Lee Oswald and New York City

[Pamela Brown]

Has anyone done research on possible connections Lee Oswald might have had
in NYC in the Communist community? I know work was done on his stay there
as a young adult, but what about later?

Thanks,
Pamela

[John Corbett]

Post by Pamela Brown
Has anyone done research on possible connections Lee Oswald might have had
in NYC in the Communist community? I know work was done on his stay there
as a young adult, but what about later?

The closest thing I am aware of was Oswald's desire to be represented by
New York Communist lawyer John Abt. Abt apparently wanted no part of the
case as he seemed to dodge Oswald's efforts to contact him. Oswald stated
in requesting Abt that he did not know him other than by reputation. I am
aware of no evidence he ever had any association with Abt. The FPCC was
headquartered in New York and Oswald did contact them when he set up his
New Orleans chapter. Some of the notable names who were members of the
national FPCC are Norman Mailer, Truman Capote, and Allen Ginsberg.

[Pamela Brown]

Post by John Corbett

Post by Pamela Brown
Has anyone done research on possible connections Lee Oswald might have had
in NYC in the Communist community? I know work was done on his stay there
as a young adult, but what about later?

The closest thing I am aware of was Oswald's desire to be represented by
New York Communist lawyer John Abt. Abt apparently wanted no part of the
case as he seemed to dodge Oswald's efforts to contact him. Oswald stated
in requesting Abt that he did not know him other than by reputation. I am
aware of no evidence he ever had any association with Abt. The FPCC was
headquartered in New York and Oswald did contact them when he set up his
New Orleans chapter. Some of the notable names who were members of the
national FPCC are Norman Mailer, Truman Capote, and Allen Ginsberg.

Thank you!

Interesting that Allen Ginsberg was close to Bob Dylan. Dylan also met
Mailer at least once at a Christmas party...that included Jackie O...
https://www.vulture.com/2016/11/bob-dylan-once-crashed-norman-mailers-xmas-bash.html

[Steve M. Galbraith]

Post by John Corbett

Post by Pamela Brown
Has anyone done research on possible connections Lee Oswald might have had
in NYC in the Communist community? I know work was done on his stay there
as a young adult, but what about later?

The closest thing I am aware of was Oswald's desire to be represented by
New York Communist lawyer John Abt. Abt apparently wanted no part of the
case as he seemed to dodge Oswald's efforts to contact him. Oswald stated
in requesting Abt that he did not know him other than by reputation. I am
aware of no evidence he ever had any association with Abt. The FPCC was
headquartered in New York and Oswald did contact them when he set up his
New Orleans chapter. Some of the notable names who were members of the
national FPCC are Norman Mailer, Truman Capote, and Allen Ginsberg.

I still think, as I've said before, that Abt was undecided (or pretended
to be) because he had to first contact his superiors in the Communist
Party on what to do. At the very least he would need to know what
relationship - if any - Oswald had with the CPUSA. Abt was a lifelong -
60+ years - devoted member of the party who had been a key functionary in
the Ware Group, the Soviet espionage cell that Whittaker Chambers was a
courier for. Abt apparently never engaged in espionage - Chambers never
accused him of it - but he was a key fundraiser for the party's operations
in the US.

Abt was a apologist, through orders of the CPUSA, for Moscow. He wasn't
going to change his underwear without first getting approval from his
superiors. And he wasn't going to represent the man accused of killing the
President of the US without first finding out what he should and was
allowed to do.

[Pamela Brown]

Post by Steve M. Galbraith

Post by John Corbett

Post by Pamela Brown
Has anyone done research on possible connections Lee Oswald might have had
in NYC in the Communist community? I know work was done on his stay there
as a young adult, but what about later?

The closest thing I am aware of was Oswald's desire to be represented by
New York Communist lawyer John Abt. Abt apparently wanted no part of the
case as he seemed to dodge Oswald's efforts to contact him. Oswald stated
in requesting Abt that he did not know him other than by reputation. I am
aware of no evidence he ever had any association with Abt. The FPCC was
headquartered in New York and Oswald did contact them when he set up his
New Orleans chapter. Some of the notable names who were members of the
national FPCC are Norman Mailer, Truman Capote, and Allen Ginsberg.

I still think, as I've said before, that Abt was undecided (or pretended
to be) because he had to first contact his superiors in the Communist
Party on what to do. At the very least he would need to know what
relationship - if any - Oswald had with the CPUSA. Abt was a lifelong -
60+ years - devoted member of the party who had been a key functionary in
the Ware Group, the Soviet espionage cell that Whittaker Chambers was a
courier for. Abt apparently never engaged in espionage - Chambers never
accused him of it - but he was a key fundraiser for the party's operations
in the US.
Abt was a apologist, through orders of the CPUSA, for Moscow. He wasn't
going to change his underwear without first getting approval from his
superiors. And he wasn't going to represent the man accused of killing the
President of the US without first finding out what he should and was
allowed to do.

Excellent. Thank you so much.
Here is his bio from the Ed Forum...
https://spartacus-educational.com/USAabtJ.htm

[Steve M. Galbraith]

Post by Pamela Brown

Post by Steve M. Galbraith

Post by John Corbett

Post by Pamela Brown
Has anyone done research on possible connections Lee Oswald might have had
in NYC in the Communist community? I know work was done on his stay there
as a young adult, but what about later?

The closest thing I am aware of was Oswald's desire to be represented by
New York Communist lawyer John Abt. Abt apparently wanted no part of the
case as he seemed to dodge Oswald's efforts to contact him. Oswald stated
in requesting Abt that he did not know him other than by reputation. I am
aware of no evidence he ever had any association with Abt. The FPCC was
headquartered in New York and Oswald did contact them when he set up his
New Orleans chapter. Some of the notable names who were members of the
national FPCC are Norman Mailer, Truman Capote, and Allen Ginsberg.

I still think, as I've said before, that Abt was undecided (or pretended
to be) because he had to first contact his superiors in the Communist
Party on what to do. At the very least he would need to know what
relationship - if any - Oswald had with the CPUSA. Abt was a lifelong -
60+ years - devoted member of the party who had been a key functionary in
the Ware Group, the Soviet espionage cell that Whittaker Chambers was a
courier for. Abt apparently never engaged in espionage - Chambers never
accused him of it - but he was a key fundraiser for the party's operations
in the US.
Abt was a apologist, through orders of the CPUSA, for Moscow. He wasn't
going to change his underwear without first getting approval from his
superiors. And he wasn't going to represent the man accused of killing the
President of the US without first finding out what he should and was
allowed to do.

Excellent. Thank you so much.
Here is his bio from the Ed Forum...
https://spartacus-educational.com/USAabtJ.htm

Abt wrote in his autobiography that the Party told him to deny his
membership so that he could serve in government and as a labor lawyer. And
Abt's name showed up several times in the Venona Intercepts, the decoded
messages/communications between the Soviet intelligence agencies.

[Anthony Marsh]

Post by Pamela Brown
Has anyone done research on possible connections Lee Oswald might have had
in NYC in the Communist community? I know work was done on his stay there
as a young adult, but what about later?

Yes, we know about Oswald's defection to the Soviet Union. But back in the
US his only conection wa subecribing to The Worker. He couldn't even get
anyone to join his FPC or help hand out leaflets. He had to hire people
from a temp work agency.

Post by Pamela Brown
Thanks,
Pamela

[Pamela Brown]

Post by Anthony Marsh

Post by Pamela Brown
Has anyone done research on possible connections Lee Oswald might have had
in NYC in the Communist community? I know work was done on his stay there
as a young adult, but what about later?

Yes, we know about Oswald's defection to the Soviet Union. But back in the
US his only conection wa subecribing to The Worker. He couldn't even get
anyone to join his FPC or help hand out leaflets. He had to hire people
from a temp work agency.

You're making LHO look like an amateur, and yet claiming he was part of a
false defector program run by CIA? That doesn't make sense...

Post by Anthony Marsh

Post by Pamela Brown
Thanks,
Pamela

[Anthony Marsh]

Post by Pamela Brown

Post by Anthony Marsh

Post by Pamela Brown
Has anyone done research on possible connections Lee Oswald might have had
in NYC in the Communist community? I know work was done on his stay there
as a young adult, but what about later?

Yes, we know about Oswald's defection to the Soviet Union. But back in the
US his only conection wa subecribing to The Worker. He couldn't even get
anyone to join his FPC or help hand out leaflets. He had to hire people
from a temp work agency.

You're making LHO look like an amateur, and yet claiming he was part of a
false defector program run by CIA? That doesn't make sense...

NO, Oswald was not part of the false defector program, but once he
defected on his own, Angleton wanted to monitor how the KGB would vet him.

Post by Pamela Brown

Post by Anthony Marsh

Post by Pamela Brown
Thanks,
Pamela

[Pamela Brown]

Post by Anthony Marsh

Post by Pamela Brown

Post by Anthony Marsh

Post by Pamela Brown
Has anyone done research on possible connections Lee Oswald might have had
in NYC in the Communist community? I know work was done on his stay there
as a young adult, but what about later?

Yes, we know about Oswald's defection to the Soviet Union. But back in the
US his only conection wa subecribing to The Worker. He couldn't even get
anyone to join his FPC or help hand out leaflets. He had to hire people
from a temp work agency.

You're making LHO look like an amateur, and yet claiming he was part of a
false defector program run by CIA? That doesn't make sense...

NO, Oswald was not part of the false defector program, but once he
defected on his own, Angleton wanted to monitor how the KGB would vet him.

I see. That tallies with my understanding.

Post by Anthony Marsh

Post by Pamela Brown

Post by Anthony Marsh

Post by Pamela Brown
Thanks,
Pamela

[19efppp]

Post by Pamela Brown
Has anyone done research on possible connections Lee Oswald might have had
in NYC in the Communist community? I know work was done on his stay there
as a young adult, but what about later?
Thanks,
Pamela

There was a phone call to a Connecticut Tippit from an anonymous woman who
claimed that LHO was the son of a Hungarian Communist. Probably John
Armstrong got some of his ideas from that. Armstrong also has him involved
there later, with an actor who went on to play in Barney Miller, if I
recall. I have my doubts.

[Pamela Brown]

Post by 19efppp

Post by Pamela Brown
Has anyone done research on possible connections Lee Oswald might have had
in NYC in the Communist community? I know work was done on his stay there
as a young adult, but what about later?
Thanks,
Pamela

There was a phone call to a Connecticut Tippit from an anonymous woman who
claimed that LHO was the son of a Hungarian Communist. Probably John
Armstrong got some of his ideas from that. Armstrong also has him involved
there later, with an actor who went on to play in Barney Miller, if I
recall. I have my doubts.

Thanks for that tidbit. I have the Armstrong book somewhere.
Pamela

[Steve M. Galbraith]

Post by Pamela Brown
Has anyone done research on possible connections Lee Oswald might have had
in NYC in the Communist community? I know work was done on his stay there
as a young adult, but what about later?
Thanks,
Pamela

Oswald was 13-14 (and not a "young adult") when he lived in New York (he
arrived in August of 1952 and left in January of 1954) so I don't see how
he could be any part of a communist community.

He did write several letters to the Fair Play for Cuba Committee,
headquartered in New York, including correspondence with Vincent Lee who
was president of the organization. I guess one could call that a
"connection"; and if you view the FPCC as a communist organization (Norman
Mailer was a member as was Truman Capote and James Baldwin).