</s>PD-802 Rev. 4:15:64 FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION 1 Date: 6/19/68 DAVE KURRAY, Reporter, "Chicago Sun Times" Daily Newsaper, was interviewed at the offices of the newspaper, 400 North Washab Avenue. He relinted that he was present in the Embassy Room of the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, at the time of the assassination of Senator R. Kennedy. He stated that immediately after making his short victory speech, Senator Kennedy was scheduled to go to the Colonial the hotel was scheduled for the President. poriodical correspondents. He relocated that the Colonial Room had been set up as a press room. He said the Embassy Room was extremely enclosed and although this was the Embassy Room was entirely enclosed in the Kitchen, in order to avoid the did! that is, the location of the kitchen. In order that he said the embassy crush of the crown in the kitchen, Room. No stated that Senator R. Reagan would have experienced extremely tired, the to the Colony Room would have taken from the Embassy Room to the Capitol Room would be taken from The Embassy Room he beloveds Senator ROHER F. Kennedy's aides probably dedicated to go through the Kitchen to get to the Colonial Room so he would not be mobbed by the crowd. He started in Room so so he won't be mobbied by the Crowd. He stood in KHEDDY P. LOS ANGELES, who was working for Senator HORNIN P. KHENDY P, LOS Angeles as a presse aide, night know why Senator KHENRY P. KENNEDY took the note to his right which culminated in his KHENDED P. LAKENDY took took the route to the Senate. He did which resulted in may he able to at least some light on who who was the decision to take this route so possibly why he was taken. He said BRAINES can be located through the Office of Senator. EDWARD R. KENNEY in Washington, D.C. present at the Ambassador Hotel at the two of the assassination, regarding other Chicago members, correspondents present that the ambassador Hotel at the same time of the Chicago based cox. he relocated that he believes there were no Chicago based Cox. is the west coast representative of the Chicago Daily News! and white he did not see MCSE at the Ambassadors Hotel, he did see at the hospital to which senator R. HENEDY was takone. No mild Rosd can he located in Los Angeles through the 348 0-6/30/09-0-0/00-01-01 0-9/30-03-01 -01-3/03-03 Date dictated -6-20/03/03 by- This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. II is the property of the Fbi and is the FBI and is loaned to your agency.

Summary  
The documents contain witness statements from individuals who were present at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles on June 4–5, 1968, during and after Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s victory speech and subsequent assassination. Dave Kurray, a Chicago Sun Times reporter, described his presence in the Embassy Room during the speech and noted crowd movement toward the kitchen area. He speculated that aides may have taken routes through the kitchen to avoid crowds. Victoria Toullice Nelson, who attended 1963 campaign meetings in Compton, California, stated she did not see anyone resembling Sirhan Bishara during these events. Lawrence Patrick Osborn recounted being at the hotel with Michael Rounseville and attempting to enter a room where Kennedy was speaking but being turned away. He later learned of the shooting via rumors and mentioned a Mexican-American girl who may have spread information about the event. Maxine Otchis confirmed she was not in the area of the shooting and had no personal knowledge of the incident. Bruce Page described his presence during Kennedy’s speech, noting crowd movement toward the kitchen and confusion after shots were fired. He observed someone being removed from the scene but did not witness the shooting itself. Leon Douglas Ralph mentioned hearing about Marian Davis’s claim that she saw Stirhan in the hotel kitchen on June 2, 1968. Jennie Ranelle described a man resembling Sirhan Bishara at the press room, noting his appearance and clothing, though he was not seen after the shooting. Congressman Thomas J. Rees confirmed being present during Kennedy’s speech, hearing shots, and describing the crowd’s reaction to the event.  

Key People  
- Dave Kurray (Chicago Sun Times reporter)  
- Victoria Toullice Nelson (campaign meeting attendee in Compton, California)  
- Lawrence Patrick Osborn (hotel visitor with Michael Rounseville)  
- Maxine Otchis (hotel attendee not present at shooting location)  
- Bruce Page (London Sunday Times correspondent)  
- Leon Douglas Ralph (California Assemblyman)  
- Jennie Ranelle (press room attendee, wife of Rocco Ranelle)  
- Congressman Thomas J. Rees (present during Kennedy’s speech)  

Key Locations  
- Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, California (Embassy Room, Colonial Room, kitchen area, press room)  
- Compton, California (Kennedy campaign headquarters in 1963)  
- Pico Rivera, California (Osborn’s residence)  
- North Hollywood, California (Ranelle’s residence)  

Key Events  
- Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s victory speech at the Ambassador Hotel on June 4, 1968  
- Crowd movement toward the kitchen area following the speech  
- Rumors of a shooting spreading through the hotel and press room  
- Identification of individuals resembling Sirhan Bishara (e.g., Stirhan Stiran) by witnesses  
- Marian Davis’s claim of seeing Stirhan in the hotel kitchen on June 2, 1968  
- Observations of a woman with a forehead wound exiting the kitchen after the shooting  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Kennedy campaign headquarters (Los Angeles, California)  
- Chicago Sun Times, London Sunday Times, and other media outlets  
- Los Angeles Police Department (mentioned in context of photographs)  

Summary  
The document contains statements from multiple witnesses regarding the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles on June 5, 1968. Michael Rhodes and his wife Nina Rhodes described their presence during the event, noting that they heard firecrackers (later identified as gunshots) and observed chaos in the kitchen passageway. Nina Rhodes recalled seeing a man in a powder blue jacket firing shots at Kennedy, later identified as Sirhan Bishara Sirihan. Nelson Rising reported witnessing a man with blood on his sweater near the hotel, possibly Sirhan, and described security lapses in the kitchen area. A.W. Rissner, an NBC soundman, detailed his position during the speech and observed people screaming after the shooting but did not witness the assassination directly. Richard Harvey Ritner recounted hearing about the shooting via radio and seeing a man claiming Kennedy had been shot. Warren Rogers noted encountering Sirhan Sirihan in the kitchen area post-shooting. Michael Rounseville mentioned a girl in a polka-dot dress who allegedly provided information about another girl at the scene, though he doubted its accuracy.  

Key People  
- **Michael Rhodes** (volunteer for RFK) and his wife **Nina Rhodes** (volunteer fundraiser)  
- **Sirhan Bishara Sirihan** (alleged assassin, identified by Nina Rhodes via clothing description)  
- **Nelson Rising** (RFK volunteer)  
- **A.W. Rissner** (NBC soundman)  
- **Richard Harvey Ritner** (13-year-old witness)  
- **Warren Rogers** (magazine bureau chief)  
- **Lucy Salinger** (Kennedy volunteer, mentioned by Nina Rhodes)  

Key Locations  
- **Ambassador Hotel** (Los Angeles), specifically the Embassy Room and kitchen passageway  
- **Colonial Room** (where some witnesses were stationed during the speech)  
- **Tarzana, California** (residence of Michael and Nina Rhodes)  
- **Encino, California** (residence of Richard Harvey Ritner)  

Key Events  
- **Kennedy's victory speech** at the Ambassador Hotel on June 5, 1968  
- **Assassination of Senator RFK** in the kitchen passageway of the hotel  
- **Witness accounts of gunshots and chaos** following the shooting  
- **Identification of Sirhan Bishar Sirihan** via clothing description (powder blue jacket)  
- **Security lapses** noted by witnesses, including unauthorized access to restricted areas  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)** (document originator)  
- **Los Angeles Police Department** (involved in securing the scene)  
- **National Broadcasting Company (NBC)** (Rissner's employer)  
- **"Look!" Magazine** (Warren Rogers' affiliation)  

Summary  
The document contains witness statements from individuals who were present at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles on June 5, 1968, during Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s speech. Lon Bruce Rubin and his wife Barbara Rubin described their attempt to enter the Embassy Room where RFK was speaking, noting they observed a kitchen area and individuals in white jackets. They heard gunshots and reported seeing a man in work clothes near the kitchen but could not identify him. William Scott, a radio executive, recalled an unidentified man walking past the press area in a strange manner, later linked to Sirhan Bishara Sirian. Kenneth Ging described a conversation with a man resembling Sirhan at a racetrack on May 31, 1968. Jerry Alien Sims and Freddie Stewart denied seeing Sirhan or the shooting. William A. Smartingen, a cameraman, mentioned hearing noises and observing an individual being carried out of the hotel's pantry area. Bill Theis, a journalist, described witnessing a struggle involving Sirhan and RFK shortly after the speech. Kay Thomson, a campaign coordinator, reported hearing screams and calls for medical assistance following the shooting. All accounts note confusion and chaos during the incident, with no conclusive identification of suspects beyond photographic comparisons.  

Key People  
- Lon Bruce Rubin (and his wife Barbara Rubin)  
- Sirhan Bishara Sirian (suspected perpetrator)  
- William Scott (radio executive)  
- Kenneth Ging (racetrack attendee)  
- Jerry Alien Sims (cameraman)  
- Freddie Stewart (hotel visitor)  
- William A. Smartingen (cameraman)  
- Bill Theis (journalist)  
- Kay Thomson (campaign coordinator)  

Key Locations  
- Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, California  
- Embassy Room (site of RFK's speech)  
- Kitchen area of the hotel  
- Press area near the hotel  
- Hollywood Park Racetrack (location of Kenneth Ging’s encounter)  

Key Events  
- Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s speech at the Ambassador Hotel on June 5, 1968  
- Gunshots fired during or immediately after the speech  
- Witnesses’ accounts of individuals in the kitchen area and pantry  
- Identification attempts via photographs of Sirhan Bishara Sirian  
- Confusion and chaos following the shooting, including medical assistance requests  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Los Angeles Police Department  
- Hearst Newspapers (Bill Theis’s affiliation)  
- CBS (William A. Smartingen’s employment)  

Summary  
The document contains witness statements from multiple individuals regarding their presence at the Ambassador Hotel during events related to Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s 1968 campaign activities and the subsequent assassination on June 5, 1968. Robert E. Thomson reported being at the hotel’s ballroom on June 4, 1968, where he heard what he initially believed were balloons popping but later realized were gunshots after learning of Kennedy’s shooting. He and his wife left the hotel and watched events via television. Thomson stated he did not recognize an individual named Sirihan. Joy Thornton described being at the hotel during Kennedy’s speech on June 4–5, 1968, and noted she and her husband were not in the immediate area when the shooting occurred. She confirmed she had not seen Sirihan or a girl in a polka-dot dress. Stan Tretick, a reporter present in the Kennedey suite on the 5th floor, stated he did not see Sirhan prior to the shooting and could not identify the girl in the polka-dot dress. Katherine Turrell described an individual standing above the crowd during Kennedy’s speech, noting his appearance (mid-20s, dark hair with sideburns, wearing a white shirt and sweater) but stated he was not Sirihan and she did not see the girl in the dress.  

Key People  
- Robert E. Thomson: Witness at the Ambassador Hotel on June 4, 1968; reported hearing gunshots after initially mistaking them for balloons.  
- Joy Thornton: Spouse of John Thornton; present during Kennedy’s speech at the hotel; confirmed not seeing Sirihan or the girl in a polka-dot dress.  
- John Thornton: Spouse of Joy Thornton; described as being sent home before Kennedy’s speech.  
- Stan Tretick: Reporter for "Look!" Magazine; present in the Kennedey suite on June 5, 1968; did not see Sirihan or the girl in a polka-dot dress.  
- Katherine Turrell: Witness who observed an individual above the crowd during Kennedy’s speech; described his appearance but stated he was not Sirihan.  

Key Locations  
- Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, California: Site of Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s victory speech and subsequent assassination on June 5, 1968.  
- Embassy Room: Specific area within the hotel where Kennedy delivered his speech.  
- Kennedey suite (5th floor): Location where Stan Tretick was present during the events.  

Key Events  
- Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s victory speech at the Ambassador Hotel on June 5, 1968.  
- The assassination of Senator Kennedy at the hotel, which occurred after the speech.  
- Witness accounts of gunshots mistaken for balloons and subsequent realization of the shooting.  
- Observations of an individual standing above the crowd during the speech, described by Katherine Turrell.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Conducted interviews and documented witness statements as part of the investigation into Kennedy’s assassination.  
- Kennedy for President Campaign Headquarters: Mentioned as a location where Joy Thornton worked as a volunteer.

RFK Declassified Files

166-12c-1_serial_2_62_hq_587_section_2-la-report_8.7.68-part_2_of_7.pdf

Document Summary

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