(Testimony of Mrs. Marguerite Oswald Resumed)
Mrs. Oswald.
where all the money that has been given to Mrs. Tippit has come from. That is a tremendous amount of money--tremendous for donations.
The Chairman.
You say you question the money?
Mrs. Oswald.
Yes, sir; the donations to Mrs. Tippit.
The Chairman.
You mean you question whether she received them or not?
Mrs. Oswald.
No--where is the money coming from? As far as she knows, sir, they are donations. But where is the actual money coming from, because it is such a large amount? Like I question Marina's money. She has now $38,000. That is just what they have stated she has. What she has may be more. But that is. a lot of money for donations, a tremendous lot of money.
And Mrs. Tippit has, I think, almost half a million dollars. Is that correct? I am not quite sure. But, anyhow, it is a large amount of money. And with our investigation and things that are not according to Hoyle, we do question where the money is coming from.
The Chairman.
Do you have any idea where it comes from, after your investigation?
Mrs. Oswald.
Well, Mr. Lane has. I do not have all the information. He has this information. And we are still investigating it, sir. And we will investigate if it takes another year or two. We are going to continue to arrive at the truth.
Mr. Rankin.
You referred to an article in the Time Magazine of February 14. 1964, volume 83, No. 7, when you said there were some things that were wrong in it--do you remember that?
Mrs. Oswald.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Rankin.
Did you write a letter about this assassination of President Kennedy to President Johnson at some time?
Mrs. Oswald.
No, sir; I never have.
Mr. Rankin.
Did you send a telegram?
Mrs. Oswald.
No, sir. The only telegram I sent to President Johnson was stating that I had sent a telegram to you and Chief Justice Warren, if you remember.
Mr. Rankin.
Did you get any response from the White House?
Mrs. Oswald.
No, sir; I did not get a response from the White House. And I am indignant at the response that I did get. What it did was to inform me. I was so graciously treated by Mr. Kennedy and his Administration, as I have stated and testified, that I am shocked that I am now to be told that I am not to worry the President. "In response to .your telegram to the President, I wish to inform you that any requests or any information dealing with the inquiry conducted by Chief Justice Warren should properly be directed to the Commission. I note in your telegram that you have directed your request to the Chief Justice and to Mr. Rankin, the Commission's General Counsel. Sincerely, Lee C. White, Assistant Special Counsel to the President."
Mr. Rankin.
That is the response that you received from the White House?
Mrs. Oswald.
From the telegram that I sent, when I sent a telegram to you and Chief Justice Warren--I sent him a telegram. I have it right here, sir. You don't know about the telegram.
Here is a copy of the telegram.
"President Lyndon B. Johnson. I have sent night letters to Chief Justice Earl Warren and J. Lee Rankin imploring both in the name of justice and our American way of life to let my son Lee Harvey Oswald be represented by counsel so that all witnesses including my son's widow will be cross-examined. Respectfully yours, Mrs. Marguerite Oswald."
And this is the response to that. And I don't think that is a gracious response at all. If I want to write the President or send him a telegram, I think I have as much right as anyone else to do so.
Mr. Rankin.
Did you comment on the fact of this response from the White House when you received it to anybody?
Mrs. Oswald.
Yes, sir. There was a reporter from Time Magazine that I commented to, because I was indignant, as I said. And' he said, "Well, if you or your next door neighbor or anybody walking in the street wanted to write the President, that is our American way of life." And I agreed with him.
|
