第六章
Chapter VI examines Lee Harvey Oswald’s activities during his residence in the Soviet Union from October 1959 through mid-1962. The chapter covers his citizenship renunciation attempts at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, speculation about Soviet coaching of his behavior, the timeline of his residency approval, assessments by the CIA and State Department on the reasonableness of that timeline, his life in Minsk, verification of his presence there, his income and benefits, analysis of whether those benefits suggest undercover activity, and his employment and job performance at the Minsk Radio Factory.
Oswald’s October 31, 1959 Citizenship Renunciation Request at U.S. Embassy Moscow
On October 31, 1959, Oswald visited the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and declared his wish to renounce his U.S. citizenship. Consul Richard E. Snyder refused to accept the renunciation, telling Oswald he would need to return with proper paperwork. During the approximately 40-minute interview, Oswald handed over his passport and a handwritten statement requesting that his citizenship be “revoked” and affirming his allegiance to the Soviet Union. The FBI confirmed the note was in Oswald’s handwriting, and Snyder testified that its phrases were consistent with Oswald’s speech and demeanor. Oswald also informed Snyder that he had been a radar operator in the Marine Corps and had told a Soviet official he would share any information he possessed about the Marines and radar operations.
Oswald’s November 3, 1959 Follow-Up Citizenship Renunciation Letter
In a letter to the U.S. Embassy dated November 3, 1959, Oswald again requested that his American citizenship be revoked and protested the Embassy’s refusal to accept his renunciation on October 31. Oswald never filed a formal renunciation. A comparison of this letter and the October 31 note with Section 349(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act suggests Oswald had read the statute but understood it imperfectly; he attempted to use three of the four statutory methods of surrendering citizenship but succeeded in none.
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