Exploring Lee Harvey Oswald's time in Russia, his interactions with the CIA, visit to the US Embassy in Moscow, suspicious activities, and detailed look into the CIA's involvement with Oswald amidst the backdrop of President Kennedy's assassination.
Oswald's attempt to defect showcased his Marxist beliefs and willingness to share military secrets, sparking debates on potential external influences.
CIA's delayed action on opening a file on Oswald and suspicions of high-level involvement hint at a complex web surrounding his interactions with both US and Soviet authorities.
Deep dives
Oswald's Attempts and Connections
After Lee Harvey Oswald's attempted suicide in Moscow, his interactions with the American Embassy revealed his desire to defect based on his Marxist beliefs and sharing military information. Oswald's refusal to formally renounce his American citizenship led to speculation about external influences guiding his actions. Despite his intentions to share classified information with the Soviets, the US Embassy did not arrest him, raising questions about their handling of his situation.
CIA's Involvement and Surveillance
The CIA's interest in Oswald, post his visit to Moscow's US Embassy, included tracking his mail through the HT lingual program but surprisingly delayed opening a 201 file on him. Angleton's decision not to initiate the file raised suspicions, hinting at possible links to higher CIA officials like Richard Bissell. Oswald's shifting relationships and proposals in Minsk, coupled with intense KGB surveillance and a revelation of multiple passports issued in his name, added intrigue to his already complex narrative.
Oswald's Soviet Union Journey
While in Minsk, Oswald's daily life involved work at a factory, socializing with colleagues, and engaging in relationships with various women. The Soviet authorities closely monitored him, testing his reactions and bugging his apartment. Oswald's desire to return to the US, expressed in a letter to the US Embassy, led to the Soviets cutting his subsidies and suspicions of an imposter using his identity. The revelation of two passports issued to Oswald further deepened the mystery surrounding his time in the Soviet Union.
In this episode, we look at Oswald's time in Minsk before he met Marina and examine the CIA's first interaction with Oswald that can be found in the declassified records.