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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. IX - Page 80« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Gary E. Taylor)

Mr. Taylor.
that he had to buy little other than food and clothing; and that the 45 rubles a month would buy food, a bare minimum, and sufficient clothing to clothe one individual.
Mr. Jenner.
Liberally? Or just enough to get along?
Mr. Taylor.
Just enough to get going on--in both cases. And that his impression-the impression he left with me was that a person needed little, else as far as entertainment and so on was concerned, these things were held by the State so that--uh--to get the families out of these cramped quarters, that everything--and constant entertainment in some form--athletics, or occasional motion pictures, different kinds of stage presentations--were held nightly away from the home, so that the families could get out of the cramped quarters and wouldn't feel this.
Mr. Jenner.
It was all designed, in part at least, with that objective in mind---of getting people out of their cramped quarters or room apartments, into theatres and concert halls and athletic events?
Mr. Taylor.
That's right. And we discussed travel for the average Russian citizen--which is nonexistent. A person that----
Mr. Jenner.
Now, you are telling us things he said to you?
Mr. Taylor.
Yes; to the best of my memory I am telling you.
Mr. Jenner.
To the best of your ability? You are not rationalizing or speculating from things you have read in works published with respect to life in Russia?
Mr. Taylor.
No.
Mr. Jenner.
You are trying to do your best to tell us what he said?
Mr. Taylor.
That's right.
Mr. Jenner.
All right.
Mr. Taylor.
He said that for the average worker or citizen in Russia that travel' was nonexistent; that a person that grew up in Minsk would probably spend his whole life without venturing far from the city. That living areas like the apartment he lived in were built around factories so that a person in a job like his, he wouldn't even probably know what was across on the other side of the city. And this is just about the end, at least, to my easy recollection of the things that we discussed.
Mr. Jenner.
Was anything said about the context of 180 rubles a month earned by Marina and 45 rubles a month earned by Oswald?
Mr. Taylor.
I don't remember any specific comments that he made about that. The only thing I remember in this regard w. as that he did mention at one time that Marina had a higher education than he had and that--uh--I don't believe I ever heard him say anything else about it.
Mr. Jenner.
In any event, you didn't raise the question?
Mr. Taylor.
No.
Mr. Jenner.
Did he say that Marina, after they married, that Marina worked as well as he?
Mr. Taylor.
I don't remember whether she worked after they were married or not.
Mr. Jenner.
Did he say anything about custom and habit in Russia that wives worked?
Mr. Taylor.
Yes; he mentioned that most wives--most women do work. He didn't, as I remember, go into any specifics about it. I don't remember much being said about it other than that most women do work---or, I should say, they are encouraged to work.
Mr. Jenner.
Did he state or did he imply, do you have any impression on his reaction toward. this life in Russia?
Mr. Taylor.
He---uh---oh, he indicated throughout our discussions that he was dissatisfied with the life of the average Russian citizen; that they didn't have any freedoms, as we think of freedom, in other words, to go get in our car and go where we want to, do what we want to, or say what we want to; that, generally speaking, they did not have this privilege as we enjoy it.
Mr. Jenner.
Did he say anything about any privileges or any activities on his part that were different from--that is, that were accorded him--that were different from those accorded Russian people or foreigners, let us say, in Russia, having circumstances or work comparable to his? This is, was he treated or
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