Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Why Soviets Were No Fans Of Lee Harvey Oswald.
CSM ^ | November 23, 2013 | Fred Weir, Mike Eckel

Posted on 11/26/2013 7:40:01 AM PST by cunning_fish

MOSCOW AND BOSTON — Lee Harvey Oswald’s Russian was still shaky in 1961, when he was working as a factory metalworker in the provincial Soviet city of Minsk. It fell to a young student engineer named Stanislav Shushkevich to help him out.

"He was a simple martinet, and I found nothing in common with him. His Russian at that point was passable. We had about a dozen lessons in all, after that we had no contacts,” Mr.Shushkevich told the Monitor in an interview. “My main concern later on was that he would be given the task of fabricating equipment I had designed, because he was such a terrible metalworker.

"When I learned later on about Kennedy's murder, and that Oswald was involved, I was thunderstruck. I even wondered ‘How could I have lost interest in this person? Maybe I don't understand people at all?’ " said Shushkevich, who later became the first president of independent Belarus.

As the US revisits that breathtaking moment on Nov. 22, 1963, attention is again turning to Oswald’s time in the Soviet Union – a 30-month period that ended a year before President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, a journey that left him with a Russian wife but disillusioned about socialism.

Although any evidence of panic in the Kremlin remains buried in classified Politburo archives, historians say there seems little doubt that Soviet leaders must have scrambled for explanations after Oswald was named as Kennedy's killer. “The Kennedy assassination struck like a bolt from the blue, it shook up both sides,” says Valery Garbuzov, deputy director of the official Institute of USA-Canada Studies in Moscow. “We felt more than regret. We began a long process of dialogue, meetings, and negotiations. Things were not the same after th..

(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: communist; jfk; kennedy; leeharveyoswald; lho; lholn; oswald; soviets
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-58 next last
To: ConservativeDude

I’m a skeptic and have had doubts about who and why. I’ve always suspected lbj could have been behind it as I believe he is a typical democrat, socialist, communist, fascist and would be capable of anything to gain power, much like the kennedys. There is a book out, “The Man Who Killed Kennedy” by Roger Stone. I’ve not read the book but have read excerpts and a revue, apprently Mr. Stone believes lbj had kennedy killed and makes a case for it and provides motive.I will read the book.


21 posted on 11/26/2013 8:19:06 AM PST by duffee (NO poll tax, NO tax on firearms, ammunition or gun safes. NO gun free zones.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: skeeter; Timber Rattler

I have been on the sixth floor of the TSBD also, and the first thing that popped into my mind as I looked through the window is that it would not have been a difficult shot at all. And Oswald had a 4x scope! I believe that a person experienced with that type of rifle could have made the shot simply using the iron sights.


22 posted on 11/26/2013 8:21:48 AM PST by IndyTiger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: IndyTiger

Yeah, when Oswald took his first shot (the one that was deflected by the tree branch in the way), he was looking almost straight down into Kennedy’s limo. It was literally a big fish in a small barrel.


23 posted on 11/26/2013 8:25:00 AM PST by Timber Rattler (Just say NO! to RINOS and the GOP-E)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: cunning_fish

A former business colleague of mine, who was extremely well-traveled and had lived in several different countries, once posited that wherever you go on this globe, “an a-hole is an a-hole is an a-hole”.

“If a guy is an a-hole here, that same type of guy is going to be an a-hole in Russia, in China, in India, anyplace you go. Certain basic things about people are the same the world over.”


24 posted on 11/26/2013 8:28:48 AM PST by Buckeye McFrog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: gr8eman
The story that I got is that Oswald was a vagrant drunk who the cops in Minsk rolled up on a regular basis.

So, he fit in well in Soviet society, is what you're saying...

25 posted on 11/26/2013 8:29:52 AM PST by COBOL2Java (I'm a Christian, pro-life, pro-gun, Reaganite. The GOP hates me. Why should I vote for them?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: duffee

Yes, indeed. I am reading that exact book, though I am generally familiar with Stone’s rendering, and am inclined to agree.

And I also agree, LBJ is just a flip side of the Kennedys themselves, and all of the mafiosos they consorted with. The killing of JFK was just one mobster taking out another. RFK’s Justice Department was just an offically organized crime unit, cutting out the competition. All of these individuals are sick, and corrupt.


26 posted on 11/26/2013 8:30:01 AM PST by ConservativeDude
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: cunning_fish
I bet the SS had a large document of lessons learned from Dallas including no more publishing of motorcade routes, or no more motorcades.

And I bet there was a large one after the Reagan shooting.

27 posted on 11/26/2013 8:30:48 AM PST by AU72
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: gr8eman

Wherever you got that story from, I wouldn’t put much trust in it. LHO didn’t drink.


28 posted on 11/26/2013 8:32:20 AM PST by Boogieman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Zhang Fei

You know, that is an interesting thought.

Here is what I would say.

LBJ was in fact a coward. In the Caro biography, Means of Ascent, he details an anecdote of LBJ on a plane during WWII during something resembling a battle and LBJ was scared out of his wits. OF course later in his rendering of his heroics on the stump, he tells a rather different verison as you would expect. And...many have pointed out that it appears from photographic evidence that LBJ was hunkering down in his limo as soon as it hit Elm Street, ie, before the shooting began. I tend to believe that. Extreme brazenness and cowardice sort of go hand in hand.

So I do think that on one hand, you are on to something when you say that LBJ didn’t have the killer instinct. He was definitely at his core, a coward. Just a basic school yard bully. He was also a control freak (arguably a form of cowardice...) as you note. (He also had other reasons related to the JFK assassination to prolong the war incidentally).

So I think it is entirely possible to accept your points, while still accepting that LBJ is at the top of the org chart that killed Kennedy. It is also entirely possible that he didn’t exactly “give the order” beforehand, but, gave a wink and a nudge to the right people to set it in motion. Then when it happened, he went into control freak mode and micromanaged the cover up which took place in Texas (where he had long controlled) and in DC (which he controlled as of 12;31 on 11-22).

With regards to the idea that he had NEVER been a killer, well, maybe he hadn’t. But google a little on Mac Wallace and see what you think....


29 posted on 11/26/2013 8:38:18 AM PST by ConservativeDude
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Timber Rattler
In 1969 while a student in DC me and friend got tickets to witness Nixon's first inauguration. After it ended we walked up to the side of the Capitol walked towards the front, and walked back. We took a right to see if we could get in to back of the building and walked past Marine guards who were looking front not behind where we walked.

We got to the driveway and saw Hubert Humphrey and his wife Muriel who stopped and shook our hands. Another 10 yards and I stood right behind a gentleman who was being interviewed live by Mike Wallace. the gentleman was Governor Ronald Reagan. I continued up the driveway until I was stopped by SS agent. I figured we were caught out. He asked step to the curb.

Then the presidential limo that was to take Nixon to parade was moved in front of me 1 foot away and I had a good look inside. Then moved to the entrance of the Capital building and was told the entire inaugural party be coming out the door shortly. A pushy TV reporter tried to jostle me out of the way (Sam Donaldson) but I held my ground.

Has it happened it finally occurred to security that we weren't supposed to be there and they just pointed us down the driveway. Ten minutes Nixon drove by and gave us a big wave.

Point is at no time were we checked for weapons before or after we were discovered.

30 posted on 11/26/2013 8:47:27 AM PST by AU72
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Old Teufel Hunden
You must go to the 6th floor museum sometime to see how easy the shot really was. Most photographs distort the distance because of the type of lens used in the camera.

I've visited twice and the very first impression was "This wasn't as difficult as I had been led to believe".

31 posted on 11/26/2013 8:51:47 AM PST by pfflier
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: AU72

Was your friend’s name Forrest Gump?


32 posted on 11/26/2013 8:56:43 AM PST by Slyfox (Satan's goal is to rub out the image of God he sees in the face of every human.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: cunning_fish

How Oswald shot him from behind, when the bullet obviously went through the front of his head is amazing. It is astounding that people believe he killed JFK when he was behind him.


33 posted on 11/26/2013 8:58:21 AM PST by PghBaldy (12/14 - 930am -rampage begins... 12/15 - 1030am - Obama's advance team scouts photo-op locations.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PghBaldy

JFK’s head was turned slightly to the left and around the curved road at the time of the final head shot? Why is it so hard to conjure that the exit wound would be right sided. Didn’t they find all the shell casings too up there on the 6th floor sniper nest?


34 posted on 11/26/2013 9:09:11 AM PST by tflabo (Truth or Tyranny)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: cunning_fish

Oswald was a Commie and a loser. He couldn’t make it in the real world so he did everything he could to injure it.


35 posted on 11/26/2013 9:11:15 AM PST by Tau Food (Never give a sword to a man who can't dance.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Old Teufel Hunden
I've never been to Dealy plaza, however a show I saw on this had said that the shot from the book depository was actually not that far. Only about 60 - 70 yards. From a moving target, but the target was moving away from him, not side to side. Those facts being the case, that is not a difficult shot at all. Any average Marine marksman (which he was at one time) could have made that shot as I'm sure anyone who has ever hunted before.

As a single shot, it isn't much.

For multiple shots, with the rifle he used, it becomes trickier.

 

36 posted on 11/26/2013 9:13:20 AM PST by zeugma (Is it evil of me to teach my bird to say "here kitty, kitty"?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: cunning_fish

So Oswald was a disillusioned socialist. So is Obama. So is Hillary. Those kind of people can be really dangerous.


37 posted on 11/26/2013 9:29:24 AM PST by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cunning_fish
One of the curious aspects of this case is the path of Oswald just after the shooting of JFK. Some persons say that because he came down to the main floor of the Dealey Plaza seemingly unperturbed, it points to his innocence. The smart thing to do was to appear unconcerned and he drew a can of soft drink from a machine. This seemed to put him as just an employee who knew nothing.

He was the only employee to leave the building before his time was finished. Officer J D Tippit was then told to apprehend a man who was 160 pounds weight and about 5 foot 9 inches tall. He was white and about 30 years old. Tippit was then shot down as he drew his police car up to talk to a man, generally identified as Oswald.

The police vehicles then drove up fast with lights flashing and sirens blowing. Oswald had gone into a shoe store. The manager said he footled about, looking at shoes. He peered out of the shop window at the cars going by. Oswald then walked into a movie theatre and did not pay. He was observed and police informed.

It is very hard to understand Oswald's actions. Did he think there was some chance of bluffing his way out of the situation? These actions of Oswald do not seem to be the actions of the average Joe, who would be only too anxious to hear what was going on.

38 posted on 11/26/2013 9:29:48 AM PST by Peter Libra
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Old Teufel Hunden

I was in Dallas some years ago, and went to Dealy Plaza, and the book depository, what surprized me the most, was what a small area that is. from noll, to building, less than a hundred yards.


39 posted on 11/26/2013 9:36:05 AM PST by tm61 (Election 2012: we find it IS possible, to polish a turd.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: PghBaldy
How Oswald shot him from behind, when the bullet obviously went through the front of his head is amazing.

Only for those who believe that being shot in the head in reality resembles what it looks like in the Movies.

What is seen in the Zapruder Film in 'front' of the President's head is the blood and brain matter coming out. If the bullet had been shot from the front, the blood and matter would have come out the back. Anyone who has any experience with shooting a gun knows that when a bullet strikes a soft material like the human body, it makes a small hole going in, and material is propelled out by the bullet when (and if) it exits.

40 posted on 11/26/2013 9:38:04 AM PST by UCANSEE2 (The monsters are due on Maple Street)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-58 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson