(Testimony of Michael Ralph Paine)
Mr. Paine.
He was in the exploited class.
Mr. Liebeler.
Yes; there was no doubt about that--I mean, as far as his own mind was concerned--that's what he thought?
Mr. Paine.
Yes.
Mr. Liebeler.
So, that he would describe these terrible misfortunes that were being perpetrated on a class of people, but he would make it clear that he did regard himself as being included in that class of people.
Mr. Paine.
That's correct. Now, I think he was a little--I can't remember now where I got the impression that he was allergic to the FBI, which is another case of him mentioning being sensitive to a person--a sense of persecution, but the only thing that I do remember that he did mention that surprised me a little bit was his sense of personal exploitation by his employer at the photoengraving company.
Mr. Liebeler.
And when you say you cannot remember where you got the idea that he was allergic to the FBI, you mean you don't remember whether you were aware of that before the assassination?
Mr. Paine.
That's correct.
Mr. Liebeler.
Were you aware of it before the assassination or can't you remember?
Mr. Paine.
I think I learned that from Ruth's statement of things that he had said and I don't remember whether that was before or after.
Mr. Liebeler.
For instance, if you were told that he in fact did have quite an allergy to the FBI, whether you were aware of it or not at that time, I suppose that that would provide an example of one or two things either an accurate description of what was going on or a slightly exaggerated or greatly exaggerated notion of what was going on and to that extent a manifestation of this feeling of persecution, as he put it.
Mr. Paine.
Yes; it was greatly exaggerated--it had, of course, some grounds, so you wouldn't be too inclined to call it paranoia and the fact that he also perhaps wanted to continue doing the things that would have to have the legitimate fear of the surveillance by the FBI because he would want to be attempting to do something that wasn't legal or proper. In other words, that would agitate him with grounds--for other reasons than paranoia.
Mr. Liebeler.
One of the witnesses who knew him in the Marine Corps testified that he thought that Oswald had a persecution complex which he strove to maintain--had you ever thought of it in that way?
Mr. Paine.
Well, he was certainly--I wanted to give him some sense of letting him participate in some sense of being effective to change the world and to let him be a little more generous in his thinking toward his enemies---his employers by suggesting that they weren't so fully in control of the social situation as he made out, and he certainly resisted all efforts on my part to think in a more generous and active way toward people toward whom he felt bitter. In other words, he had no inclination or tendency to try to get out of that mood---I don't remember now any illogical way he would have maintained that attitude.
I suppose, though, he just had to fight so hard, or fighting is about the only way he would or could get it out. He perhaps never had any experience of relieving the feeling of hate or bitterness through being kind to someone, so you just wouldn't imagine he would think that that was just pious or just talking to suggest that that was a way out of that feeling.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did you ever have the feeling that he had a considerable degree of hostility toward the society in general, toward our particular society?
Mr. Paine.
Yes; he had unreasonable and unrealistic and pervasive feelings.
Mr. Liebeler.
In that it affected his attitude toward almost everything?
Mr. Paine.
Yes.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did he ever discuss with you his personal relations with his wife?
Mr. Paine.
No; he did not--he never spoke of girls at all. I thought he was very proper.
Mr. Liebeler.
What was that?
Mr. Paine.
Well, this is the way I supposed he was. I knew that he didn't smoke or drink and it seemed inconsistent with a libertine attitude toward
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