When and where was
Oswald born?
Lee Harvey Oswald (LHO) was
born in the old French Hospital in New Orleans on October 18,
1939.
Who were LHO's parents
and siblings?
His parents were Robert E.
Lee Oswald (who died shortly before his birth) and Marguerite Claverie Oswald.
LHO had two brothers-Robert born in 1934, and John Pic (a half brother from
Marguerite's previous marriage) born in 1932.
What was LHO's childhood like?
In some ways, LHO had a
childhood that was typical considering his family's social and economic level
and the time period. However, it differed from the norm in a few significant
areas. Lee and his brothers were placed in an orphanage at an early age because
their mother, Marguerite, was unable (or perhaps unwilling) to care for them.
Lee entered the home when he was three years old and stayed for two years. What
effect this had on him will never be fully known but his brothers told the
Warren Commission that it made them feel unwanted. Young Oswald also grew up
without the benefit of a father figure his own father having died before he was
born.
There is considerable
evidence to indicate that LHO's relationship with his mother was the primary
cause of many of his problems later in life. Marguerite Oswald was a
self-centered woman who always felt that life had given her the short end of the
stick. According to Robert, money was her "God" and despite her claims of
poverty she seems to have made significant profits in Real
Estate.
LHO lived a nomadic life
having moved 21 times from the time he was born until he left home to enter the
military. His brothers were often away at military school leaving he and his
mother as the only household members. His mother Marguerite had always favored
him and spoiled young Lee to a fault. There is, for example, evidence that they
shared the same bed until LHO was almost eleven. However, Marguerite was also a
working mother and she left Lee alone for hours on end to fend for himself. Lee
probably felt conflicted and somewhat rejected by his mother's behavior and he
withdrew into his own world which consisted mostly of reading or watching TV. He
preferred this to being with other children and had few friends a pattern that
carried over into his adult life.
As he grew older, Lee began
a pattern of behavior in which he assumed the role of "head of the household".
He gave orders to his mother and sometimes even struck her when he became angry.
On other occasions he threatened family members with a knife. At one point after
a misguided move by Marguerite to New York (where she hoped her oldest son John
would support herself and Lee) he was declared a truant and remanded to a home
for problem juveniles. There he was diagnosed as having "personality pattern
disturbance with schizoid features and passive-aggressive tendencies". He was
placed on probation and ordered to report periodically to the court system. But
Marguerite thought she knew what was best for her son and they fled the "Big
Apple" for New Orleans.
Although LHO fared somewhat
better after returning to Louisiana (and later Texas) than he had in New York
city the damage to his psyche had apparently been done. He joined the Marines at
the age of seventeen as his brother John put it, "to get out and under … (t)he
yoke of oppression from my
mother."
Did LHO kill JFK and
if so why?
The weight of the available
evidence indicates that LHO (acting alone) did indeed kill Kennedy. Because of
the untimely murder of LHO by Jack Ruby, we will never know for certain his
motive for this crime. However, the following list of motives is based on solid
evidence:
- There is evidence that suggests that LHO was
emotionally unbalanced and acted against JFK at least partly because of this
factor. Oswald was diagnosed with ""personality pattern disturbance with
schizoid features and passive - aggressive tendencies" at the age of thirteen.
The fact that LHO physically and verbally abused his wife Marina adds to this
picture of instability.
- According to those who knew him and to certain
writings attributed to him, LHO had a desire to be recognized as a prominent
individual. In the mind of someone who is probably disturbed, the
assassination of a public figure would achieve this end. It should be noted
here that LHO (according to evidence developed by the Warren Commission) tried
to kill prominent right-wing figure General Edwin Walker earlier in 1963
thereby establishing a tendency to act violently.
- It is now known that John and Bobby Kennedy waged a
secret war against Cuban dictator Fidel Castro that included assassination
plots. Whether or not LHO (who was fervently pro-Castro) could have learned of
these plots is an open question, however, it is likely that he was angered by
the JFK's general policy toward Cuba. It is also likely that he read a speech
by Castro that hinted at the plots against him and called for retaliatory
action. It is conceivable then, that LHO killed JFK to impress Castro and gain
entry into Cuba (he tried to obtain a visa to travel there shortly before the
assassination) where he may have hoped to live as a hero. For a detailed study
of this thesis see Live
by the Sword by Gus Russo.
What movies are based
on LHO and/or the assassination of JFK?
JFK
Fatal
Deception
The Trial of Lee Harvey
Oswald
Executive
Action
What ever happened to
LHO's family?
LHO's mother, Marguerite
died in 1981. His brother, Robert, lives in Wichita Falls Texas. He believes
that Lee was guilty of JFK's murder and blames his mother in part. Robert has
lived a model life and has made a few media appearances recently. Despite the
stigma of being the brother of an assassin, he maintains a quiet dignity that
has earned him the admiration of many. LHO's half-brother, John Pic, is
deceased.
LHO's daughters, June and
Rachael took the surname of their stepfather, Kenneth Porter, in 1965. This
helped them to remain somewhat anonymous while growing up in Texas, although
they still endured the stigma of being the offspring of the assassin of
JFK.
According to a 1995 article,
June keeps a low profile and works in business. She uses her married name
(undisclosed) and tries to protect her own children from the controversy. She
manages to keep a sense of humor and mentioned that she enjoyed the "second
spitter" episode of Seinfeld, which parodies the Single Bullet
theory.
A Texas Monthly
article also from 1995, reported that Rachael worked for seven years as a
waitress while putting herself through nursing school and went on to find
employment in that field. She seemed to be the more conspiracy-oriented of the
two girls and enjoyed meeting Oliver Stone during the making of his film
JFK.
Marina Oswald, the wife of
Lee Harvey, has changed her stance on the assassination several times over the
years, often apparently due to influence by whatever current book or theory is
popular. She currently believes that her husband was innocent. She still lives
in Texas.
How much did LHO's
funeral cost and who paid the bill?
According to a document from
Miller Funeral Home who handled the arrangements, the total cost of $710.00 was
paid by Robert Oswald, Lee's brother.
Who is Nick Beef and
what was his connection to LHO?
The name "Nick Beef" appears
on a headstone near the grave of LHO. JFK Researcher Barb Junkkarinen offers the
following explanation that first appeared in a newsgroup
post:
"According to the folks
in the black suits at the cemetery office, Nick Beef is the stage name of a
comedian who bought the plot and had a headstone with that name installed. In
his act, he apparently tells people that if they want to find Oswald's grave
(which info the cemetery office will not give out)...just ask for Nick Beef
instead and you will find Oswald. Only thing is...now they won't tell people
where Nick Beef's grave is either!
Where can I find
directions to Oswald's grave?
The grave of Oswald is located at Rose Hill Memorial Burial Park, 7301 East Lancaster Avenue, Fort Worth Texas.
What were the
circumstances of Jack Ruby's Death?
Ruby died in 1967 from
cancer-related complications (blood clot). Some theorists maintain that Ruby was
injected with cancer cells but this is medically
impossible.