Oswald's Game

by Davison, Jean

  83. Application for passport: XXII, 78.

  Promise not to divulge secrets: Epstein, Legend, 90–91.

  Claims involvement in “export”: I, 201–202, 212; Oswald, 95; WR, 689.

  Farewell letter to Marguerite: WR, 690.

  On board the Marion Lykes: WR, 690; XI, 115–117; Epstein, Legend, 92–93.

  84. Arrival and departure at Southampton: WR, 690; XVIII, 162; XXVI, 32.

  Note 1: Oswald evidently registered at a Helsinki hotel on October 10. However, the only direct flight between London and Helsinki that day landed at 11:33 P.M., too late to reach the hotel before midnight. Therefore, some critics believe that Oswald must have been flown to Finland by U.S. intelligence. (Ironically, the discrepancy they cite was first pointed out to the Warren Commission by the CIA’s Richard Helms.) Oswald may have taken an indirect flight to Helsinki, or the hotel records may be wrong.

  Moscow activities and “apparent suicide attempt”: WR, 691–692; XVI, 94.

  Hospital records: XVIII, 468; WR, 692.

  Interviewed by new officials: XVI, 96.

  85. Johnson on Soviets’ suspicion: XX, 293.

  Asked for credentials: XVI, 96.

  Told to “go home”: XVI, 94.

  Embassy lost track of him: XVIII, 156, 120.

  Suspicion of questioning by KGB: Epstein, Legend, 295 n. 4; Blakey and Billings, 123.

  Low security clearance: XXIII, 796; XVIII, 116.

  Access to confidential information: VIII, 298.

  86. Scientist defector and Air Review photograph: De Gramont, 354–355, 258.

  “Will talk to a Marine about… drill”: Dave Murphy, former head of CIA Soviet operations in Berlin, quoted by Martin, 104, 157–158.

  Application to Patrice Lumumba University, desire for education: WR, 705; McMillan, 104, 123–124; HACH, II, 217–218.

  Thornley on Oswald’s expectations: XI, 98.

  86–87. Other defectors’ work assignments: De Gramont, 349, 353.

  87. “Serves him right”: V, 294.

  Given apartment and stipend: WR, 697, 698.

  Disliked manual work: XVIII, 430; IX, 136; McMillan, 104.

  First U.S. plans to assassinate Castro: Interim, 74, 80.

  1961 State of the Union message: Quoted in Blakey and Billings, 136.

  88. House of Representatives resolution: Ibid., 137.

  Church on “rogue elephant”: Baltimore Sun, July 16, 1975.

  Church committee’s conclusion: Interim, 6–7.

  “Nailing Jello to a wall”: Walter Mondale, quoted in the New York Times, October 5, 1975.

  Criticism of CIA and administration officials: Interim, 7.

  89. Robert Kennedy briefing, Houston’s comment: Ibid., 132–133.

  Notes of November 4 meeting: Schlesinger, 476.

  November 16 speech, MONGOOSE authorization and purpose: Interim, 139. 142.

  89–90. January 19 meeting notes: Ibid., 141.

  90. Helms testimony: Ibid., 149, 150.

  Pressure from administration, McNamara’s comment: Ibid., 159–160, 157–158.

  Smathers testimony: Ibid., 325–326.

  91. Kennedy’s habit to question: McMillan, 4.

  Dinner party comment on Cuba: Interim, 326.

  Tad Szulc interview: Ibid., 324–325.

  Board of National Estimates conclusion: Ibid., 325, 136–137.

  91–92. Becket situation and Mathias-Helms exchange: Ibid., 316, 149.

  92. Date of first known plot: Ibid., 73.

  CHAPTER 6. GETTING OUT

  93. Letter to U.S. Embassy: WR, 752; XVI, 685.

  Snyder’s reply: XVIII, 135.

  Dispatch to State Department: XVIII, 133–134.

  State Department reply: XVIII, 136.

  Fear of being arrested: McMillan, 126.

  94. March 12 letter: XVI, 702–704.

  Snyder’s reply: XXII, 33–34.

  First meetings with Marina: McMillan, 72–75, 93–94.

  Conversation with Marina’s relatives: Ibid., 95.

  Marina’s attraction to Oswald: Ibid., 96, 101.

  “Fell in love with the man”: HACH, XII, 375.

  Pechorin as Marina’s ideal: McMillan, 38–39, 584 n. 1.

  95. April 18 meeting and marriage: Ibid., 97–98, 107.

  Proposal to Ella German: WR, 699, 704.

  Lies during courtship and Marina’s reaction: McMillan, 97, 142.

  96. “I’d love the danger”: Ibid., 116.

  Reaction to Bay of Pigs, comments on Castro: Ibid., 157; I, 24.

  Cuban students and Oswald’s view of Cuba: McMillan, 157; IX, 370.

  May 16 letter: XVI, 705–708.

  Letter to Robert: XVI, 826.

  Letter to Marguerite: WR, 705.

  97. May 31 letter to Robert: XVI, 828–829.

  Fear of arrest, comment to Marina: McMillan, 127, 133.

  Appearance at embassy, phone call to Marina: Ibid., 128, 129.

  Embassy questioning of Oswald: XVIII, 137–138; XI, 200.

  98. Warren Report on Oswald’s responses: WR, 706.

  Snyder on Oswald’s anxiety about imprisonment and new attitude: XVIII, I38-I39.

  99. Marina’s reaction to Snyder’s comment: McMillan, 134, 591 n. 13.

  Oswald’s “Historic Diary”: XVI, 94–105.

  Note 1: Marina has said that she first saw her husband working on his diary in mid-July 1961, just after they returned from the American Embassy (McMillan, 144). Her recollection matches internal evidence in the diary. For instance, in describing his initial visit to the embassy in an October 1959 entry, Oswald referred to “Richard Snyder, American Head Consular in Moscow at that time” and to his assistant, “(now Head Consular) McVickers [sic]” (XVI, 96). McVickar didn’t take over from Snyder until July 1961 (V, 306) and left Moscow that September (V, 300; XVIII, 154). Thus the entry reflected the situation that existed only between those two dates.

  “Future readers in mind”: WR, 259, 691.

  January 1961 entry and Report’s conclusion: WR, 394–395.

  101. Suggestion that Oswald return before Marina and his response: XXII, 90; XVI, 717–718.

  “If it hadn’t been for you” and Marina’s reply: McMillan, 170.

  Marguerite on discharge change: WR, 710.

  January 30 letter to Robert: XVI, 865–867.

  101–102. Letter to John Connally: WR, 710.

  102. February 15 letter: XVI, 870–871.

  102–103. Powers’s trial and defense attorney’s statements: De Gramont, 282.

  103. Second letter to Robert mentioning Powers: XVI, 875.

  Writing on board Maasdam: XVI, 110–120; McMillan, 194–195.

  103–104. List of questions and answers: XVI, 436–439; WR, 399.

  CHAPTER 7. HOMECOMING

  105. Newspaper article on Oswald: IV, 415.

  Oswalds’ arrival and caution to brother: Oswald, 114–115.

  Letter from Fort Worth Press writer: FBI document 102U, No. 2, National Archives.

  Marina’s first experiences in U.S.: Oswald, 118–119; XI, 53.

  Oswald’s complaints about Marina: III, 128; VIII, 135; II, 305.

  106. Meeting with Peter Gregory: WR, 714.

  Fluency in Russian: IX, 226, 259.

  FBI interviewed defectors for CIA: HACR, 264–265.

  Note 1: There is no evidence that the CIA itself ever debriefed Oswald. To investigate this possibility, the Assassinations Committee “reviewed the files of 22 other defectors to the Soviet Union (from an original list of 380 [sic]) who were born in America and appeared to have returned to the United States between 1958 and 1963. Of these 22 individuals, only 4 were interviewed at any time by the CIA.… Based on this file review, it appeared to the Committee that, in fact, the CIA did not contact returning defectors in 1962 as a matter of standard operating procedure” (HACR, 264–265).

  Fain’s interview and report: IV, 415–416, 422, 418.

  Refused to take lie detector test: Book
V, 88.

  Job and apartment: WR, 715; IX, 226.

  Subscription to The Worker: XXII, 271–272; Newman, 239–240.

  Letter to Socialist Workers party: X, 113.

  107. Wrote to Fair Play for Cuba Committee: XXIV, 341; Newman, 39.

  August 16 FBI interview, Marina’s recollections: I, 20; Book V, 88.

  FBI’s concern: Book V, 89; V, 105.

  “Extreme allergy to FBI”: IX, 458.

  Refusal to give Robert his home address: XVI, 887; IV, 422; Newman, 242, 320; Oswald, 127.

  “Nervous and irritable”: I, 32, 49.

  Fain closes case: V, 5.

  Note 2: The Justice Department didn’t prosecute Oswald for revealing military information because the only evidence against him was his own statement to Richard Snyder—a statement Oswald later retracted when he was questioned by Snyder and by the FBI (HACR, 266–267).

  Émigrés’ desire to meet Oswalds: IX, 236, 267; VIII, 350–351.

  107–108. Meeting Bouhe and Meller, Bouhe’s comments: VIII, 358, 355, 360–361, 371–372.

  108. Bouhe at Oswald apartment: VIII, 384, 371

  Meller’s impressions: VIII, 382, 381, 384.

  Refusal to let Marina learn English: II, 310; IX, 310, 357.

  108–109. Paul Gregory and the Oswalds: IX, 145, 144, 155–157, 148; McMillan, 239; XXIII, 407.

  109. John and Elena Hall: McMillan, 247; VIII, 407–408, 411, 409, 413, 402.

  109–110. Oswald on émigrés: IX, 239, 250; I, 10.

  110. De Mohrenschildt’s background and personality: WR, 283; IX, 175, 181, 183–184, 268; VIII, 377; HACH, XII, 53, 56.

  “Leftwing enthusiast”: II, 327; IX, 266; X, 12.

  Relationship with Oswald: IX, 277, 266; XXII, 783.

  De Mohrenschildt’s testimony: IX, 243, 241, 267.

  “Looking for Utopia”: IX, 246, 312.

  110—111. Oswald’s political writings: XVI, 424, 426–427, 433–434, 436.

  111. De Mohrenschildt manuscript, “a seeker for justice”: HACH, XII, 81.

  111–112. Oswald on defection and Russia: Ibid., 91, 86, 103.

  112. On integration: Ibid., 127, 119–120, 133.

  On world politics: Ibid., 121, 307.

  On Hoover: Ibid., 121.

  On death: Ibid., 151, 93.

  On Marina and de Mohrenschildt’s agreement: Ibid., 121, 261.

  113. “Coup d’etat”: Ibid., 147.

  On President Kennedy: Ibid., 146–147.

  Conversations on being a revolutionary and ideology: Ibid., 81, 144–145.

  Oswald “an idealistic Marxist”: VIII, 436.

  114. Oswald on Walker and Marines: I, 111.

  Walker’s release and arrival at Love Field: New York Times, October 7, 1962, 1, and October 8, 14; Newman, 55.

  Émigrés’ help and decision to move to Dallas: McMillan, 251–252; I, 5.

  Rented post office box: WR, 119.

  115. Claim he had just gotten out of Marines: X, 179.

  Poster blowups to defense committee: X, 106.

  CHAPTER 8. TAKING ACTION

  117. “Like two friends meeting”: IX, 86, 82.

  Oswald’s striking Marina, rudeness: IX, 86, 313.

  Similar treatment of Marguerite: VIII, 55, 57.

  Marina’s admiration of Castro: IX, 357; I, 24; XXIII, 390.

  Oswalds’ disagreement on priorities: III, 128; XI, 130; IX, 311, 376; XXII, 763.

  118. “Overblown opinion”: IX, 357; I, 24; XXIII, 390.

  Katya Ford on Oswalds’ relationship: II, 305.

  Marina’s doubts Lee loved her: McMillan, 316, 393, 394, 395, 472–473.

  Alexandra Taylor’s testimony: XI, 128–129.

  Gary Taylor and Oswald: McMillan, 256; IX, 82, 81.

  118–119. Max Clark on Oswald’s decision to leave Russia: VIII, 347, 350. See also VIII, 425; XXIII, 399; XI, 98.

  119. Oswald’s criticism of Kennedy: Epstein, Legend, 204.

  Attempt to join Socialist Workers party: X, 113; XIX, 576–578; Newman, 270–271.

  120. Mrs. Tobias on Oswald: X, 235, 237, 248.

  Alexandra’s comment: XI, 140.

  Marina on quarrel: XVIII, 621–622. See also I, II.

  120–121. Marina’s moving out, émigrés’ assistance: VIII, 386; McMillan, 263, 283–284.

  121. Marina and Valentina Ray on reconciliation: XVIII, 622–623; VIII, 418.

  Only the de Mohrenschildts remained friendly: McMillan, 285–286; WR, 282; II, 307.

  “Living in another world”: XVIII, 624; I, 4–5.

  122. Political posters: XIX, 579; XI, 208–209 (Socialist Workers party); XXI, 674–677 (Hall-Davis committee); XXI, 721, XX, 269 (The Worker).

  Subscription to The Militant: X, 109.

  The Militant on Kennedy’s Miami speech: January 7, 1963, 1.

  123. Walker’s release and ordering of gun: Newman, 59; WR, 174; I, 16.

  “Alek” nickname and James Bond: WR, 122; XXII, 82.

  “Hidell” an “altered Fidel”: I, 64; V, 401.

  Hidell ID: WR, 723; McMillan, 319; Epstein, Legend, 316 n. 6.

  Studying map and bus schedule: V, 417; WR, 404.

  123–124. Pressuring Marina to return to USSR: I, 10, 12–13.

  124. Letter to Soviet Embassy: XVI, 10; I, 35; Newman, 313.

  124–125. Meeting Ruth Paine and Marina’s comment: McMillan, 344, 606 n. 11.

  125. February 1963 Marina’s worst month: McMillan, 317.

  Landlady’s comments on Marina: X, 239, 244, 250.

  Oswald’s staying out late: 1, 14; X, 18, 30–31; X, 243 (Tobias note); McMillan, 353 (call to de Mohrenschildt).

  Decision to move, Mrs. Tobias’s comment: McMillan, 329; X, 262–263.

  Study in new apartment: McMillan, 330.

  126. Pictures of Walker’s house: WR, 185–186.

  Notebook: Ibid., 404–405; XI, 292–293.

  Rifle and pistol shipped March 20: WR, 723.

  Renewed FBI interest: IV, 441–442; V, 5–6.

  “Cooling off period,” Hoover’s later reaction: Book V, 90.

  Oswald’s case reopened: IV, 442.

  127. Backyard photos with weapons: WR, 724; 1, 15–16; XXIII, 420, 408; XI, 296; McMillan, 544.

  127–128. Michael Paine, April 2 dinner: II, 393, 389–390, 402–403; XXIII, 502 (Michael’s father); McMillan, 345–346.

  128. Practice with rifle: McMillan, 347.

  Reasons for loss of job: X, 189, 190–191; XI, 479.

  Sam Ballen interview: IX, 47–53; McMillan, 278; Epstein, Legend, 209–210, 319 n. 11.

  129. Pro-Castro demonstration: XX, 511; XXII, 796.

  Attack on Walker: WR, 183–187; McMillan, 608 n. 4; XI, 405–410; HACR, 59.

  129–130. Oswald’s note of instructions: WR, 183–185.

  130. Marina on Oswald’s explanation: I, 16; II, 315–316; XXIV, 47; HACH, XII, 391; HACH, II, 236, 232, 251.

  Instructions kept in Marina’s book: XXIII, 391.

  131. Destruction of notebook: XI, 292–293.

  On Marina’s failure to go to police: McMillan, 353–354, 607–608 n. 23.

  132. Seeking asylum, “grandiose plans”: Newman, 338–339; McMillan, 325–326; XI, 296.

  Nixon incident: WR, 187–189; V, 389–390, 392, 395; McMillan, 367–371;

  Newman, 349. Move to New Orleans: II, 457–463; McMillan, 381.

  CHAPTER 9. THE ACTIVIST

  135. Castro agents among refugees: New York Times, April 13, 1963, 41.

  Guerrilla attack in Venezuela: Newman, 269–270.

  MONGOOSE disbanded, Special Group under Bundy: Interim, 170.

  Opening to Cuba proposed, “separate track”: Ibid., 173–174, 176 n. 1.

  136. Time quotes administration official: February 15, 1963, 23.

  Kennedy news conference and White House estimate: Time, February 22, 1963, 21.

  Wall Street Journal quoted: The Worker, March 19, 1963, 2; The Militant, March 25, 1963, 7.

  Alpha
66 raid and official crackdown: New York Times, March 20, 1963, 2, March 30, 1; April 1, 1, and April 6, 1.

  Kennedy April 19 speech: McMillan, 611–612 n. 2.

  137. No ongoing CIA assassination plots: Interim, 85–86, 84.

  Mafia not serious participants?: Summers, 269, 270; Blakey, 152.

  Oswald at home on April 21: McMillan, 369–370.

  138. Standing Group and CIA on Castro’s death: Interim, 171.

  Call to Lillian Murret: VIII, 133–134, 164.

  Unemployment benefits and job: WR, 725, 726.

  139. Lillian’s testimony: VIII, 136.

  Renting apartment: VIII, 59.

  Marina’s discussions with Ruth and phone call: McMillan, 393, 394–395; II, 468.

  Oswalds’ reunion: II, 470–472.

  140. Card to Fair Play for Cuba and reply: XX, 531, 517.

  Oswald’s response to Vincent Lee: XX, 512–513.

  140–141. Newman on Oswald’s plans: Newman, 42–43, 55–56, 71–72, 358.

  141. Marina on purpose of pro-Castro activities: I, 24–25.

  Oswald’s political résumé: XVI, 337–346.

  142. “Subversion airlift”: Time, March 29, 1963, 19. See also Time, March 8, 1963. 25.

  President on travel ban defiance: Time, August 9, 1963, 31–32.

  142–143. House Un-American Activities Committee chairman on travelers: New

  143. Orleans Times-Picayune, July 24, 1963, 1.

  Hijacking plans: I, 22, 23.

  “There’s a Cuban Embassy in Mexico”: McMillan, 447.

  Letter from Soviet Embassy: XVIII, 514–515.

  Pressuring Marina to answer letter: McMillan, 410–411.

  Marina’s letter to Ruth: XVII, 88.

  Handbills: XII, 796–798; WR, 728.

  144. Letter from Vincent Lee: XX, 514–516.

  Post office box rental: WR, 312.

  Membership forms: XXII, 800–801.

  144–145. Letter to Vincent Lee: XX, 518–521.

  145. No response from Fair Play Committee: WR, 412.

  June 10 letter to The Worker: XX, 257–258.

  No evidence Oswald rented an office: WR, 292, 408. But see also Epstein, Legend, 321 n. 8.

  Renewed FBI interest: XVII, 794; IV, 422–423.

  146. Oswald at Dumaine Street dock: XXII, 806.

  LeBlanc’s testimony: X, 215.

  146–147. At Crescent City Garage: X, 221.

  147. Passport application: XVII, 666–667.

  Note 1: Critics have expressed suspicion about the speed with which Oswald received his passport (Meagher, 336; Summers, 362). A July 21 story in the Times-Picayune headlined “Passports Are Now Easier to Obtain” pointed out that because of a new policy of decentralization, passports were being issued at New Orleans and other cities in 24 hours or less (Sec. II, p. 13).