Scene with Marina and letter to Soviet Embassy: I, 68; McMillan, 417–419; XVI, 30.
Ruth’s offer to Marina: WR, 727–728.
148. Lost job, unemployment benefits: Ibid., 726–727.
Library books checked out: XXV, 929–931.
Subscriptions, Agitator a Party manual: WR, 743, 744; Epstein, Legend, 112.
Speech at Jesuit college: XXV, 923, 924, 919, 921, 926–927.
148–149. Robert Fitzpatrick’s recollections: XXV, 924–925.
CHAPTER 10. “STREET AGITATION … RADIO SPEAKER AND LECTURER”
163. Size of New Orleans Cuban community: Blakey and Billings, 177.
DRE shelling of Havana: X, 34.
FBI raid: New Orleans Times-Picayune, August 1 and 2, 1963; Book V, 11–12.
Guerrilla camp disbanded: Brener, vii-viii, 69–70.
164. Notebook entry: XVI, 67.
DRE leader Bringuier, store window sign: X, 34; XXII, 823.
165. Young boys collecting for DRE: XXVI, 767.
Oswald’s offer to Bringuier: X, 35–36.
Suggestions to anti-Castro boys: X, 83, 77.
166. “I infiltrated the Cuban Student Directorate”: XIV, 280.
Note 1: Oswald may also have seen a July 17 Times-Picayune story that began, “Hundreds of anti-Castroites were arrested in northern Camaguey Province after a militiaman infiltrated their guerrilla ranks and reported them” (p. 14).
Bringuier incident seen as infiltration attempt: Newman, 379–380; Blakey and Billings, 162, 364; Epstein, Legend, 222–223; Meagher, 384, 386.
Bringuier and friends confront Oswald: X, 37–38; XVII, 761.
167.
Note 2: Some theorists contend that the exiles’ attack on Oswald was a prearranged mock battle, citing an August 1 letter from Oswald to Vincent Lee that seems to describe this confrontation eight days before it occurred: “Through the efforts of some exile ‘gusanos’ [worms] a street demonstration was attacked and we were officially cautioned by police. This incident robbed me of what support I had leaving me alone …” (XX, 524–525; Summers, 302–303). But Oswald also wrote to Lee after his clash with Bringuier’s group, presenting his arrest as a victory for Fair Play. It makes little sense that he would have given two versions of a staged incident. Actually, the August 1 letter suggests that there was another demonstration by Oswald in late July that a policeman quickly broke up and then failed to report. An oversight such as this wouldn’t have been unusual, since the Warren Report doesn’t mention that Oswald had distributed handbills on the city’s Tulane University campus that summer. When a student called the FBI after the assassination to offer a copy, he was told it wasn’t needed (Epstein, Legend, 222, 322 n. 15; XXVI, 575–576).
Marina checks rifle in closet: McMillan, 433.
“Hidell” an “altered Fidel”: I, 64; V, 401.
Questioning by Martello and Quigley: X, 53, 56, 59; XVII, 758; IV, 436–438; Newman, 383.
168. Thornley on Oswald’s definition of democracy: XI, 92.
168–169. Murret visit and Oswald’s reaction: VIII, 146, 187; I, 25.
169. Bringuier on court appearance: X, 41.
Oswald pleased by his arrest: McMillan, 433; I, 24–25.
Newspaper clippings: XX, 261 (Arnold Johnson); XX, 526–528 (Vincent Lee); WR, 730 (pro-Castro file).
170. Purpose of pro-Castro activities: I, 24–25.
Trade Mart demonstration: WR, 729.
Bringuier’s friend and Oswald: X, 41–42; I, 25.
171. Oswalds’ improved relationship: McMillan, 446, 453.
Marina’s comments and his replies: Ibid., 436–437; I, 22, 23.
Marina on “games” with the rifle: XVIII, 631.
Stuckey’s impression of Oswald: XI, 162, 170–171.
171–174. Transcript of radio interview: XXI, 621–632.
174. Cuban literacy campaign: Newman, 197, 392.
Cuban friend Alfred: XXIII, 477, 484; Epstein, Legend, 113.
Refugees “no better source”: HACH, XII, 182.
Oswald invited to debate and appearance: XI, 166, 168.
Stuckey learns of defection: McMillan, 439–440, 615–616 n. 7.
Debate transcript: XXI, 633–641.
175. “I would not agree with that particular wording”: XXI, 641.
Castro on Kennedy as ruffian: New Orleans Times-Picayune, July 27, 1963, sec. I, 3.
Marina on Oswald’s view of Kennedy: McMillan, 413–414, 571.
Considered Marina unqualified, knew she admired Kennedy: HACH, XII, 408; McMillan, 414.
Stuckey, “We finished him on that program”: WR, 410.
176. Stuckey and Oswald at bar: XI, 171–175; XVII, 764.
176–177. Letter to Central Committee, Johnson’s reply: XX, 262–264, 265.
177. Admiration of U.S. Party members, letter: McMillan, 438; I, 23.
Dry-firing of rifle and explanation: I, 21–22; McMillan, 452.
177–178. Andrews on Mexican and Oswald’s discharge: WR, 325, 727; XI, 329; Epstein, Counterplot, 86.
178. Oswald and the Habana Bar: XI, 341–342, 347, 351, 361.
178–179. Résumé description and contents: WR, 731; XVI, 337–346; Newman, 411–413.
180. Microdots: Epstein, Legend, 194–196; XVI, 53, 346.
Cuba as “last escape hatch”: WR, 414; Newman, 413.
181. Covert operations stepped up in June: Interim, 173.
Paramilitary operations and purpose: Ibid., 13.
Ray Cline and Cuban raider on plots: Branch and Crile, “Kennedy Vendetta,” 61.
Renewed contact with AM/LASH, CIA cable: Interim, 86–87; Book V, 3, 13, 14, 100.
182 Attwood’s efforts, comments by Robert Kennedy and Bundy: Interim, 173.
Administration not informed of AM/LASH: Ibid., 173–175.
183. Church committee on exile assassination talk: Book V, 14.
Raymond Rocca’s comment: Ibid., 15 n. 21; Blakey and Billings, 143–144; CIA memorandum dated 30 May 1975 obtained from the CIA under the Freedom of Information Act, portions deleted.
184. Oswald eager for Ruth Paine’s arrival: McMillan, 452.
Oswald’s travel plans: Ibid., 448, 461.
Concealment of destination from Ruth: III, 10, 27; WR, 413, 730.
Oswald seen leaving apartment and on bus: WR, 730, 732.
CHAPTER 11. THE TROUBLING TESTIMONY OF SYLVIA ODIO
185–188. Odio’s testimony: XI, 368–382; HACH, X, 26–27; Summers, 411–414; Blakey and Billings, 163.
189. Odio a credible witness: HACH, X, 29, and Summers, 589 n. 96 (doctor); XX, 690 (father’s letter); Staff Report to the Warren Commission by William T. Coleman, Jr., and W. David Slawson, pp. 109–110, National Archives.
Note 1: Odio’s description of “Leon” matched Oswald even in certain details the Warren Commission didn’t notice. Odio recalled that “Leon” was unshaven, and McMillan mentions that during the preceding summer Oswald became slovenly in his appearance and “by mid-July shaved only every other day.” During August he also lost considerable weight—and Odio remarked that the shirt the American had on looked too big for him (McMillan, 415–416, 459; XI, 371).
Efforts to establish Oswald’s whereabouts: Epstein, Inquest, 104. 190.
Note 2: The Warren Report and its supporters argue that after reaching Houston on this bus at about 10:50 P.M., Oswald called the home of Horace Twiford, a member of the Socialist Labor party and therefore couldn’t have been at Odio’s apartment that evening. (In 1962 Oswald had requested literature from the New York office of the SLP, which forwarded his name and address to Twiford. On September 11, 1963, Twiford sent him a copy of the Party newspaper with his return address on it.) The report’s claim that Oswald made this call on September 25 isn’t supported by the affidavits of Twiford and his wife, who spoke with Oswald in her husband’s absence. Neither mentioned a specific date, placing the incident only in “late September” or “during the week” prior to September 27 (XI, 179–180). Mor
eover, Mrs. Twiford felt certain that Oswald telephoned between 7 and 10 P.M., and made the reasonable point that a call at a later hour would have been memorable. She stated that “Oswald inquired as to how my husband had his address. He also said that he had hoped to discuss ideas with my husband for a few hours before he flew down to Mexico.” She assumed it was a local call (XXIV, 726–727; WR, 323, 731). If Oswald left for Houston by car on September 24, he could have called the Twiford residence before 10 P.M. and still had almost twenty-four hours to reach Dallas, 245 miles away.
Unemployment check: WR, 323; XXIV, 716, 388.
Not seen on Houston bus, but on other buses: WR, 323, 732–733, 736; XXIV, 717; XXV, 607; Meagher, 381.
Marina on when checks were picked up: XXIII, 388.
Check cashed on Tuesday, September 17: WR, 308.
Liebeler, “Odio may be right,” and Rankin’s response: Epstein, Inquest, 105; memorandum from Liebeler to Howard P. Willens, September 14, 1964, pp. 4–6, National Archives.
191. Rankin’s letter to J. Edgar Hoover: XXVI, 595–596.
FBI explanation and Commission’s conclusion: XXVI, 834; WR, 324.
Collapse of FBI explanation: Meagher, 387; Summers, 416–417; HACR, 165.
192–193. Meagher on Odio incident: Meagher, 386–387, 377.
194. Odio considered truthful: Anson, “Congress and the JFK Riddle,” 29 (Church committee); Blakey and Billings, 364 (House Assassinations Committee).
Assassinations Committee conclusion: HACR, 166–167.
Blakey on Odio incident: Blakey and Billings, 165.
195. Marina on Oswald’s boast he was a good shot: XXIII, 409.
198. Veciana and Gonzales plot: O’Toole and Hoch, “Dallas: The Cuban Connection,” 96.
Castro on plot: New York Times, October 24, 1961, 14.
199. Odio’s referral of Martin to Miami leader: XI, 375.
Odio on how she could have been located: XI, 380.
Rodriguez contacted by Oswald: Summers, 318, 575.
Denials by JURE leaders and Amador Odio: WR, 324; HACH, X, 29.
200. Assassinations Committee on Cuban intelligence agents: HACR, 150–151 n. 19.
201. “As far as taking orders …”: HACH, XII, 405.
Oswald on Marine training: VIII, 278.
Oswald legalistic: XI, 171, 477; XVIII, 98; XIX, 264.
202. Marina on Oswald’s masquerading: HACH, XII, 430.
De Mohrenschildt on Oswald: HACH, XII, 310.
CHAPTER 12. CASTRO’S REVELATIONS
205. McFarland testimony: XI, 214–215.
At the Hotel Comercio and Soviet Embassy: WR, 733, 301.
205–206. Marina on Oswald’s travel plans: I, 23.
206. Application for Cuban visa: XXV, 814–815.
Silvia Duran in Oswald’s notebook: XVI, 54.
206–207. Duran’s statement: XXIV, 588–590.
207. Return visits to embassies: HACR, 147, 322.
208. Conditional approval of visa: XXV, 817.
“Confidential sources” in Mexico: WR, 305.
Phone call overheard by CIA: New York Times, September 21, 1975, 1; Washington Post, November 26, 1976, 1.
208–209. CIA photographs, notification of other agencies: Epstein, Legend, 238; Summers, 380, 384, 374.
209. Phillips on phone call: Summers, 388–389.
Oswald’s finances: WR, 745.
Ernesto Rodriguez’s story: Summers, 389 (quoting a Los Angeles Times syndication in the Dallas Morning News, September 24, 1975).
210. Duran and philosophy professor, Contreras’s account: HACR, 145–146; Summers, 377–378.
Note 1: Contreras first told his story in 1967 to a U.S. consul in Mexico, who reported it to the CIA, which confirmed that Contreras was a student in 1963 and a strong supporter of Castro. When Summers spoke to him in 1978, Contreras claimed that the man who identified himself as Oswald didn’t resemble the president’s assassin, but this was not what he had told the consul (HACR, 144, 146 n. 17).
211. Hoover’s letter to Rankin, unseen by Slawson and Belin: Schorr, “The Assassins,” 21; New York Times, November 14, 1976, 30.
211–212. Garrison investigation, Ferrie in poor health: Epstein, Counterplot, 71, 104–106, 119, 128; Brener, 80–81; Blakey and Billings, 48–49; New York Times, May 11, 1967, 35 (Helms subpoenaed).
212. Bergquist interview: Bergquist, “My Curious Row With Castro,” 33–34, 50–51.
Turner Catledge on Castro: Wyden, 26.
213ff. Clark interview: Schorr, “The Assassins,” 21–22; Summers, 391 (quoting Comer Clark, “Fidel Castro Says He Knew of Oswald Threat to Kill JFK,” National Enquirer, October 15, 1967).
214. Castro on assassination: Mankiewicz and Jones, 67.
216. Assassinations Committee meeting with Castro: HACR, 149, 142–144; Blakey and Billings, 143–148.
217. Castro “a disciple of Machiavelli”: Halperin, 48, 60.
218. Castro on difficulty in getting an interview, public restaurants: HACH, III, 209, 208.
At Arab restaurant: Mankiewicz and Jones, 34–35.
At all-night pizzeria: Lockwood, 243.
“A former trial lawyer”: Mankiewicz and Jones, 13.
CHAPTER 13. OCTOBER 1963—READING BETWEEN THE LINES
219–220. Activities on returning to Dallas: WR, 737.
220. “They’re such bureaucrats”: McMillan, 471.
Jaggars-Chiles-Stovall recommendation: XI, 478–479; XX, 3.
Landlady’s comment: VI, 406.
Registers as O.H. Lee: X, 294; VI, 436.
Ruth Paine’s letter: XVII, 150–153.
220–221. Suggestion of job at Depository: III, 33–35; I, 29; WR, 738.
221. Truly’s comment: XXII, 527.
Reading newspapers: VI, 352; III, 164–165, 218, 116.
Kennedy and Russian troops, Venezuelan attacks: Newman, 441, 440, 446–447.
Oswald on exploitation: II, 400–401, 411.
222. People “like cardboard” to him: McMillan, 482; XI, 402.
Disliked Kennedy less than politicians to right: II, 414.
Oswald’s view of Michael: V, 395.
Paine on Oswald as a revolutionary: XI, 402, 403, 411; II, 411.
Lawrence of Arabia comparison: II, 401, 410.
222–223. Michael and bundle containing rifle: II, 414–418; IX, 437–448.
223. Newspapers and magazines at Ruth’s: HI, 114–116, 418.
“Reading between the lines”: II, 418–419; IX, 455–456.
224. Castro speech: The Militant, October 14, 1963.
Birthday party, Oswalds’ improved relations: McMillan, 474; II, 422; I, 68.
224–225. Movies and Oswald’s reactions: McMillan, 475–476; XXIII, 403; I, 71–72.
226.
Note 1: Macmillan interpreted Oswald’s remarks as a reference to the Machado revolution. This view isn’t suggested in Marina’s testimony and wouldn’t explain either Oswald’s excitement or Marina’s reporting the incident to the Secret Service. (McMillan, 476).
Oswald on Sunday night: III, 39–40; McMillan, 477.
Oswald at Walker rally and ACLU meeting: II, 412, 403, 408.
227. Krystinik’s impressions: IX, 463.
Discussion after meeting: IX, 464–465, 468; II, 408; XXII, 714 (projectionist).
228. Conversation during drive home: II, 409, 408.
ACLU application, post office box: XVII, 671; XX, 172; WR, 312.
228–229. Letter to Arnold Johnson: XX, 271–273.
229. Attwood’s efforts, Kennedy–Daniel meeting: Summers, 423–424.
230. CIA–AM/LASH meeting, weapons promised: Book V, 17–18, 101.
CHAPTER 14. NOVEMBER—THE DECISION
231. FBI attempts to locate Oswald: IV, 446–448; XI, 461–462.
231–232. Hosty visits Ruth and Marina: IV, 452, 449; III, 15; I, 49; McMillan, 494–495.
232. Marina’s remarks to Hosty: I, 57, 357; III, 103.
Hosty’s address and p
hone number: III, 18.
232–233. Oswald’s reaction to FBI visit: McMillan, 499; III, 101; XXII, 786.
233–234. Second Hosty-Ruth Paine conversation: IV, 453; III, 96, 102, 104, 129.
234. Marina memorizes license number: McMillan, 498.
Marina on “a matter of privacy”: III, 100.
November 8 conversation with Ruth: III, 102, 18–19, 101. See also I, 57.
234–235. Oswald’s note to Hosty: Book V, 95–97.
235.
Note 1: Hosty’s receptionist claimed that the note was partly visible inside the unsealed envelope and that it contained a threat to blow up the FBI and Dallas Police Department, but this is unlikely. Hosty said the note was folded so that the writing couldn’t be seen, and it would have been uncharacteristic of Oswald to put an incriminating statement on paper. Hosty’s version also sounds more like Oswald, who frequently took his complaints to “proper authorities.” Finally, Hosty’s reaction—putting the note aside—suggests that Oswald made no violent threat.
235–236. Letter to Soviet Embassy: XVI, 33; III, 13; WR, 309–311.
236. Oswald’s knowledge of Azcue’s replacement: Newman, 495; WR, 310; XXV, 817 (October 15 letter from Cuba regarding Oswald’s visa, addressed to Alfredo Mirabal, consul of Cuba).
Marina unaware of new visa request: McMillan, 506.
237.
Note 2: In an earlier, handwritten draft Oswald had written, “The agent also ‘suggested’ that my wife could ‘remain in the U.S. under FBI protection,’ that is, she could refuse to return to the——“ The last five words were crossed out and the sentence completed with “defect from the Soviet Union.” Oswald clearly felt that Hosty’s routine assurances to Marina somehow threatened his plans to send her back to Russia. Ruth discovered this draft lying on her desk on November 9 (III, 13–18, 51–52; WR, 309). Puzzled and disturbed by its contents, she made a copy, intending to show it to Hosty if he returned.
Trip to shopping center, Oswald’s mood: III, 14; IX, 391, 394.
Oswald asked not to return on weekend, learner’s permit application: I, 63; II, 515–517.
Marina’s attempt to call Oswald: III, 43–44.
238. November 18 argument over alias: I, 46; III, 45; McMillan, 516–517.
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