(Testimony of Bernice Waterman)
Mr. Dulles.
Afternoon Session
Testimony of
Mr. Dulles.
The President's Commission reconvened at 3:30 p.m.
The Chairman.
Mr. Secretary Dean Rusk, we wanted to ask you a few questions about this matter in any particular detail you wanted to answer. Mr. Rankin would you inform the Secretary the areas we intend to cover before we ask the questions.
Mr. Rankin.
Mr. Chief Justice, I think the particular area that we would be interested in with the Secretary is just as to whether, or his knowledge of whether there was any foreign political interest in the assassination of President Kennedy?
We have been getting the information in regard to other matters concerning the State Department from other of his associates and colleagues and employees of the Department, and we are going to complete that and it has been helpful to us and I think we can rather limit the inquiry to that area.
The Chairman.
Yes; very well.
Mr. Secretary, would you rise and be sworn, please. Do you solemnly swear the testimony you are about to give before this Commission shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Secretary RUSK. I do.
The Chairman.
Will you be seated, please, and Mr. Rankin will ask you the questions, Mr. Secretary.
Secretary RUSK. Mr. Chief Justice, may I ask one question?
The Chairman.
Yes, indeed.
Secretary RUSK. I would like to be just as helpful as possible to the Commission. I am not quite clear of testimony in terms of future publication. There may be certain points that arise where it might be helpful to the Commission for me to comment on certain points but there it would be a very grave difficulty about publication, so I wonder what the Commission's view on that is.
The Chairman.
Well, Mr. Secretary, our purpose is to have available for the public all of the evidence that is given here. If there is any phase of it that you think might jeopardize the security of the Nation, have no hesitation in asking us to go off the record for a moment, and you can tell us what you wish.
Secretary RUSK. Thank you, sir, I am at your disposal.
Mr. Dulles.
Mr. Chief Justice, could I make a suggestion in that connection?
The Chairman.
Yes.
Mr. Dulles.
Would it be feasible to have a discussion here of the points that are vital from the point of view of our record, and so forth, and maybe a little informal conversation afterward to cover the other points.
The Chairman.
We will have a recess for a few moments then.
Mr. Dulles.
I thought between the two wouldn't that be easier than put the two together.
(Discussion off the record.)
The Chairman.
Back on the record.
Mr. Rankin.
Mr. Secretary, will you give us your name and address, please?
Secretary RUSK. Dean Rusk, 4980 Quebec Street, Washington, D.C.
Mr. Rankin.
And you are the Secretary of State for the United States?
Secretary RUSK. That is correct.
Mr. Rankin.
You have occupied that position for some time?
Secretary RUSK. Since January 22, 1961.
Mr. Rankin.
In that position you have become familiar with our foreign relations and the attitude and interest in some degree of other countries that we deal with?
Secretary RUSK. Yes; within the limitations of the possibilities, it is at least my task to be as familiar as possible with those things.
Mr. Rankin.
In your opinion, was there any substantial interest or interests of the Soviet Union which would have been advanced by the assassination of President Kennedy?
Secretary RUSK. I would first have to say on a question of that sort that it is
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