Warren Commission (09 of 26): Hearings Vol. IX (of 15)United States. Warren Commission
History
Warren Commission (09 of 26): Hearings Vol. IX (of 15)
United States. Warren Commission
Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963 -- Assassination; Oswald, Lee Harvey
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. I know that I have friends, I have enemies.
Mr. JENNER. Well, everybody has.
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. I also went to Arizona, I remember, and tried to
get a job as--I don't know if it is after this experience with Humble
Oil Co.--probably--over--to get a job as a polo instructor at the
Arizona Desert School. Since we played polo in the military academy, I
know how to play polo. I am not an expert player, but I do know how to
play polo, and I am a good rider, and was a good rider. So I tried to
get the job in the Arizona Desert School for Boys. And for some reason
I could not get this job. There was a job available. I don't remember
what the circumstances were. I never got this job. But I think it is
after my experience with Humble Oil Co.
Mr. JENNER. You worked in the Louisiana oil fields as--what did you
call it?
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. A roughneck, or roustabout, it is called.
Mr. JENNER. And you pursued that how long?
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. I think 3 or 4 months.
Mr. JENNER. We are still in 1939?
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Yes.
Mr. JENNER. All right.
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Probably in 1939. And I got amoebic dysentery
in Louisiana, and got very sick. I had an accident on the rig, was
badly cut up--something fell on my arm, and then I got dysentery. And,
frankly, I do not recall whether they fired me or I resigned myself.
I do not remember. Maybe both--resigned and mutual agreement. But
I remained very good friends with the chairman of the board of the
company, Mr. Blaffer. And he gave me the idea already then to go in the
oil business on my own. He says, "George, a man of your background and
education, you should be working for yourself," and he explained to me
the fundamentals of the oil promotion, if you know what I mean--drill
wells, get a lease--drill a well, find some money to drill that well.
Well, I said, "Mr. Blaffer, frankly it is a little above me to go in so
early in my experience in the United States--to go into that type of
business. I don't think I am capable enough to do that."
Mr. JENNER. Well, you didn't have the capital at that time, did you?
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. I didn't have the capital. But he said you could
do it without capital.
Mr. JENNER. All right. When you left the Louisiana oil fields, what did
you do?
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Went back to New York, recovered from my amoebic
dysentery. And I don't remember whether it is then that I tried
insurance or not. It is possible then that I was trying to work at this
insurance broker's deal. And then this friend of my sister-in-law's,
Margaret Clark Williams, died, and left all of us a certain amount of
money. My sister-in-law, Mrs. Edwards, myself--I don't remember what it
was, $10,000 I guess, each. And what happened then--yes, then comes the
draft time in the U.S. Army.
Mr. JENNER. That is right; 1941.
Mr. DE MOHRENSCHILDT. Yes.
Mr. JENNER. And you are in New York City.
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