Visit to the Soviet Embassy
Either before or during his initial Cuban Embassy visit, Oswald went to the Soviet Embassy and spoke with either Pavel Yatskov or Valeriy Kostikov, both consular officials who were also KGB agents. Oswald later said he had dealt with “Kostin,” referring to Kostikov. He was unable to obtain a Soviet visa at that time. Marina Oswald later testified that Soviet officials “refused to have anything to do with him.”
Conflict at the Cuban Embassy
Oswald returned to the Cuban Embassy that afternoon with passport photographs, possibly obtained in the United States. Senora Duran telephoned the Soviet Embassy and learned Oswald’s Russian visa would be delayed approximately four months. Oswald became “highly agitated and angry,” particularly upon learning he could not obtain an intransit Cuban visa before acquiring a Russian visa. Duran called Cuban Consul Eusibio Azque, and the ensuing discussion became a heated argument that ended with Azque telling Oswald that people like him were harming the Cuban Revolution and that he would not be given a visa. Duran provided Oswald with her name and the Embassy’s phone number, which he recorded in his address book. The visa application was forwarded to Havana, but on October 15, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs replied that the visa could be issued only after Oswald obtained a Russian visa. Oswald contacted both embassies again during his stay with no greater success. In a later letter to the Soviet Embassy in Washington, he blamed a “gross breach of regulations” at the Cuban Embassy for his failure.
Activities and Sightseeing in Mexico City
The hotel maid reported Oswald was generally gone by 9 a.m., and the night watchman said he usually returned around midnight. He ate inexpensive lunches (40 to 48 cents) at an adjacent restaurant, arriving shortly after 2 p.m. and ordering by pointing at the menu; he ate soup, rice, and meat or eggs, refusing dessert and coffee. He was seen with no other person at the hotel or restaurant. Though the Soviet and Cuban Embassies were some distance from his hotel, Oswald traversed substantial portions of the city. Marina testified that he told her he had seen a bullfight, visited museums, done sightseeing, and watched motion pictures. Notations in his Spanish-English dictionary and guide map suggest he intended to attend a jai alai game, which he almost certainly did not. He purchased bullfight and tourist postcards, and brought Marina a silver bracelet inscribed with her name—likely of Japanese origin and commonly sold in Dallas five-and-ten-cent stores rather than in Mexico. He did not purchase the Mexican phonograph records Marina had requested.
Preparations for Return
On September 30, Oswald appeared at the Agencia de Viages, Transportes Chihuahuenses and purchased international exchange orders costing $20.30 for travel on a Transportes del Norte bus from Mexico City to Laredo and by Greyhound directly from Laredo to Dallas. A reservation was made for him on Transportes del Norte Bus No. 332, departing Mexico City at 8:30 a.m. on October 2, with seat No. 12 reserved in the name “H. O. Lee”—likely copied from Oswald’s tourist card reading “Lee, Harvey Oswald.” The manifest for Transportes Frontera Bus No. 340, leaving October 2 for Monterrey and Nuevo Laredo, later contained the name “Oswld,” apparently added after the trip; Oswald did not take that bus. On October 1, Oswald paid his hotel bill through that night.
Return to the United States
The night watchman helped Oswald obtain a taxicab at approximately 6:30 or 7 a.m. on October 2. Transportes del Norte Bus No. 332 departed on schedule at 8:30 a.m., and at Monterrey passengers were shifted to relief bus No. 373, scheduled to depart for Laredo at 10 p.m. Fellow passengers recalled that Oswald was pulled off the bus by Mexican officials at the border due to alleged irregularities in his tourist papers, and was overheard muttering complaints upon his return. They also remembered him hurriedly gulping a banana after the bus reached customs, possibly believing he could not take fruit into the United States. One passenger was annoyed by Oswald keeping his overhead light on to read after 10 p.m. At approximately 1:35 a.m. on October 3, Oswald crossed the International Bridge from Nuevo Laredo into Texas. He then traveled from Laredo to Dallas via San Antonio on Greyhound Bus No. 1265, substantially following Interstate Route 35, leaving Laredo at 3 a.m. and arriving in Dallas at about 2:20 p.m. the same day.
The original text of this work is in the public domain. This page focuses on a guided summary article, reading notes, selected quotes, and visual learning materials for educational purposes.