Pair of Oswald's life insurance documents/letter relating to a policy belonging to suspected presidential assassin Lee Harvey Oswald (1939-1963). The policy was taken out for Lee by his mother in 1945, when he was just 5 1/2 years old, and later submitted for settlement following his shooting death in November 1963. The documents (one a letter) are from the National Life and Accident Insurance Company, headquartered in Nashville, TN.
The lot is comprised of:
1. The National Life and Accident Insurance Company “Certificate of Extended Term Insurance,” 8” x 7,” showing that the amount of extended term insurance was $863 for Policy 942157, belonging to Lee Harvey Oswald. Document shows “due date of unpaid premium” to be 04/17/59. In fine condition.
2. A TLS, 8.5" x 11,” on "National Life and Accident Insurance Company" letterhead dated December 12, 1963. In part: “Marguerite Oswald contacted him and asked for the name of the head man of The National Life…concerning the life insurance she had on her son, Lee Harvey Oswald.” In fine condition.
Marguerite Oswald (1907-1981) took out a life insurance policy for youngest son Lee Harvey Oswald on April 17, 1945. Policy no. 942157 provided a $1,000 payout for an average annual premium of $20.54 which also included double indemnity coverage.
Lee's life insurance policy was active until at least 1957, but there is some uncertainty about whether the coverage lapsed after that point. Marguerite approached the National Life and Accident Insurance Company for a payout of $863 in the days following Lee's murder. She also sought a double indemnity, a double payout granted to an insured's family only in cases of accidental death. $863 in 1963 money is the equivalent of more than $7,000 in 2020 currency.
It is unknown whether Marguerite's claim was ever completely processed. Internal memos suggest the National Life and Accident Insurance Company attempted to renege on payments by claiming that the life insurance policy had lapsed, and life insurance executives may have soured once Marguerite started lobbying for a double indemnity payment. In an interview conducted by "Texas Monthly" magazine in November 1973, Marguerite claimed she was penniless.
Originating From John Reznikoff/University Archives (COA not present). Quite the interesting pair as the letter was written only one month following JFK’s assassination and Oswalds subsequent death at the hands of Jack Ruby.