The theories
Two Cuban exiles say they saw Oswald with men who wanted Kennedy dead
RECORD / AT A GLANCE
Odio credited; Veciana not
Documented that the House committee was “inclined to believe” Odio. Unproven who the men were. Unproven that Veciana saw Oswald with a CIA officer.
THE EVENTS / THE INVESTIGATION / THE STORY
Late Sept 1963
Three men visit Silvia Odio in Dallas; one is introduced as Leon Oswald.
Aug 1964
A Commission lawyer warns that Odio “may well be right.”
1964
The FBI reports a mercenary, Loran Hall, says he was one of the men. He later retracts.
1978
Veciana tells the committee about “Maurice Bishop”.
READ THE FILE
Three men, one called Leon Oswald.
“The Commission will look bad if it turns out that she is.”
A handler, $253,000, and a meeting in Dallas.
Open an article for its evidence, labeled AI assessment and numbered sources. Read the complete static edition ↗
WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT THIS FILE
2 claims people make about this file, each rated documented, partly true, disputed, unproven or false. Think a rating is wrong? Use Dispute or Support, or join the Discussion.
The House committee was “inclined to believe” her.
Who says it: Sylvia Odio.
His story was never corroborated.
Who says it: Antonio Veciana.
OPEN THE RECORD
Numbered citations in each article identify the relevant sources. These records have different purposes and evidentiary weight.
Soviet, Cuban, anti-Castro, organized-crime and agency allegations, one by one.
The staff found Silvia Odio credible and the Warren explanation inadequate.
The Commission’s review of the Soviet years, Mexico City, Cuba, New Orleans, Ruby’s associations and rumors; it found no evidence of a conspiracy.
The claimed handler, the suspected David Atlee Phillips identification and Veciana’s denials in 1978.
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Three men, one called Leon Oswald.
Odio, from a prominent anti-Castro family, said two Latin men calling themselves “Leopoldo” and “Angelo” came with an American introduced as “Leon Oswald”. The next day Leopoldo phoned. He said the American was “kind of nuts” and had said Kennedy should have been assassinated after the Bay of Pigs. [1]
Her sister Annie was there and also identified Oswald. Odio fixed the date as 26 or 27 September, before 1 October. [1][2]
What we can’t tell you. Who the men were has never been established.
Soviet, Cuban, anti-Castro, organized-crime and agency allegations, one by one.
The staff found Silvia Odio credible and the Warren explanation inadequate.
“The Commission will look bad if it turns out that she is.”
Commission lawyer Wesley Liebeler wrote in 1964: “Odio may well be right. The Commission will look bad if it turns out that she is.” The FBI work the Commission asked for did not reach general counsel J. Lee Rankin until September. The report then cited a mercenary, Loran Hall, who said he had been one of the visitors. Hall later said that was a fabrication. [1]
The committee was “inclined to believe Silvia Odio.” If she was right, Oswald was in Dallas in late September, and he had no car, so he needed someone to drive him. [1]
What we can’t tell you. The Commission’s report appeared before the FBI’s work was finished.
Soviet, Cuban, anti-Castro, organized-crime and agency allegations, one by one.
The Commission’s review of the Soviet years, Mexico City, Cuba, New Orleans, Ruby’s associations and rumors; it found no evidence of a conspiracy.
A handler, $253,000, and a meeting in Dallas.
Veciana said a man he knew as “Maurice Bishop” directed his anti-Castro work from 1960 to 1973, met him more than 100 times and paid him $253,000 at the end. He said that in late August or early September 1963 he saw Bishop in Dallas with a young man he later recognized as Oswald. [1]
Committee staff suspected that Bishop was a retired CIA officer, David Atlee Phillips. Phillips denied it. Veciana said Phillips was not Bishop but had a “physical similarity.” The committee suspected Veciana was lying about that. [1][2]
The committee could not credit his story. It cited his 10-year silence, no proof of payment, no witnesses to any meeting, and his limited help. [1]
What we can’t tell you. The committee had only Veciana’s word, and his 1978 denials about Phillips.
Soviet, Cuban, anti-Castro, organized-crime and agency allegations, one by one.
The claimed handler, the suspected David Atlee Phillips identification and Veciana’s denials in 1978.
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