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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. VIII - Page 220« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Dr. Renatus Hartogs)

Mr. Liebeler.
insignificance and helplessness will try to commit an act which will make others frightened, which will shatter the world, which will make other people insecure, as if he wanted to discharge his own insecurity through his own act, something like that in general terms.
Mr. Liebeler.
Was it indicated by you at that time, or was it indicated on the television broadcast that you were the psychiatrist who had examined Lee Oswald?
Dr. HARTOGS. No, no.
Mr. Liebeler.
It was not?
Dr. HARTOGS. No, no. They didn't know. They called me because they call me very often to give some psychiatric explanations of murderers or something like that. They did not know, and I did not know for sure.
Mr. Liebeler.
At that time neither one of you were ----
Dr. HARTOGS. And they selected me. I mean it was a fantastic thing.
Mr. Liebeler.
It was purely coincidence?
Dr. HARTOGS. Coincidence that they selected me.
Mr. Liebeler.
So you made no reference at that time to the examination which you had made of Oswald?
Dr. HARTOGS. None at all. I didn't know.
Mr. Liebeler.
Dr. Hartogs, do you have in your possession a copy of the report which you made at the time you examined Oswald?
Dr. HARTOGS. No.
Mr. Liebeler.
Have you had any opportunity to examine a copy of that report since the assassination?
Dr. HARTOGS. No.
Mr. Liebeler.
So the recollection that you have given us as regards your diagnosis and your recommendations is strictly based on your own independent recollection, plus the reconstruction of your interview with Oswald from the seminar that you recall having given?
Dr. HARTOGS. Right.
Mr. Liebeler.
Do you remember anything else that particularly impressed you about Oswald? The FBI report indicates that you were greatly impressed by the boy, who was only 13 1/2 years old at the time, because he had extremely cold, steely eyes. Do you remember telling that to the agents?
Dr. HARTOGS. Yes, yes; that he was not emotional at all; he was in control of his emotions. He showed a cold, detached outer attitude. He talked about his situation, about himself in a, what should I say, nonparticipating fashion. I mean there was nothing emotional, affective about him. and this impressed me. That was the only thing which I remembered; yes.
Mr. Liebeler.
Now, you recall also that Oswald was a slender and pale-faced boy?
Dr. HARTOGS. Yes.
Mr. Liebeler.
Can you remember what particular thing it was about Oswald that made you conclude that he had this severe personality disturbance? What led you to this diagnosis?
Dr. HARTOGS. It was his suspiciousness against adults, as far as I recall, his exquisite sensitivity in dealing with others, their opinions on his behalf. That is as far as I recall it.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did you form an opinion as to his intellectual ability, his mental endowment?
Dr. HARTOGS. Yes; but that I don't recall for sure. It was at least average at that time.
Mr. Liebeler.
I want to mark "Exhibit 1" on the examination of Dr. Renatus Hartogs, April 16, 1964, in New York, a photostatic copy of a document entitled "Youth House Psychiatrist's Report," indicating a report on case No. 26996; date of admission, April 16, 1953, exactly 11 years ago; date of examination, May 1, 1953, with regard to a boy by the name of Lee Harvey Oswald. I have initialed a copy of this report for identification purposes, Doctor. Would you initial it here next to my initials.
(Witness complies.)
(Photostatic copy of document entitled "Youth House Psychiatrist's Report" marked "Exhibit 1.")
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