President's Commission on the Assassination of - The Warren Commission (Complete Edition)

Mr. McKenzie. Benbrook is a suburb of Fort Worth.

Mr. Oswald. Yes, Benbrook is a suburb of Fort Worth.

As I indicated, at that time——

Mr. Jenner. Could you fix the year?

Mr. Oswald. This would be—I feel certain that this was the first year that we were in military school, and the first Christmas.

Mr. Jenner. The first Christmas. That would be Christmas 1945.

Mr. Oswald. Pardon me. Let me back up earlier.

They were in Massachusetts at that time.

This would be the second year.

Mr. Jenner. I take it, then, the first Christmas, 1945, included the period when your mother, Mr. Ekdahl, and Lee resided in Boston with Mr. Ekdahl's son by a former marriage.

Mr. Oswald. That is correct.

Mr. Jenner. And that the living in Benbrook, Tex., followed the termination of the stay in Boston?

Mr. Oswald. That is correct.

But I do recall now the first Christmas that I was at the military school, because they were so far away, and it was impractical to travel that distance in that length of time—that John went with some friends of his that he made at the academy and stayed at their home—I don't recall where.

I remember I went with one of my friends and stayed at his home during Christmas.

Mr. Jenner. These were friends of yours in the academy?

Mr. Oswald. That is correct. And their parents agreed to that—because they didn't want us to stay up in the academy at Christmas time more or less by ourselves. They wanted to have us with them.

Mr. Jenner. You seem to have a rather vivid recollection of the Benbrook, Tex., home. I take it that during a summer vacation you lived in Benbrook, Tex., with your mother and Mr. Ekdahl and Lee.

Mr. Oswald. This particular house I refer to, a native stone home—I believe that is correct.

Mr. Jenner. So that you did have at least two summers at home while you were at the military academy, and the third summer your mother asked you to stay during summer school, and you did not come home?

Mr. Oswald. She asked us, and it was the intent that we stay. But at the last moment we did not go to summer school that year at the academy. We did come to Fort Worth.

Mr. Jenner. I see.

Mr. McKenzie. Mr. Jenner, may I interrupt you please?

Robert, when did you leave, or when did your mother sell the house on Victor Street in Dallas. Tex., if you recall?

Mr. Oswald. I believe she sold it at the time that they moved to Boston, Mass.

Mr. McKenzie. That was some time prior to Christmas of 1945, is that correct?

Mr. Oswald. That is correct.

If I may ask this, sir: If someone would furnish me the date of the divorce. I believe this would help tie down some other dates.

Mr. McKenzie. Off the record.

(Discussion off the record.)

Mr. McKenzie. I want to assure the Commission and counsel that the copy of the transcript of Robert Oswald's testimony will not be given to the press until such time as the Commission makes its final report—if at that time.

Representative Ford. I think that is most important, that we don't indicate that they will never be given to the press.

Mr. Dulles. No. That was made clear before you came in—that this would be available for use in connection with the report in any way that the Commission saw fit.

Mr. Jenner. Is it all right to proceed, sir?

Mr. Dulles. Yes, please, Mr. Jenner.

Mr. Jenner. The second residence, then, was—I mean the second one during this particular period we were talking about, was in Benbrook, Tex.

How long, or over what period of time did your family reside in Benbrook, Tex.?

Mr. Oswald. I would say at least approximately a year or a year and a half at that particular house.

Mr. Jenner. You say in that particular house. Did they occupy another home in Benbrook, Tex.?

Mr. Oswald. This was—on our return from military school, the last year we attended, when we returned, mother had purchased a small home there in Benbrook, a little bit closer in to Fort Worth.

Mr. Dulles. This was after the divorce?

Mr. Oswald. Yes, sir; this was after the divorce.

Representative Ford. She owned the original house in Benbrook?

Mr. Oswald. No, sir; not the stone house. I believe Mr. Ekdahl had rented that house, or leased it.

Representative Ford. Then she purchased this second house?

Mr. Oswald. That is right. After the divorce, she purchased this smaller home.

Mr. Jenner. Until you boys returned from military academy, or at least until the time of the divorce of your mother and Mr. Ekdahl, she was not employed? She was home?

Mr. Oswald. To my knowledge, that is correct. She was not employed at that time, or during the marriage to Mr. Ekdahl—she was not employed at any time I am aware of.

Mr. Jenner. And able to give the normal and full time and attention of a mother to her son, Lee?

Mr. Oswald. That is correct, to the best of my knowledge.

Mr. Jenner. Well, during the summertime, when you did spend summer vacations back in Benbrook, Tex., you had an opportunity to observe personally on this subject, did you not?

Mr. Oswald. Yes, sir.

Mr. Jenner. That your mother was not employed, and she was caring for Lee during that period?

Mr. Oswald. Yes, sir.

Mr. Jenner. Did she have any assistance?

Mr. Oswald. No, sir, she did not. None that I recall.

Mr. Jenner. No household help?

Mr. Oswald. No, sir; none that I recall.

Mr. Dulles. Could I ask a question there? Maybe you are going to cover that. I would like to ask as to—was Lee Harvey going to kindergarten at this time, or where was he from an educational point of view?

He was 7 or 8 years old now.

Mr. Jenner. Yes. He was 8 years old—he was 6 years old when they moved to—the commencement of the military school period, your brother, Lee, was 6 years old?

Mr. Oswald. Six years old.

Mr. Jenner. And that is about the time when you enter elementary school, is it not?

Mr. Oswald. That I entered elementary school?

Mr. Jenner. No—children generally.

Mr. Oswald. Yes, sir.

I don't believe, however, though, that Lee at the age of 6 went to elementary school.

Mr. Jenner. Would you tell us what the circumstances were in that connection, to the best of your recollection, and now.

Mr. Oswald. All right, sir. To the best of my recollection, it was that Mr. Ekdahl was traveling quite a bit, and that mother was traveling with him, and Lee did not attend a school during that year.

Mr. Jenner. Did Lee travel with them?

Mr. Oswald. I believe that he did during that time.

Mr. Jenner. That is your best recollection?

Mr. Oswald. Yes, sir; that is my best recollection.

Mr. Jenner. You are trying not to speculate.

Mr. Oswald. That is correct, sir.

Mr. McKenzie. Off the record.

(Discussion off the record.)

Mr. Jenner. Back on the record.

Mr. McKenzie. I believe, to my best recollection, that the school age—commencement age was 7 years old.

Mr. Dulles. I think what we are trying to get at is what was Lee doing—was he with the mother, was he in some kind of kindergarten?

Do you recall during those 3 years you were in the military academy—where was Lee?

Representative Ford. When you say the school age, in Texas, you mean the mandatory attendance age?

Mr. Jaworski. That is correct.

Mr. McKenzie. Yes, that is what I have reference to.

Mr. Jaworski. I recall, if I may add, at the age of 6, children were normally sent to kindergarten in those days.

Mr. Jenner. As you have now related it to us, Mr. Oswald, in this period, let's call it the military school period because we have identified the time question—at the commencement Lee was then 6 years old. And as we now learn, normally that would be a kindergarten period.