Mr. JENNER. Mr. McKenzie, would it suit your convenience if we finished
this incident, and then you put this matter into the record, or is it
pertinent to this particular point?
Mr. McKENZIE. It is not pertinent to this line of inquiry, Mr. Jenner.
But with the Chairman's permission, I would like to insert it into the
record, or make a statement into the record at this time.
Mr. DULLES. It is all right--go ahead.
Mr. McKENZIE. It is apparent to me, from a reading of this article,
that someone other than Robert Oswald or myself has made a statement
to the press. We have consistently stated to the press that Mr. Oswald
was under oath before this Commission, and that being under oath before
this Commission he was in no position, or that it would not be an
appropriate time for any statement to be given to the press.
And yet in this article, Mr. Lewis has given some direct quotes, or
what appear to be direct quotes, of Mr. Oswald's testimony before this
Commission.
Mr. DULLES. I wonder if it would be agreeable to you, if we go off the
record at this point.
Mr. McKENZIE. If I may still be on the record for one more second,
please, sir--I would like to further and say that some of the text of
this article gives testimony in the same light, and nearly in the same
manner in which Robert Oswald has testified.
Now, if there is a leak to the press, or if anyone on the Commission or
its staff are giving articles to the press, then I want to know as soon
as possible, because if that is so we will go down and have a press
interview, and I just don't think it is fair to the witness, nor do I
think it is fair to the Commission.
And if you feel that I am right in my statement here, then I would like
to have this article inserted in the record.
Now, if you would like to go off the record, that is fine with me, sir.
Mr. DULLES. Just for a moment.
(Discussion off the record.)
Mr. DULLES. Back on the record.
Mr. McKENZIE. Mr. Dulles, off the record we have discussed the New York
Times article, and I have stated to you--the New York Times article
referred to as the one by Anthony Lewis, of February 22, 1964.
Mr. DULLES. I think it is of February 21, but reported in the Times on
February 22.
Mr. McKENZIE. That is correct.
I have stated to you that at no time to my knowledge has Robert Oswald
given any statements to the press as set forth in this article,
particularly his testimony to the Commission.
And, further, that both Robert Oswald and his counsel have stated to
the press that while Mr. Oswald was under oath to the Commission, and
subject to recall by the Commission, that he would not issue any press
statements, because I have likened it to a grand jury investigation,
and I have stated this to the press.
And I did not deem it appropriate at any time for him to make any
statements to the press of his testimony before this Commission.
And yet there are--I find in this article by Mr. Lewis, dateline
February 21, certain excerpts from his testimony before the
Commission--and it can come from only one place, and that is from
someone on the Commission's staff.
Mr. DULLES. Well, I may wish to make an exception to that--having
been in Washington a long time, and knowing that things have a way of
leaking, and many ways of leaking.
Mr. McKENZIE. Well, sir, I will state to you--maybe my statement is too
strong.
But I will state to you, sir, that at no time has Mr. Oswald or myself
made any statements giving testimony to the press which has previously
been given to the Commission.
Mr. DULLES. I am very glad to hear that statement.