in session I will be here this afternoon to see you, if not, gentlemen, I am very glad to have seen you, both of you. Give Mr. Thorne my regards, please.
(At this point, the Chief Justice Warren left the hearing room.)
Mr. Dulles. Will you proceed, please.
Mr. Rankin. When did the idea of your being Marina's business manager first come up.
Mr. Martin. It was after the first of December. She had been there about 3 or 4 days, I guess.
Mr. Rankin. That is 1963?
Mr. Martin. 1963.
Mr. Rankin. Will you tell us how it came up?
Mr. Martin. One of the Secret Service agents suggested that I get an attorney for Marina.
Mr. Rankin. Who was that?
Mr. Martin. Lee Gopadze.
Mr. Rankin. Where did this conversation occur?
Mr. Martin. In the den.
Mr. Rankin. Who was there?
Mr. Martin. I think Marina was there.
Mr. Rankin. Anyone else?
Mr. Martin. Not to my knowledge.
Mr. Rankin. About what time of the day, do you recall?
Mr. Martin. No.
Mr. Rankin. Mr. Gopadze made this suggestion, he made it to you, did he?
Mr. Martin. Yes.
Mr. Rankin. Did he say that in English?
Mr. Martin. Yes.
Mr. Rankin. Did you know whether Marina understood it?
Mr. Martin. Well, he had discussed it with her.
Mr. Rankin. How do you know?
Mr. Martin. Well, he was talking about it to her about something in Russian.
Mr. Rankin. And then he turned to you, did he?
Mr. Martin. Yes.
Mr. Rankin. Did he say anything about who you should get as a lawyer for her?
Mr. Martin. No.
Mr. Rankin. What did you say about that?
Mr. Martin. Well, I told him I would be happy to get one for her.
Mr. Rankin. Did you do that?
Mr. Martin. Yes. John Thorne.
Mr. Rankin. How did you happen to select John Thorne?
Mr. Martin. I had known him from association at the Inn.
Mr. Rankin. Had he ever acted as your attorney?
Mr. Martin. No.
Mr. Rankin. What was the nature of your acquaintance with him?
Mr. Martin. Just a passing acquaintance.
Mr. Rankin. Did you discuss with Marina the qualifications of this attorney?
Mr. Martin. No.
Mr. Rankin. Did you say anything about it to Mr. Gopadze?
Mr. Martin. I, like I probably mentioned, John had handled some movie work and he would probably know something about the area in which we were talking.
Mr. Rankin. After you had made the suggestion of Mr. Thorne as a lawyer did you do anything about it?
Mr. Martin. I called Mr. Thorne.
Mr. Rankin. On the telephone?
Mr. Martin. Yes.
Mr. Rankin. And then what happened?
Mr. Martin. He came over, I believe, the next day and talked to Marina and Lee Gopadze and myself.
Mr. Rankin. How did he talk to Marina?
Mr. Martin. Well, through Lee Gopadze.
Mr. Rankin. As an interpreter?
Mr. Martin. As an interpreter.
Mr. Rankin. Mr. Gopadze is fluent in both Russian and English?
Mr. Martin. Yes.
Mr. Rankin. Could you tell what Mr. Gopadze said to Marina?
Mr. Martin. No.
Mr. Rankin. Did you discuss the nature of this retainer with Mr. Thorne at that time?
Mr. Martin. I don't understand the question.
Mr. Rankin. Did you discuss what he would be doing if he was employed as her lawyer?
Mr. Martin. Handling all her legal work.
Mr. Rankin. Did you tell him that?
Mr. Martin. Yes.
Mr. Rankin. And did you say anything about what the legal work would involve, the kind of work it would be?
Mr. Martin. I don't believe so at the time. I may have mentioned something about her story or something like that. I don't recall the conversation.
Mr. Rankin. Was anything said about the donations at that time?
Mr. Martin. No.
Mr. Rankin. Did you discuss what he would be paid by way of compensation?
Mr. Martin. Not at that time. It was later.
Mr. Rankin. Was anything said by you or Mr. Thorne about his qualifications to act as her attorney?
Mr. Martin. Not that I recall.
Mr. Rankin. Were formal arrangements made about the employment of Mr. Thorne as counsel for Marina?
Mr. Martin. Yes.
Mr. Rankin. When was that done?
Mr. Martin. I believe that was December 6.
Mr. Rankin. Do you recall anything else that was said or done at this conversation when Mr. Thorne came over and talked to Marina through the interpreter and you were present?
Mr. Martin. No.
Mr. Rankin. Was there a formal contract executed between Marina and Mr. Thorne at some time?
Mr. Martin. Yes.
Mr. Rankin. You think that was December 6 to your recollection.
