Testimony of Farrell Dobbs

The testimony of Farrell Dobbs was taken at 11:45 a.m., on April 17, 1964, at the U.S. Courthouse, Foley Square, New York, N.Y., by Messrs. J. Lee Rankin, general counsel and Wesley J. Liebeler, assistant counsel of the President's Commission. Farrell Dobbs was accompanied by his attorney, Rowland Watts.

Farrell Dobbs, having been first duly sworn, was examined and testified as follows:

Mr. Rankin.

In this examination, Mr. Dobbs, we are proceeding in accordance with the procedures that the Commission has set out and by reason of the Executive order of President Johnson No. 11130 and the joint resolution of Congress No. 137.
The examination will be done by myself, J. Lee Rankin, general counsel for the Commission. Mr. Liebeler is associated with me in that regard.
You are entitled to a 3-day notice of this examination. I assume, since you are willing to come here, you are willing to waive that 3-day notice and proceed with the hearing at this time; is that right?

Mr. Dobbs.

That's right.

Mr. Rankin.

You are also entitled to have your counsel here, as you have, and during the examination, if he has any objection to any questions or wants to have a recess so that he may talk with you, of course, he may. At the close of your testimony, if there is something that he would like to examine you about so as to clarify anything that you said or give you an opportunity to correct or to change it, that is provided for, too. Do you have any questions before we start?

Mr. Watts.

Mr. Rankin, I think that it should show on the record that this is a voluntary appearance, that Mr. Dobbs volunteered what information he had and offered to come if you chose to have him.

Mr. Rankin.

Yes; we wish to have that on the record. Did you produce the information that was requested of you?

Mr. Dobbs.

Yes; I turned it over to Mr. Watts, and he forwarded it to you.

Mr. Rankin.

Do you have from the Militant files the 4-month introductory subscription blank stamped September 17, 1962?

Mr. Watts.

Yes; we offer it.

Mr. Rankin.

Will you mark that as Exhibit 1. (Marked Dobbs' Exhibit No. 1.)

Mr. Rankin.

Do you have the 4-month renewal blank stamped May 28, 1963?

Mr. Watts.

Yes; we offer that.

Mr. Rankin.

Mark that Exhibit 2, please.
(Marked Dobbs' Exhibit No. 2.)

Mr. Rankin.

Do you have the Addressograph plate for Lee H. Oswald?

Mr. Watts.

Yes; we offer that.

Mr. Rankin.

Mark that Exhibit 3, please.
(Marked Dobbs' Exhibit No. 3.)

Mr. Rankin.

And from the Pioneer Publishers' files--I failed to ask you for the change of address notice postmarked June 12, 1963, and November 12, 1963. Do you have those?

Mr. Watts.

Yes; I offer them.

Mr. Rankin.

Mark those Exhibits 4 and 5 respectively.
(Marked Dobbs' Exhibits Nos. 4 and 5.)

Mr. Rankin.

Do you have from the Pioneer Publishers' files an order for the Teachings of Leon Trotsky and a cash memo dated May 8, 1962, indicating that 25 cents had been received?

Mr. Watts.

Yes; We have that, and with them is a carbon copy of a letter from Pioneer Publishers, dated September 28, 1963, and a canceled envelope postmarked January 2, I believe, 1963, to Pioneer Publishers from Lee Oswald, and we offer all of those.

Mr. Rankin.

Thank you.

Mr. Watts.

In addition, from Pioneer Publishers, we have a letter from Lee Oswald with a date January 1, the year not identified, ordering "The Coming American Revolution," "The End of the Comintern," and "The 1948 Manifesto