Oswald’s Suicide Attempt After USSR Denial
When Soviet authorities initially denied Oswald’s request to remain in the USSR, he was shocked, as he had waited two years to be accepted. He immediately attempted suicide: soaking his hands in cold water to numb the pain, slashing his left wrist, then soaking the wound in hot water, and writing in his diary that he thought death would be easy and sweet, accompanied by the sound of a violin. He was discovered in time, taken to a Moscow hospital, and held there until October 28, 1959.
Oswald’s Renunciation of US Citizenship
Still determined to remain in the Soviet Union, Oswald visited the American Embassy on October 31, 1959 to formally renounce his U.S. citizenship. Consular official Richard E. Snyder testified Oswald was extremely confident, knew his mission, and took charge of the conversation from the start. Oswald presented a signed note requesting revocation of his U.S. citizenship, stating he entered the USSR to apply for Soviet citizenship via naturalization, his application was pending before the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, he took these steps for political reasons after long consideration, and affirmed his allegiance to the USSR. His stated principal reason for renouncing citizenship was that he was a Marxist. He also referenced hardships his mother experienced as a worker that he did not want for himself, noted his Marine service in Okinawa and elsewhere allowed him to observe “American imperialism,” showed sensitivity about not achieving a higher rank in the Marine Corps, and offered to provide Soviet officials with any information he had about Marine Corps operations, hinting he might have special knowledge. His self-styled “Historic Diary” also describes the event.
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