FBI
The FBI agent assigned to investigate Lee Harvey Oswald upon Oswalds June 1962 return to the US after his brief defection to the Soviet Union
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
James Patrick Hosty, Jr Biography and Timeline
Follow James Patrick Hosty, Jr through 98 dated historical records for United States of America.
James Patrick Hosty, Jr, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
98Distinct records
1 of 3Page
1962–1963Years on this page
1962
FBI
The FBI agent assigned to investigate Lee Harvey Oswald upon Oswalds June 1962 return to the US after his brief defection to the Soviet Union
1963
Former Landlady Interview
While trying to locate Marina Oswald, Hosty spoke with former landlady M. F. Tobias and received allegations about difficulties in the Oswald household.
Marina Detailed Interview Deferred
After locating the Oswalds, Hosty decided not to conduct a detailed interview with Marina immediately and continued the investigation through other sources.
Neely Street Residence Located
Hosty determined that Lee and Marina Oswald were living at 214 Neely Street while he was working to locate Marina for the FBI.
Oswald Case Reopened
Hosty recommended reopening the FBI security investigation of Lee Harvey Oswald, and the recommendation was accepted.
Review of Oswald Security File
Information obtained while locating Marina led Hosty to review the existing FBI security file on Lee Harvey Oswald.
Worker Subscription Identified
During his file review, Hosty learned that Oswald had become a subscriber to the Communist Party newspaper The Worker.
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Hosty receives reporting about Oswald's Mexico City contacts.
Soviet Embassy
Hosty receives reporting about Oswald's Mexico City contacts.
Dallas Airtel on Irving Inquiry
Hosty reported the results of his Irving pretext inquiry in an FBI airtel describing Marina's residence and Oswald's visiting arrangement.
Irving Pretext Inquiry
Hosty conducted a pretext inquiry near 2515 West Fifth Street in Irving to establish where Marina and Lee Harvey Oswald were staying.
Marina Residence Confirmed
Hosty's October 30 inquiry established that Marina Oswald was living with Ruth Paine in Irving.
Oswald Visiting Arrangement Identified
Hosty learned that Lee Harvey Oswald visited Marina at the Paine residence but was not living there during the working week.
Contact Information Left With Paine
Hosty gave Ruth Paine his name and telephone number and asked her to contact him if she learned where Oswald was living in Dallas.
Hosty Contact Slip Passed to Oswald
Ruth Paine later gave Oswald the slip containing Hosty's name and telephone number, information that subsequently appeared in Oswald's address book.
Texas School Book Depository
Visits Ruth Paine & learns Oswalds address & job at the Texas School Book Depository
FBI
Requests the FBI Oswald file from New Orleans, established Oswald is living in Dallas
FBI
Requests the FBI Oswald file from New Orleans, established Oswald is living in Dallas
November 1 Contact Reported
The Dallas FBI office reported Hosty's November 1 contact with Ruth Paine in an airtel sent to FBI headquarters.
Hosty License Number Recorded
During Hosty's November 5 visit, Marina Oswald noted the license number of his FBI automobile and later gave it to her husband.
Marina Case Origin Transferred to Dallas
FBI correspondence transferred responsibility for the Marina Oswald case from New Orleans to Dallas, where Hosty was already handling related inquiries.
Soviet Embassy Communication Learned by FBI
The FBI learned that Oswald had recently communicated with the Soviet Embassy in Washington and routed the information through normal Bureau channels.
Lee Oswald Case Origin Transferred to Dallas
FBI correspondence changed the office of origin for the Lee Harvey Oswald investigation from New Orleans to Dallas.
No Active Inquiry After November 5
Hosty later testified that he conducted no active investigative work on the Oswald case between November 5 and the assassination.
Assassination Lead Review
Back at the FBI office, Hosty was instructed to review his files for possible investigative leads concerning the President's shooting.
Brian Cannot Confirm Capability Statement
Detective V. J. Brian later testified that he did not hear Hosty say Oswald was capable of assassination, although he missed part of the conversation.
Dallas Police Interrogation Observation
Hosty was sent to Dallas police headquarters and observed an interrogation of Oswald after the arrest.
Depository Employment Mentioned to Revill
During the basement exchange, Hosty said the FBI had known of Oswald's employment at the Texas School Book Depository.
FBI Knowledge of Oswald Disclosed
Hosty told Revill that the FBI had known about Oswald and knew he was living in Dallas before the assassination.
FBI
Receives the New Orleans FBI files & papers on Oswald
First Face-to-Face Contact With Oswald
Hosty's first direct encounter with Oswald occurred after the assassination when he attended the police interrogation.
Hosty Denies Prior Violence Intelligence
Hosty maintained that the FBI had possessed no pre-assassination information indicating that Oswald was likely to commit violence.
Kennedy Shooting Report Received
After learning that President Kennedy had been shot, Hosty returned toward the Dallas FBI office to await instructions.
No Secret Service Referral Explained
Hosty later explained that Oswald had not been referred to the Secret Service because the FBI file contained no presidential threat from him.
Oswald File Pulled
Hosty immediately retrieved the Dallas FBI file on Oswald after learning that Oswald had been arrested.
Oswald File Taken to Shanklin
Hosty took the Oswald file to Special Agent in Charge J. Gordon Shanklin as the Dallas FBI office organized its assassination investigation.
Oswald Identified as Suspect
After 2 p.m., Hosty learned that the suspect arrested in Oak Cliff had been identified as Lee Harvey Oswald.
Oswald Note Connection Recognized
Oswald's reaction to Hosty's presence during interrogation led Hosty to associate Oswald with the unsigned note previously delivered to the Dallas FBI office.
Parkland Assignment
Hosty was sent from the Dallas FBI office toward Parkland Hospital after the shooting, but he was soon directed back to the office.
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.