Why did Marina cut off contact with Ruth Paine so abruptly?

[Louis Earl]

My guess is that the FBI made her do it by threatening to send her back to Russia.

[Sean Kneringer]

Couldn't live with the shame.

[Steve M. Galbraith]

From my readings it was the Secret Service who told Marina to keep away from the Paines not the FBI. Remember, they were the one in charge of protecting Marina and the children. Maybe FBI agents said so too?

Priscilla McMillan goes over the estrangement in "Marina and Lee" (excerpt below). Robert Oswald was very upset with the Paines, thought they were dishonest - he believed they lied about not knowing Oswald's rifle was in their garage - and he told Marina these feelings about them, that she shouldn't trust them. Marguerite didn't like them either.

Ruth discusses the question in the very good Mallon book.



The Walker incident apparently angered Marina. She blamed Ruth for it.

[Steve M. Galbraith]

Here is Ruth's view (from "Mrs. Paine's Garage").

[Karl Kinaski]

Marguerite Oswald who was with Marina at the Paines on the evening of 22.11.1963 could't stand, that Ruth Pain was lying to the press about her son and took Marina to the Adolphus with the help of TIME LIFE reporters.