Mr. DULLES. These are to be put to your client?
Mr. McKENZIE. Yes, sir. Although I will say this at this time--that
the Chair has very generously, and Mr. Jenner likewise, granted me the
opportunity to question or ask Mr. Oswald questions as we proceeded
along.
Robert, there is a contract which has been introduced into the record,
and I believe it is Commission Exhibit No. 277, which contract is dated
December 9, 1963, and it is signed by Marina N. Oswald and yourself,
and approved as to form by John M. Thorne, Attorney, and James H.
Martin. In this contract, it provides that Marina Oswald has appointed
you as an assistant business manager to Mr. Martin. And in the last
paragraph of the contract there is a statement to the effect that
she has employed the firm of Thorne and Leach, attorneys-at-law, and
further agreed that their services will be available at all times to
yourself and that you will use same as required by you.
Now, my question to you is this: Have you ever at any time employed Mr.
John M. Thorne to represent you?
Mr. OSWALD. No, sir; I have not.
Mr. McKENZIE. Has Mr. Thorne ever represented you in any capacity?
Mr. OSWALD. No, sir; he has not.
Mr. McKENZIE. All right, sir.
Mr. DULLES. May I just ask one question?
Mr. McKenzie now is your appointed lawyer?
Mr. OSWALD. He is my selected lawyer.
Mr. McKENZIE. Did Lee Harvey Oswald ever tell you or advise you, or has
Marina N. Oswald told you of any trips that Lee took, or cities that
he visited in Russia, other than Moscow, Minsk, or the hunting trip he
took while he was in Russia reported in your diary? Or reported not in
your diary, but reported in the letters to you?
Mr. OSWALD. No, sir; he did not.
Mr. McKENZIE. Do you know of any cities or any places that he might
have gone in Russia, other than the two cities that I have named, and
the hunting trip that he took as reported in the letter to you, which
has been introduced into evidence?
Mr. OSWALD. No, sir; I am not aware of any other cities.
Mr. McKENZIE. Did Marina N. Oswald have either June Oswald, her
two-year-old child, or Rachel, her infant child, baptized, to your
knowledge?
Mr. OSWALD. Yes, sir; she has.
Mr. McKENZIE. And where was that, sir?
Mr. OSWALD. It is my understanding that this took place in Dallas,
Tex., some time in the year of 1963, sir.
Mr. DULLES. You are speaking now of June?
Mr. OSWALD. I am speaking now of June.
Mr. McKENZIE. Has the baby Rachel been baptized as of this time?
Mr. OSWALD. Not to my knowledge, sir.
Mr. McKENZIE. Do you know what faith June was baptized in? By faith I
refer to what particular church or denomination.
Mr. OSWALD. I believe, sir, this was the Greek Orthodox Church.
Mr. McKENZIE. From your acquaintance with Marina Oswald, and based on
your discussions with her, both in your home and elsewhere, including
cemetery visits which you have made with her, do you now consider
and believe that Marina N. Oswald is a Christian and believes in the
teachings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?
Mr. OSWALD. I do, sir.
Mr. McKENZIE. Has she professed such faith to you?
Mr. OSWALD. Not directly, sir--only by implication, sir.
Mr. McKENZIE. Do you believe or have you formed an opinion now, based
on your discussions and observations of Marina Oswald, as to whether or
not Marina N. Oswald is a Communist or a Soviet agent, either now or at
any time since you met her at Dallas, Love Field, in June of 1962?
Mr. OSWALD. No, sir; I do not believe that she is any of those things.
Mr. McKENZIE. Now, do you think she is a Communist?
Mr. OSWALD. No, sir; I do not.
Mr. McKENZIE. Do you have any opinion as to whether or not she is at
this time or since she arrived in this country?
Mr. OSWALD. I am of the opinion that she is not, based on my
observations of her reactions and her conversations with me.
Mr. McKENZIE. Mr. Oswald, have I or has anyone at any time coached
or briefed you--and if you don't understand what I mean by the word
"coached" please tell me so--as to what you should testify here before
this Commission, other than my cautioning you not to speculate or use
conjecture?
Mr. OSWALD. No, sir; you have not.
Mr. McKENZIE. Has anyone?
Mr. OSWALD. No, sir; they have not.