Mr. RANKIN. You were satisfied it was your son?
Mrs. OSWALD. Yes, sir. That is why I wanted to see the body. I wanted
to make sure it was my son.
So while leaving the room, I said to the police--"I think some day you
will hang your heads in shame."
I said, "I happen to know, and know some facts, that maybe this is the
unsung hero of this episode. And I, as his mother, intend to provide
this if I can."
And, with that, I left the room.
Then we were escorted into a room downstairs, and introduced to the
chaplain. I have asked several reporters to give me the chaplain's
name, because I wanted to have all this information for you. But you
have to realize I just knew Thursday. And I have three times as many
papers as I have here. So it has been a chore for me to do all of this.
But that is easy to find out--the name of the chaplain at Parkland
Hospital. So I asked to speak to the chaplain in private. So I spoke to
the chaplain in private, and I told him that I thought my son was an
agent, and that I wanted him to talk to Robert. Robert does not listen
to me, never has, and I have had very, very little conversation with
Robert, ever since Robert has joined the Marines, because of the way
our life has intervened.
Mr. RANKIN. Did you tell the chaplain why you thought your son was an
agent?
Mrs. OSWALD. No, sir, but this is what I told the chaplain. No--I am
always thinking of my country, the security of my country before I
would say anything like that.
And I told you why I told the FBI men, because of the money involved,
and I didn't know how the public would take this, because they helped a
Marxist.
So I didn't tell him. But I did say I wanted him to talk to Robert,
because we financially were in very poor straits. And then I wanted my
son buried in the Arlington Cemetery.
Now, gentlemen, I didn't know that President Kennedy was going to be
buried in Arlington Cemetery. All I know is that my son is an agent,
and that he deserves to be buried in Arlington Cemetery. So I talked to
the chaplain about this. I went into quite detail about this. I asked
him if he would talk to Robert, because when I talked to Robert about
it, as soon as I started to say something he would say, "Oh, Mother,
forget it."
So I asked the chaplain to talk to Robert about Lee being buried in the
Arlington Cemetery.
Mr. RANKIN. Did he report to you about it?
Mrs. OSWALD. No, sir. But he did call Robert in. We were getting ready.
The police were getting ready to escort us out of his office, and he
said, "If you don't mind, I would like to talk to Robert Oswald just a
minute."
So he brought Robert into the room he had taken me, and stayed in there
a little while with Robert. So I feel sure that the chaplain relayed my
message to him, because we were getting ready to leave, and he asked
the police if he could talk to Robert.
Mr. RANKIN. The chaplain never told you anything more about it?
Mrs. OSWALD. No, sir, I have not seen the chaplain since.
Mr. RANKIN. Did Robert say anything about it?
Mrs. OSWALD. No, sir, Robert says nothing. I have tried to contact
Robert for important matters, and Robert will not talk.
Lee was left handed. Lee wrote left handed and ate right handed. And I
wanted to know if Lee shot left handed. Because on Lee's leaves, as I
stated, they live out in the country, and Robert goes squirrel hunting,
and all kinds of hunting. And on leaves from the Marines, Lee has gone
out to this farmhouse, to Robert's family house, and he and his brother
have gone squirrel hunting. And so Robert would know if Lee shot left
handed, and he would not give me the information, gentlemen.
Mr. RANKIN. Is Robert left handed?
Mrs. OSWALD. Yes, Robert is left handed. I am left handed.
Mr. RANKIN. Is John Pic left handed?
Mrs. OSWALD. No, John is not.
Mr. RANKIN. But you are?
Mrs. OSWALD. Yes, sir.
Now, I write left handed, but I do everything else with my right hand.
But Lee was more left handed than I am.
I write left handed, but I do everything else with my right hand. But
Lee was left handed.
Mr. RANKIN. Was Lee Oswald's father left handed?
Mrs. OSWALD. That I do not remember, Mr. Rankin. No--I am the left
handed one. I would say no.
Now, there is another story. And we have stories galore, believe
me--with documents and everything.
A gun will be involved in this story, that Lee had bought. But I don't
want to confuse the committee. That is another part that we will have
to go into, that I will have to lead up to. The only way I can do this
and not forget things is to do the way I am doing it. And if you have
any questions, if you feel the story I have told so far--I would like
to know, myself, if I have forgotten anything.
It is awfully hard for me to remember everything. If you want to
question me, I am more than happy, if I know the facts, to give them to
you.
Mr. RANKIN. Well, you go ahead and tell us in your own way.
Mrs. OSWALD. May I have some fresh water, please?
Mr. RANKIN. You have never told us about the Walker matter. Did you
know something about that?
Mrs. OSWALD. No, I didn't know about that.
The CHAIRMAN. You are going to let her finish this other, are you not?
Mr. RANKIN. Yes.
Mrs. OSWALD. I didn't know about that until it came out in the paper.
But I have a story on that.
Mr. RANKIN. You want to finish this incident about the gun you are
talking about?
Mrs. OSWALD. About Robert knowing about the gun--I have already said
that.
About Lee being left handed, and he and Robert going squirrel hunting.
Mr. RANKIN. You said there was another gun matter.
Mrs. OSWALD. That is a long, long story.