Mrs. Paine. I can't be certain that this is when I first got an idea about why he wanted to go or whether I learned this later.
Mr. Jenner. Does your memory serve you enough so that there is a fair possibility that—it is important to us—was the subject discussed at that gathering?
Mrs. Paine. I think so.
Mr. Jenner. And that is your best recollection?
Mrs. Paine. Yes.
Mr. Jenner. Now would you give us your best recollection of what he said or what Marina said, but primarily what Mr. Oswald said on that subject. Why did he go to Russia?
Mrs. Paine. I carry the impression, and I think it is recalled from this evening——
Mr. Jenner. Excuse me. When you say you carry the impression you are saying "It is my present recollection."
Mrs. Paine. All right. That he spoke of himself as a Marxist that evening, that he had read certain Marxist books and thought that the Soviet economic system was superior to ours, and wanted to go to the Soviet Union and live there.
Mr. Jenner. What response was elicited from others at the meeting, agreement?