(Testimony of Francis L Martello)
Mr. Martello.
None whatsoever, sir.
Mr. Liebeler.
He didn't seem to be bothered by you or afraid of you, or anything like that?
Mr. Martello.
No, sir; none whatsoever. I generally try to establish a rapport with any group that would demonstrate in the city, which was one of the objectives I had with Oswald. If in the future he would demonstrate, why, I could speak to him. It is a lot easier when you know somebody than when you don't, and they may comply with a request rather than the ultimates of the law.
Mr. Liebeler.
Now, your memorandum also indicates that you asked Oswald what he thought about President Kennedy and Premier Khrushchev, and the memorandum also indicates that Oswald said that he thought they got along very well together. What was his attitude when he made that remark? Tell us as much as you can remember of the background of that aspect of your conversation.
Mr. Martello.
The reason I asked that question was again to get his feelings on where his loyalty would rest between America and Russia, and it was just another way of asking the same question. He gave me the impression that he seemed to favor President Kennedy more than he did Khrushchev in his statement. This is unusual, and I couldn't quite understand his reason for this reaction, as all of his thoughts seemed to go into the direction of the Socialist or Russian way of life, but he showed in his manner of speaking that he liked the President, the impression I got, or, if he didn't like him, of the two he disliked, he disliked the President the least. He is a very peculiar type of an individual, which is typical of quite a few of the many demonstrators that I have handled during the period of 2 years while in the Intelligence Division. They seemed to be trying to find themselves or something. I am not expert in the field or anything, not trying to go out of my bounds, but quite a few of them, after lengthy interviews you find that they have some peculiarities about their thinking that does not follow logically with their movements or their action.
Mr. Liebeler.
And this attitude that Oswald demonstrated toward the President is an example of that sort of thing? Is that correct?
Mr. Martello.
That is correct, sir.
Mr. Liebeler.
It didn't seem to fit in with the rest of his statements?
Mr. Martello.
Didn't seem to fit in.
Mr. Liebeler.
Do you remember any more specifically or in any more detail just what the conversation concerning Kennedy was?
Mr. Martello.
It would only be vaguely at this time, but it was in the general areas of leadership of the President in comparison to the leadership of Khrushchev, how each was leading the various countries, and again an analogy or comparison of the two forms of government, which one he thought was running it the best, but we didn't go into this at any great length.
Mr. Liebeler.
Well, your recollection is quite clear that, in spite of the fact that Oswald demonstrated a general inclination to favor the Soviet Union and its institutions, he did in spite of that indicate a preference for President Kennedy as opposed to Premier Khrushchev?
Mr. Martello.
That is correct, sir.
Mr. Liebeler.
And that he in no way demonstrated any animosity or ill feelings toward President Kennedy?
Mr. Martello.
No, sir; he did not. At no time during the interview with Oswald did he demonstrate any type of aggressiveness in any way, shape, or form, other than his demonstration on Canal Street with the picket sign.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did you consider whether Oswald was prone to violence or was a violent kind of person?
Mr. Martello.
No, sir; I did not, for the simple reason that when he had made the friendship of the people with the anti-Castro groups in the city and offered them assistance, and when they saw him on Canal Street with pro-Castro signs they became insulting and abusive to the point of becoming violent toward him, and he never reacted to the action that was being directed toward him.
Mr. Liebeler.
These anti-Castro characters attempted to provoke Oswald into some kind of physical conflict, did they not, as a matter of fact?
Mr. Martello.
That is correct, sir.
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