(Testimony of Gary E. Taylor)
Mr. Taylor.
Yes.
Mr. Jenner.
Did he discuss with you, or was there a discussion in your presence, the subject of why he sought to return to the United States?
Mr. Taylor.
Oh, only that he was unhappy with both the way of life in Russia and--uh--the place that he had been given in it.
Mr. Jenner.
Did he discuss with you, or was there a discussion in your presence, the subject of Marina's inclinations in that connection--any desire on her part to come to the United States?
Mr. Taylor.
No; there was never--uh--any discussion as to her feelings about coming to this country at all. I don't think, in any case, that they were important to him.
Mr. Jenner.
At least, they weren't discussed in your presence and not with you directly?
Mr. Taylor.
That's right.
Mr. Jenner.
Was there discussed in your presence, or did he discuss directly with you, their route back to the United States?
Mr. Taylor.
No; I believe the only thing that he ever mentioned about that was that the American Embassy, I presume in Moscow, loaned him the money to return.
Mr. Jenner.
Did he discuss with you, or was there discussed in your presence, his reaction to the Russian system, as such, distinguished now from what was accorded him which you have related--more in the area of the political area--the Communist system, as such, the political philosophy, as distinguished from the U.S.S.R. as a country or government?
Mr. Taylor.
Well, everything that we discussed, of course and the things I have related--illustrate the distinction between the two political governments---such as, services that a Russian citizen obtains free and the housing, various rights or lack of them that the Russian citizen had. We did not discuss the system otherwise except perhaps some impressions he had about government officials living somewhat better than the average citizen lived.
Mr. Jenner.
Did he ever discuss with you, or was there discussed in your presence, the Communist Party as distinct from the Russian Government?
Mr. Taylor.
No.
Mr. Jenner.
Did he discuss with you, or was there discussed in your presence, his political philosophy?
Mr. Taylor.
Uh--I would say that at the point in his life which I knew him, he was somewhat confused about philosophy. He did not seem particularly happy with the form of government we have in this country or with government as it exists anywhere. I think he had been--and perhaps still was--a partisan of a Communist form of government, but, as it is practiced in Russia, I don't think that he liked it at all.
Mr. Jenner.
All right. What else was discussed on this--was it a Sunday afternoon?
Mr. Taylor.
Yes; there was a discussion about Lee's job---which I believe he had just left the Friday before. He was--he terminated his employment. don't know if he was fired or how he became severed from it--and he wanted to move to Dallas. And there was some discussion about the move and it taking place, and so on, and I cannot be sure now whether it was this Sunday or the following Sunday that Marina came to stay in my home.
Mr. Jenner.
Uh-huh.
Mr. Taylor.
I tend to think that it was that Sunday afternoon that we invited her to come and stay with us, and I believe Lee said----
Mr. Jenner.
In the event he went to Dallas?
Mr. Taylor.
No; to actually come and stay with us from that Sunday evening forward.
Mr. Jenner.
Why?
Mr. Taylor.
Uh--during their move. Just to give her a place to live until he was able to find a job here in Dallas.
Mr. Jenner.
It was, therefore, your impression, I take it, that your invitation was not tendered because of any difficulties between Marina and Lee, but rather to afford her a place to live temporarily until Lee became established elsewhere?
Mr. Taylor.
That's right. In Dallas.
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