</s>FRANKLIN POOSEVELT USPOSTAGE 6c USPOSTACE Pivi 28 FEB 1970 U.S. Dept. of Justice Washington D.C.

Summary:  
The document contains a mix of correspondence, administrative notes, and fragmented discussions related to civil rights, assassination investigations, and public inquiries. It includes letters to President Nixon from individuals seeking information about the RFK assassination, Sirhan Sirhan's trial, and broader issues of violence and justice. References to proposed federal commissions to study the RFK and MLK assassinations are mentioned, along with concerns about delayed executions and judicial processes. The text also includes unrelated administrative forms, postage stamps, and fragments of civil rights-related correspondence, some involving figures like Stokely Carmichael and the Department of Justice. A separate section details the trial of Sirhan Bishara Sirhan for RFK’s assassination in Los Angeles County Superior Court, including jury selection, motions for mistrial, evidence presented, and the conviction and death sentence imposed. Unrelated personal letters and FBI administrative correspondence are also included.  

Key People:  
- Paul Shapiro (Ph.D., Space Scientist) – Suggested creating federal commissions to study RFK and MLK assassinations.  
- Sirhan Bishara Sirhan – Defendant in the RFK assassination trial; requested self-representation but was deemed incompetent by Judge Herbert B. Walker.  
- Robert F. Kennedy – Assassinated senator whose case is central to the document’s focus.  
- Richard Nixon – Recipient of multiple letters addressing civil rights, violence, and assassination-related issues.  
- Clifford A. Hausenstein – Sent an article by Budd Schulberg to Senator George Murphy discussing political assassinations and national trials.  
- George Murphy – U.S. Senator who received correspondence about legal and ethical considerations in handling high-profile crimes.  
- Grant B. Cooper (defense attorney), David Fitts (prosecutor), Evelle J. Younger (Los Angeles District Attorney), Abraham Lincoln Wirin, Fred Orkand (ACLU representatives), Judge Herbert B. Walker  

Key Locations:  
- Washington D.C. (White House, Department of Justice)  
- Los Angeles County Superior Court  
- San Quentin Prison  
- Pasadena School system (testimony related to Sirhan’s academic record)  
- Ithaca, New York; Rosemount, Minnesota; Evansston, Illinois (administrative or correspondence-related locations)  

Key Events:  
- Proposed federal commissions to investigate RFK and MLK assassinations.  
- Trial of Sirhan Bishara Sirhan for the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy (February–April 1969), including motions for mistrial due to media coverage, admissibility of evidence (e.g., Sirhan’s diary), and his competency ruling.  
- Jury conviction on April 17, 1969, for first-degree murder and assault with a dangerous weapon; death sentence imposed by Judge Herbert B. Walker.  
- Motion for new trial denied on May 21, 1969.  
- Discussions about Sirhan Sirhan’s trial, potential execution, and judicial delays.  
- Correspondence regarding civil rights issues, including Stokely Carmichael’s activities and the Department of Justice’s response.  
- References to violence in America, media influence on youth behavior, and calls for legal reforms.  

Key Organizations:  
- U.S. Department of Justice (Civil Rights Division)  
- White House (Nixon administration)  
- Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office  
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- California Department of Justice  
- Superior Court of Los Angeles County

RFK Declassified Files

166-12c-1_section_7-part_2_of_6.pdf

Document Summary

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