wanted to be Vice President and now, dear God, it's come to this." I would have done anything to help her, but there was nothing I could do to help her, so rather quickly I left and went back to the main part of the airplane where everyone was seated.
The ride to Washington was silent, strained--each with his own thoughts. One of mine was something I had said about Lyndon a long time ago--that he's a good man in a tight spot. I even remember one little thing he said in that hospital room, "Tell the children to get a Secret Service man with them."
Finally, we got to Washington, with a cluster of people watching. Many bright lights. The casket went off first; then Mrs. Kennedy. The family had come to join them, and then we followed. Lyndon made a very simple, very brief, and---I think---strong, talk to the folks there. Only about four sentences, I think. We got in ears; we dropped him off at the White House, and I came home.
Ambassador Llewellyn E. Thompson
Tuesday, July 28, 1964

Testimony of Ambassador Llewellyn E. Thompson

The President's Commission met at 3 p.m., on July 28, 1964, at 200 Maryland Avenue NE., Washington, D.C.
Present were Senator John Sherman Cooper (presiding), and Allen W. Dulles, members.
Also present were J. Lee Rankin, general counsel; W- David Slawson, assistant counsel; and Richard A. Frank, attorney, Office of the Legal Adviser, Department of State.

Senator COOPER. The Commission will be in order.
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give before this Commission is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Ambassador THOMPSON. I do.

Mr. Slawson.

Mr. Ambassador, could you please state for the record your full name and address?
Ambassador THOMPSON. My name is Llewellyn E. Thompson. I reside at 1913 23d Street NW. Washington.

Mr. Slawson.

And could you state your present position with the U.S. Government and the positions you have held since late 1959?
Ambassador THOMPSON. In 1959 I was Ambassador in Moscow, and then I was transferred to the State Department as Ambassador at Large, and have been that since that time. In addition, I am now Acting Deputy Under Secretary of State.

Mr. Slawson.

Thank you. Ambassador Thompson has been asked to testify today on any contacts he may have had with Lee Harvey Oswald while the Ambassador was in his post with the American Embassy in Moscow and on any knowledge he may have on pertinent Soviet practices or American practices at that time which might relate to the treatment of Mr. Oswald.
Ambassador Thompson, could you state all of the times and describe them when you heard about Lee Harvey Oswald's dealings with your Embassy at Moscow while he was in Russia, either in late 1959 or thereafter?
Ambassador THOMPSON. Yes; the only recollection I have is that when I returned from a trip to the United States in November 1959, or some time after that, the consul informed me about the case, and said this man had asked to renounce his citizenship. I recall asking him----

Mr. Dulles.

Was that Consul Richard E. Snyder?
Ambassador THOMPSON. Yes; I am almost certain of that. I recall asking him why he didn't accept the renunciation, and he explained that in cases of