Lee Harvey Oswald’s brother, Robert Oswald, lived a private life after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He dealt with the stigma of his brother’s infamy and worked to maintain a normal life.
Robert Oswald was born on April 7, 1934, and was the older brother of Lee Harvey Oswald, who was accused of assassinating President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. After the assassination, Robert’s life was inevitably affected by the actions of his brother. He faced the challenge of living under the shadow of one of the most infamous crimes in American history.
Despite the notoriety that came with being Lee Harvey Oswald’s brother, Robert worked to distance himself from the event and sought to live a life as far removed from the public eye as possible. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps, like his brother, but his service was without incident. After his military service, he pursued a career in the private sector, working in various industries, including electronics.
Robert was often asked to comment on his brother’s actions and legacy, but he consistently tried to maintain his privacy. He did, however, participate in some interviews and wrote a book titled “Lee: A Portrait of Lee Harvey Oswald by His Brother,” which was published in 1967. In the book, he provided a personal perspective on his brother’s life and the impact of the assassination on the Oswald family.
Throughout his life, Robert Oswald remained a figure of interest due to his connection to the Kennedy assassination, but he made concerted efforts to ensure that this connection did not define his personal or professional identity. He passed away on November 27, 2017, at the age of 83, having lived a life that was, as much as possible, separate from the legacy of his brother’s actions.