This is the way I do the children.
The CHAIRMAN. We will take a 10 minute recess now.
(Brief recess.)
The CHAIRMAN. The Commission will be in order. Mr. Rankin, you may
continue.
Mrs. OSWALD. Mr. Rankin, you mentioned about the $1,600. Now. I don't
know if you know for a fact that Lee had $1,600. It was publicized in
the paper that he had $1,600, which is right here in 1959.
Mr. RANKIN. Did he tell you anything about that at the time?
Mrs. OSWALD. No, sir, he gave me $100. And he and his brother Robert
had arrived. And I am assuming it was over me because Robert did not
help me. And I have made that public in the Red Cross papers, that he
had a family of their own, that they probably thought their duty was
to their family. I had no help from the other two boys. And he gave me
$100, and I stayed in this little place a few weeks, and then I got the
job for $5 a week. And that is Lee's defection.
So here is my only contact with Lee in Russia, at the Metropole
Hotel--this is dated December 18, 1959.
Now, I have settled with the insurance company, and I have a little
money. So I sent a check to Lee for $20. And this is his little
note. The only contact I had with Lee from the time of his immediate
defection until the State Department 2 years later informed me of my
son's address. And this is his little note that he needs money.
So I would say that Lee didn't have $1,600, according to this proof.
Now, we are speculating, as you will admit, because you thought the
letter to the school was from me. And you will have to admit that I
have given you new evidence. And so maybe Lee didn't have $1,600,
because he is asking for money there. That is when he is right in
Moscow.
Mr. RANKIN. Of course, that is quite a while later.
Mrs. OSWALD. No, sir. He defected the end of November. This is December
1959.