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Lee Harvey Oswald
Accused Assassin of President John F. Kennedy
Former Marine with intelligence connections who defected to the Soviet Union and returned; accused of assassinating JFK on November 22; 1963; murdered by Jack Ruby before trial
Overview
Lee Harvey Oswald was a former U.S. Marine who defected to the Soviet Union in 1959; lived there for nearly three years; married a Russian woman; and returned to the United States in June 1962 with seemingly no repercussions from either government. On November 22; 1963; President John F. Kennedy was assassinated by gunfire while riding in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza in Dallas; Texas. Oswald was arrested that afternoon at the Texas Theatre after reportedly shooting Dallas Police Officer J.D. Tippit. The Warren Commission concluded in 1964 that Oswald acted alone; firing three shots from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository. However; the House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) concluded in 1979 that Kennedy was "probably assassinated as a result of a conspiracy" based on acoustic evidence suggesting a fourth shot from the grassy knoll. Oswald's background raised extensive questions: he served at Atsugi Air Base in Japan; a CIA U-2 spy plane facility; he learned Russian in the Marines and defected with apparent ease; his "Historic Diary" contained inconsistencies suggesting it was written in two sittings rather than over time; the CIA opened a 201 file on him before his defection; and CIA Counter-Intelligence Chief James Angleton's office managed Oswald's file. George de Mohrenschildt; Oswald's Dallas acquaintance with deep CIA connections; died of a gunshot wound the day before he was to testify to the HSCA. Oswald was murdered by nightclub owner Jack Ruby in the basement of Dallas Police headquarters on live television on November 24; 1963; two days after the assassination; ensuring Oswald never stood trial. Oswald famously declared "I'm just a patsy" to reporters.
Key Affiliations
Controversies & Concerns
Warren Commission concluded Oswald acted alone; but HSCA found "probable conspiracy" based on acoustic evidence of a fourth shot from the grassy knoll
Defected to Soviet Union in 1959; returned in 1962 with Soviet wife and apparent ease; no prosecution or significant debriefing by either government
Served at Atsugi Air Base; a CIA U-2 spy plane facility; learned Russian in the Marines; CIA opened a 201 file before his defection
CIA Counter-Intelligence Chief James Angleton's office managed Oswald's file; raising questions about intelligence connections
George de Mohrenschildt; CIA-connected Oswald acquaintance; died of gunshot wound the day before scheduled HSCA testimony
Murdered by Jack Ruby on live television in Dallas Police headquarters basement; ensuring Oswald never stood trial
Oswald proclaimed "I'm just a patsy" to reporters; consistent with intelligence operative who was set up
FBI destroyed a note Oswald left at their Dallas office weeks before the assassination; Agent James Hosty admitted flushing it
Related Investigations (1)
Criminal Charges & Violations
2 documented violations
Texas Penal CodeMurder of President John F. Kennedy (never tried; killed before trial)(Murder)
Texas Penal CodeMurder of Dallas Police Officer J.D. Tippit(Murder)
Known Associates & Connections
Jack Ruby
Killed Oswald two days after JFK assassination; ensuring he never stood trial
John F. Kennedy
Accused assassin of President Kennedy
Allen Dulles
Former CIA Director fired by JFK; then served on Warren Commission investigating Oswald
George de Mohrenschildt
CIA-connected Dallas acquaintance who died the day before HSCA testimony
Jim Garrison
New Orleans DA who investigated Oswald's conspiracy connections
Sources & Documentation
2 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
Personal Information
- Born
- October 18, 1939
- Birthplace
- New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
- Also Known As
- Alek James Hidell, O.H. Lee
Education
- •U.S. Marine Corps (1956-1959)
Key Timeline
October 18, 1939
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana
October 1956
Enlists in U.S. Marine Corps
1957-1958
Stationed at Atsugi Air Base in Japan; a CIA U-2 spy plane facility
October 1959
Defects to the Soviet Union; attempts to renounce U.S. citizenship at Moscow embassy
June 1962
Returns to the United States with Soviet wife Marina; faces no prosecution or significant consequences
April 1963
Allegedly attempts to assassinate General Edwin Walker in Dallas
September 1963
Visits Mexican Embassy attempting to obtain Cuban and Soviet visas; CIA monitors the visit
November 22, 1963
President John F. Kennedy assassinated in Dallas; Oswald arrested at Texas Theatre after Officer Tippit killed
November 24, 1963
Murdered by Jack Ruby on live television in Dallas Police headquarters basement; declares "I'm just a patsy"
September 1964
Warren Commission Report concludes Oswald acted alone
1979
HSCA concludes Kennedy was "probably assassinated as a result of a conspiracy"