HW 55923 -20- Mr. Brooten: Do you, to the best of your recollection, remember whether or not that conversation between the person who subsequently identified himself as Lee Harvy Oswald to the Soviet Embassy, was the conversation in Russian or was it a conversation in English? Mr. Tarasoff: In English, that's why I put her on. Mr. Brooten: Now, do you recall the essence of that conversation, was there anything unusual about that conver- sation that provoked any type of further action or further interest on the part of anyone in the Embassy? Mr. Tarasoff: Do you refer to the previous conversation? Mr. Brooten: To the first conversation. Mr. Tarasoff: Previous one, I don't think there was anything to be gained from it. I think it was rather short and he was asking, do you remember? Mrs. Tarasoff: As I recall, trying to rely on memory for that many years, his first conversation, he was just trying to make contacts to see if he could get into the Russian Embassy. Docld: 32277225 Page 45
/-21- Mr. Brooten: All right, do you recall the tone of his voice or how, do you have an impression from listening to that tape :about? Mrs. Tarasoff: Well I would say at the first one that came out, it was taken as just an ordinary conversation that he wanted most others, is there anyone who speaks English, and they'd say just a minute and they'd try to get a hold of someone, in the meantime you're waiting, and they'd say well at the time there is no one here that could speak English, call back later. Well then, I don't know whether @ he finally hung up or if he did get to talk to somebody at that time or not, but the final, the other conversation that came throught, the long one. Mr. Brooten: But, with respect to the first one now, is it your recollection, or to the best of your knowledge, did he identify himself in the first conversation as being Lee Oswald or being Lee Harvey Oswald, did he identify himself in any way? In the first conversation. Mrs. Tarasoff: No. I think in the first conversation he was just trying to see if he could speak to someone at the Embassy. Mr.. Brooten: All right. And now you both stated that - HW 55923 Docld:32277225 Page 46
-22- Mr. Brooten: there was a second long conversation between the first conversation and the second conversation, | were you asked to attempt to determine the identity of this person? Mr. Tarasoff: Oh yes. Mr. Brooten: All right, would you describe that. Mr. Tarasoff: Well, to the best knowledge, we either got the note or was it passed it verbally, I think we got a note, no? Mrs. Tarasoff: Well, if I'm not mistaken, the party that brought the reels, there was a notation made to listen . to number so-and-so on: tape so-and-so dated..whatever date it was, because each -reel had a date and a number and according to the numbers then there were, the transcripts of each conversation within that had a number, so you ran the. tape until you came to a:certain number and then you listened. Mr. Brooten: Now, did they want you.to or did they give you any instructions about attempting to determine who the caller was in that ‘case? Mr. Tarasoff: Yes, they certainly did. They wanted to know the name of the person. Then if we. learned the name HW 55923 Docld: 32277225 Page 47
HW 55923 -23- Mr. Tarasoff: to get in touch with them immediately , and turn in the transcript, to make a transcript, turn it in forget about Spanish, Russian or whatever it was on the reel- Mrs. Tarasoff: In other words, this was top priority if we got the name, to work on it. Mr. Tarasoff: It was very important to them. Mr. Brooten: All right sir. Now did you receive - a second tape with this same individual speaking to anyone at the Soviet Embassy? Mr. Tarasoff: Well that's, you mean the third conver- sation? Mr. Brooten: All right, no but there was a second one. Mr. Tarasoff: the long one, yes. Mr. Brooten: The long one. Now, would you describe, I realize we do not have a copy of the transcript of that, but would you describe, to the best of your recollection, how you received that particular transcript, when you received it, was it in the morning, the tape. Docld: 322377225 Page 45
HW 55923 -24 Mr. Tarasoff: In the morning, with the usual batch of tapes that were delivered to me. Mr. Brooten: All right. Mr. Tarasoff: This one particular was singled out. as a very important one and they wanted to have the transcript as soon as possible. Mr. Brooten: All right. And did you start to listen, would you describe specifically with respect to that tape what you remember. ' Mr. Tarasoff: Well, as far as I know, I think my wife remembers more than I do. Mr. Brooten: All right. Mr. Tarasoff: Because I think she is mistaken slightly about my doing the transcript. I might have jotted down several things in pencil but. Mr. Brooten: All right, were the, was that tape also in English. Mr. Tarasoff: Well, that's it. Docld: 322377225 Page 49
HW 55923 -25- Mr. Brooten: The tape was in English? Mr. Tarasoff: You mean with this particular tape? Mr. Brooten: The particular section of the tape of a conversation between Lee Harvey Oswald and someone at the Soviet Embassy.was in English? Mr. Tarasoff: Yes, that's why she was doing it. Mr. Brooten: All right, now Mrs. Tarasoff, do you recall that particular tape, the second long tape on Lee Harvey Oswald in which he identified himself? Mrs. Tarasoff: Yes I do. Because my husband asked me if I. would confirm what he had typed or transcribed I should say, from the tape, which I did, I listened, and we both got the same feeling that this was something that should be turned in immediately, and if I'm not mistaken to rely on my memory , that he also had given his name, who the party was. Mr. Tarasoff: They wanted the name, definitely. Mrs. Tarasoff: They asked, they usually ask who's calling, and he identified himself. And in this way we felt that it was-really top priority.to be notified to our contact, and Docld: 32277225 Page 50
HW 55923 ~26- Mrs. Tarasoff: they in turn came by and picked it up and once it left our hands, why from there on we don't know what happened. Mr. Brooten: All right, but now I want to go back and ask you some specific questions relating to that tape. Do you recall who, which one of you would have’ put that tape on the reel? Put that reel on the recording machine? Mr. Tarasoff: I usually do. Mr. Brooten: All right. Mrs. Tarasoff: That's his work. Mr. Brooten: All right. And then you listened to it and you typed? Mr. Tarasoff: No, I asked her to sit down to listen to it and to type it out. Mr: Brooten: And do you recall, Mrs. Tarasoff, which typewriter you would have used in typing it out? Mrs. Tarasoff: Well, now wait a minute. If Boris was transcribing it and it was English, he would probably have Docld: 322777225 Page 51
~27- Mrs. Tarasoff: transcribed it and typed it. But then listening to it again, there may have been some corrections or certain, as I said, sometimes. Mr. Tarasoff: No you typed it out. Mrs. Tarasoff: I typed it. Well, all right if I typed it out then I typed it out on the typewriter that you always used. Mr. Tarasoff: Which'’one, the standard one or the. Mrs. Tarasoff: The one which was issued to you. Mr. Tarasoff: Yes, are you sure it wasn't our portable? Mrs. Tarasoff: Or it could have been the portable ._ because, you know, sometimes if the typewriter went you used the portable. Cause we had quite a few: breakdowns with the equipment that we had to work with. It was a little ‘sort of. Mr. Brooten: Okay, but do you recall typing that. @ Mrs. Tarasoff: Well it would be me, I would say it would be me because Boris would have difficulty picking up HW 55923 DBocld:32277225 Page 52
HW 55923 -28- Mrs. Tarasoff: anybody that had a slight, as I said, accent, or muffled voice. ‘Mr. Brooten: Do you. recall the conversation Mrs. Tarasoff, I don't-want to be repetive but I want to make it clear, do you recall that the conversation was in English? Mr. Tarasoff: Oh definitely. Mr. Brooten: All right, and do you recall ever putting anything in the transcript, any editorial comments about Oswald's Russian being poor? Mrs. Tarasoff: No way. There were no comments made. What was typed was what was being said by this individual. Mr. Tarasoff: They want.... Mrs. Tarasoff: Well, everything was typed, there was nothing that was put in that would be our opinion or our version of the conversion. Mr. Brooten: Do you recall from listening to this conversation from the intonations of the voice from the substance of the conversation whether you had any impresssion . about what type of person was making this call, was this a nut or how would you describe the person making the call Docld: 32277225 Page 53
HW 55923 -29- Mr. Brooten: that identified himself as being Lee Harvey Oswald? Mrs. Tarasoff: Well, I would describe him as just being a person they wanted to get out of the country. I mean he did not want to stay in Mexico, that was certain. He wanted to leave the country and he had no desire, he did state that he did not want to return to the U.S. That much I remember. So he was contacting one or two embassies trying to get financial aid in order to Mexico City where he was at the time. And where his final destination was at that time, I don't know, because we never did get any further information as to whether was given any financial of any kind aid/from either the Russians or the Cubans, I understand he went to both. Mr. Brooten: Do you recall whether or not he said anything about he got to Mexico City or what his financial status was or anything, I know I'm asking you to search your memory, but do you.recall anything about that? “Mrs. Tarasoff: His financial status, at the time, if I remember was, he did say he was broke. Mr.. Brooten: All right. Docld: 322777225 Page 54
HW 55923 -30- Mrs. Tarasoff: And he had very little money left. and he was seeking financial aid to be transported to some foreign country. And, the thing is I believe either if he said it or we had read it in the paper then when it all came out, cause the article did appear in a paper there, like this news, that he did come down by bus. Now whether it was mentioned in the transcript or whether I_had read it in the paper. So I won't commit myself that it was on the transcript, but it was that I had... Mr. Brooten: But to the best of your recollection, is it fair to say that he wanted financial assistance. Mrs. Tarasoff: Yes definitely. Mr. Brooten; That he told them that he didn't have any money. Mrs. Tarasoff: True. ~ Mr. Brooten: All right. Do you remember, now I realize again that we don't have the transcript before us and I'm asking you to recall from your-memory, but do you recall his saying anything about giving them information in exchange. for being transported out of Mexico? Docld: 32277225 Page 55
HW 55923 -31- Mrs. Tarasoff: No. As far as I can recollect there was nothing said about any information, and beside, as far as I can recall he was without work. Mr. Brooten: All right. Mr. Tarasoff: It's usually the nutty types that always asks . Oh, can we get some more money for our information, we can sell or stuff like this but I don't think... Mr. .Brooten: ..Would you describe Oswald from hearing I assume a number of conversations over a number of years, how would you characterize Oswald. Mr. Tarasoff: I would say, judging from the tone of his. voice I thought he was a very cool individual, he was determined, he, how would you describe it, the picture that I had of ‘Oswald was like a coiled snake ready to strike. That's what I really remember from the conversation. He sounded like he was quite angry about something. But, at the same time he kept cool, but you could detect a note of anger in his voice about something, whether he wasn't being given a fair treatment by the people he was talking to or why, I couldn't say. Docld: 32277225 Page 56
-32- Mr. Brooten: Do you recall whether he told the Soviets that they really ought to him or anything to that effect? Mr. Tarasoff: No. Mr. Brooten: You don't remember Mrs. Tarasoff: I wouldn't say that he , he was ... Mr. Brooten: Do you recall anything his asking about @ what news about his visa or anything like that? Do you recall any of that type of conversation? Mr. Mr. describe Mr. Mr. Or... @ Mr. paper. Tarasoff: No. Brooten: Ok. Now, would you tell me - would you for me the type of paper that this was typed on? ‘Tarasoff: You mean... Brooten: The transcript, was it. plain white paper Tarasoff: The top sheet would be just plain white HW 55923 DBocld:32277225 Page 57
-33- Mrs. Tarasoff: Excuse me, the top sheet was U.S. Government bond. Mr. Tarasoff: Oh, they didn't want us to use that. Mr. Brooten: Yes, (laughter) Mrs. Tarasoff: Nine times out of ten that's what we wound up with. Until we had to go out and buy it on our own. . Mr. Tarasoff: I was lugging a whole bunch of this paper. Mrs. Tarasoff: But, from the beginning, for a long period of time, that's what you had to use so we went out and started buying it on our own. Mr. Tarasoff: Then two copies of wees Mrs. Tarasoff: Carbon copies. Mr. Brooten: Two carbon copies, all right, @ Mr. Tarasoff: Do you want to see it? HW 55923 DBocld:32277225 Page 56
-34- Mr. Brooten: Yes Mr. Tarasoff: Oh. I'11 show you the type of paper they used. Mr. Brooten: Oh. all right, if we could have that. Now, at any time in this conversation, did Lee Harvey Oswald, were you able to identify to whom Oswald was speaking? Mrs. Tarasoff: I, myself wouldn't because I had very little contact with the transcribing of the reels. That would actually be my husband's duties to recognize the voices. Mr..Brooten: Now if your husband recognized the woice:of _the person, the person inside, would he on the transcript then identify that person. Mrs. Tarasoff: Definitely, it would also be on the transcript - so-and-so spoke to’ so-and so. Mr. Brooten: That was a normal procedure then. rs. Tarasoff: Yes, if you could identify the two parties that were speaking to each other, then you were also - you would also transcribe the names, include the names in the transcript. BDocld: 322777225 Page 59
Mr. Brooten: Now, .if, in this case, do you recall whether or not the person to whom Lee Harvey Oswald was speaking was identified. Mrs. Tarasoff: I don't really. know. Mr. Brooten: All right. Mrs. Tarasoff: Because If I was doing the typing of it and if I came to it I would automatically resrun the. reel in order for Boris to listen to the - if he could recognize @ who he was speaking to. I don't recall whether he did . recognize who he was speaking to or not. But there was alike also a close resemblance to several voices that sounded/in the Embassy amongst the people who were speaking, so some- times it was very hard to identify the people, I think there was three that almost had the same tone of voice and - speaking habits. Mr. Brooten: Would it have been the normal procedure? Mrs. Tarasoff: Well, it would sort.of be very easy to let's say, weed out who the English speaking people were because there were very few that spoke English, so... Mr. Brooten: But on this particular tape, do either HW #55923 Bocld: 32277225 Page 60
HW 55923 -36- Mr. Brooten: of you remember being able to identify the person to whom Lee Harvey Oswald was speaking. ‘Mr. Tarasoff: Unfortunately not. Mr. Brooten: All right sir. And you did not I take it then, if you. could not identify the person, that you would not have put any name on the transcript of someone that he had been speaking to? Mr. Tarasoff: Do you remember putting any names on it? Mrs. Tarasoff: Well, if you were not certain, you would put the name and you would put it in parens and what did we have a question mark? Mr. Tarasoff: A question mark, I think Mr. Brooten: Now if you couldn't identify the person, what would you. put, what would you use, initials or... Mr. Tarasoff: No. We just put down the men outside or if the call comes in that's it the men outside. If somebody calls from the Embassy and we don't know his name we can't identify him or recognize his voice then we put . down MI or men inside. Docld: 32277225 Page 61
HW 55923 -37- Mr. Brooten: All right. Do you.recall in this case or if - strike that. We're going to have to change tapes here so let's go off the record and shut the tape recorders off before they run down to the last. Ok we're back on the record now after a break for lunch. Mr. Brooten: Were either of you ever asked at any time for your opinion as to.the identity of the individual to whom. Lee Harvey Oswald was speaking on that second tape? Mr. Tarasoff: I don't think anybody asked us that. Mrs. Tarasoff: Well, if they asked me, I wouldn't know because to begin with I never worked on the tapes constantly to have any sufficient amount of time to recognize voices - that would be Boris's,. my husband's part, he would be the one who would be able to identify whoever was speaking, if it was possible to identify them. Mr. Brooten: Now, sir. You have shown some Huron copysette papers, which is a carbon set, and you stated that you made an original and 2 copies of all of your transcripts that you -had translated and transcribed. With respect to the Oswald tape, did you do the same thing with that tape? that is make an original and 2 copies. Docld:32277225 Page 6?
HW 55923 -38- Mr. Tarasoff: That's a rule.. We always did that. Before it used to be three copies but then they saw that -there was no need to make so many, so they came down to the original and two copies. Mr. Brooten: ‘Now sir, do you recall what happened to, do either of you recall what happened once you had the second Oswald tape transcribed? What happened then did you make a call to someone or what? Mrs. Tarasoff: Well, after transcribing and typing» _it up, and the name was mentioned and as we said previously, there was some indication from the, on the reel, that this could be of interest or very pertinent, so we had contacted our contact that we had for any emergency of this type. Mr. Brooten: Do.you recall who that was? Mrs. Tarasoff: Well, I wouldn't want to mention the name, if you don't mind. It was just a phone number and , on sometimes it would be just passing/the message in case the . party was not there. Mr. Brooten: All right, let me without trying to pry further, is that person still, is that person an employee of the CIA? Docld: 323277225 Page 63
-39- Mrs. Tarasoff: Oh yes. Mr. Brooten: Is that person still employed by the CIA? Mrs. Tarasoff: That I wouldn't know. That much I wouldn't know. Mr. Brooten: But you called this unidentified person?) Mrs. Tarasoff: Yes. @ Mr. Brooten: And what transpired then. Mrs. Tarasoff: Well, they in turn would pass by the house and pick it up and take it to the Embassy. Mr. Tarasoff: No I took the reel and transcription to a corner, I remember that. Mrs. Tarasoff: Oh, you took it personally? I thought they came by and picked up. Cause as a rule they would come by and pick it up. Mr. Tarasoff: Probably it must have been the other @ oo. one. HW 55923 DBocld:32277225 Page 64
HW 55923 -45 Mr. Brooten: All right M'am. Mrs. Tarasoff: And if it was a typewriter that .was issued by the Company, then I don't remember whether % it was a standard, then it would be on that. But many a time we would have breakage of tape recorder, typewriter, so we'd have to improvise every now and then. Mr. Brooten: Now, did you get, I know you don't want to reveal the one name, but did you, was the person who picked up the Oswald tape the same person that you received the tape from? Mrs. Tarasoff: Nine times out of ten yes. Mr. Tarasoff: Yes, most likely. Mr. Brooten;. All right. .With respect to CIA personnel, within the embassy, I'm talking about subsequent to the assassination of President Kennedy, did any. person from the CIA ever contact either of you about that particular tape or your transcription of the Oswald tape at any time? Mr. Tarasoff: I think my answer should be negative. but I may have to qualify that statement. Do you remember if Herb ever mentioned it to us. Docld: 32277225 Page 70