Mr. Griffin.

Mr. Kravitz, my name is Burt Griffin. I am a member of the general counsel's staff of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy. We have a few preliminary matters that we always go through with the witnesses to explain to them a little bit about the Commission and what we are doing. The Commission was set up pursuant to an Executive order of President Johnson and a joint resolution of Congress. Under that Executive, order and the joint resolution, the Commission has been directed to investigate into and evaluate and report back to President Johnson upon all the facts that relate to the assassination of President Kennedy and the death of Lee Harvey Oswald. We have asked you to come here tonight in particular because you have been acquainted with Jack Ruby, and particularly because you saw him shortly before President Kennedy was assassinated.
Now, the Commission has a set of rules and regulations which are promulgated and under those rules and regulations I have been specifically designated to take your testimony. There is a provision in the rules that a witness is entitled to have 3 days written notice before he appears before the Commission and I will ask you at this point if you have received a letter from us and when you received it?

Mr. Kravitz.

Yes; I did.

Mr. Griffin.

Was it 3 days ago or more?

Mr. Kravitz.

I'll tell you in this ease that I have just moved recently, and the letter was lost in the mail and I just got the letter yesterday, but I was notified by telephone, which I think was more than 3 days ago.

Mr. Griffin.

And you have no objection to going forward at this point?

Mr. Kravitz.

No.

Mr. Griffin.

Do you have any particular questions you want to ask before I start to question you?

Mr. Kravitz.

No; none whatsoever.

Mr. Griffin.

All right. If you would raise your right hand and be sworn. Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God? Mr. KRAVITZ. I do.

Mr. Griffin.

Will you state your name for the record?

Mr. Kravitz.

Herbert B. Kravitz.

Mr. Griffin.

How do you spell your last name?

Mr. Kravitz.

K-r-a-v-i-t-z [spelling].

Mr. Griffin.

Where do you live now?

Mr. Kravitz.

In Dallas.

Mr. Griffin.

Whereabouts in Dallas?

Mr. Kravitz.

Bachman, Boulevard; 2631.

Mr. Griffin.

When were you born?

Mr. Kriffin.

On March 12, 1938.

Mr. Griffin.

And are you employed?

Mr. Kravitz.

Self-employed.

Mr. Griffin.

What do you do?

Mr. Kravitz.

Publishing business; I am with 20th Century Publishers, Inc.

Mr. Griffin.

What sort of publication do you have?

Mr. Kravitz.

Well, our first book will be out the end of August. It's a fairly new enterprise it's approximately 4 months old.

Mr. Griffin.

What did you do before that?

Mr. Kravitz.

I was on the road with a clothing outfit and traveled part of the country. That's how I first got to Dallas.

Mr. Griffin.

You know Jack Ruby, don't you?

Mr. Kravitz.

Yes.

Mr. Griffin.

When did you first happen to meet him?

Mr. Kravitz.

I was with an entertainer friend of mine I really can't give you specific dates, but the entertainer was a comedian, Fred Barber, [spelling] B-a-r-b-e-r.

Mr. Griffin.

That's Barber?

Mr. Kravitz.

Yes; and Fred and I were in a Chinese restaurant--Yee's---and Jack Ruby, I presume, saw Fred's act and came over to the table and introduced