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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. VIII - Page 295« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of John E. Donovan)

Mr. Ely.
during the Batista regime. Do you remember his referring to any other country specifically with regard to injustices?
Mr. Donovan.
No, I don't, except for Asia in general. I think in talking with the FBI and the Secret Service I mentioned Guatemala or something, and I tried to tell them that was only all example, that I never heard him specifically refer to Guatemala, or Venezuela, or wherever I was talking with them about.
But he had served in the Orient, and he had seen poverty in the extreme, as anyone who goes to the Orient does, and he had mentioned that that was unjust.
Mr. Ely.
Did you notice any specific interest in Latin America?
Mr. Donovan.
Yes. I would say that he was particularly interested in Latin America. He, for instance, was relatively familar with the Betancourt family, which is a prominent North, South American and Central American family, and their regime as a family.
Mr. Ely.
Did he ever mention the Dominican Republic by name?
Mr. Donovan.
If he did, I don't recall it.
Mr. Ely.
Did he ever have any specific suggestions as to what should be done about problems in Asia or Latin America?
Mr. Donovan.
No. His only solution that I could see was that authority, particularly the Marine Corps, ought to be able to recognize talent such as his own, without a given magic college degree, and put them in positions of prominence. His talent was obviously unrecognized by the Marine Corps for commission or staff NCO ability, if it existed.
Mr. Ely.
This is his opinion?
Mr. Donovan.
This is his opinion.
Mr. Ely.
You mentioned that Oswald did not, in your view, have an inordinate interest in competitive sports.
Do you remember any excursions into the field of competitive sports?
Mr. Donovan.
Yes; he went out for the squadron football team, and I believe he played end. As I stated before, he often tried to make calls in the huddle for better or for worse, again, I should say, a quarterback is in charge of the team and should make the calls. A quarterback did. And I don't know if he quit or I kicked him off. But, at any rate, he stopped playing.
Mr. Ely.
Let me make a comment with regard to something you said.
Undoubtedly there are many things you covered with the FBI and the Secret Service. We now have to bring them out under oath, so we can introduce them into the record of the Commission. So we know we are being repetitive. We will just ask you to bear with us on this.
Were you the captain of this team?
Mr. Donovan.
No; I was the coach of the team. The captain was a gentleman named Tibbet Czik, and Captain Czik is still on active duty in the Marine Corps. Last summer he was stationed at New River, N.C. And Captain Czik would not remember this fellow very well, because at that time he was recently reinstated in the Marine Corps after having been out for a few years. He knew at that time very little about radar and was in a more or less student status. I don't believe he would remember him.
Mr. Ely.
Was Czik the quarterback?
Mr. Donovan.
Czik was the quarterback. Czik was the quarterback all through college of some college in New Jersey, and had a lot of talent.
Mr. Ely.
Was Oswald a proficient football player?
Mr. Donovan.
No; he had his share of ability. But he was too light. I think the boy only weighed about 125, 130 pounds, as I remember. He had a slender build.
Mr. Ely.
Would you say, however, that he was normal in terms of speed and agility?
Mr. Donovan.
Oh, yes; he was fast enough.
Mr. Ely.
So would you characterize him as athletic, but too light to be a really good football player?
Mr. Donovan.
I don't think that he would ever make first string high school in a good high school.
Mr. Ely.
On any kind of team, or are you just speaking about football?
Mr. Donovan.
Football. I never saw him play basketball that I recall, although
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