Mr. Martin.

I did.

Mr. Dulles.

These agreements with the news media?

Mr. Martin.

I did.

Mr. Dulles.

You signed them?

Mr. Martin.

According to the contract that I have with Marina, "You will authorize me and approve for and in my behalf and in your discretion and decision the following: approve and permit the use of my name, photographs, likeness, voice, sound effects, characters, persons for all publicity, advertising and the promotion of any and all ventures desired by you to be undertaken by me and for the performance by me of any appearance or service. You are authorized, empowered and directed by me."

Mr. Dulles.

I think we have a copy of this, do we not?

Mr. Redlich.

Yes. You are reading from----

Mr. Martin.

My contract.

Mr. Redlich.

Yes, just so the record is clear, the contract between James Martin and Marina Oswald is Commission Exhibit 276 which was introduced in connection with Robert Oswald's testimony. Mr. Martin, there has been introduced in a prior hearing what is now Commission Exhibits Nos. 274 and 275, a letter from William McKenzie to you and a letter from William McKenzie to Mr. Thorne concerning the discharging of your services.
Do you have any document which you wish to introduce at the present time concerning that--the reasons given for your discharge, because I would like to ask you questions concerning that?

Mr. Leech.

May I ask the date of the letter please, sir? Give me the date. I think we have the originals, sir.

Mr. Redlich.

There is one dated February 18, two of them dated February 18.

Mr. Leech.

Yes, one to Jim Martin and one to Mr. John Thorne.

Mr. Redlich.

One is addressed to Mr. James Martin and the other to Mr. John Thorne.

Mr. Leech.

Yes, sir; we have the originals.

Mr. Redlich.

Do you have with you any other letters in connection with the termination of Mr. Martin's services?

Mr. Martin.

One from Marina Oswald.
(Discussion off the record.)

Mr. Redlich.

Mr. Martin, you said earlier in your testimony that you were building a public image of Marina Oswald?

Mr. Martin.

Yes.

Mr. Redlich.

Would you tell the Commission what you mean by that?

Mr. Martin.

Well, in this type of thing----

Mr. Redlich.

May I interrupt and suggest you don't thumb through----

Mr. Martin.

Excuse me. We were trying to create in the public mind an image of a bereaved widow and a simple lost girl. And I think we did actually. This was for her, as I say, for her benefit. She has received some $68,000 in contributions, and the image is not all true.

Mr. Redlich.

Would you tell us in respect to which in your opinion the image is not true?

Mr. Martin.

Well, as I mentioned before about the bible, this is a very small incident, she has received numerous bibles in the mail, and to my knowledge has never read the first page of one, and most of them are in Russian.
This is a small thing really but it is part of her image, that she is a religious person.
She wants to be thought of as we have built her now but she doesn't conform to that image.

Mr. Redlich.

In what way, how?

Mr. Martin.

Well, she is lazy, for one thing.

Mr. Redlich.

Lazy in what respect?

Mr. Martin.

Well, as far as even taking care of the children. The children bother her, I mean to her they are a constant upset. When she left our home to go up to Denton, my wife offered to keep the baby there at the house if she liked, and Marina took her up on it and then Robert told her she had better take the baby with her. She hadn't seen the baby for over a week. And the first day she was back she was willing to leave the baby again.