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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. V - Page 599« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Mrs. Lee Harvey Oswald Resumed)

Mr. Gopadze.
*Mrs. OSWALD. He paid those debts out of his earnings. The first few weeks when we came to the United States, we lived with his mother, and that gave us the opportunity to pay the debts.
Senator RUSSELL. Well, you only lived with Mrs. Oswald a matter of 3 or 4 weeks, didn't you?*
*Mrs. OSWALD. Yes; but he was earning money during that time.
Senator RUSSELL. I understand, but he was not earning more than $200 a month, was he, and he paid four or five or six-- what was it, Mr. Rankin?
Mr. Rankin.
It was over $400.
Senator RUSSELL. Over $450 or more to the State Department and some amount to his brother Robert.
Mrs. Oswald.
Around $100.
*It was $100.
It was probably $100.
Senator RUSSELL. That's $550, and a person that's earning $200 a month part of the time, and having to support a family, that's a rather remarkable feat, isn't it, of financing?*
*Mrs. OSWALD. I think that at the time we were leaving Russia, some of the rubles were exchanged for dollars, and maybe he kept part of that money, of which I have no knowledge, when we arrived in the United States. The only thing I know is that we lived very, very economically and Lee was saying all the time that the debts have to be paid as quickly as possible.
Senator RUSSELL. I was under the impression that there was a very drastic limit on the number of rubles that could be exchanged, that it was a hundred or 150 or something in that area?*
*Mrs. OSWALD. According to the law in the Soviet Union, they allow about 90 rubles per person to be exchanged into foreign currency or dollars--$180 in our case because Lee was including the baby, and she----
Senator RUSSELL. For each of them--the exchange.
Mrs. Oswald.
Not for Lee.
Senator RUSSELL. No; he couldn't bring out any more than he took in with him. Well, he wasn't a visitor, though--yes, he was a visitor then. I know they checked my money when I went in there.**
**Mrs. OswALD. I don't know the reason why they didn't allow Lee to exchange $90, but I believe that there is a Soviet law that for Soviet citizens they allow $90 for each person. Excuse me.
*I believe that a foreigner is also entitled to exchange rubles for dollars, but in a very limited amount.
Senator RUSSELL. Mrs. Oswald, do you have any plans to return to the Soviet Union, or do you intend to live in this country?*
*Mrs. OSWALD. Of course to remain in the United States.
Senator RUSSELL. I have a few other questions, but I'm already taking too much time.
Senator COOPER. I want to say something off the record.
(Conference between Senator Cooper and Senator Russell off the record.)
Representative Boggs.
I have just one question.
Senator COOPER. All right.
Senator RUSSELL. Go right ahead.
Representative Boggs.
Mrs. Oswald, have you been taking English lessons?
Mrs. Oswald.
Yes.
Representative Boggs.
Do you speak English now?*
*Mrs. OSWALD. I can't call it speaking English.
Representative Boggs.
But you understand English, you replied to my question a moment ago?**
Mrs. Oswald.
Yes.
Representative Boggs.
But you have been speaking English, studying English, and whom do you live with now?
Mrs. Oswald.
With myself and my kids, with my neighbors.
Representative Boggs.
Do you read English?
Mrs. Oswald.
No. A little bit.
*A little bit.
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