At any rate, that was about it. I told her that she had a beautiful little girl and hoped that she would like the United States. And she commented that she did, that it was a wonderful country. That I can remember for sure. That impressed me, because it seems that where there is a possibility of a Russian saying something nice, it is nice to have a compliment. At least I felt complimented.
Mr. Liebeler. Marina indicated that to you in English, is that correct?
Mr. Krystinik. I can't remember whether it was the words, but that was the way I took it to be. It was my thinking, yes.
Mr. Liebeler. Did Marina understand the remarks that you had made to her in English?
Mr. Krystinik. Apparently she followed the trend, but she turned to Ruth for exact interpretation, and Ruth told me that I wasn't talking too fast, just too Texan. That was Marina's comment.
At first I was talking just to Marina back and forth, and she said just a few words, and I asked her how old the child was, and if I remember exactly, 2 or 3. I have forgotten. But one- or two-word answers, and I had no trouble at all understanding her up to that point. When Ruth entered into the conversation, she turned and relied directly and totally upon Ruth. I talked to her only about 5 minutes in all. I talked with her while Ruth was looking at the car with Michael. I mean I talked to her rather than with her.
Mr. Liebeler. This was after Marina had given birth to the second child. Is that correct?
Mr. Krystinik. Yes; seemed like only a week or 2 weeks.
Mr. Liebeler. Was there any discussion of Lee Oswald at that time?
Mr. Krystinik. No, sir; his name wasn't mentioned. I hadn't met him at that time.