(Testimony of Ruth Hyde Paine)
Mrs. Paine.
really her feeling that she hoped I might get some financial remuneration from it. I think she always felt terribly indebted to me in a way she couldn't resolve. I said I had talked by telephone with Mrs. Ford the previous day. This telephone call between myself and Mrs. Ford was the first time she and I had talked.
Mr. Jenner.
The first time you and Mrs. Ford had talked?
Mrs. Paine.
Yes; and Mrs. Ford called me. And I had taken Mrs. Ford's number that day, and gave this number to Marina over the phone. Mrs. Ford and I had talked about whether Marina should be encouraged herself to write something just from the aspect of her financial need, and that this might ease the finances, and I was hopeful that Mrs. Ford, more fluent in Russian than I would help Marina in a decision relative to this matter. Marina said to me "They don't know that I'm telephoning you."
Mr. Jenner.
They don't know?
Mrs. Paine.
That is all she said, and I didn't know to whom the "they" referred. But, because of that, I did not mention to the press or to friends that she had called, with the exception of Michael, feeling that in time she would certainly contact me again.
Mr. Jenner.
Has she?
Mrs. Paine.
Well, she wrote me a Christmas card with a few sentences on it.
Mr. Jenner.
We have that in evidence, have we?
Mrs. Paine.
Oh, no; that is part of the postcorrespondence I didn't suppose you cared about. You can pick that up in Irving.
Mr. Jenner.
May I see it?
Mrs. Paine.
Yes, you certainly may see it, and I'll translate it for you.
The card conveys greetings to me and my family for Christmas, thanked m again for all my generosity. I felt overthanked because I didn't feel I had done very much. And said she was sorry that our friendship had ended so badly.
Mr. Jenner.
She said this in the note? The answer is yes?
Mrs. Paine.
The answer is yes. And I was surprised and a little hurt at the implication of its being over. I have already said that I went out to Robert Oswald's home in an effort to inquire of him and his wife what my best role might be as a friend towards Marina, or trying to express friendship to Marina at this time. I felt that possibly she was being advised not to contact me or that it was more difficult for the Secret Service to keep her location unknown if I had any contact with her or that they thought so at least. In fact, of course I knew where she was anyway. And I also recalled something I will put in here that occurred as we were watching the television set after it was announced that the President was shot. I said, "and it happened in our city. I am going to move back east." And she knew, of course, not only because of this statement but because of the many things I have done which I have reported at that time that I was terribly grieved at Kennedy's death. And I wondered if she wouldn't possibly feel that I couldn't forgive her for simply being the wife of the accused assassin. So that I wanted to somehow convey to her that I didn't hold her guilty or carry any animosity toward her. And in the situation I just didn't know how to convey this. What I did was to write her letters talking about normal things, but requesting a reply, and I didn't get a reply.
Mr. Jenner.
You did not?
Mrs. Paine.
No.
Mr. Jenner.
Do you have a feeling that left uninfluenced and free to do as she might wish to do, that Marina is still friendly with you and regards you well and would be in contact with you?
Mrs. Paine.
I have a feeling that left uninfluenced, she would have certainly remained friendly to me. If she suddenly now became uninfluenced, and perhaps she has become uninfluenced, it doesn't erase a period of influence that may have affected and may continue to affect her feelings toward me. I don't know what she has said or what was suggested about me to her, and we didn't get into anything of this nature at the one brief meeting on March 9. I didn't feel it appropriate. But a lot has passed. She was, after all--it has already been longer that I have not seen her, had no contact with her during a very trying and significant period in her tile. That period was longer than the whole period she stayed with me. So much has happened, and I just don't know.
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