Warren Commission (08 of 26): Hearings Vol. VIII (of 15)United States. Warren Commission
History
Warren Commission (08 of 26): Hearings Vol. VIII (of 15)
United States. Warren Commission
Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963 -- Assassination; Oswald, Lee Harvey
Dr. HARTOGS. That a person who would commit such an act has been very
likely a mentally disturbed person, who has a personal grudge against
persons in authority, and very likely is a person who in his search to
overcome his own insignificance and helplessness will try to commit an
act which will make others frightened, which will shatter the world,
which will make other people insecure, as if he wanted to discharge
his own insecurity through his own act, something like that in general
terms.
Mr. LIEBELER. Was it indicated by you at that time, or was it indicated
on the television broadcast that you were the psychiatrist who had
examined Lee Oswald?
Dr. HARTOGS. No, no.
Mr. LIEBELER. It was not?
Dr. HARTOGS. No, no. They didn't know. They called me because they call
me very often to give some psychiatric explanations of murderers or
something like that. They did not know, and I did not know for sure.
Mr. LIEBELER. At that time neither one of you were----
Dr. HARTOGS. And they selected me. I mean it was a fantastic thing.
Mr. LIEBELER. It was purely coincidence?
Dr. HARTOGS. Coincidence that they selected me.
Mr. LIEBELER. So you made no reference at that time to the examination
which you had made of Oswald?
Dr. HARTOGS. None at all. I didn't know.
Mr. LIEBELER. Dr. Hartogs, do you have in your possession a copy of the
report which you made at the time you examined Oswald?
Dr. HARTOGS. No.
Mr. LIEBELER. Have you had any opportunity to examine a copy of that
report since the assassination?
Dr. HARTOGS. No.
Mr. LIEBELER. So the recollection that you have given us as regards
your diagnosis and your recommendations is strictly based on your own
independent recollection, plus the reconstruction of your interview
with Oswald from the seminar that you recall having given?
Dr. HARTOGS. Right.
Mr. LIEBELER. Do you remember anything else that particularly impressed
you about Oswald? The FBI report indicates that you were greatly
impressed by the boy, who was only 13-1/2 years old at the time,
because he had extremely cold, steely eyes. Do you remember telling
that to the agents?
Dr. HARTOGS. Yes, yes; that he was not emotional at all; he was in
control of his emotions. He showed a cold, detached outer attitude.
He talked about his situation, about himself in a, what should I say,
nonparticipating fashion. I mean there was nothing emotional, affective
about him, and this impressed me. That was the only thing which I
remembered; yes.
Mr. LIEBELER. Now, you recall also that Oswald was a slender and
pale-faced boy?
Dr. HARTOGS. Yes.
Mr. LIEBELER. Can you remember what particular thing it was about
Oswald that made you conclude that he had this severe personality
disturbance? What led you to this diagnosis?
Dr. HARTOGS. It was his suspiciousness against adults, as far as
I recall, his exquisite sensitivity in dealing with others, their
opinions on his behalf. That is as far as I recall it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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