The CHAIRMAN. It may be admitted and take the next number.
(The document referred to was marked Commission Exhibit No. 24, and
received in evidence.)
Mrs. OSWALD. That is all that only has reference to this? Or is that
everything that Lee had written?
Mr. RANKIN. No, it is not all that he ever wrote, but it is all that
apparently fits together as a part of the descriptive diary in regard
to the time he was in Russia.
Do you know when your husband made Exhibit 24, as compared with doing
it daily or from time to time--how it was made?
Mrs. OSWALD. Sometimes two or three days in a row. Sometimes he would
not write at all. In accordance with the way he felt about it.
The CHAIRMAN. Mrs. Oswald, you said a few moments ago it was a pity
that you could not read this. Would you like to have the interpreter
read it to you later, so you will know what is in it?
You may, if you wish.
Mrs. OSWALD. Some other time, later, when I know English myself perhaps.
The CHAIRMAN. You may see it any time you wish.
Mr. RANKIN. Mr. Chairman, I just heard Mr. Thorne ask if there was any
reason why they could not have photocopies of the exhibits. I know no
reason.
The CHAIRMAN. No, there is no reason why you cannot. You may have it.
Mr. THORNE. Thank you.
Mr. RANKIN. Mrs. Oswald has raised the question about whether this was
complete. And this was all that was given us, as Exhibit 24, but we are
going to check back on it to determine whether there was anything that
may have been overlooked by the Bureau when they gave it to us.
Mrs. Oswald, your husband apparently made another diary that he wrote
on some paper of the Holland America Line. Are you familiar with that?
Mrs. OSWALD. No.
Mr. RANKIN. I will hand you Exhibit 25 and ask you if you recall having
seen that.
Mrs. OSWALD. I know this paper, but I didn't know what was contained in
it. I didn't know this was a diary.
Mr. RANKIN. Do you know what it was?
Mrs. OSWALD. No.
Mr. RANKIN. Possibly I misdescribed it, Mrs. Oswald. It may be more
accurately described as a story of his experiences in the Soviet Union.
Mrs. OSWALD. I don't know even when he wrote this, whether this was
aboard the ship or after we came to the United States. I only know the
paper itself and the handwriting.
Mr. RANKIN. Do you know whether it is your husband's handwriting?
Mrs. OSWALD. Yes.
Mr. RANKIN. I offer in evidence Exhibit 25.
The CHAIRMAN. It may be admitted.
(The document referred to was marked Commission Exhibit No. 25, and
received in evidence.)
Mr. RANKIN. Do you recall how much money you and your husband had in
savings when you left Moscow for the United States?
Mrs. OSWALD. I don't know, because Lee did not tell me how much
money he had, because he knew that if he would tell me I would spend
everything. But I think that we might have had somewhere about 300
rubles, or somewhat more, 350 perhaps.
Mr. RANKIN. How did you travel from Moscow to the United States?
Mrs. OSWALD. I told you--from Moscow by train, through Poland, Germany,
and Holland, and from Holland by boat to New York. From New York to
Dallas by air.
Mr. RANKIN. I think you told us by another ship from Holland. I wonder
if it wasn't the SS _Maasdam_. Does that refresh your memory?
Mrs. OSWALD. Perhaps. I probably am mixed up in the names because it is
a strange name.
Mr. RANKIN. Do you recall that you exchanged United States money for
Polish money during this trip?
Mrs. OSWALD. Yes, in Warsaw, on the black market.
Mr. RANKIN. Did you buy food there?
Mrs. OSWALD. Yes. Some good Polish beer and a lot of candy.
By the way, we got an awful lot for one dollar, they were so happy to
get it. More than the official rate.
Mr. RANKIN. Did your husband drink then?
Mrs. OSWALD. No. He doesn't drink beer, he doesn't drink anything, he
doesn't like beer. I drank the beer. I don't like wine, by the way.
Mr. RANKIN. Do you recall that you or your husband were contacted at
any time in the Soviet Union by Soviet Intelligence people?
Mrs. OSWALD. No.
Mr. RANKIN. During the time your husband was in the Soviet Union, did
you observe any indication of mental disorder?
Mrs. OSWALD. No.
Mr. RANKIN. How did he appear to get along with people that he knew in
the Soviet Union?
Mrs. OSWALD. Very well. At least, he had friends there. He didn't have
any here.
Mr. RANKIN. How much time did you spend in Amsterdam on the way to the
United States?
Mrs. OSWALD. Two or three days, it seems to me.
Mr. RANKIN. What did you do there?
Mrs. OSWALD. Walked around the city, did some sightseeing.
Mr. RANKIN. Did anybody visit you there?
Mrs. OSWALD. No.
Mr. RANKIN. Did you visit anyone?
Mrs. OSWALD. No.
Mr. RANKIN. What hotel did you stay in?
Mrs. OSWALD. We didn't stop at a hotel. We stopped at a place where
they rent apartments. The address was given to us in the American
Embassy.
Mr. RANKIN. Do you recall what you paid in the way of rent?
Mrs. OSWALD. No, Lee paid it. I don't know.
Mr. RANKIN. How did your husband spend his time when he was aboard the
ship?
Mrs. OSWALD. I was somewhat upset because he was a little ashamed to
walk around with me, because I wasn't dressed as well as the other
girls. Basically, I stayed in my cabin while Lee went to the movies and
they have different games there. I don't know what he did there.
Mr. RANKIN. In Exhibit 25, the notations on the Holland American Line
stationery, your husband apparently made some political observations.
Did he discuss these with you while he was on the trip?
Mrs. OSWALD. No.
Mr. RANKIN. Mr. Chairman, it is time for a recess.
The CHAIRMAN. Yes. We will take a recess now.
(Brief recess.)
The CHAIRMAN. The Commission will be in order.
We will continue.
Mr. RANKIN. Mrs. Oswald, can you tell us what your husband was reading
in the Soviet Union after you were married, that you recall?
Mrs. OSWALD. He read the Daily Worker newspaper in the English language.
Mr. RANKIN. Anything else?
Mrs. OSWALD. It seems to me something like Marxism, Leninism, also in
the English language. He did not have any choice of English books for
reading purposes.
Mr. RANKIN. Was he reading anything in Russian at that time?
Mrs. OSWALD. Yes, newspapers, and nothing else.
Mr. RANKIN. No library books?
Mrs. OSWALD. No. It was very hard for him.
Mr. RANKIN. Did he go to any schools while he was in the Soviet Union
that you know of?
Mrs. OSWALD. No.
Mr. RANKIN. I hand you Exhibit 26 and ask you if you can tell us what
that is.
Mrs. OSWALD. The title of this document is shown here, "Information for
those who are departing for abroad. Personal data--name, last name,
date of birth, place of birth, height, color of eyes and hair, married
or not, and purpose of the trip."
Mr. RANKIN. What does it say about the purpose of the trip--do you
recall?
Mrs. OSWALD. Private exit.
Mr. RANKIN. Do you recall what members of your family are referred to
there under that question?
Mrs. OSWALD. It shows here "none." I think before this was filled
out--this was before June's birth.
Mr. RANKIN. That doesn't refer then to members of your family, like
your uncles or aunts, or anything like that?
Mrs. OSWALD. No.
Mr. RANKIN. Mr. Chairman, I offer in evidence Exhibit 26.
The CHAIRMAN. It may be admitted.
(The document referred to was marked Commission Exhibit No. 26, and
received in evidence.)
Mr. RANKIN. Now, I hand you Exhibit 27 and ask you if you can recall
what that is.
Mrs. OSWALD. This is a questionnaire which has to be filled out prior
to departure for abroad.
Mr. RANKIN. I offer in evidence Exhibit 27.
The CHAIRMAN. It may be admitted.
(The document referred to was marked Commission Exhibit No. 27, and
received in evidence.)
Mr. RANKIN. Do you recall what relatives you referred to when they
asked for close relatives?
Mrs. OSWALD. It must be shown there. I don't remember. Probably my
uncle.
Mr. RANKIN. Mrs. Oswald, can you tell us the handwriting on this
exhibit, No. 27?
Mrs. OSWALD. This is my handwriting.
Mr. RANKIN. You say it is all your handwriting?
Mrs. OSWALD. Yes.
Mr. RANKIN. Now, can you tell us what Exhibit 28 is?
Mrs. OSWALD. That is the same thing. This was a draft.
Mr. RANKIN. You mean a rough draft?
Mrs. OSWALD. A rough draft of the same thing.
Mr. RANKIN. And the other one is the final?
Mrs. OSWALD. I don't know. Perhaps there were several drafts, I don't
know whether this is from the Embassy or from some other source. These
are drafts, because the original would have had to have my photograph.
Lee and I were playing.
Mr. RANKIN. Then, Mrs. Oswald, you think both Exhibit 27 and 28 are
drafts, since neither one has your photograph on them?
Mrs. OSWALD. Yes. We were playing dominoes, and this is the score.
Mr. RANKIN. I ask that Exhibit 28 be received in evidence, Mr. Chairman.
The CHAIRMAN. It will be admitted.
(The document referred to was marked Commission Exhibit No. 28, and
received in evidence.)
Mr. RANKIN. I hand you Exhibit 29 and ask you if you can tell us what
that is?
Mrs. OSWALD. This is a residence permit, passport--a passport for
abroad. This is a foreign passport for Russians who go abroad.
Mr. RANKIN. Did you understand that you had six months in which to
leave under that passport?
Mrs. OSWALD. Yes. This all has to be filled out before you are allowed
to go abroad.
Mr. RANKIN. Whose handwriting is in Exhibit 29?
Mrs. OSWALD. I don't know who wrote that. It is not I. Officials who
issue the passport.
Mr. RANKIN. I offer in evidence Exhibit 29.
The CHAIRMAN. It may be admitted.
(The document referred to was marked Commission Exhibit No. 29, and
received in evidence.)
Mr. RANKIN. Do you know any reason why the passport was made valid
until January 11, 1964?
Mrs. OSWALD. Because the passport which I turned in and for which I
received this one in exchange was valid until 1964.
Mr. RANKIN. You had a passport prior to this one, then?
Mrs. OSWALD. Yes.
Mr. RANKIN. Had you obtained that before you were married?
Mrs. OSWALD. All citizens of the U.S.S.R. 16 and over must have a
passport. It would be good if everyone had a passport here. It would
help the Government more.
Mr. RANKIN. Mrs. Oswald, you have told us considerably about your
husband's unhappiness with the United States and his idea that things
would be much better in Cuba, if he could get there. Do you recall that?
Mrs. OSWALD. Yes.
Mr. RANKIN. Do you recall what he said about what he didn't like about
the United States?
Mrs. OSWALD. The problem of unemployment.
Mr. RANKIN. Anything else?
Mrs. OSWALD. I already said what he didn't like--that it was hard to
get an education, that medical care is very expensive. About his
political dissatisfaction, he didn't speak to me.
Mr. RANKIN. Did he ever say anything against the leaders of the
government here?
Mrs. OSWALD. No.
Mr. RANKIN. Mr. Chairman, that is all we have now except the physical
exhibits, and I think we could do that at 2 o'clock.
The CHAIRMAN. Mrs. Oswald, we are going to recess now until 2 o'clock.
You must be quite tired by now. And this afternoon we are going to
introduce some of the physical objects that are essential to make up
our record.
When we finish with those, I think your testimony will be completed.
And I think we should finish today.
You won't be unhappy about that, will you?
Mrs. OSWALD. No. Thank you.
The CHAIRMAN. 2 o'clock this afternoon.
(Whereupon, at 11:35 a.m., the President's Commission recessed.)