The CHAIRMAN. What Mr. Rankin has asked you is what led you to the
belief that there was such a conspiracy?
Mrs. OSWALD. I can answer that, sir. But just to answer in one
sentence----
The CHAIRMAN. No, you don't have to do it in one sentence. Take your
own time, but stick to that one subject, please, until we get rid of
that, and then we will go to the other things.
Mrs. OSWALD. Well, it is now quarter to four. And this is a very long
story.
The CHAIRMAN. Don't worry, we will give you the time.
Mrs. OSWALD. Would you please consider I am very emotionally upset and
tired, sir. I was up until 1 o'clock this morning fixing these papers
for the Commission. When Mr. Rankin asked me to come on Thursday, they
were not in the order they are now.
The CHAIRMAN. You mean you cannot go on this afternoon?
Mrs. OSWALD. Not the whole story.
The CHAIRMAN. Well, give us as much as you can of it, and we will stop
whenever----
Mrs. OSWALD. Well, I have so far given you enough story to state this
as a fact--that I believe--I am saying as I believe, sir, because if
I knew who shot President Kennedy, I would be more than happy to tell
you, and we would end it right then and there. But there is speculation
among everyone. So naturally there is speculation by myself, and these
stories I have told you are fact.
Marina became very unhappy with America. This I know for a fact. And
then I will say this is part of another story.
Marina told me at Mrs. Paine's home that she wrote to the Russian
counsel to go back to Russia because, "Lee not get work." Now, that is
why Lee tried to get a visa in Mexico. But you see, sir, I was going to
tell that whole story of that. But I will answer this--and that is what
I based that on, too.
It was Marina who wrote to the Russian counsel for exit visas, and Lee
followed it up. That is Marina having Lee do this. And she told me
herself. Yet she states that Lee wanted to live in Russia and Cuba. But
Marina wrote to the Russian counsel, "Mama, Lee not get work." So she
wanted to go back to Russia. She liked America. She wanted to stay here.
Mr. RANKIN. About what date was this?
Mrs. OSWALD. This was the night in Mrs. Paine's home. I didn't tell you
that, because these other stories are important, and I was going to
bring it in for the Mexican trip. That is why I think you are confusing
me. I'm sorry. But these stories--the way I want to say it, I would not
forget anything by going in sequence. This way, when you are bringing
me questions from the Mexican story and from the defection, you are
throwing my mind off.
The CHAIRMAN. What story do you want to get to now?
Mrs. OSWALD. I have so many stories. And I have gone through about
three or four today, complete stories.
The CHAIRMAN. Well, select one of them, please, and let's don't argue
about the order. I want you to tell your story----
Mrs. OSWALD. My energy is exhausted, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. I want you to tell your story in your own way. And if
this one exhausts you, select another story, and tell that.
Mrs. OSWALD. Well, can you tell me what short story I can tell, Mr.
Doyle?
Mr. DOYLE. Why don't you start with--start and tell the members of the
Commission about your accident and Lee's going to Russia.
Mrs. OSWALD. That is a very long story.
Mr. DOYLE. I know. But start it, and if you get tired at all, you
advise the Commission, and I am certain that----
Mrs. OSWALD. I will have something very important to this Commission
that I would like to say, that would take up some time.
Mr. Rankin, I spoke with you, I think it was Thursday, December 6th,
and I told you that since it was publicly known I was going to appear
before the Warren Commission, that I would like to have protection, as
you recall. I did not get protection, sir. And so the next morning I
called you, approximately 9 o'clock, in the morning and told you that I
didn't have protection, and I was very concerned. And this would have
been Friday, the second call, and that I was going to the bank, to my
safety deposit vault, and get the necessary papers. And I definitely
wanted complete surveillance, because the papers were going to be with
me in my home, and the public knew I was going to testify, and I wanted
that protection.
Now, you said, you would get in touch with Mr. Sorrels, sir, and have
Mr. Sorrel's call me, which he did approximately an hour after my
request to you that I did not have protection. Mr. Sorrels called me
and said "Mrs. Oswald, I understand that you want to go to the bank
and get your important papers out of the bank, and you have requested
protection."
I said, "Yes. I thought I had protection last night. I woke up 4
o'clock in the morning with all the lights lit, getting papers together
and cleaning the house." Because the telephone started to ring
consistently.
I would have never done that if I would have known I didn't have
protection. I was leaving myself wide open.