Hon. HARDING L. LAWRENCE, JANUARY 24, 1972. Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Braniff International Exchange Park, Dallas, Tex. DEAR MR. LAWRENCE: Thank you for the very kind remarks in your letter of January 17th concerning the work of Mr. Shanklin and my associates in our Dallas Office following the hijacking of one of your aircraft. I am pleased by the high regard you have expressed for their efforts and they share my appreciation for your thoughtfulness in writing. Sincerely yours, Mr. J. EDGAR HOOVER, J. EDGAR HOOVER. JANUARY 17, 1972. Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. HOOVER: Yesterday a 22 year old man commandeered the B-727-200 aircraft we were operating as Braniff Flight 38 while it was enroute from Houston to Dallas. Approximately seven hours later the pirate was in the custody of your representatives here in Dallas. Much of the credit for the timely, safe and humane manner in which this incident was terminated goes to Mr. J. Gordon Shanklin, Special Agent in Charge. He and members of his staff worked in close and continuous contact with my organization from the outset and were uniformly professional in the discharge of their responsibilities. It is a distinct pleasure to associate with men of Mr. Shanklin's caliber and I request that you advise him and he in turn his subordinates of my deep and sincere appreciation of their most effective work. Very sincerely, HARDING L. LAWRENCE. THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, Mr. J. GORDON SHANKLIN, Agent In Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, DEAR GORDON: For all of us Joe Dealeys I say once more how very grateful we are for your inspired leadership last week. You performed magnificently under trying circumstances both professional and personal. You will be long remembered in our thanks and prayers for effecting Mandy's release as well as apprehending the kidnappers and recovering the ransom money. Many, many thanks. Enclosed with this brief and restated word of sincere appreciation is a blind copy of a letter going forward today that probably falls far short of expressing all that I'd like to say about a man I much admire. You and those who assisted you so admirably helped make our Christmas a truly memorable one and we, the families, join altogether in hoping that you and yours enjoyed a blessed day filled with thanksgiving and all the good things you have earned and deserve. Kindest personal regards. JOE M. DEALEY, President. THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, Hon. RICHARD NIXON, President of the United States of America, DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: After some sixty hours of terrifying suspense, it was finally over. The horrible nightmare of Mandy Dealey's kidnapping was ended. She was home-unmolested and unharmed-with her husband and a few friends who had kept the long vigil beginning with her disappearance two and a half days earlier. Now the police work would start in earnest, leading, hopefully, to the apprehension of those involved and the recovery of the ransom paid to secure Mandy's release. J. Gordon Shanklin, Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investiga tion at Dallas, the man who had personally captained the entire operation, was centered in a knot of officers in a corner of the room that had served as a command post. This man, haggard from lack of sleep, suffering from intestinal flu, dropped his head and offered a prayer, saying simply: "I thank God for Mandy's safe return and for His supreme guidance throughout this terrible experience." With that he turned away and strode into the action that ended successfully within the next five hours. These details I furnish here as my high personal commendation of a man who gave of himself so unselfishly and in the doing gave such a great measure of confidence and hope for those directly involved. He is a tremendous credit to the organization he serves, and I am proud that as a citizen of these United States I share a comradeship with him. Also, these words of sincere gratitude and appreciation I address to you as President, the highest officer in our land, that you may make your own personal evaluation of what I consider a truly great and competent individual and man. With warmest personal regards, I am, Cordially yours, JOE M. DEALEY, President. JANUARY 3, 1973. Mr. JOE M. DEALEY, President, the Dallas Morning News, Dallas, Tex. DEAR MR. DEALEY: Thank you so very much for your courtesy in sending to me a copy of your December 26th letter to the President. As Acting Director of the FBI, I know of the magnificent dedication to duty of men like Special Agent in Charge J. Gordon Shanklin, and it is especially gratifying to know of his actions during the recent traumatic episode involving your daughter-in-law. I want you to know that your expression of support and confidence in SAC Shanklin is deeply appreciated. With my best wishes and warm respect. Sincerely, PAT GRAY. FBI OVERSIGHT Circumstances Surrounding Destruction of the Lee Harvey Oswald Note FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1975 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON CIVIL AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 9:40 a.m., in room 2237, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Don Edwards [chairman of the subcommittee] presiding. Present: Representatives Edwards, Seiberling, Drinan, Dodd, Butler, and Kindness. Also present: Alan A. Parker, counsel; Catherine LeRoy and Thomas P. Breen, assistant counsel; and Kenneth N. Klee, associate counsel. Mr. EDWARDS. The subcommittee will come to order. Our first witness today is James P. Hosty, special agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation, who, we understand, between November 1 and November 9, 1963, was the recipient of the letter written by Lee Harvey Oswald and delivered to Mrs. Fenner at the field office of the FBI in Dallas. We will commence, as yesterday, with questions by counsel, Mr. Parker. Will you introduce the people with you, please, Mr. Hosty? Mr. KINDNESS. Mr. Chairman? Mr. EDWARDS. Yes, Mr. Kindness? Mr. KINDNESS. May I submit this resolution regarding media coverage, television and radio, to the subcommittee for its acceptance? Mr. EDWARDS. Without objection, the resolution offered by Mr. Kind ness regarding TV and radio is accepted. Mr. Hosty, will you stand so that we can give the oath? Mr. HOSTY. Yes, sir. Mr. EDWARDS. Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God? Mr. Hosty. I do. Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Parker, would you begin. TESTIMONY OF JAMES P. HOSTY, JR., SPECIAL AGENT, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, ACCOMPANIED BY JOHN M. BRAY, COUNSEL, WASHINGTON, D.C. Mr. PARKER. Mr. Hosty, would you please state your full name and address for the record? Mr. HOSTY. James Patrick Hosty, Jr., that's H-o-s-t-y. I live in Westwood, Kans. Mr. PARKER. When did you first become an FBI agent? Mr. HOSTY. On January 21, 1952. Mr. PARKER. When were you assigned to the Dallas Field Office? Mr. HOSTY. In the early part of December 1953. Mr. PARKER. And where are you presently assigned? Mr. HOSTY. I am presently assigned to the Kansas City Office of the FBI. Mr. PARKER. What were your duties as a special agent in the Dallas Field Office? Mr. HOSTY. I was assigned to what we call a security squad. which handles matters in the domestic intelligence field. Mr. PARKER. When and how did Lee Harvey Oswald first come to your attention? Mr. HOSTY. He first came to my attention in approximately June 1962, when I saw a newspaper article concerning his return to the United States from the Soviet Union with his Russian-born wife and child. Mr. PARKER. Did you have a case at that time on Lee Harvey Oswald? Mr. HOSTY. No, sir; I did not. Mr. PARKER. Did you at that point open a case on Lee Harvey Oswald? Mr. HOSTY. No, sir; I did not. Mr. PARKER. Did the Bureau open a case on Lee Harvey Oswald? Mr. HOSTY. Yes, sir; they did. Mr. PARKER. Was there a previous case opened on Lee Harvey Oswald? Mr. HOSTY. I don't believe so. Mr. PARKER. The first case that would have been opened was subsequent to his return from Russia with his wife and child? Mr. HOSTY. I believe so. Mr. PARKER. Was that case assigned to you? Mr. HOSTY. No, sir. It was not. Mr. PARKER. Who was it first assigned to? Mr. HOSTY. Mr. John Fain, that's F-a-i-n. Mr. PARKER. Was Mr. Fain in the Dallas Field Office? Mr. HOSTY. No, sir. He was in the Fort Worth Resident Agency, which is a branch of the Dallas Office. Mr. PARKER. Did you also have a separate file on Marina Oswald? Mr. HOSTY. I did not, sir. No; not at that time. Mr. PARKER. Did the Federal Bureau of Investigation have a separate file? Mr. HOSTY. At a later date, yes, sir. Mr. PARKER. And who had that file besides you? Mr. Hosty. It was first assigned to Mr. John Fain. Mr. PARKER. Could you define the security case for me, please? |