(Testimony of Mrs. Marguerite Oswald Resumed)
Mr. Rankin.
If you are speculating, which you have a right to do, that is something different.
Mrs. Oswald.
Well, I have explained that I am speculating, that I have all these documents, that some of them don't make sense. That is what I am trying to tell you. I mentioned that before.
Mr. Rankin.
You are not trying to say to the Commission that you have the proof that there was a conspiracy?
Mrs. Oswald.
I have emphatically stated that I do not have the proof, because if I had the proof I would have an affidavit and give you gentlemen the proof. I made that clear two or three times. I wish I did have the proof, sir.
I think I said yesterday--it doesn't surprise me that there may be someone in our State Department or some official who would have part in this. He is a human being just like we are. He may have a title, but that doesn't make him a man back of the title.
Mr. Dulles.
What is this conspiracy now, Mr. Rankin? Is this the conspiracy to do away with the President, or is this a different conspiracy?
Mr. Rankin.
The conspiracy I was asking about was the conspiracy, she said, about the assassination of President Kennedy.
And she said that it involved the two Secret Service agents and her daughter-in-law and her son. That is the one I was asking about.
The Chairman.
And Mrs. Paine.
Mrs. Oswald.
And Mrs. Paine. I feel like the facts have come from this particular source.
Mr. Rankin.
Now, as I understand she says now that she is speculating as to that being a possibility.
Mrs. Oswald.
Well, now, Mr. Rankin, I have not changed my testimony, if you are implying that. I may not have put it in a position you understood. because as I say, I certainly did not mean to imply that I had proof, because if I had proof I would not be sitting here taking all my energy and trying to show you this little by little. I would have had an affidavit and show you the proof. So if you want to call it speculation, call it speculation. I don't care what you call it. But I am not satisfied in my mind that things are according to Hoyle. And I believe that my son is innocent. And I also realize that my son could be involved. But I have no way of knowing these things unless I analyze the papers that I have, sir.
Mr. Rankin.
The Commission would like to know what you base your assumption that your son was an agent on. Could you help us?
Mrs. Oswald.
Would you like me to go into this story--I will start with my son's life from the very beginning.
Mr. Rankin.
Can't we get down to----
Mrs. Oswald.
No, sir, we cannot. I am sorry. This is my life. I cannot survive in this world unless I know I have my American way of life and can start from the very beginning. I have to work into this. I cannot answer these questions like in a court, yes or no. And I will not answer yes or no. I want to tell you the story. And that is the only way you can get a true picture. I am the accused mother of this man, and I have family and grandchildren, and Marina, my daughter-in-law. And I am going to do everything I can to try and prove he is innocent.
Mr. Rankin.
Well, now, Mrs. Oswald, you are not claiming before this Commission that there was anything back at the beginning, at the early childhood of your son, in which you thought he was an agent?
Mrs. Oswald.
Yes, sir--at age 16.
Mr. Rankin.
Well, why don't you start with age 16, then.
Mrs. Oswald.
Well, aren't you gentlemen-I have a letter from you, Mr. Rankin. Aren't you gentlemen interested in my son's life from the very beginning? I think you should, because it has been exploited in all the magazines and papers. And this is not my son is what I am trying to say. He is not a perfect boy, and I am not a perfect woman. But I can show a different side of Lee Harvey Oswald, which I hope to do to this Commission.
Mr. Rankin.
Well, I plan to ask you about his early life and these other parts. But I thought it would be helpful if you would be willing to do it to
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