End of Days

by James L. Swanson

  CHAPTER 1: “SUCH DANGEROUS TOYS”

  3 The most definitive accounts of Oswald’s activities and his relationship with his wife, Marina, can be found in her Warren Commission testimony, her statements to government officials, and her intimate recollections in a book: Priscilla Johnson McMillan, Marina and Lee (New York: Harper & Row, 1977).

  3 Oswald’s loose-leaf notebook on Walker. See the testimony of Marina Oswald, Hearings before the President’s Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy (Warren Commission, hereinafter WC), 26 vols. (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1964), vol. 11, p. 292; also see her statement to the FBI, WC 22, commission exhibit (hereinafter CE) 1156, p. 1945.

  4 Revolver purchase. The Smith & Wesson .38-caliber revolver was purchased through a mail-order coupon from Seaport-Traders, Inc., a mail-order division of George Rose & Co., Los Angeles. See the testimony of Heinz W. Michaelis, employee of the company, WC 7, pp. 372–78 and United States, Report of the President’s Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy (Warren Report, hereinafter WR; Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1964) p. 121, and WC 16, CE 135, p. 511.

  4 Rifle purchase. Although it was ordered under an alias, handwriting analysis confirmed that the purchase order was in Oswald’s handwriting. The rifle purchase actually was confirmed by the FBI on the evening of November 22, 1963. The rifle was purchased from Klein’s Sporting Goods in Chicago. See WR, pp. 118–21; WC 17, CE 773, p. 635; and CE 790, p. 678. Also see WC 17, CE 788–89, pp. 677–78 (postal money order); CE 790, p. 679 (order form); and the affidavit of Louis Feldsott, WC 11, p. 205 (verifying purchase). In addition, see the testimony of postal clerk Harry D. Holmes, WC 7, pp. 289–308, and the testimony of William J. Waldman, vice president of Klein’s Sporting Goods, WC 7, p. 360, and WC 7, Waldman Exhibits 1–10, pp. 692–707 (complete record of the transaction). Also, see Henry S. Bloomgarden, The Gun: A “Biography” of the Gun that Killed John F. Kennedy (New York: Grossman, 1975).

  5 “What do you need a rifle for?” See the testimony of Marina Oswald, WC 1, p. 13.

  Oswald always had a fascination with guns. For instance, he read American Rifleman, Field and Stream, Argosy, and Guns and Hunting, which were lying around on the coffee table in the waiting room of the Cresent City Garage next to the Reily Coffee Company, where Oswald once worked. This was according to the owner of the garage, Adrian Alba. See the testimony of Adrian Alba, WC 10, pp. 221–24, and WC 23, CE 1933–34.

  5 Backyard photos. See the testimony of Marina Oswald, WC 1, pp. 15–16, and WC 16, CE 133A, 133B, 134, p. 510. The House Select Committee on Assassinations verified the authenticity of these photographs taken from Oswald’s camera by Marina Oswald. See U.S. House of Representatives, Report of the Select Committee on Assassinations (hereinafter HSCA), 95th Congress, 2nd Session (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1979), 6, pp. 138–230. For another analysis confirming the authenticity of these photographs, see Dino A. Brugioni, Photo Fakery: The History and Techniques of Photographic Deception and Manipulation (Dulles, VA: Brassy’s, 1999), pp. 81–84, 89–91, 96.

  6 Oswald’s subscriptions to the Militant and the Worker. As early as his service in the military, one fellow Marine remembered seeing in the mailroom Oswald’s subscription to the Worker. See the affidavit of Paul Edward Murphy, WC 8, p. 320. Another remembered seeing Oswald read this publication. See the testimony of Donald Lewis, WC 8, p. 323.

  At the time of the Walker shooting, Oswald had subscriptions to both of these publications. These newspapers can be seen in the backyard photos with dates before the time the photographs were taken. See Gerald Posner, Case Closed: Lee Harvey Oswald and the Assassination of JFK (New York: Random House, 1993), p. 107. The Warren Commission also confirmed his subscription to these publications. See WR, appendix 14, “Analysis of Lee Harvey Oswald’s Finances from June 13, 1962, through November 22, 1963,” pp. 742–44. Oswald also wrote letters to these publications (and his letter actually appears in the issue of the Militant he is holding in the photograph). See the testimony of Arnold Samuel Johnson, director of the Information and Lecture Bureau of the Communist Party, confirming Oswald’s subscription to the Worker, WC 10, pp. 95–107, and WC 20, Arnold Exhibits 1–7, pp. 257–75. Also see the testimony of James J. Tormey, executive secretary of the Gus Hall–Benjamin Davis Defense Committee, WC 10, pp. 107–8, and WC 21, Tormey Exhibits 1–2, pp. 674–77. In addition, see the testimony of Farrell Dobbs of the Militant, WC 10, pp. 109–16, and WC 18, Dobbs Exhibits 1–13, pp. 567–80.

  6 “I thought he had gone crazy” and “dangerous toys.” See the testimony of Marina Oswald, WC 1, pp. 15–16.

  7 “Russian men beat their wives.” Ibid.

  7 “I’ll make you shut up.” See McMillan, Marina and Lee, p. 263.

  7 Dinner fight. See the testimony of Marina Oswald, WC 1, p. 6.

  9 Other fights and encounters. Ibid., pp. 6, 10. The Oswalds fought often, and their relationship can best be described as abusive. In Marina and Lee, McMillan documents numerous quarrels, including those before friends and acquaintances.

  9 Oswald practices with rifle. See the testimony of Marina Oswald, WC 1, p. 15.

  9 Photographs of strange house (Walker’s home). Ibid., p. 14, and WC 16, CE 2–5, pp. 3–9.

  9 Fired from printing company. See the testimony of John G. Graef, Oswald’s supervisor at Jaggers-Chiles-Stovall, WC 10, pp. 189–91 (complete testimony, pp. 174–94), and WC, CE 1886, pp. 691–92 (FBI verification of Oswald’s last day of employment).

  10 Let Marina know he lost job. She thought he was looking for work. Ibid., p. 282.

  11 JFK honorary citizenship for Churchill, April 9, 1963. See Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, John F. Kennedy: January 1, 1963 to November 22, 1963 (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1964), pp. 315–17.

  12 Walker’s biography. See Chris Cravens, Edwin A. Walker and the Right Wing in Dallas, Texas, M.A. thesis, Southwest Texas State University, 1991. Walker’s papers are held at the Eugene C. Barker Texas History Center at the University of Texas at Austin.

  12 Oswald’s interest in Walker. Even after the assassination attempt, Oswald continued to be fascinated with General Walker’s activities. In July 1963, Oswald was invited by his cousin, Eugene Murret, to speak about his experiences in Russia, before fellow seminarians at Spring Hill College in Alabama. The notes by Oswald in his own handwriting, which he made to prepare for this speech, mentioned General Walker’s right-wing activities. See WC 16, CE 102, p. 441.

  Also, Oswald wrote several letters to the Worker, including one undated, but postmarked November 1, 1963, claiming that he attended a meeting where General Walker spoke on October 23, 1963. See WC 10, CE—A. Johnson, exhibit 7, pp. 271–75.

  Michael Ralph Paine remembered Oswald going to this speech and specifically was questioned about it. See the testimony of Michael Paine (the husband of Ruth Paine, at whose house Marina and her children were living at the time of the assassination), WC 2, pp. 398–401. Marina Oswald also remembered that her husband went to see this Walker speech, even remembering their conversation, in which Lee said, “Paine knows that I shot him.” See the testimony of Marina Oswald, WC 5, pp. 395–96.

  12 Worker quotes. Worker, Oct. 2, 1962, pp. 1, 7.

  12 Other Worker articles quoted. Worker, Oct. 7, 1962, p. 1, and Apr. 2, 1963, p. 4.

  13 Marina worried and saw note. The testimony of Marina Oswald, WC 1, p. 17.

  13 Quotes from note left for Marina. WC 16, CE 1, pp. 1–2. Marina discusses the note in a Secret Service interview, Dec. 5, 1963. See WC 23, CE 1785, pp. 392–94. The translation from Russian also appears at WC 23, CE 1786, pp. 395–97, where she confirms the note.

  15 Walker’s comments. Eddie Hughes, “Close Call: Rifleman Takes Shot at Walker,” Dallas Morning News, April 11, 1963, p. 1. To view his television interview, go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCjahRnkQfk.

  16 Hides rifle and rides bus home.
McMillan, Marina and Lee, p. 284.

  17 Oswald tells Marina he shot Walker. Testimony of Marina Oswald, WC 1, pp. 16–17.

  17 Dallas Morning News article. The day after the shooting, April 11, 1963, the first, early city edition of the Dallas Morning News contained no mention of the shooting at all. That edition probably was put to bed well before news of the shooting emerged the evening of April 10. A front-page story—Hughes, “Close Call”—appeared in the “Three Star” final morning edition. The next day, two days after the shooting, the story was reprinted on page five. Oswald expressed disappointment over the lack of coverage of his actions. However, it is possible, because of his habit of reading day-old morning newspapers, that Oswald might have not have read about the shooting until two days later. Marina Oswald testifies that her husband heard nothing on the radio that night but did buy a paper the next day and found out what he had missed. Testimony of Marina Oswald, WC 1, p. 17.

  18 Oswald’s comments of chasing car and “what fools.” McMillan, Marina and Lee, p. 287.

  19 Walker interaction with police. See the complete Dallas police report on the shooting (at the time, the police did not have Oswald as a suspect), WC 24, CE 2001, pp. 36–48. Also see Eddie Hughes, “Close Call: Rifleman Takes Shot at Walker,” Dallas Morning News, April 11, 1963 (final morning edition), p. 1.

  19 “Where is the rifle?” Testimony of Marina Oswald, WC 1, p. 17.

  19 Oswald admits he was stalking Walker and shows her his notebook. Ibid., 17–18.

  20 Oswald destroys notebook. Testimony of Marina Oswald, WC 1, p. 17, and WC 11, pp. 292–94.

  20 More discussion between Marina and Oswald. Testimony of Marina Oswald, WC 1, pp. 17–18.

  21 Visit with George de Mohrenschildt, Oswald’s friend. Testimony of George de Mohrenschildt, WC 9, pp. 166–284. The House Select Committee on Assassinations prepared a staff report on de Mohrenschildt and his activities: HSCA 12, pp. 47–310. Of particular interest was de Mohrenschildt’s unpublished manuscript and his recollection of Oswald’s comment concerning the Walker shooting, pp. 200–202.

  21 “[H]ow come you missed?” Testimony of George de Mohrenschild, WC 9, pp. 314–17, and testimony of Marina Oswald, WC 1, p. 18. This statement was later denied by de Mohrenschildt. See HSCA 12, p. 202.

  22 “Hunter of Fascists—ha-ha-ha!!!” On one of the backyard photos, Oswald wrote a handwritten inscription, “For George, Lee Harvey Oswald” and gave it to de Mohrenschidt. HSCA 8, pp. 339–40. Years later, de Mohrenschidt gave this inscribed photograph to the HSCA. Several experts confirmed that all the backyard photos were genuine, taken by Oswald’s own camera, and that the handwriting was indeed Oswald’s. HSCA 6, pp. 138–225, and HSCA 8, pp. 227–389. (In fact, HSCA consulted several experts, who confirmed that sixty-three handwritten documents and fingerprints were Oswald’s.) Marina Oswald jotted down in Russian on the back of this same photograph given to de Mohrenschidt, “Hunter of Fascists—ha-ha-ha!!!” See Edward J. Epstein, Legend: the Secret World of Lee Harvey Oswald (New York: Reader’s Digest Press, 1978).

  In summary, in the final report, the Warren Commission was certain that Lee Harvey Oswald fired the shot that almost killed General Walker, based on this evidence: (1) The note that Oswald left for his wife on the evening of the shooting, (2) the photographs found among Oswald’s possessions after the assassination of President Kennedy, (3) firearm identification of the bullet found in Walker’s home, and (4) admissions and other statements made to Marina Oswald by Oswald concerning the shooting. WR, pp. 183–87.

  CHAPTER 2: “THE GLOW FROM THAT FIRE”

  23 Bartletts hosting dinner party where JFK and Jackie meet. Robert Dallek, An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy, 1917–1963 (Boston: Little, Brown, 2003), p. 192.

  24 Wedding in Newport. See Kenneth P. O’Donnell, David F. Powers, and Joe McCarthy, “Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye”: Memories of John Fitzgerald Kennedy (Boston: Little, Brown, 1970), pp. 94–96.

  24 JFK declares his candidacy. Senate Caucus Room, Jan. 2, 1960. Complete text of this speech, American Presidency Project of the University of California at Santa Barbara, www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=25909. For a contemporary account of this campaign, see Theodore H. White, The Making of the President, 1960 (New York: Atheneum, 1961).

  24 For a comparison of Nixon and Kennedy in the presidential campaign of 1960, see Chris Matthews, Kennedy & Nixon: The Rivalry That Shaped Postwar America (New York: Free Press, 2011), and David Pietrusia, 1960: LBJ vs. JFK vs. Nixon, the Epic Campaign That Forged Three Presidencies (New York: Union Square Press, 2008). For an early politically motivated work published during the 1960 election, see Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., Kennedy or Nixon: Does It Make Any Difference? (New York: Macmillan, 1960).

  27 Presidential debates. See U.S. Senate, Final Report of the Committee on Commerce: The Joint Appearances of Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard M. Nixon, Presidential Campaign of 1960, Senate report 994, part 3, 87th Congress, 1st Session (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1961). Also see Sidney Kraus, ed., The Great Debates: Background, Perspective, Effects (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1962), and Newton N. Minow and Craig L. Lamay, Inside the Presidential Debates: Their Improbable Past and Promising Future (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2008).

  28 Close election. See U.S. House of Representatives, Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 8, 1960 (corrected to Aug. 15, 1960) (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1960), p. 51.

  28 Inaugural address of JFK. See Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, John F. Kennedy; January 20, 1961 to December 31, 1961 (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1962), pp. 1–3. The Kennedy Presidential Library online maintains a complete video of the inaugural address: www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/BqXIEM9F4024ntFl7SVAjA.aspx?gclid=CJzYuZL7i7QCFahQOgodH34A5Q.

  For an overview on the writing of this inaugural address, see Richard J. Tofel, Sounding the Trumpet: The Making of John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address (Chicago: Ivan R. Dee, 2005). For a firsthand account of the contributions of Kennedy’s principal speechwriter, see Theodore C. Sorensen, Counselor: A Life of the Edge of History (New York: Harper, 2008), pp. 200–27.

  30 Bay of Pigs. For an overview of the Bay of Pigs incident, see Howard Jones, The Bay of Pigs (New York: Oxford University Press, 2008), and Peter Wyden, The Bay of Pigs: The Untold Story (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1979). Also see Haynes Johnson, et al., The Bay of Pigs: The Leader’s Story of Brigade 2506 (New York: Norton, 1964). For a ten-minute Universal Newsreel release reporting the aftermath of the failed invasion, go to the C-SPAN website at www.c-spanvideo.org/program/Ba.

  31 Cuban Missile Crisis. For a firsthand account of the Cuban Missile Crisis, see Robert F. Kennedy, Thirteen Days: A Memoir of the Cuban Missile Crisis (New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 1969). For a thorough discussion of the incident, see Graham T. Allison and Philip Zelikow, Essence of Decision: Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis (New York: Longman, 1999). Also see Michael Dobbs, One Minute to Midnight: Kennedy, Khrushchev, and Castro on the Brink of Nuclear War (New York: Knopf, 2008); Ernest R. May and Philip D. Zelikow, The Kennedy Tapes: Inside the White House During the Cuban Missile Crisis (Cambridge, MA: Belknap, 1997); and Max Frankel; High Noon in the Cold War: Kennedy, Khrushchev, and the Cuban Missile Crisis (New York: Ballantine, 2004). For a ten-minute Universal Newsreel release report on this crisis, go to the C-SPAN website at www.c-spanvideo.org/program/301730-1.

  32 Space race. For a short summary of the space race between the Soviet Union and the United States, go to the History Channel’s website at www.history.com/topics/space-race. Also see Von Hardesty and Gene Eisman, Epic Rivalry: The Inside Story of the Soviet and American Space Race (Washington, DC: National Geographic, 2007).

  33 JFK address to the Joint Session of Congress on the decision to go to the moon, May 25, 1961. See Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, John F. Kennedy: January 1, 1961 to Dece
mber 31, 1961 (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1962), pp. 403–5 (complete address, pp. 396–406).

  33 JFK speech at Rice University, Sept. 12, 1962. Ibid., pp. 668–71. NASA’s website has a complete video of this speech: http://er.jsc.nasa.gov/seh/ricetalk.htm.

  33 Civil rights and Brown v. Board. See generally, Richard Kruger, Simple Justice: The History of Brown v. Board of Education and Black Americans’ Struggle for Equality (New York: Vintage, 1977), and James T. Patterson, Brown v. Board of Education: A Civil Rights Milestone and Its Troubled Legacy (New York: Oxford University Press, 2001).

  34 JFK’s actions regarding civil rights. See generally Nick Bryant, The Bystander: John F. Kennedy and the Struggle for Black Equality (New York: Basic Books, 2006); Juan Williams, Eyes on the Prize: America’s Civil Rights Years, 1954–1965 (New York: Viking, 1987), and Taylor Branch, Pillar of Fire: America in the King Years, 1963–1965, second work in the trilogy by this author (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1998).

  34 Kennedy’s Oval Office TV address on civil rights, June 11, 1963. See Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, John F. Kennedy: January 1, 1963 to November 22, 1963 (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1964), pp. 468–71.

  36 Kennedy’s speech in the Rudolf Wilde Platz in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, June 26, 1963. See Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, John F. Kennedy: January 1, 1962 to December 31, 1962 (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1963), pp. 524–25. On the C-SPAN cable television website, there is newsreel footage of JFK trip: www.c-spanvideo.org/program/153127-1.

  37 Oswald’s early childhood. There are numerous works that touched upon Oswald’s early childhood, adolescence, Marine service, life in the Soviet Union, and marriage to Marina. The best primary sources were Oswald’s own relatives, such as the book by his brother: Robert L. Oswald, Myrik Land, and Barbara Land, Lee: A Portrait of Lee Harvey Oswald (New York: Coward-McCann, 1967). All his immediate relatives extensively testified before the Warren Commission: Marina Oswald (wife), WC 1, pp. 1–126, WC 5, pp. 387–408, 410–420, 588–620, and WC 11, pp. 275–301; Marguerite Oswald (mother), WC 1, pp. 126–264; Robert Oswald (brother), WC 1, pp. 264–469; and John Edward Pic (half-brother), WC 11, pp. 1–82. There also were numerous interviews, affidavits, and testimonies of acquaintances, and a biography on Marguerite Oswald: Jean Stafford, A Mother in History (New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1966). In addition, there was a brief summary of his life in the Warren Report: WR, appendix 13, “Biography of Lee Harvey Oswald,” pp. 669–740, and Marina Oswald provided journalist Priscilla Johnson McMillan with much personal insight for her book Marina and Lee (New York: Harper & Row, 1977).