I have decided--and maybe I am wrong, because to me money is only
good as to its use. However, there have been so many things since the
assassination that has not been in my favor, I believe that I am going
to keep my personal pictures.
The CHAIRMAN. You may do so.
Mrs. OSWALD. If at any time in the future that you would like to have
these pictures, I will be more than happy to have copies made and give
them to the Commission.
There is another matter, Mr. Rankin, that is very important, that you
asked me--Governor Connally's letter.
Mr. RANKIN. Yes.
Mrs. OSWALD. I had read this at the press conference. A letter from Lee
Harvey Oswald to John Connally, Secretary of the Navy. This is just
written from the newspaper article.
"I have been in the Soviet Union with the full sanction of the U.S.
Embassy in Moscow." He asked the Navy Department to take the necessary
steps to repair the damage to me and my family. "I shall employ all
means to right the gross mistakes or injustices to a bona fide U.S.
citizen, an ex-serviceman."
Now, I do not consider this a threat, because I, myself, if I had a
dishonorable discharge, and I was a good marine for 3 years, and I felt
like it hurt my mother and my children, and my wife, I would make such
a statement, because I am a very definite person, as you know by now.
I have been testifying for 3 days. And my son is of the same nature.
He loved the Marines, and as far as he was concerned, he served his
country 3 years. And it was a stigma to me and his children, and he
wanted to right the wrong.
So I do not consider this a threat.
He went to Austin. There was an article in the paper--trying to get
this rectified, and the young lady gave a very nice report of Lee, said
he was very polite.
This is not a threat.
This is just how Lee was tried immediately in a few hours time,
newspaper talk, and so on and so forth.
I would state this emphatically more maybe than Lee did, if I had a
dishonorable discharge, sir.
Mr. RANKIN. Did you ever hear your son say anything against Governor
Connally?
Mrs. OSWALD. No, sir.
But here is what I have written down. The day at Robert's house, when
I came in from the country, I, myself, gave Lee the copy--we had many
copies--you showed me the copy--I gave him the copy and told him--I had
written him and told him about the dishonorable discharge, but I did
not send any papers, because I didn't want the Russians to know.
But when I came, I had a scrapbook, and I gave him a copy, Mr. Rankin,
of the reason for dishonorable discharge. He says "Don't worry about
it, mother. I can fix that. It is no problem."
So then the boy tried to fix it. And this is not a threat. My son is of
this disposition, and he felt like he was a good marine. That I know.
I would do the same. And I will read it now to Governor Connally: "I
shall employ all means to right the gross mistake done to my family and
my now dead son."