The President's Commission met 9:25 a.m. on February 27, 1964, at 200
Maryland Avenue NE., Washington, D.C.
Present were Chief Justice Earl Warren, Chairman; Senator John Sherman
Cooper, Representative Hale Boggs, Representative Gerald R. Ford, and
Allen W. Dulles, members.
Also present were J. Lee Rankin, general counsel; Norman Redlich,
assistant counsel; Paul W. Leech, counsel to James Herbert Martin;
Charles Murray and Charles Rhyne, observers; and Dean Robert G. Storey,
special counsel to the attorney general of Texas.
The CHAIRMAN. The Commission will be in order.
Let the record show that Mr. Martin, first that Commissioners Dulles
and Ford and I are present.
Mr. Martin, the witness, is here with his lawyer; would you state your
name for the record, please?
Mr. LEECH. Paul Leech.
The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Leech, I understand you are a partner of Mr. Thorne
who was here representing Mrs. Oswald.
Mr. LEECH. Yes, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. Gentlemen, I will just read an opening statement to you
that we make for the record and for the benefit of the witness each
time we convene.
On November 29, 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson issued Executive
Order No. 11130 appointing a Commission "to ascertain, evaluate and
report upon the facts relating to the assassination of the late
President John F. Kennedy, and the subsequent violent death of the man
charged with the assassination."
On December 13, 1963, Congress adopted Joint Resolution S.J. 137
which authorizes the Commission, or any member of the Commission, or
any agent or agency designated by the Commission for such purpose,
to administer oaths and affirmations, examine witnesses, and receive
evidence.
On January 21, 1964, the Commission adopted a resolution authorizing
each member of the Commission and its General Counsel, J. Lee Rankin,
to administer oaths and affirmations, examine witnesses, and receive
evidence.
On January 21, 1964, the Commission adopted a resolution authorizing
each member of the Commission and its General Counsel, J. Lee Rankin,
to administer oaths and affirmations, examine witnesses, and receive
evidence concerning any matter under investigation by the Commission.
The purpose of this hearing is to take the testimony of Mr. James
Herbert Martin who has acted as the business manager of Mrs. Marina
Oswald, the widow of Lee Harvey Oswald, who, prior to his death, was
charged with the assassination of President Kennedy. In view of Mr.
Martin's close association with Mrs. Oswald it is the intention of this
Commission to ask Mr. Martin questions concerning this association and
any and all matters related to the assassination, and to the subsequent
killing of Lee Harvey Oswald.
Mr. Martin has been furnished with a copy of this statement and a copy
of the rules adopted by the Commission for the taking of testimony or
the production of evidence. Mr. Martin has also been furnished with a
copy of Executive Order No. 11130 and Congressional Resolution S.J.
Res. 137 which set forth the general scope of the Commission's inquiry
and its authority for the examining of witnesses and the receiving of
evidence.
I should also like to read into the record at this time a copy of a
letter dated February 22, 1964, to Mr. Martin from Mr. J. Lee Rankin,
General Counsel of the Commission, which reads as follows:
"Dear Mr. Martin:
"Confirming discussions between the staff of this Commission and John
M. Thorne, Esquire, your counsel, we hereby request that you appear
before this Commission at 9:00 a.m., on February 27, 1964, at Room 400,
200 Maryland Avenue, NE., Washington, D.C., for the purpose of giving
sworn testimony concerning your association with Mrs. Marina Oswald and
your knowledge of the facts relating to the assassination of President
Kennedy and the subsequent killing of Lee Harvey Oswald.
"You are hereby requested to produce before this Commission at
that time any and all books, records, papers, notes, and documents
pertaining to your association with Marina Oswald and your knowledge
of the facts relating to the assassination of President Kennedy and
the subsequent killing of Lee Harvey Oswald including, but not limited
to, those books, records, papers, notes, and documents pertaining to
(1) your business dealings with Marina Oswald, (2) your activities
as Marina Oswald's business representative, (3) Marina Oswald's
business dealings with others, (4) your dealings with Marina Oswald in
connection with the preparation of any testimony, interviews, public
appearances, story, article, or other narrative concerning her personal
history or the assassination of President Kennedy and the killing
of Lee Harvey Oswald, and (5) your dealings with Marina Oswald in
connection with her appearance before this Commission.
"The Commission is authorized to reimburse you for your expenses
in connection with your appearance before the Commission, and the
necessary details will be arranged when you are here.
"Attached herewith are copies of Executive Order No. 11130, dated
November 29, 1963, S.J. Res. 137--88th Cong., 1st Session, and the
rules of this Commission in connection with hearings conducted for the
purpose of taking of testimony or the production of evidence."