Mrs. Oswald.

who visited us. He was the only one who remained our friend. The others sort of removed themselves.

Mr. Rankin.

Do you know why that was?

Mrs. Oswald.

Because they saw that Lee's attitude towards them was not very proper, he was not very hospitable, and he was not glad to see them. They felt that he did not like them.

Mr. Rankin.

Will you describe what you observed that caused you to think this, or how your husband acted in regard to these friends?

Mrs. Oswald.

He told me that he did not like them, that he did not want them to come to visit.

Mr. Rankin.

Did he show any signs of that attitude towards them?

Mrs. Oswald.

Yes, he was not very talkative when they came for a visit. Sometimes he would even quarrel with them.

Mr. Rankin.

When he quarreled with them, was it in regard to political ideas or what subjects?

Mrs. Oswald.

Yes, they would not agree with him when he talked on political matters.

Mr. Rankin.

Do you recall any conversation that you can describe to us?

Mrs. Oswald.

Of course it is difficult to remember all the conversations. But I know that they had a difference of opinion with reference to political matters. My Russian friends did not approve of everything. I am trying to formulate it more exactly. They did not like the fact that he was an American who had gone to Russia. I think that is all. All that I can remember.

Mr. Rankin.

What did they say about----

Mrs. Oswald.

Excuse me. Simply I would be busy, and I didn't listen to the conversation.

Mr. Rankin.

Can you recall anything else about the conversation or the substance of it?

Mrs. Oswald.

No.

Mr. Rankin.

When did you first consider the possibility of returning to the Soviet Union?

Mrs. Oswald.

I never considered that, but I was forced to because Lee insisted on it.

Mr. Rankin.

When you considered it, as you were forced to, by his insistence, do you know when it was with reference to your first request to the Embassy, which was February 17, 1963?

Mrs. Oswald.

February 17?

Mr. Rankin.

Yes.

Mrs. Oswald.

I think it was a couple of weeks before that, at the beginning of February.

Mr. Rankin.

Did your husband know about the letter you sent to the Embassy on February 17?

Mrs. Oswald.

Of course. He handed me the paper, a pencil, and said, "Write."

Mr. Rankin.

Did he tell you what to put in the letter, or was that your own drafting?

Mrs. Oswald.

No, I knew myself what I had to write, and these were my words. What could I do if my husband didn't want to live with me? At least that is what I thought.

Mr. Rankin.

Did you ever have arguments with your husband about smoking and drinking wine, other things like that?

Mrs. Oswald.

About drinking wine, no. But he didn't like the fact that I smoked, because he neither smoked nor drank. It would have been better if he had smoked and drank.

Mr. Rankin.

Can you tell us approximately when you first met Ruth Paine?

Mrs. Oswald.

Soon after New Years I think it was in January.

Mr. Rankin.

Would that be 1963?

Mrs. Oswald.

Yes.

Mr. Rankin.

Can you describe the circumstances when you met her?

Mrs. Oswald.

We were invited, together with George De Mohrenschildt and his wife, to the home of his friend, an American. And Ruth was acquainted with that American. She was also visiting there. And there were a number of other people there, Americans.