oh, yes, without any question. You know, that field
is quite a field--that you have to be supplied with a knowledge of
underground structures and movement of the oil, and he had a good job,
and as far as I know he quit the job--he was not fired.
Mr. JENNER. Are you acquainted with his reputation in this community
for truth and veracity?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Well, I'll say there is no other way around this--I
don't think his reputation is that of a truthful person.
Mr. JENNER. His reputation in that respect is poor or bad?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Bad.
Mr. JENNER. Bad, and his reputation in the community as a man of
morals, character, and integrity--is that bad or good?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Bad.
Mr. JENNER. And his reputation in the community as a man of capability
in the profession which he pursues?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Good.
Mr. JENNER. For example--as a petroleum geologist?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. No; petroleum engineer--good. His knowledge of
languages is good. In fact, he taught at the University of Texas. I
believe he taught French or Spanish after he went to school there,
where my daughter went, one of my daughters, and my son-in-law also
went there at the same time.
Mr. JENNER. What is his reputation in the community as being a loyal
American? If he has a reputation?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. I don't think he has any reputation of that type. Now,
remember there are two--he is in a different social circle now, you
see, than he was before with his second wife.
Mr. JENNER. Yes.
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. In fact, if I'm not mistaken how he got to the Oswalds
was through the Clarks. You see, the Clarks of Fort Worth were his
friends.
Mr. JENNER. From a prior social circle?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. No; he met them--I don't know where he met them,
but they were not in the so-called Dallas social circle that he was
originally in with his wife because of her being a Sharples.
Mr. JENNER. Do you know of any business interests of De Mohrenschildt
in Houston?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. In Houston?
Mr. JENNER. Yes; in the last 5 years, let's say?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Yes; he told me that he was going to see Herman and
George Brown--they are brothers.
Mr. JENNER. What business are they in?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Well, again, don't put this down.
Mr. JENNER. Off the record.
(Discussion between Messrs. Jenner and Davis and the witness, Mr.
Raigorodsky, off the record.)
Mr. JENNER. Now; I want this on the record.
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. George has been friends with many, many influential
people in many cities.
Mr. DAVIS. In all of them, I imagine.
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Yes.
Mr. JENNER. Is he a namedropper--is he a man who seeks to be friends of
important people?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. No--he was my friend, I was his friend--he was Jake
Hamon's friend and Jake Hamon was his friend.
Mr. DAVIS. How often did De Mohrenschildt see him?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Jake?
Mr. DAVIS. No; how often did George De Mohrenschildt see Herman and
George Brown?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. I don't know, but he has been going to Houston quite
often. In fact, he told me that everything is settled--he is going to
deal with them in that Haiti situation, and then Herman died.
Mr. JENNER. Do you know of any particular business that he had in
Houston?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. No.
Mr. JENNER. What information do you have regarding his interests or
business in Houston--I take it that it came from his making statements
to you?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. That's right, except in his dealing with John De
Menil, in which John De Menil sent me the copies of the letters--you
see, there is a copy from John De Menil.
Mr. JENNER. Where do you have information as to whether he was required
to or did make regular trips, a trip every 4 or 5 weeks, to Houston?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. He--I can't answer that.
Mr. JENNER. He appears to have become acquainted with a gentleman in
Houston by the name of Andre Jitkoff?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Yes; sure.
Mr. JENNER. He is a professor at Rice Institute?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. That's right--he's head of the Russian church in
Houston.
Mr. JENNER. He is the head of the Russian church in Houston?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Yes; that's right--also his daughter is my--I'm a
godfather to Mr. Jitkoff's daughter.
Mr. JENNER. Well, give me in a thumbnail sketch, something about Mr.
Jitkoff's background.
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Mr. Jitkoff--he is of the "Russian Old Guard," as you
call it.
Mr. JENNER. How old a man is he, by the way, your best guess?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. I would say around 60 now, no, maybe he is
younger--let's see, his daughter--he probably is closer--is 50 some odd
years--55.
Mr. JENNER. He is closer to 50 than to 60?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. I believe so.
Mr. JENNER. Is he somewhere between 50 and 60?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. That's right. The first I knew of Jitkoff, he was a
tennis pro at the River Oaks Country Club.
Mr. JENNER. Where--Dallas or Houston?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. In Houston; and he retired several years ago and he is
teaching Russian.
Mr. JENNER. Was De Mohrenschildt an athletic man?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Very much so.
Mr. JENNER. Is he interested in tennis?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Yes; very much so.
Mr. JENNER. What about Mrs. De Mohrenschildt? Is she an athletically
inclined person?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Yes.
Mr. JENNER. Also interested in tennis?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. That's right.
Mr. JENNER. And does each of them have an interest in any other sport
to the extent of engaging in the sport itself?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. As far as I know--swimming.
Mr. JENNER. Ice skating?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. I don't remember anything about that, but they always
played tennis, you know, they lived next door to me, you see, they
played tennis all the time.
Mr. JENNER. Did either of them ever live in the Stoneleigh Hotel?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. At the Maple Terrace. You see, it is owned by the same
people--the Stoneleigh, Maple, and now there's another Terrace--the
Tower Terrace.
Mr. JENNER. Are these buildings all in proximity one with the other?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Oh, yes; and they are owned by the same people, by the
Leo Corrigan's son-in-law, Jordan.
Mr. JENNER. In addition to being an expansive person, is De
Mohrenschildt a generous man?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Yes; I would say he is a generous man.
Mr. JENNER. Is he the type of person who would seek, out of the
goodness of his heart, to help people like the Oswalds or persons in
like circumstances?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. I would say he will do it because he wants to show
what a grand person he is. You see, that would be my quick judgment. It
would be different from the other Russians, you see, because they were
appalled at the fact that the baby didn't have milk.
Mr. JENNER. That is, De Mohrenschildt might not have been sincere,
while the other members who were seeking to assist were genuine and
sincere about it?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Correct.
Mr. JENNER. De Mohrenschildt might be trying to put on a show, for
example?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Exactly.
Mr. JENNER. And was he a man given to extreme statements in public?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Yes. Even though in a joking way. Maybe, like, at a
big party--I'll never forget that, you see. It was for the first time I
met him. It was at the Brook Hollow Golf Club before it burned down, at
a big party and you know. I had some friends of mine, the Jake Hamons
and the others, and suddenly George, you know, he always managed to do
it, he always said, "There's a spy in the crowd." You know, he would
say, "There's a spy in the crowd," just for the fun of it or whatever
it is. So, we all started to say, "There's a spy in the crowd," and
somebody asked me, "Are you the spy?" And I said, "Maybe," but that's
the way he always did--just create some kind of maybe innocent unrest,
but we didn't know how much truth there was to it.
Mr. JENNER. And would you give us the reason for that view?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Because he's liable to do anything.
Mr. JENNER. Liable to do anything because he is eccentric. He has no
control over himself, really?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. That's what it is--because of his character.
Mr. JENNER. Would you have the impression that De Mohrenschildt is the
type of person that might seek to induce others to do something he
might hesitate to do himself?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. No; I don't think so.
Mr. JENNER. What is your opinion as to the legitimacy of the business
in which he is engaged in Haiti?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Well, from the point of view of the U.S. Government,
it is a legitimate business to do business up until now with Haiti. I
think the other day--it was the first time that we granted them a loan
or aid, but we wouldn't deal with Duvalier, but George moved there--he
is there, and moved his furniture.
Mr. JENNER. That's so--in the spring of 1963?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Yes.
Mr. JENNER. And you have had correspondence with him since?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Oh, yes.
Mr. JENNER. You have given me a file and it is entitled "George De
Mohrenschildt". I have been browsing through it. It seems to relate
almost exclusively to the Haitian venture, and I don't see anything
else in it.
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Here is a letter of June 30 that must have been left
here.
Mr. JENNER. Is this June 30, 1963, or 1962?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. It must be 1963--yes, it is 1963.
Mr. JENNER. If this was June of 1963, this was before the events of
November 22--I gather from your first sentence of this letter that he
had been in Dallas?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. After this--that's right; I see it is 1963, after this
fiasco here, then he came back to Dallas--which I was called on.
Mr. JENNER. Now, the "fiasco here in Dallas" I take it from your
testimony, was the suit brought by De Mohrenschildt against his wife
Didi, and that suit was brought in Philadelphia and it had to do with
the disposition of a corpus residue of a trust established for George's
son.
As I recall, friends of the Sharples family appealed to you, or maybe
sued directly, to see what you could do to help out?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. No; friends of her family.
Mr. JENNER. Friends of her family?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. In fact, Mrs. Crespi, appealed to me to see what I can
do.
Mr. JENNER. Who is Mrs. Crespi?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Mrs. Pio Crespi is a very well known person here. Her
husband is retired; he has a company called Crespi & Co.--a cotton
exchange brokerage. She is a close friend of the Sharples family.
Mr. JENNER. Mrs. Crespi?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Yes.
Mr. JENNER. What do you understand Mr. De Mohrenschildt is doing over
in Haiti?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Over there?
Mr. JENNER. Yes.
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Well, he told me that he wants to get in on the ground
floor and he has a connection with the top banker in the country who is
the Duvalier banker, and that way he will be able to pickup some "juicy
plums" in Haiti. That's exactly what he told me. That's why he wanted
to organize the corporation here, you see, to go to Haiti and build
plants and help them to develop the industry and reap the profits. You
see, it so happened that I believe it is very hard to be a specialist
in one line, and almost impossible in two, and my specialty is oil and
all my business is in oil. If he came with an oil deal, I might be
interested.
Mr. JENNER. Would you say in describing this man, that he has a sort of
an adolescence personality, a fellow who has really never grown up?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. It isn't a sort of--he is adolescent.
Mr. JENNER. He is adolescent?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. George will never grow old.
Mr. JENNER. But will he grow up; is he lacking in maturity?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. He always did.
Mr. JENNER. And things that amuse him are the sort of things that
amused us, let's say, when we were adolescent--in our teens?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. When we were 16--that's right--any kind of pranks.
Mr. JENNER. He is a prankster?
Mr. RAIGORODSKY. Oh, yes, sir. And he does it so engagingly. I mean,
his laugh is a genuine laugh and if you ever heard his laugh--he enjoys
it. You see, it is a genuine laugh and of course that is very, very
effective, you know, as far as other people are concerned.