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

Apparently in Robert's letter to Lee, he had couched it in terms of suggesting that apparently Lee Harvey Oswald thought he might have some advantage economically if he went to Russia, and Lee Harvey Oswald responded, "So you speak of advantages. Do you think that is why I am here, for personal material advantages? Happiness is not based on one's self, does not consist of a small home, of taking and getting. Happiness is taking part in a struggle where there is no borderline between one's own personal world and the world in general. I never believed I would find more material advantages at this stage of development in the Soviet Union than I might have had in the United States."

Mr. McKenzie. At this point, Mr. Chairman, I might also add, in connection with what Mr. Jenner has stated about this letter, that the letter appears, in answering questions that Robert may have posed in a previous letter to Lee Harvey Oswald—it appears to have been lifted in some respects out of a communist text, and it even appears to me—and this is pure supposition, that it could possibly have been written by someone else with Lee Harvey Oswald coming back in and adding other things to it. It is the longest letter received, consisting of some eight pages. A careful reading of the letter will show only one or two misspelled words, whereas in the other letters there are a number of misspelled words.

And I don't know what that adds or detracts from the record. But I do feel that there is a difference in the letters as you read all of them put together.

Mr. Dulles. I am glad you called that to our attention. It is an interesting observation.

Mr. Oswald. And I would like to, if I may, point out something I observed in between the letter of November 8, 1959, and the letter of November 26, 1959.

In the letter of November 8, 1959, towards the last paragraph on the last page, I quote, "I really don't see what we could talk about. If you want to send me money, that I can use. But I do not expect to be able to pay it back."

I now refer to the letter of November 26, 1959, on the last page, the second last paragraph, "I have no money problems at all"—underlined.

"My situation was not really as stable then as it is now. I have no troubles at all now along that line."

Mr. McKenzie. And, furthermore, he had moved from Room 233 in the Metropole Hotel to Room 201 in the Metropole Hotel. And marks on the letter of November 26th, "Note new room number."

Mr. Dulles. Could I get into the record here, just for clarification—when was this written in relation to his arrival in the Soviet Union? Do we have that on the record? Was it a month after? Was it before the other incident that has been described for the record, with regard to——

Mr. Oswald. If I may, sir; I believe I can answer that.

Mr. Jenner. I didn't want to hazard a guess. If you know, will you please state it?

Mr. Oswald. I believe Lee, as a matter of record, did arrive in the Soviet Union on October 13, 1959.

Mr. Dulles. Is it written then, roughly, a little less than a month and—a little over a month after his arrival—these two letters referred to?

Mr. Oswald. That is correct.

Mr. Jenner. I intended to draw your attention to that which you have already mentioned—that is, in the letter of November 8 he indicated that he would be pleased if you would send him some funds, whereas on the last page of the letter of November 26th he advises you that as far as funds are concerned—he is in good shape.

Mr. Dulles. And both of these letters were written, as I recall, before he was advised that he could not stay on in the Soviet Union the first time?

Mr. Jenner. That is correct, sir. They are written before he went to Minsk, as well.

Mr. Dulles. Thank you.

Mr. Jenner. Had you sent him any funds in the interim period?

Mr. Oswald. No, sir.

Referring to my testimony yesterday—at which time I replied to his letter of November 8, 1959, on his request for any money that I might send him, I stated to him I would gladly send him the necessary money for his return to the United States, and for that reason only.

I did not enclose any money in my answer.

Mr. Jenner. Now, that is an interesting factor about which I would like to inquire of you; also, as to its implication.

Later, your brother, as the correspondence we have now introduced in evidence discloses, desired to return to the United States. And he was having, according to the correspondence, some problem in raising the necessary funds to return to the United States.

Did he at any time write you requesting that you honor your letter in response to his letter of November 8th in which you said you would gladly send him money to return to the United States?

Mr. Oswald. No, sir; he did not request it directly. He had certainly indicated, as his letters do indicate, that he was having a little difficulty in raising the necessary funds to return to the United States. And I, in my reply to that letter, volunteered to raise the necessary funds to bring his wife and himself to the United States.

Mr. Jenner. Would you identify the particular letter to which you now refer?

Mr. Oswald. In reply to your question, sir, I am referring to the letter of February 15, 1962.

Mr. Jenner. Which, for the record, is Commission Exhibit 315.

Did you respond to that letter and offer to advance to him the funds necessary to bring about his return to the United States?

Mr. Oswald. Yes, sir; I did. And I also included an offer for him to stay with us on his return to the United States, he and his family, for any length of time that they so desired, until he was able to get settled himself.

Mr. Jenner. Did you ever receive from him a letter in which he responded directly to your offer to advance funds?

Perhaps I will put it this way. Have you produced all of the letters that you received from him while he was in Russia?

Mr. Oswald. To my knowledge this is all of the letters I received from him.

Mr. Jenner. Did you make it a practice during this period to keep, intentionally and deliberately keep, all letters that you received from him?

Mr. Oswald. Yes, sir; that was my intention.

Mr. Jenner. To the best of your knowledge you have produced all of those letters to the Commission?

Mr. Oswald. That is correct, sir.

Mr. Jenner. Did you ever report to your brother that it would be necessary for you to make a loan on your automobile in order to advance any funds to him?

Mr. Oswald. No, sir, I did not.

Mr. Jenner. Including particularly the $200 that you advanced to him when he returned in June of 1962?

Mr. Oswald. No, sir, I did not.

Mr. Jenner. Did you become aware at any time prior to November 22, 1963, that he made a representation to the New York welfare authorities that it would be necessary for you to make a loan on your automobile to advance the $200?

Mr. Oswald. No, sir, I have not.

Mr. Jenner. There was no discussion of that subject by him with you when he returned to Fort Worth and lived in your home, or thereafter?

Mr. Oswald. No, sir. This is the first knowledge I have of such a report.

Mr. Jenner. All right.

Now, returning to the letter of November 26—and keeping in mind, also, the letter—let's just stay with the letter of November 26th.

Prior to the time of the receipt of that letter, had your brother Lee ever in your presence uttered thoughts of that nature, or even spoken to you any thoughts of the nature contained in the letter of November 26th with respect to the United States, its economic system, Communist Russia, or countries of that character?

Mr. Oswald. No, sir; he did not.

Mr. Jenner. And what was your reaction to the letter of November 26, particularly those features of it dealing with his attitudes towards the United States and its political and economic and social system?