Lee Harvey Oswald as I Knew Him - Hardcover

Lee Harvey Oswald as I Knew Him: A Personal Memoir by George de Mohrenschildt

Eric Hoffer Book Award Finalist, memoir category

This groundbreaking memoir offers an unprecedented look into the life of Lee Harvey Oswald through the eyes of his closest friend, George de Mohrenschildt. Written between 1969 and 1977, this manuscript provides firsthand accounts of Oswald's life in the months leading up to President John F. Kennedy's assassination on November 22, 1963.

Inside This Historical Memoir

George de Mohrenschildt, a European émigré and Dallas resident, befriended Lee Harvey Oswald and his wife Marina between fall 1962 and spring 1963. This memoir captures their conversations about Oswald's time in Minsk, political discussions on Latin America, and the couple's turbulent marriage. De Mohrenschildt presents an intimate portrait of a man he believed was unfairly demonized as an "insane killer."

The manuscript includes de Mohrenschildt's detailed recollections of the assassination aftermath, his 1964 Warren Commission testimony, NBC television appearance, and his own speculations about potential conspiracy theories surrounding Kennedy's death. Throughout, he reflects on how his friendship with the Oswalds affected his personal and professional life from 1964 through 1976.

Expert Editorial Work

Editor Michael Rinella has transformed this once unwieldy, grammatically quirky manuscript into an accessible biographical and historical document. His comprehensive introduction provides critical background information and context, while his annotations throughout clarify and illuminate de Mohrenschildt's recollections. The result is a valuable primary source for understanding one of America's most scrutinized historical events.

About George de Mohrenschildt

Born in 1911 in present-day Belarus, de Mohrenschildt immigrated to the United States in 1938. He earned a master's degree in petroleum geology from the University of Texas, Austin, in 1945. After moving to Dallas in 1952, he became acquainted with Lee Harvey Oswald in 1962. In 1977, shortly after learning that a congressional committee investigating 1960s assassinations wanted his testimony, he took his own life.

This memoir stands as de Mohrenschildt's final attempt to preserve the humanity of his friend and offer his perspective on events that changed American history. For researchers, historians, and anyone interested in the Kennedy assassination, this book provides rare insight into Lee Harvey Oswald's life from someone who knew him personally.

Format: Hardcover
Publisher: University Press of Kansas
Publication Date: November 2014