Mrs. Oswald.

I had gone there with my friends from the medical institute, and one of them introduced me to Lee.

Mr. Rankin.

What was his name?

Mrs. Oswald.

Yuri Mereginsky.

Mr. Rankin.

Do you know by what name Lee Oswald was introduced to you?

Mrs. Oswald.

Everyone there called him Alec, at his place of work, because Lee is an unusual, cumbersome name. For Russians it was easier--this was easier.

Mr. Rankin.

Is Alec a name close to Lee, as far as the Russian language is concerned?

Mrs. Oswald.

A little. Somewhat similar.

Mr. Rankin.

Did you know that Lee Oswald was an American when you first met him?

Mrs. Oswald.

I found that out at the end of that party, towards the end of that party, when I was first introduced to him, I didn't know that.

Mr. Rankin.

Did that make any difference?

Mrs. Oswald.

It was more interesting, of course. You don't meet Americans very often.

Mr. Rankin.

After this first meeting, did you meet him a number of times?

Mrs. Oswald.

Yes.

Mr. Rankin.

Can you describe just briefly how you met him and saw him?

Mrs. Oswald.

After the first meeting he asked me where he could meet me again. I said that perhaps some day I will come back here again, to the Palace. About a week later I came there again with my girl friend, and he was there.

Mr. Rankin.

And did he have a period that he was in the hospital there?

Mrs. Oswald.

I had arranged to meet with him again. I had already given him a telephone number. But he went to a hospital and he called me from there. We had arranged to meet on a Friday, and he called from the hospital and said he couldn't because he was in the hospital and I should come there, if I could.

Mr. Rankin.

Did you learn what was wrong with him then?

Mrs. Oswald.

He was near the ear, nose and throat section and it seems that he had something wrong with his ears and also the glands or polyps.

Mr. Rankin.

Did you visit him regularly for some period of time?

Mrs. Oswald.

Yes, quite frequently, because I felt sorry for him being there alone.

Mr. Rankin.

And did you observe a scar on his left arm?

Mrs. Oswald.

He had a scar, but I found that out only after we were married.

Mr. Rankin.

What did you find out about that scar?

Mrs. Oswald.

When I asked him about it, he became very angry and asked me never to ask about that again.

Mr. Rankin.

Did he ever explain to you what caused the scar?

Mrs. Oswald.

No.

Mr. Rankin.

Did you ever learn what caused the scar?

Mrs. Oswald.

I found out here, now, recently.

Mr. Rankin.

Did you learn that he had tried to commit suicide at some time?

Mrs. Oswald.

I found that out now.

Mr. Rankin.

During the time Lee Oswald was courting you, did he talk about America at all?

Mrs. Oswald.

Yes, of course.

Mr. Rankin.

What do you recall that he said about it?

Mrs. Oswald.

At that time, of course, he was homesick, and perhaps he was sorry for having come to Russia. He said many good things. He said that his home was warmer and that people lived better.

Mr. Rankin.

Did he talk about returning?

Mrs. Oswald.

Then? No.

Mr. Rankin.

Did he describe the life in America as being very attractive?

Mrs. Oswald.

Yes. At least in front of others he always defended it.

Mr. Rankin.

Did he----

Mrs. Oswald.

It is strange to reconcile this. When he was there he was saying good things about America.

Mr. Rankin.

And when he was talking only to you, did he do that, too?

Mrs. Oswald.

Yes.