In October 1961 Marina took her annual vacation.[A13-732] She and Oswald agreed that she should get a “change of scenery,”[A13-733] and she spent about 3 weeks with an aunt in Khar’kov. It is possible that they were not getting along well together during this period.[A13-734] A diary entry after her return indicates that they were having some quarrels and that she was wavering in her decision to go to the United States, which Oswald attributed to anxiety about their applications for visas and the fact that she was pregnant; he in turn dreaded the approach of the “hard Russian winter.”[A13-735] He noted in his diary that he was lonely while she was gone, but that he and his friend “Erich,” presumably Erik Titovyets, went to some dances and other public amusements.[A13-736] On his 22nd birthday he went alone to see his favorite opera, “The Queen of Spades.”[A13-737] Marina sent him a gold and silver cup, inscribed “To my dear husband on his birthday, 18/x/61” and other gifts, for which he wrote to thank her.[A13-738] She returned on November 12, in Oswald’s words, “radient, with several jars of preserses for me from her aunt.”[A13-739]
Sometime after Marina’s return Oswald applied for an interview with Col. Nicolay Aksenov, an official in the local MVD, in an effort to expedite their application for exit visas; he was told by the colonel’s subordinates that they were competent to handle the matter. Oswald then insisted that Marina seek an interview; she agreed reluctantly. The interview was granted;[A13-740] Marina thought that this might have been due to the fact that her uncle was also a high-ranking official in the Minsk MVD, but she did not believe that he would personally have presumed on his official position to obtain special treatment.[A13-741] Colonel Aksenov questioned her about her reasons for wanting to go to the United States and, noticing that she was pregnant, suggested that she at least delay her departure so that her child could be born in Russia, but did not otherwise try to discourage her. He finally told her that there were many others seeking visas and that she and her husband would have to wait their turn.[A13-742]
Throughout this period, Oswald continued to correspond with his mother and brother. His letters contained the usual chatter among members of a family and occasional references to the progress of the visa applications.[A13-743] He wrote to the Embassy on November 1, saying that if, as he anticipated, his residence permit were renewed in January for another year, it would be over his protest.[A13-744] On November 13 the Embassy replied, telling Oswald that retention of his Soviet passport, which was of the kind issued to persons considered to be stateless, or an extension of it, would not prejudice his claim to American citizenship. The letter added that he could discuss the renewal of his American passport whenever he appeared in person at the Embassy to do so.[A13-745]
Late in December, Oswald wrote a letter to Senator John G. Tower of Texas, which was received in Washington near the end of January. He stated that he was an American citizen and that the Soviet Government refused to permit him and his wife to leave the Soviet Union. He asked Senator Tower to raise “the question of holding by the Soviet Union of a citizen of the U.S., against his will and expressed desires.” The letter was referred to the State Department and no further action concerning it was taken.[A13-746] On December 25, Marina was called to the Soviet Passport Office and told that exit visas would be granted to her and her husband; she was surprised, having doubted that she would ever be permitted to leave. Oswald wrote to the Embassy on December 27 that they would be given visas and asked that his passport be extended without another trip to Moscow; he added, however, that he would come to Moscow if this would expedite the processing of his application. In his diary, he wrote, “It’s great (I think?).”[A13-747] Before the year ended, Marina went on maternity leave from her job.[A13-748] They spent New Year’s Eve at a dinner party given by the Zigers.[A13-749]
Oswald wrote to his mother on January 2, 1962, and told her that he and his wife expected to arrive in the United States sometime around March. He asked her to contact the local Red Cross and request that it put his case before the International Rescue Committee or some other group which aids immigrants to the United States. He told her that he would need about $800 and that she should insist on a gift rather than a loan; he told her not to send any of her own money.[A13-750] Despite his instructions, she requested a loan from the Red Cross.[A13-751] On January 13, Oswald wrote to the International Rescue Committee himself; he asked for $800 with which to purchase two tickets from Moscow to Texas.[A13-752] He wrote to the Committee again on January 26, this time asking for $1,000.[A13-753]
In the meantime, letters of Oswald[A13-754] and the American Embassy,[A13-755] both dated January 5, crossed in the mail. The Embassy’s letter suggested that since there might be difficulties in obtaining an American visa for Marina, he consider returning alone and bringing her over later. He replied on the 16th that he would not leave Russia without her.[A13-756] In his letter, Oswald requested that the U.S. Government loan him the money for his and Marina’s airplane tickets or arrange a loan from another source. The Embassy replied on January 15 that Marina had not yet obtained an American visa and that no evidence had yet been submitted that she would not become a public charge in the United States.[A13-757] It suggested that Oswald’s mother or some other close relative file an affidavit of support in Marina’s behalf. Before receiving this letter, Oswald wrote out such a document himself[A13-758] and mailed it to the Embassy.[A13-759]
On January 23, after receiving the Embassy’s letter, he wrote that his own affidavit should be sufficient, since he had been away from the United States for more than 2 years and could not be expected to obtain an affidavit from someone else.[A13-760] But on the same day, he wrote to his mother asking that she file an affidavit of support with the Immigration and Naturalization Service.[A13-761] On January 24, the Embassy acknowledged receipt of his affidavit, but again suggested that he obtain one from someone else.[A13-762]
Late in January, Oswald received a letter from his mother telling him that he had been given a dishonorable discharge from the Marines.[A13-763] (The discharge had actually been “undesirable,” a less derogatory characterization.)[A13-764] This apparently revived his fear of prosecution, and on January 30, he wrote to his brother for more information.[A13-765] On the same day he wrote also to John B. Connally, Jr., then Governor of Texas, who Oswald believed was still Secretary of Navy. The letter read:
I wish to call your attention to a case about which you may have personal knowlege since you are a resident of Ft. Worth as I am.
In November 1959 an event was well publicated in the Ft. Worth newspapers concerning a person who had gone to the Soviet Union to reside for a short time, (much in the same way E. Hemingway resided in Paris.)
This person in answers to questions put to him by reporteds in Moscow criticized certain facets of american life. The story was blown up into another “turncoat” sensation, with the result that the Navy department gave this person a belated dishonourable discharge, although he had received an honourable discharge after three years service on Sept. 11, 1959 at El Toro, Marine corps base in California.
These are the basic facts of my case.
I have and allways had the full sanction of the U.S. Embassy, Moscow USSR, and hence the U.S. goverment. In as much as I am returning to the U.S.A. in this year with the aid of the U.S. Embassy, bring with me my family (since I married in the USSR) I shall employ all means to right this gross mistake or injustice to a boni-fied U.S. citizen and ex-service man. The U.S. government has no charges or complaints against me. I ask you to look into this case and take the neccessary steps to repair the damage done to me and my family. For information I would direct you to consult the American Embassy, Chikovski St. 19/21, Moscow, USSR.[A13-766]
Connally referred the letter to the Department of the Navy,[A13-767] which sent Oswald a letter stating that the Department contemplated no change in the undesirable discharge.[A13-768] On March 22, Oswald wrote to the Department insisting that his discharge be given a further, full review.[A13-769] The Department promptly replied that it had no authority to hear and review petitions of this sort and referred Oswald to the Navy Discharge Review Board.[A13-770] Oswald filled out the enclosed application for review in Minsk but did not mail it until he returned to the United States.[A13-771]