Reily Coffee Company Application
Lee applied to William B. Reily Company and listed two apparently fictitious references, Robert Hidell and J. Evans.
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Lee Harvey Oswald Biography and Timeline — Page 5
Follow Lee Harvey Oswald through 351 dated historical records for United States of America.
Lee Harvey Oswald, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
351Distinct records
5 of 9Page
1963–1963Years on this page
1963
Reily Coffee Company Employment
Lee began work at the Reily coffee company at 640 Magazine Street, earning $1.50 per hour.
FPCC Charter Response
The Fair Play for Cuba Committee replied that a New Orleans chapter would need more participants before a formal charter could be issued.
Fair Play for Cuba Membership
Oswald applied for membership in the Fair Play for Cuba Committee after obtaining literature from the organization's national office.
New Orleans FPCC Charter Request
Oswald wrote the Fair Play for Cuba Committee requesting authority to create a New Orleans chapter and offered to rent a small office at his own expense.
Fair Play for Cuba Committee Membership
Oswald joins the Fair Play for Cuba Committee and begins presenting himself publicly as a supporter of Fidel Castro's government.
Proposed New Orleans FPCC Branch
Oswald writes to Fair Play for Cuba Committee headquarters proposing a New Orleans branch, although investigators later find no evidence of other genuine branch members.
Dumaine Street Leafleting
Oswald distributed Hands Off Cuba literature near the USS Wasp at the Dumaine Street wharf, one of his earliest documented public FPCC activities in New Orleans.
Passport Application
Oswald applied for a new United States passport while planning foreign travel that eventually developed into his September journey toward Mexico City and a hoped-for visit to Cuba.
Passport Approved
The State Department routinely approved Oswald's passport application; the Warren Commission later found no evidence that special intervention accelerated its issuance.
Fair Play for Cuba Printing
Using the name Lee Osborne, Oswald ordered Fair Play for Cuba Committee leaflets, applications, and membership cards for a proposed New Orleans chapter.
Hands Off Cuba Printing
Using the name Lee Osborne, Oswald ordered handbills, applications, and membership cards for the New Orleans Fair Play for Cuba Committee chapter he was attempting to create.
Bringuier Store Visit
Oswald visited Carlos Bringuier's store on August 5, 1963, and presented himself as willing to assist anti-Castro Cuban activities.
Guerrilla Training Claim
Oswald told Bringuier that his Marine experience included guerrilla-warfare training and offered to help train Cubans opposed to Castro.
Second Bringuier Store Visit
Oswald returned to Bringuier's store and left his Marine guidebook after discussing possible assistance to opponents of Fidel Castro.
Bail Arranger Underworld Connection
The HSCA found that a Murret-connected individual who arranged Oswald's bail after his August 1963 arrest was associated with two deputies in Carlos Marcello's organization.
Bringuier Confrontation
A confrontation developed when Carlos Bringuier and other anti-Castro Cubans encountered Oswald distributing pro-Castro literature.
Canal Street FPCC Leafleting
Oswald distributed Fair Play for Cuba Committee literature in downtown New Orleans, bringing his pro-Castro activity into direct contact with anti-Castro Cuban exiles.
Disturbing the Peace Arrest
New Orleans police arrested Oswald after the confrontation surrounding his Fair Play for Cuba Committee leafleting.
Fair Play Leafleting Arrest
Police arrested Oswald on August 9, 1963, after a confrontation with Cuban exiles while he distributed Fair Play for Cuba leaflets.
FBI Jail Interview
At Oswald's request, FBI agent John Quigley interviewed him in jail about his background and Fair Play for Cuba Committee activities.
FPCC Membership Claims
During the FBI interview, Oswald falsely described a larger New Orleans FPCC membership and referred to the fictitious A. J. Hidell as its president.
Disturbing Peace Guilty Plea
Oswald pleaded guilty to disturbing the peace on August 12, 1963, and paid a ten-dollar fine.
Leafleting Case Guilty Plea
Oswald pleaded guilty to the disturbing-the-peace charge arising from the August 9 confrontation and paid a ten-dollar fine.
International Trade Mart Leafleting
Oswald again distributed Fair Play for Cuba literature on August 16, 1963, this time outside the International Trade Mart.
International Trade Mart Leafleting
Oswald distributed Fair Play for Cuba Committee literature outside the International Trade Mart with hired assistance.
Television Coverage of FPCC Activity
Local television news filmed Oswald's Fair Play for Cuba Committee leafleting, giving his pro-Castro campaign wider public exposure.
WDSU Radio Interview
Broadcaster William Stuckey recorded a radio interview with Oswald on August 17, 1963, concerning the Fair Play for Cuba Committee.
WDSU Stuckey Interview
William Stuckey recorded an interview in which Oswald discussed the Fair Play for Cuba Committee and presented himself as its New Orleans spokesman.
Soviet Defection Raised in Debate
During the WDSU debate, Oswald was confronted publicly with his years in the Soviet Union, weakening his effort to present the FPCC as a local political movement.
WDSU Carte Blanche Debate
Oswald debated Carlos Bringuier and Edward Butler on WDSU's Conversation Carte Blanche program on August 21, 1963.
WDSU Radio Debate
Oswald debated Carlos Bringuier and Edward Butler on WDSU, defending the Castro government and his Fair Play for Cuba Committee activity.
Televised Debate on Cuba
Oswald debates Carlos Bringuier about Cuba and the Fair Play for Cuba Committee, giving his pro-Castro political activity wider public attention.
Mexican Tourist Card
The Mexican consulate in New Orleans issued Oswald a tourist card on September 17, 1963, for travel to Mexico City.
Mexico Tourist Card Application
Oswald applied for a Mexican tourist card as he prepared a trip that he hoped would enable travel through Cuba to the Soviet Union.
Austin Appearance Allegation
The Warren Commission later rejects an allegation that Oswald appeared at an Austin Selective Service office during his journey.
Continental Trailways Bus 5121
The Warren Commission reconstruction places Oswald on the afternoon Continental Trailways service from New Orleans toward Houston.
Departure for Mexico
Oswald left New Orleans by bus for Mexico, carrying documents intended to support his efforts to obtain Cuban and Soviet travel permission.
Departure from New Orleans for Mexico
Oswald left New Orleans by bus on September 25, 1963, beginning his journey toward Mexico City.
Fair Play Claim to Twiford
Oswald tells Mrs. Twiford that he belongs to the Fair Play for Cuba Committee while trying to arrange a meeting with her husband.
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.