Summary  
The document is a letter dated January 14, 1970, from Paul Shapiro, Ph.D., a space scientist based in Ithaca, New York, to the Attorney General of the United States. Shapiro requests that President Richard Nixon establish two new presidential commissions to investigate the assassinations of Senator Robert F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He references the Warren Commission established after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, emphasizing the need for similar thorough investigations into the RFK and MLK assassinations. Shapiro argues that the perpetrators of these crimes are already convicted and could be questioned to disclose additional information, though he clarifies these commissions would not serve as trials but rather as in-depth analyses of the events. The letter concludes with a call for immediate action to ensure objectivity and transparency in the investigations.  

Key People  
- Paul Shapiro, Ph.D.: Space scientist and author of the letter.  
- Robert F. Kennedy: Senator assassinated on June 5, 1968.  
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: Civil rights leader assassinated on April 4, 1968.  
- President Richard Nixon: Requested to establish the proposed commissions.  
- Attorney General of the United States: Recipient of the letter.  

Key Locations  
- Ithaca, New York: Shapiro’s residence and origin.  
- Washington D.C.: Headquarters of the Department of Justice.  

Key Events  
- Assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy (June 5, 1968).  
- Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (April 4, 1968).  
- Request for new presidential commissions to investigate both assassinations.  
- Reference to the Warren Commission’s investigation into JFK’s assassination.  

Key Organizations  
- Department of Justice: Recipient of the letter and administrative body overseeing legal matters.  
- Presidential Commissions: Proposed entities to investigate RFK and MLK assassinations, modeled after the Warren Commission.

RFK Declassified Files

166-12c-1_box_42_jan1970.pdf

Document Summary

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