Report of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy

Mrs. Paine’s Cooperation with the Commission

Mrs. Paine’s Cooperation with the Commission Prior to November 22, Mrs. Paine possessed information about Oswald’s alias, his telephone number, and his Soviet Embassy correspondence that she did not pass to the FBI, but this failure must be viewed against what she then knew.[C6-395] There is no evidence contradicting her testimony that she was unaware of Oswald’s attack on General Walker, the rifle on her garage floor, his pistol, or the firearms photographs, so she reasonably assumed he was not potentially violent and that the FBI already knew his history.[C6-396][C6-397] It was Mrs. Paine herself who informed the Commission of the information she held.[C6-398] Throughout the investigation she was completely cooperative, voluntarily producing all correspondence, memoranda, and written communications with Marina Oswald; her 1963 date book and calendar; and her address and telephone notation books, along with purely personal material.[C6-399][C6-400][C6-401]

Oswald’s Political Activities Upon Return

Oswald’s Political Activities Upon Return After returning from the Soviet Union, Oswald had dealings with the Communist Party, U.S.A., the Socialist Workers Party, and the Fair Play for Cuba Committee, plus minor contacts with at least two other politically interested organizations. To determine whether any of these provided advice, encouragement, or assistance in planning or executing the assassination, the Commission fully investigated the nature and extent of Oswald’s relations with them, and also investigated whether persons and organizations hostile to President Kennedy had any connection with Oswald or the shooting.

Communist Party and Socialist Workers Party Contacts

Communist Party and Socialist Workers Party Contacts In August 1962 Oswald subscribed to the Worker, a Communist Party publication, and wrote to obtain pamphlets.[C6-404][C6-405] He attempted further dealings with the Communist Party but received limited response, including a letter from Arnold S. Johnson stating the party had no “organizational ties” with the Fair Play for Cuba Committee.[C6-406][C6-407] In September 1963 Johnson suggested Oswald contact the party after relocating to Baltimore, and replied to Oswald’s inquiry about operating “underground” that “often it is advisable for some people to remain in the background, not underground.”[C6-408][C6-409] A November 1 letter from Oswald reporting his move to Dallas and asking the party’s view of the ACLU was not received until after the assassination.[C6-410] Oswald also offered his photographic services to the Worker and the Hall-Davis Defense Committee but was never called upon.[C6-411] On his Cuba visa application in Mexico City, Senora Silvia Duran noted that Oswald claimed Communist Party membership and displayed documents, though she likely misunderstood because some papers were in Russian and further investigation indicated he was not a member.[C6-412][C6-413][C6-414] Oswald also carried on limited correspondence with the Socialist Workers Party, attempting to join in October 1962 (rejected because there was no Dallas chapter), offering poster assistance, and subscribing to the Militant in December 1962.[C6-416][C6-417][C6-418] A March 1963 letter and clipping sent to the party cannot be located.[C6-419] Investigation produced no plausible evidence of other significant contacts; FBI and federal security agencies, along with numerous confidential informants, found no such evidence.[C6-420] Arnold S. Johnson of the Communist Party, James T. Tormey of the Hall-Davis Defense Committee, and Farrell Dobbs of the Socialist Workers Party all testified under oath that Oswald was not a member of their organizations.[C6-421]

Oswald’s Attempt to Contact Attorney John J. Abt

Oswald’s Attempt to Contact Attorney John J. Abt Upon his arrest after the assassination, Oswald attempted to contact New York attorney John J. Abt to request representation. Abt was not in New York at the time and was never reached. Abt testified that he had at no time had any dealings with Oswald and had never heard of Lee Harvey Oswald prior to the assassination.[C6-415]

Socialist Labor Party Contact

Socialist Labor Party Contact In November 1962 Oswald wrote to the Socialist Labor Party in New York requesting literature. Horace Twiford, a Texas national committeeman at large, was informed by New York headquarters in July 1963 and mailed literature to Oswald’s old Dallas post office box on September 11, 1963.[C6-422] En route to Mexico City in September 1963, Oswald attempted to reach Twiford at his Houston home, briefly speaking with Twiford’s wife and identifying himself as a Fair Play for Cuba Committee member, but Twiford was out of town.[C6-423] National secretary-treasurer Arnold Peterson reported no record of Oswald in national headquarters files, since routine literature requests are destroyed.[C6-424] The Socialist Party–Social Democratic Federation likewise reported no records or correspondence relating to Oswald.[C6-425]