Representative Ford. Did she ever indicate to you the participation that she had in the Komsomol.
Mrs. Ford. She said that she did join it and then she was kicked out or something.
Representative Ford. Did she ever give you any reason why she was kicked out?
Mrs. Ford. She told me that one time but I don't—I have forgotten the reason, I really don't remember.
Representative Ford. Was it an ordinary thing for a person to be kicked out of the Komsomol, so far as you know?
Mrs. Ford. Yes; I believe you have to be the sort, if you join it you have to perform your duty, you have to go the meetings and be sort of a leader in the community or in school or take on their work so if you don't do that, I think they just consider you not being a good young Komsomol. They wouldn't keep you there.
Representative Ford. Did Marina ever tell you that she did or didn't join the Communist Party in the Soviet Union?
Mrs. Ford. She couldn't join it.
Representative Ford. Why couldn't she join it?
Mrs. Ford. Well, not from my own experience but from what I know about it, I think you have to be over 20 years and you have to be 5 years, you have a 5-year waiting period until they check your background and see if you are good enough person to get by their standards to join the Party.