Description:

Lee Harvey Oswald's Mother Marguerite Commissions Commemorative Plaque: "My son…has done more for his country than any other living human being"

A commemorative plaque commissioned by Marguerite Oswald (1907-1981), the mother of suspected presidential assassin Lee Harvey Oswald (1939-1963). The copper plaque is affixed to a beveled wooden mount with traces of yellow paint. It is engraved "MY SON, LEE HARVEY OSWALD EVEN AFTER HIS DEATH HAS DONE MORE FOR HIS COUNTRY THAN ANY OTHER LIVING HUMAN BEING" with Marguerite's facsimile signature as "Marguerite C. Oswald" appearing along the bottom edge. Fitted for hanging verso. Expected wear to the metallic surface including isolated scuffs. Two penny nails attaching the plaque to the base are missing. Scattered paint loss, and minor checking and splitting to the wood. Else very good to near fine. 3.375" x 3.5" x .75." From the collection of Ron Hoskins, assassinologist.

The plaque is housed within a soft vinyl pouch which also includes a microfiber cloth for buffing. The lot is accompanied by documentation showing that this item was purchased by Hoskins on eBay for $2,700. Also included is a printout of a digital "Smithsonian Magazine" article entitled "When Lee Harvey Oswald Shot the President, His Mother Tried to Take Center Stage," by Steven Beschloss.

This plaque is engraved with the same words of a statement delivered by Marguerite Oswald in front of television cameras after her son's funeral on November 25, 1963. The same quote would be reproduced on other Oswald-is-innocent plaques, cards, and souvenirs. This quote appeared on a brass scroll in the living room of Marguerite's Fort Worth, Texas house, according to novelist Jean Stafford, who interviewed Marguerite after the Warren Commission report was released in 1964.

Marguerite entertained numerous conspiracy theories over her lifetime, all of which exonerated her son. One of these was that Lee was really a CIA covert operative hired to kill Kennedy, terminally ill with Addison's Disease. In that same interview with Stafford, Marguerite said, "President Kennedy was a dying man, so I can say it is possible that my son was chosen to shoot him in a mercy killing for the security of the country, and if this is true, it was a fine thing to do and my son is a hero…"

Marguerite had two reasons to commission these commemorative plaques: to make money, and to validate herself. Marguerite became adept in exploiting her son's notoriety. The plaques could be sold like her dead son's letters, clothing, and mementos for a profit. Her son's innocence was linked to Marguerite's self-worth; to admit that he was a criminal would be to suggest that she was a bad mother.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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August 25, 2021 10:30 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

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