Suicide Attempt and Psychiatric Hospitalization
In response to the unfavorable decision, Oswald cut himself above his left wrist in an apparent suicide attempt. Rima Shirokova found him unconscious in his hotel room and had him taken to Botkinskaya Hospital, where she stayed by his side as interpreter into the night. Oswald was confined to the psychiatric ward for three days. A psychiatrist concluded that he was not dangerous and could be transferred to the “somatic” department. Hospital records noted that Oswald had come to Russia to apply for citizenship and had inflicted the injury “in order to postpone his departure”; they also recorded that he claimed to have graduated from a technical high school in radio technology and radio electronics, and that he “regrets his action” and “intends to return to his homeland” after recovering. While hospitalized, Oswald was visited frequently by Rima and by Roza Agafonova of the hotel tourist office, and his diary entries during this period reflect a gentler, friendlier attitude than his earlier cold focus on his status in Russia.
Post-Hospital Stay and Soviet Official Interviews
Oswald was released from the hospital on October 28 and, accompanied by Rima Shirokova, was driven by Intourist car to the Hotel Berlin. After saying goodbye to Lyudmila Dmitrieva, head of the Berlin’s Intourist office, and to Roza Agafonova, he checked out of the Berlin and registered at the Metropole, a larger hotel under the same administration—a move the Soviet Government had undoubtedly directed. His visa had expired during his hospitalization, making his presence in Russia technically illegal. That day, Rima informed him that the “Pass and Registration Office” wished to discuss his future. When Oswald appeared, he was asked whether he still wanted Soviet citizenship (he confirmed that he did), provided his Marine Corps discharge papers for identification, and was told he could not expect a decision soon. He was also apparently questioned about his earlier interview with the supposed Radio Moscow reporter, leading him to conclude there had been no communication between the two sets of officials. That evening he vented his frustration to Rima.
American Embassy Citizenship Renunciation Visit
The following day, Oswald stayed near the telephone, fully dressed and ready to leave if summoned, waiting three days that seemed “like three years.” On October 31, he met Rima at noon, expressed impatience without revealing his plans, and she cautioned him to stay in his room and eat well. Shortly after she left, he took a taxi to the American Embassy and asked to see the consul. When the receptionist asked him to sign the tourist register, he laid his passport on the desk and said he had come to “dissolve his American citizenship.” Richard E. Snyder, the Second Secretary and senior consular official, was summoned and invited Oswald into his office, where Snyder’s assistant John A. McVickar was also present. Oswald declared his desire to renounce his citizenship, denounced the United States, and praised the Soviet Government. Snyder sought to learn more about Oswald’s motives and to forestall immediate action, and the interview ended when Snyder said Oswald could renounce his citizenship two days later on the following Monday. During the interview, Oswald handed Snyder a note suggesting he had studied and sought to comply with section 349 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Snyder testified that he believed Oswald would have formally renounced his citizenship immediately had he been permitted to do so.
Post-Visit Interactions with Reporters and Family
Returning to his hotel angry about the delay but “elated” by the “showdown,” Oswald was approached by A. I. Goldberg, an Associated Press reporter whom the Embassy had told about his actions; Oswald refused to speak to him. He answered a few questions for two other reporters, R. J. Korengold and Aline Mosby, but again refused to be interviewed. News services made repeated unsuccessful attempts to interview him thereafter, which he interpreted as an indirect form of pressure from the Embassy. The day after his meeting with Snyder, his family read about his Embassy appearance in newspapers and tried to contact him; his mother was shocked at his decision but initially respected his motives, though she later suspected he had been forcibly removed to Russia. She placed a phone call that Oswald either refused or cut short, and on November 2 he rejected the Embassy’s efforts to deliver or read over the telephone a telegram from his brother Robert. A call from Robert was either canceled or refused, and Robert’s telegram was eventually sent to Oswald from the Embassy by registered mail.
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