Mr. Johnson.

Arnold Samuel Johnson. My home address is 56 Seventh Avenue, New York City.

Mr. Rankin.

Mr. Johnson, my name is J. Lee Rankin. I am general counsel for the President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy.
We are here to take your testimony with regard to that matter, and we have certain rules and procedures that the Commission has set up to be followed in connection with the hearings and testimony that is taken for the consideration of the Commission. Mr. Liebeler is here as my assistant, and he is one of the several counsel of the Commission.
The Commission acts in accordance with an Executive order of President Johnson, No. 11130, and a Joint Resolution of the Congress No. 137.
Under the rules you have a right to a 3-day notice of this examination. I understand you are appearing voluntarily and do not require that?

Mr. Johnson.

That is right.

Mr. Rankin.

You are also entitled to have counsel, and I understand Mr. Abt is acting as your counsel in connection with this proceeding.

Mr. Johnson.

Correct.

Mr. Rankin.

You also have a right to have a copy of the testimony made available to you. However, it is at your own expense. We just tell the reporter that you can get it if you pay for it.
Your counsel has a right to make objections during the proceedings and also at the close of the examination on behalf of the Commission to ask you such questions as he may care to, that may clarify anything that you say that he thinks either you desire to have clarified or he thinks in his good judgment should be either clarified or elaborated upon or require further questions from him to make clear what he thinks your testimony is.
Are there any questions which you have in regard to it?

Mr. Johnson.

Perfectly all right.

Mr. Rankin.

Mr. Johnson, can you identify for us the position you occupied at the time you received some communications from Lee Harvey Oswald?

Mr. Johnson.

Yes; I was the director of the information and lecture bureau of the Communist Party.

Mr. Rankin.

I may ask you some questions trying to cover things which I ordinarily would, and you wait for your counsel. Is it possible for you to tell us whether you continue to occupy that position now? Is that any problem?

Mr. Art.

I think not. I think there is no problem.

Mr. Johnson.

No problem.

Mr. Rankin.

And you do?

Mr. Johnson.

I do.

Mr. Rankin.

Do you have anything to do with the subscription list of the Worker?

Mr. Johnson.

Immediately, I do not.

Mr. Rankin.

Would you know, then, whether Lee Harvey Oswald was a subscriber to the Worker, of your own knowledge?

Mr. Abt.

Just say of your own knowledge, whether you actually know it or don't.

Mr. Johnson.

I mean, not of my own knowledge; no. That's the point, I would say.

Mr. Rankin.

Did the fact that he was a subscriber come to your attention at some time, through hearsay or otherwise?

Mr. Johnson.

Through hearsay only.

Mr. Rankin.

Was that from him or someone else?

Mr. Johnson.

From him in one of the letters.

Mr. Rankin.

Did you supply some correspondence that you had with Lee Harvey Oswald to someone in connection with the consideration of the assassination of President Kennedy?

Mr. Johnson.

Yes; I supplied all of it.

Mr. Rankin.

About when was that that you did supply that information?

Mr. Johnson.

In the first week of December.

Mr. Rankin.

What year?

Mr. Johnson.

1963.

Mr. Rankin.

How did you happen to supply that information?