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

Presentation of Rifle Photograph and Oswald’s Denial

At 6:00 PM, in the presence of Jim Bookhout, Homicide officers, and Inspector Kelley, Fritz showed Oswald an enlarged photograph of him holding a rifle and wearing a pistol, which had been enlarged by the Crime Lab from a picture found in Mrs. Paine’s garage. Oswald denied the picture was his, claiming his face had been superimposed onto someone else’s body. When informed the photograph was recovered from Mrs. Paine’s garage, he stated it had never been in his possession. Examining the smaller version, Oswald claimed expertise in photography and alleged someone had constructed the image using photographs taken during his transfers at City Hall. He declared he would not answer further questions and was returned to jail around 7:15 PM.

November 24 Morning Interview: Map and Religious Views

At 9:30 AM on November 24, Fritz showed Oswald a map of Dallas recovered from his North Beckley room that bore a marking near where the President was shot. Oswald denied any connection to the assassination and said the map had been used to locate buildings where he sought employment. Inspector Kelley questioned Oswald about his religious views, to which he responded evasively, disagreeing with certain religious philosophies; when asked directly about belief in a Deity, Oswald declined to answer.

Questions on Post-Kennedy Cuba and Continued Denials

A federal officer asked Oswald whether Cuba would be better off following Kennedy’s assassination. Oswald responded that someone else would likely assume the presidency, perhaps Vice-President Johnson, whose views would largely mirror Kennedy’s. Fritz again questioned Oswald about the gun and the rifle photograph, prompting continued denials of any knowledge of the picture or rifle. Oswald denied ever living on Neely Street, dismissing friends’ claims as mistaken. During this interview he declared himself a Marxist, stating “I am a Marxist, but not a Leninist-Marxist,” identified the New Orleans radio station as one that carried Bill Stakey’s program, again denied knowing Alex Hidell in New Orleans, and reiterated his support for Fair Play for Cuba.