Hearings Before the President's Commission
on the
Assassination of President Kennedy

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Testimony of Paul M. Raigorodsky

The testimony of Paul M. Raigorodsky was taken at 11:15 a.m., on March 31, 1964, in his office, First National Bank Building, Dallas, Tex., by Mr. Albert E. Jenner, Jr., assistant counsel of the President's Commission.

Mr. Jenner.

Mr. Raigorodsky, do you swear that in the testimony you are about to give, you will tell the truth, and nothing but the truth?

Mr. Raigorodsky.

I do.

Mr. Jenner.

Miss Oliver, this is Paul M. Raigorodsky, whose office is in the First National Bank Building, Dallas, room 522, and who resides in Dallas.

Mr. Raigorodsky.

At the Stoneleigh Hotel.

Mr. Jenner.

Who resides at the Stoneleigh Hotel in Dallas.
Mr. Raigorodsky, I am Albert E. Jenner, Jr., of the legal staff of the Warren Commission, and Mr. Robert T. Davis, who is also present, is the assistant attorney general of the State of Texas and is serving on the staff of the Texas Court of Inquiry. The Commission and the attorney general's office of Texas are cooperating in their respective investigations.
The Commission was authorized by Senate Joint Resolution 137 of the U.S. Congress and was then created by President Lyndon B. Johnson by Executive Order 11130 and its members appointed by him. The Commission has adopted rules and regulations regarding the taking of depositions. The Commission to investigate all the circumstances of the assassination of President Kennedy.
We have some information that you are particularly well acquainted with the overall so-called Russian emigre community in Dallas, and you are an old time Dallasite, and while frankly we do not expect you to have any direct information as to the assassination, today, we think you do have some information that might help us with respect to--using the vernacular---cast of characters, people who touched the lives of Lee Harvey Oswald and Marina Oswald, as the case might be, and as I understand it you appear voluntarily to assist us?

Mr. Raigorodsky.

Oh, sure.

Mr. Jenner.

Helping out in any fashion your information may assist us in that regard?

Mr. Raigorodsky.

Sure.

Mr. Jenner.

I think it will be well if you, in your own words, gave us your general background, just give us your general background--when you came to Texas and in general what your business experience has been.

Mr. Raigorodsky.

My background?

Mr. Jenner.

Yes.

Mr. Raigorodsky.

Well, commencing--I don't know where to start, please?

Mr. Jenner.

Well, where were you born?

Mr. Raigorodsky.

I was born in Russia, I lived in Russia until I was, oh, let's see, I escaped from Russia in 1919, went to Czechoslovakia to the university there.

Mr. Jenner.

You did what, sir?

Mr. Raigorodsky.

I went to the university there and I am escaping from Russia--I fought against the Bolsheviks in two different armies and then came to the United States with the help of the American Red Cross and the YMCA.