But then I knew they were newsmen, because of her statement and the
camera.
So Tommy Thompson started to interview Mrs. Paine. He said, "Mrs.
Paine, tell me, are Marina and Lee separated, since Lee lives in
Dallas?"
She said, "No, they are a happy family. Lee lives in Dallas because
of necessity. He works in Dallas, and this is Irving, and he has no
transportation, and he comes every weekend to see his family."
"Well," he said, "What type family man is he?"
She said, "A normal family man. He plays with his children. Last night
he fed June. He watches television and just normal things."
She went on.
So he said, "Mrs. Paine, can you tell me how Lee got, the money to"--I
am sorry--"can you tell me how Lee was able to return back to the
United States financially?"
She said, "Oh, yes, he saved the money to come back to the United
States."
Now, while this little episode went on, I was fuming, gentlemen,
because I didn't want this type of publicity. I thought it was uncalled
for, immediately after the assassination, and the consequent arrest of
my son.
But I was in Mrs. Paine's home.
Now I had an opportunity to be gracious. I spoke up and I said--I am
ahead of myself.
She answered that he saved the money.
I spoke up and I said, "Now, Mrs. Paine, I am sorry. I am in your home.
And I appreciate the fact that I am a guest in your home. But I will
not have you making statements that are incorrect. Because I happen
to know you have made an incorrect statement. To begin with, I do not
approve of this publicity. And if we are going to have the life story
with Life magazine"--by that time I knew what it was--"I would like to
get paid. Here is my daughter-in-law with two small children, and I,
myself, am penniless, and if we are going to give this information, I
believe we should get paid for it."
Mr. RANKIN. Did you think Mrs. Paine was trying to get paid for it?
Mrs. OSWALD. Possibly. But I do know this. It was prearranged. That
is the point that is important. That after a few hours time, the Life
representatives were invited to her home, into her home, because she
expected them, you see.
Mr. RANKIN. You think she arranged it, then?
Mrs. OSWALD. Yes, sir, possibly with Marina's help.
I do not know. It was arranged--I am positive--the way they entered the
home. She invited them in, without even introducing me. And immediately
said she hoped they had color film.
Mr. RANKIN. Were they talking to each other, Marina, and Mrs. Paine,
while you were there?
Mrs. OSWALD. Yes, they talked in Russian. And that is a difficult part.
I didn't know Russian.
Then, with that, the Life representative got up and said, "Mrs. Oswald,
I will call my office and see what they think about an arrangement of
your life story."
So he did call the office. He closed the door and called in private.
And nothing was said--in the living room.
When I say nothing was said, it was between myself and the other
representative. Mrs. Paine was talking to my daughter-in-law in
Russian. I was talking to my daughter-in-law in English. It was a
regular general conversation, as far as I knew.
He came out from the telephone conversation and said, no, that the
company would not allow him to pay for the story. What they would
do--they would pay our expenses while in Dallas, and our food and
expenses, hotel accommodation.
So I told him that I would think about it.
Now, they continued to hang around. And they were taking pictures
continuously, all the while this was going on--the photographer, Mr.
Allen was continuously taking pictures. I was awfully tired and upset.
I rolled my stockings down, and the picture is in Life Magazine. And he
stopped that. So I got up and said, "I am not having this invasion of
privacy. I realize that I am in Mrs. Paine's home. But you are taking
my picture without my consent, and a picture that I certainly don't
want made public." It is the worst--with me rolling my hose. I wanted
to get comfortable.
He followed Marina around in the bedroom. She was undressing June. He
took pictures of everything. And Mrs. Paine was in her glory--I will
say this. Mrs. Paine was very happy all these pictures were taken. And
I had to go behind Marina to see that the photographers were not taking
her, and they were taking me. And it was just a regular--the home was
a living room and a hall and a bedroom and kitchen, and we were all
going around in circles.
And the photographer was taking pictures, until finally I became
indignant, and said, "I have had it. Now, find out what accommodations
you can make for us, for my daughter-in-law and I so that we can be in
Dallas to help Lee, and let me know in the morning."
So they left.
However, about an hour later there was a telephone call to Mrs. Paine
from a Life representative. I know by her conversation who she was
talking to.
Mr. RANKIN. Who was that?
Mrs. OSWALD. One of the men--either Allen Grant or Tommy Thompson.
And after the conversation, I said to her, "Was that one of the Life
representatives?"