The CHAIRMAN. I understood they have a copy and if they want to at the
end he may do that.
On January 21, 1964, the Commission adopted a resolution authorizing
each member of the Commission and its General Counsel, J. Lee Rankin,
to administer oaths and affirmations, examine witnesses, and receive
evidence concerning any matter under investigation by the Commission.
The purpose of this hearing is to take the testimony of Mrs. Marina
Oswald, the widow of Lee Harvey Oswald who, prior to his death,
was charged with the assassination of President Kennedy. Since the
Commission is inquiring fully into the background of Lee Harvey Oswald
and those associated with him, it is the intention of the Commission
to ask Mrs. Marina Oswald questions concerning Lee Harvey Oswald and
any and all matters relating to the assassination. The Commission
also intends to ask Mrs. Marina Oswald questions relating to the
assassination of President Kennedy and the subsequent violent death of
Lee Harvey Oswald.
Mrs. Marina Oswald has been furnished with a copy of this statement
and a copy of the rules adopted by the Commission for the taking
of testimony or the production of evidence. Mrs. Marina Oswald has
also been furnished with a copy of Executive Order No. 11130 and
Congressional Resolution S.J. Res. 137 which set forth the general
scope of the Commission's inquiry and its authority for the examining
witnesses and the receiving of evidence.
The CHAIRMAN. Mrs. Oswald, do you have an attorney, a lawyer?
Mrs. OSWALD. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. And your lawyer is Mr. Thorne?
Mrs. OSWALD. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. He is the only lawyer you wish to represent you here?
Mrs. OSWALD. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. And may I ask you, Mr. Thorne, if you have received a
copy of this?
Mr. RANKIN. Mr. Chairman, that is the copy he received there.
Mr. THORNE. I have read a copy of it, Mr. Chief Justice, yes, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. Are there any questions about it?
Mr. THORNE. There are no questions.
The CHAIRMAN. Very well.
Very well, we will proceed to swear Mrs. Oswald as a witness.
Will you please rise, Mrs. Oswald.
(The Chairman administered the oath to the witness, Mrs. Oswald,
through the interpreter.)
The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Reporter, will you rise, please, and be sworn.
(The Chairman administered the oath to the interpreter and the
stenotype reporter, following which all questions propounded to the
witness and her answers thereto, were duly translated through the
interpreter.)
The CHAIRMAN. Now, Mr. Thorne and Mrs. Oswald, I want to say to you
that we want to see that Mrs. Oswald's rights are protected in every
manner and you are entitled to converse with her at any time that
you desire. You are entitled to give her any advice that you want,
either openly or in private; if you feel that her rights are not being
protected you are entitled to object to the Commission and have a
ruling upon it, and at the conclusion of her testimony if you have any
questions that you would like to ask her in verification of what she
has said you may feel free to ask them.
After her testimony has been completed, a copy will be furnished to you
so that if there are any errors, corrections or omissions you may call
it to our attention, is that satisfactory to you?
Mr. THORNE. Very satisfactory, Mr. Chairman.
The CHAIRMAN. I might say also to her we propose to ask her questions
for about 1 hour, and then take a short recess for her refreshment, and
then we will convene again until about 12:30. At 12:30 we will recess
until 2 o'clock, and then we may take her to her hotel where she can
see her baby and have a little rest, and we will return at 2 o'clock,
and we will take evidence until about 4:30. If at any time otherwise
you should feel tired or feel that you need a rest, you may feel free
to say so and we will take care of it.
Mrs. OSWALD. Thank you.
The CHAIRMAN. The questions will be asked of you by Mr. J. Lee Rankin,
who is the general counsel of the Commission.