Transcript of 166-12c-1_serial_2_62_hq_587_section_2-la-report_8.7.68-part_2_of_7.pdf
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FD-302 (Rov. 4-15-64)
FEDeRal BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONF_
6/19/88
Date_
DAVz BIOURAY , Reporter "Chieago 812 Tires" Deily
Nembpeper
P WaB interelened 2t the offiees 0r tb0 rewopaper
$ 400 North Fiabash Avcnuea
He releted €ea*t be 528 Dresend S1 the Enbaesy
Room or tle Ambasendor Botel, 1o3 Angeles, &* h0 time 0f
the 288888int400 02 denotor DOnkzi IENNEDE 0 Me stated
that LEmedlakely artor Iling bi8 sbort Victory spesch,
Senatcr ROBERT W
0
XENNEDY #e3 8cheduled t0 €8 {0 *ha Golonfal
Rcom within #be botel {cr 20 intcrview by @epSpapar and
Pericdical correspordents 0 Eo releted tbat {na Colonisl
Roon Jad beer ser an_ 21 2 Pr03d IOOM, He G8id tbe Enbassy
Boom T88 ertremcly crcuded an altbongh thiy w28 Leerea]
be beard *bat 303t0r ROIEZRT P 0 EENNZDY tcok the rowte he
dia; thst throwgh tbc kltchen, ir Oroer to avoid the
ervsh 02 the crond i0 the Erha8sy Rodmo Ie. 8 8ted that
Senato% BORZRT 3 0 ZGGNGREDY appeared Gz*renely tired, the
corridor he DGrgelly would bave *ekEr Zrcn the Emnhassy Rccm
t0 the Culonial Eocm 02f extremely crojden witk People, and
hq beltencs Gejatc RQBEET Fo XSNIZDY'& 21d88 probably
decede0 #0 G0 through tie kitchen to get t0 {ka Colonial
Roon 88 he Tzould not be mobbed bz tbe crow}0 Be &ttcd +0
this regard trat DICE DRIIX , Preba Becretary *0 Jenatoz
EJNARD P0 KENNZOY . who wes working fcr 8ezetor @UBERI ]
RENTADT 4n &0s Bngele? 48 8 Press e4de0 Gight kzow Phy Goetor
BODERZ F c KZNNE)Y tock tha rowte be did Phicb culuirated 10
blc "89e601wQti01 in the kitenero MURTAy baljeve {het DEAZNN
say be ahle *0 a* lcep} shed ponc 1ight on |bc Ead@ tk8
decisfon to take tbio route 02 popclbly #ky 10 w22 takero He
w9id DRiIN con n Joctod tropgl &h9 cfiice 02 8etor
EOWAZD % & LNNET i0 Webhington, D c
fezarding otbar Clicego Denaoz Correepordents
resont at the Ambassedor Hotal #} the {120 0r the asscssination,
he rcleted +la & ka balfeves there tere 20 Chieegc ma8od eort
responderts af €le notel
0
He 8244 t3t BOD 2CS3 or E4og Angeles
18 tbe webt eoa8* raprcsentetive 02 tho "Chieago Daily News Sf
#04 EJxfle he did Ro} 88e @OSB 98 *he bwtaseadcr Dctel, be dfd
88e 33f. && the bcspital *0 @aiel Jenatoz ROLE3T Y 0 XEINMSDY 1p48
{ekole Ee 84i4 3033 Can be ocated 11 3o8 engeles through *h0
348
On_8/384se_al 8240880 1 File #_ 20 69-61
by
2 76 3G Date dictaled_ 83lc2
This documenf conlains neithcr recommendalions nor conclusions 0f Ihe FBI; II is Ihe properly ol Ihe FBI ond is looned Io Your ogency:
il ond ils conlenls are nol lo be dislribuled oulside Yodr agency.
20
180
C2
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"Cc 89-61
W2r c 8ervices or any. 02 te %os ingelee Henppeporso He
further related tiat 8% Koin 10 8h8 mebt coabt repredentae
rivo 02 *ia "Cnica3o Daily Irihune" &rd Vhile be did. mot
sce IOZIAN 0% tho Ambosgedor Rotel; he #e0l8 Quite certeln
that KOBLAW wa;, In Za6t0 pres0mt &t the mozele %o relsted
tbet KOZXAN eem |e Jocated thzougb the wire Bervices Or @1y
0i €ha Lo: Angolcs Bewbbeperfo
34 addetion t0 the foze6oi189 be &tated thet
'TOM LITTLBACCD
9
Wesbingtor Corresnondont 02 tka "Chicago Sub
"imea F9 1es alsc Drescrt 8% tho botel 6 % tbe *iee Or the
a2898eir2t20n &nd kc resides in Wasbington, De C0
BERTAY safd t3a t hc did 2ot Observe SIBEAN prior
*0 *be {iAQ 0f tha agrj3inot050 Tke Zrsk Yiuc 110 82w
8IRian #ab 02*02 the shootilg fm the kitchen wion E4ZER JOIWSCN
end BOSZE CRTDE baa SIR3Al fZetr0p0d QMt 0} 8 teble en8 were
a%tcapting #0 wreg* %b3 Btzn ewsy from K2170 Ze 8010 thar &€
6d8 {in8 tbe 630 Pes wsving #fldly end tne confuginn T28
cztremao %o Bafd Xay 02 reiteration tnat be balfeved
8enator 0O2zz} %. EENZTEBY bad. nc2 changed 628 plama t0 50 {0 be
Ribafeador ro03, Iunc aerely Js mcthod Of going t0 the Coloniel
Doow X0 order 80 evoid tke Grond i1 tbe Embabfy ROOEo Ee
did statc: bowever , Gb3t Ehis 49 bearsay Ex0 he ber ne Dc*lal
knonledge this Tas Gha enwco
349
pJ
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FD-3 02 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Date [23/68
VICTORTA TOULICE NELSON, 403' South Acacia Street,
Compton, Ca lifornia home telephone number 631-5664 wa8 inter-
viewed regarding information received by the FBI that, during
mee tings held a% the KENNEDY Campaign Headquarter8 , Los Angeles ,
dur 12 18, 1968, a per 8on resembling SIRHAN BISHARA
SIRHAN was observed _
NELSO recalled that she attended meetings with
JOHN AHRNDT,
a s tudent at Compton Junior College , at tb KENNEDY
Headquarters Office on Wils hire Boukvard , in Los Angeles during
12-13 1968. She recalled one of the mee tings was held to
organize the distribution of KENNEDY Campaign literature in
Los Angeles , NELSON observed a photograph of SIRHAN BISHARA
SIRHAN and advised Fhe observed no one at any of the above
meetings that resembled SIRHAN,
NELSON stated in late May 1368, the KENNEDY Headquarters
set up a new campaign center for the Compton_
)
California ; area
on Long Beach Boulevard in Compton She stated se veral meetings
were held at the new center however , she did not see any one
at these mee tings that was familiar to or identical with
SIRHAN.
NELSON advised at no time did she attend any function
at the Ambassador Hotel nor was she present at the Ambassador
Hotel on June 4 or 5, the Zate Senator ROBERT F _ KENNEDY
was shot . In addition
9
NEEsON
s tated no information came to her
attention prior to the shooting to indicate this evert would
occur
NELSON furnighed the following information concerning
herself:
Da te of Birth PI
Place of Birth 1 HeT2F waTifornia
Social Security No _ PII
On 7417/68 at Lo: AngelesyCaLiforniaFile # Los Angeles 56_156
SA ROBERT F PICKARD and 350
by SAJ FISHBECK,_I, ZICE Lsdb Date dictated 7/13/68
This document contains neither recommendationg nor conclusions of the FBI. It i8 the property of the FBI and is loaned to
your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.
ing May
May
1968
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WTXO 173-135
JER: bah
ION OBERDOirER , Knight Newspapers Room 1195_ Press
Buil 1bth and 3 Streets N.Fo , Washington, D,C , , (wDC)
furnished. the folloving information to SA JOSZH C , KELLY
on June 20
9
1968 :
ir OBEBDORFER was a mlember of the press party
assi to the campaign of the late Senator ROBE::T' 1 KENNEDY
Mr OBEFDORTER was with the campaign in California and Oregon.
He w3s in the Eabassy Room of the Ambassador Hotel
in Los Angeles when Senator KENNEDY was shot He worked his
way through the crowd, into the kitchen area where the shoot-
tookl place, and saw Senator KENNEDY being placed
on 2
stretcher
Kr CBZPDORFE did.not see S IXIAN SIRTIAN either
before or after the shooting
It wes nis understanding that a Mr SCOI"T' Thlo is
enployed by Stetion WiCA in Newv York, had seen SIKHAN SIEIAN
on one or two Qccasions during the evening before the shoot-
He also recalled 3 young female free-lance correspon-
dent who later stated that S IRHAl SITHAIT had been "ejected"
or 2sked to leave the press headquarters in the Colonial Room
or the kcitchen area He believed S I:HAN had been told to
leave by a fersale member of the KIENEZDY staff
Mr OBEr:LORF? stated it was his impression that
Senator KINNZDY S Tvas to appear at press headquarters
located in the Colonial Room before going to the vctory
party _
351
ding,
gned
ing
ing.
plan
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FD-302 (Rev. 4-15-64 )
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Date
6/15/68
LAWRENCE PATRICK OSBORN was interviewed at Fox
Drugs _
9
6005 Rosemead Boulevard_ Pico Rivera
1
and advised he
resides at 6060 Noroco, Pico Rivera, California
OSBORN advised that on the e vening of June 4, 1968,
he went th an acquaintance, MICHAEL ROUNSEVILLE , to the
Victory celebration of Senator KENNEDY , being held at the
Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles_ California He stated they
arrived at the Ambassador Hotel at approximately 8:00_p.m
and unsuccessfully attempted to enter the room where Senator
KENNEDY was to make an appearance and give a victory speech
He stated they were turned away from this roon and directed
to another room in the same hotel, where the precinct workers
and other supporters of the Senator KENNEDY nomination were
algo holding 3 victory party. OSBORN stated he remained with
ROUNSEVILLE in this second room for the remainder of the
eveing except for a period of about twenty minutes from
11:00 p.m, to 11.20 p.m when he escorted two girls to
a parking lot on the hotel grounds He stated that during
the evening and during the victory speech made by Senator
KENNEDY , he and ROUNSEVILLE remained in the room watching
the speech on television monitors , which had been set up in the
room
OSBORN stated that the first indication he received
that some thing had occurred was during the early hours of
June 5, when someone began to tell the crowd in the
MI room ,in which he was located sto "ghut up He stated that
eventually the crowd in that room became quiet and then a
rumor passed through the room that s omeone had been shot
Shortly thereafter a rumor went through the crowa that a woman
had been shot; and shortly thereafter a rumor that Senator
KENNEDY had been shot in the OSBORN stated he never
ascertained the extent of injuries of Senator KENNEDY until after
he left the hotel at 2:30 a.m _ It was then while enroute home
he heard on the radio that Senator KENNEDY had been shot in the
head
On
6/15/68_ at Pico Rivera, California File # Ios_Angeles_56_156
352
bSA FRANCIS J QWHARA mc Date dictated 6415/68
This document containg neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It i8 the property of the FBI and is loaned to
your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.
swi
1968
hip_
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Za
56-156
OSBORN said, however, that he had never been in the
presence of Senator KENNEDY that evening r the following
morning and only became aware of the assassination of the Senator
when the word spread through the hotel that the Senator had been
shot OSBORN said he did not see the Senator and
did not see the assassination He has no krnowledge whatsoever
of the alleged agsassin or circumstancee surrounding the
ageas8ination except those he has learned from the press and
television_
OSBORN stated that after the shooting a Mexican-
American girl, age about 24, heavy set , was observed by him
in the room making a statement to the effect that when she
had been outside some men and a women had run by her and
shouted "We Just shot KENNEDY"
9
or words to that effect_
OSBORN stated the girl was in an extremely emotional state and
he put little faith in what she said . He stated that a8 an
example a rumor was heard that a bodyguard had been as8igned
to Senator MC CARTHY and when some of the people there expressed
frustration that this protection had not been as8igned to
Senator KENNEDY , this girl began to scream to them, making
accusatory statements that were in effect the cause of the
assa8sination OSBORN stated that for this reason he would
very little faith in what this girl said - He added that
he unders tands that she subsequently was interviewed on
television and gave information regarding a girl or a woman
in a
polkadot dress OSBORN expressed the opinion that any -
thing this girl said should be closely scrutinized ,
OSBORN advised that the photograph of him and
ROUNSEVILLE which appeared in the latest edition of Life
magazine,
aiong With
others depicting the apparent state of
shock, was not taken anyplace in the immediate vicinity of
the assa88ination, but in another room entirely remo ved from
the as8a88ination site _
OSBORN advised that he could furnished no further
information conc erning this matter
353
they
put
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FD-3 02 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGA TION
7/17/68
Date
MAXINE OTCHIS , 5414 Simpson Avenue_ advised that
she was at the Ambagsador Hotel during the night of
June 4-5, 1968, and was in the company of her boy friend
NATHAN HELFMAN and JOEL WEINGARTEN Miss OTCHIS said tkat
she was not in the area where Senator KENNEDY was shot and
has no personal knowledge conces rning the activity that took
place
9
either before or after he was shot.
Miss OTCHIS said that she has seen newspaper
photographs of SIRHAN SIRHAN
9
and she does not recall seeing
this individual at the Ambassador Hotel during the night
that she was there She saiq that she has never met SIRHAN
SIRHAN and knows of no thing concerning his background
0
7/10/68 North Hlollywood, California Los Angeles 56-156
On at File #
354
SA JOHN F MORRISON/eb
7/11/63
by 'Date dictated
This document containg neither recommendationg nor conclusions of the FBI. It i8 the property of the FBI and is loaned to
your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency
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FD-302 (Rov .4-]
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTSATION
Date_
7/16/68
Mr. BRUCE TAGE , Assistant Edi "London . Sunday
Tines"
9
201 East 42nd Street, New York, New; York, stated :hat
he covered the Senator ROEERT F KENNEDY Presidential
Campaign sporadica_
During the evening of June 4, 1968 , he wa: in
the Ambassador Hictel, Ios Anzelez, California
Prior * cnd @uring Senator KENNEDY
S spccch
he was in the main ballroom where Seretor KENNEDY made his
speech and during the speech he wa? in the audience,_ in front
of and to Senator KENNEDY ' s right He was with
GODFREY 'HODGSON , 2 reporter for the "Lencon Sinday "imes 1
When Senetor :KEMEDY fiisheu nts speech, he
KENNEDY ) left to depart by the rear of the stage - The crowd
was very thick ana HODGSON and PAGE went out S ome kind of'
a service door in the back Qf the which led to
some sort of a back service area of
balleoooteyl
the It was their
Intention to go outside and. around the hotel to get to the
press room thus avoiding the crowd _
When re-entered the hotel, there va5 much
confusion and some people said Senator KENNEDY had been shot,
others said it was not S0
Although people were confused they dia not
appear t0 be surprised at whatever happened .
PAGE went In*o the ballroom and Onto the stage_
There was much confusion He Det ANTHONY CLIFTON , a reporter
for the "London Sunday Tines" Thcy were both trying to
find out what bappened _ PAGE then met PIERRE- SALINGER
He asked SALINGER what had happened;" SALINGER shrugged his
shoulders
There was a wounded woman near the_stage
355_
On_
7/16/68
af_
New_York, New York
File #_ NY 44-1640
SA FRANCIS Lo CASHIN : Jrf 7/16/68
by Date dictated
This documenl. contains neither recommendations nor` conclusions ol the FBI: Ii is ' Ihe property of Ihe FBI and Is loaned lo Your agency;
and !ls contents are nc} to be dlsiributed oulside Your agency.
5-64)
tor,
lly
they
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2
NY 44-1642
PACE went to the press room He is of tha
opinion that by thiz tlzes Senator KENNEDY
9
PAUL SCHRADE
and SIRHAN SIPEN had been removed_ PAGE saw the
television producei of AZC who' had beeil skot being removed _
FAGE Jid: not See or near the shooting_ Ke has
never seen SIREAiN SIRFIAN _
356,
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WFO 173-135
WBS: jcb
PROV IDENCIA F PAREDES , 2415 2Oth Street, N .
Washington, D . C. > a clerk in the Office 0f Senator ROBERT
F KENNEDY
9
advised that she accompanied the offical travel;- 2
ing party of Senator KENNEDY on his West Coast campaign_
She said on the night Senator KENNEDY was shot she was in
the seventh floor suite of the Ambassador Hotel and there-
fore could not furnish any pertinent information
0
She said she could not recall ever seeing STRHAN
SIRHAN
9
the suspected KENNEDY assassin during her travels
with the KENNEDY campaign official party
J57
We ,
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FD-3 02 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Date
7/24/68
IEON DOUGLAS 14013 Eadall Avenue, Los Angeles ,
California, Assemb lyman,
RASSth
District, with office at 1922
East 103-d Street , Los Angeles, California, was
advised of the identity of the interviewing agent and that he
was being contacted for an appointment to discuss his kowledge
of the shooting of Senator ROBERT F KENNEDY _
RAIPH advised that he was en route to the Ambagsador
Hotel when he learned of the shooting of Senator KENNEDY and
he arrived at the hotel approximately ten minutes after the
Senator had departed in the ambulance
He stated that he had no lmowledge of the shooting of'
Senator KENNEDY , but he stated that he had heard that a MARIAN
DAVIS , 825 West El Street , Compton; California, had mentioned
that she had seen SIRHAN SIRHAN in the kitchen of the Ambassador
Hotel on Sunday night , June 2, 1968 .
RAIPH stated that the women as8ociated with the
Senator S campaign had neld a reception at the hotel on June 2
for Senator KENNEDY .
On
7/22/68
at
Los Angeles ,
Californi le
#
Los Angeles 56-156
358
SA WILLIAM G ATHERTON / fpd 7/23/68
by Date dictated
This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusiong of the FBI. It i8 the property of the FBI and ig loaned to
your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.
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FD-3 02 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGA TION
Date
7/2/68
JENNIE RANELLE (Mrs ROCCO RANELLE) was interviewed
at her residence 11104 Tiara in North Hollywood , California,
at which time she advised as follows :
On Election
2
June 4 , Mrs RANELLE was at
the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles
Caiifornia
She was
there at the Senator ROBERT F KENNEDY campaign activities as
a guest of' BOB FUNK ,
a CBS television soundman At approxi- ~
ma 9:45 to 10:00 p.m _ Mrs_ RANELLE was in the press room
of' the Ambassador Hotel which room is located off' the kitchen
and behind the Embassy Room _ She was waiting the return of'
Mr FUNK
9
who was then apparently with Senator KENNEDY in
Senator KENNEDY 8 suite of the hotel_ This was shortly before
Senator KENNEDY made his vctory speech in the Embassy Room _
While Mrs RANELLE was in this press room she was
standing near the door from the room leading into the kitchen_
She noticed a young white male enter the press room from the
door that leads to the corridor This door is across the room
from the kitchen door This young man spoke to several individuals
all f' whom are unknown to Mrs RANELLE in the press room
He then came directly to Mrs RANELLE He noticed that she had
two press badges on her apparel At thig time this young man
said
9
I'm working with the KENNEDY campaign but I didn't
a
badge
9 can you let me have one of' yours Mrs RANELLE
denied this request and told the man in her opinion if' he was
wor 'king with the KENNEDY campaign he would have a
badge of his
own The man then Please let me have one , you have
two and you don 't need
ed]bedh
of' them, let me have one Of' yours IJ
Mrs RANELLE again denied the request and the man left her_
She further stated she saw him approaching a few other persons
in the press room and then she did not see him again at any time
Mrs . RANELLE observed a photograph of' STRHAN BISHARA
SIRHAN in the press and on television following the assassination
of' Senator KENNEDY . She recognized this photograph as strongly
resembling the young man who had approached her for a press
badge
[22/68 at North HolLywood Ca lifornigFile # Los_Angeles 56-156
359
SA PAUL F_ TTERNEY and
JOH DOYIE POWELL JPnmb Date dictated
6/27/68
Thi8 document contains neither recommendations nor conclusiong of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to
your agency; it ad its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.
1968 Day
tely
'>
get
0r
bySA
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Page 13
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2
LA 56-156
Mrs RANELLE described this individual a8 follows :
Sex Male
Race White
Age 23 to 24 years
Ciothing Wearing 8 white shirt;
no tie
Hair Dark curly hair , not
parted
Characteristics Carried sore object in his hand ,
posgibly a book
Height 5'3" to 5'4"
Build Slender
Speech Spoke with no accent
Eyes Dark
General appearance
"College kid "
She stated that this individual boked exactly like
the photographs of' SIRHAN BISHARA SIRHAN except that he de -
finitely was not wearing a zippered jacket a2 appears in the
Log Ange les Police Departnent photographs of' khe individual
after his arrest He was wearing a suit or sports coat ,
Winter knit, predominately black with red and gray flecks
throughout
At the time of' Senator KENNEDY S speech, Mrs RANELIE
was standing on a platform in back of' the speaker S podium
Following the speech she was in the crowd leaving the speaker 's
platform as it surged towards, &nd through, the kitchen area
She was at the door leading from the Embassy Room to the kitchen
when she heard three explosions in quick succession followed
by two more quick explosions She saw flashes in the vicinity
of' where Senator KENNEDY wa8 at the time She did not see a
gun nor did she see any person resembling SIRHAN SIRHAN or the
person she had seen earlier as described above At this point
the crowd in the kitchen reversed itself and began to Leave the
kitchen very quickly This movement forced Mrs RANELLE against
the Wall just outside the kitchen and at the door leading to
360
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3
IA 56-156
the kitchen_ From this vantage point
)
Mrs RANELLE observed
8 woman leaving the kitchen with blood streaming from a fore-
head wound She aided this woman until a uniformed security
gward appeared _ She turned this woman over to the guard and that 1s
the last she saw of either of' them_ This woman was a white
female with blond hair and she was wearing only one shoe She
was wearing a flowered yellow drees with black flowers
Mrs RANELLE is described as follows ;
Name JENNIE RANELLE
Mrs_ ROCCO RANELLE)
Date of' birth PII
Place of' birth scranton, Pennsylvania
Height 5'
Weight 103 pounds
Hair Auburn, worn shoulder length
with outward flip
Eyes Br Own
Clothing Velvet sheath dress
with a nylon black brocaded
sleeves and carrying
a black purse and wore black
shoe8 on the night of' June 1968 .
364
11 ,
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FD-302 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Date
6L21168
Congressman THIOMAS J, REES of California
said he ws present 02 the podiuin in the Enbassy Room
at the Arbassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California
during the evening of June & 9 1968_
0
Senator ROBEKT F , KENNEDY
was making
a victory speech there after having 1or the prinary
election in California for Democratic Party nomination 2.3
Presidenta REES left the podiun and walked toward his
right 2s he faced thne audience. REZS joined his Wife
near the exit &nd waited for KENNEDY & Instead of kcowing
that wey tiaich wes one Tey to the other ballroon where
additional supporters were gathered
9
KENNEDY and Ohers
in his imediate party valked to the rear of the skage
and into the kicchen corridor of the hotel
0
REES Isaid
he does not Iow anything about any change of plan8
invol KENEOY' 8 exit from the ballroomv REES
said he had traveled with the KENNEDY party extensively
during the California primary campaign
0
Crowd control
prectices often used 3 flankc holdback of the crowd to
allow 2 person to move easier This had allowed REzS to
join his Wife in the area near where reporters were
covering the speech_
0
REES said he heard shots Thich he thought at
{irst mlght have been firecrecker8 . A panic secmed to have
been started by thiso Within about tlirty seconds Soeone
asked over the mi crophone if there was 8 Doctor inl the house?
Then someone said
9
KENNEDY had been shot c RZES said
he attempted to get people to leave raiher than to reenter
the Ballroom a9 many were trying to doo:
362
On_6421L68 Hashirgton
T
File #_ #FO 173135
by SA ROCER ASHLAL; RDA Date dictated 544138
This document contoins neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBl and is Ioaned to Your agency:
if and its contcnts ore not to bc distributed outside Your agency.
ving
ar
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FD-3 02 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGA TION
Date
7/15/68
MICHAEL RHODES
2
4342 Nogales Drive Tarzana telephone
number 987-2736_
5
advised that he was a
volunteer
worker -for Senator
ROBERT F KENNEDY He was interviewed at his residence in the
presence of Officer MORGAN
9
Los Angeles Police Departlment He
furnished the information with respect to his knowledge
of the events of June and June 5, 1968 , a t the Ambals sador
Hotel where Senator KENNEDY was shot:
He arrived at the Ambassador Hotel at approkimately
8:30 p . m _ on June 4 , 1968 , with his wife NINA RHODES They
went to the press area of the Embassy Room and spent Ithe evening
there following the primary election returns When the Senator
made his victory speech, he heard this speech from the press
room area
Following the speech, he recalls that the Senator
exited the platform to his rear through some curtains| Leading
into the kitchen passageway_ His wife NINA followed the
Senator in the hopes of personally congratulating him on his
victory_ He was approximately ten feet behind his wife and had
a view of the kitchen passageway , when he suddenly heard 8
popping sound which he thought sounded like a string of lighted
firecrackers going off His wife then turned and started to
run toward hin at full speed So he thought that the Senator
had changed directiong 8s this was the type of crowa reaction
that often times occurred with the Senator He was at the
doorway leading to the rear of the podium when he grabbed his
wife and yanked her into the She Wa8 screaming
2 "He' 8 killed" and he immediately
89zwaa
her to II 'stop that kcind
1I of talking since she had no idea whether it was true or not
When the firecracker sounds had gone off and he
observed his wife running toward hin and various screans and
shouts he suddenly realized that shots had been fired His
reaction was that the shots must have come from an automatic
weapon since they were So rapid _
7/9/68 Tarzana , California Los Angeles 56-156
On at File #
363
SA DAVID H_ COOK/aln 1/12/68
by Date dictated
Thig document containg neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It i8 the property of thel FBI and is loaned to
your agency; it and it8 contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.
follomieng
==================================================
Page 17
==================================================
2
LA 56-156
He took his wife back to the press room area where
she eventually calmed down,following the shooting and during
the period when the Los Angeles Police Department arrived on
the scene to secure the area of the shooting_
He recalls earlier in the evening he had been
through the kitchen passagewaj three or four time8 but
everyone seemed to belong there He stated that on one occasion
when he went to the lobby to get some drinks he informed the
guard to remember hin when he returned_ At that time severa1
young KENNEDY supporters pushed the guard _ He
stated
that in
his opinion; the security there was rather lax
364
by
==================================================
Page 18
==================================================
FD-3 02 (Rev. 4-15-64 )
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Date
7/15/68
NINA RS RHODES
3
4342 Nogales Drive , Tarzana
9
telephone
number 987-2736, advised that she was a volunteer fund raiser
for Senator ROBERT F_ KENNEDY and she furnished the following
information with respect to the events at the Ambassador Hotel
on June 4 and June 5, She wa8 interviewed at her
residence in the presence of Officer MORGAN , Los Angeles Police
Department
At approximately 8:30 p.m. on
June 4,1968 she
went to the Ambassador Hotel with her husband
MICHAEL
RHODES
and reported to the press staff area located west of the stage
in the Embassy Roon _ She wore an off-white, short , Russian
cossack type dress and during the course of the evening, she
followed the election results with PIERRE SALINGER , FRANK
MANKIEWICZ and various other KENNEDY staff members _
When the Senator made his speech at approximately
midnight_
)
she heard it from the press room aree She estimates
that everyone knew that the Senator was going through the kitchen
area approximately 15 minutes before his speech ended
9
since a tall blond name unknown, came over to the press
axea and asked PIERRE SALINGER which wajy he wanted the Senator
to leave the stage _ SALINGER indicated that he wanted the
Senator to turn to his right , proceed through the staff press
area , then through the kitchen area to the Colonial Room, the
site of the main KENNEDY press room in the Ambassador Hotel _
She thinks that SALINGER chose this route because he wanted
to congratulate the Senator personally on his victory and
have other key members of his staff als0 congratulate hin.
She recalls that previously when she had heard of the Senator' s
victory
9
she had agked Mr SALINGER if she could personally
congratulate the Senator when he finished his speech and
Mr SALINGER stated that she could_ The Senator did not take
the indicated route, however
9
but exited the podium back
through the curtains to the rear of the stage which ledv to the
kitchen passagewaj When this happened , Mr SALINGER said
baby indicating that she should follow the Senator
7/9/68 Tarzana ) California Los Angeles 56-156
On at File #
365
SA DAVID H cooK/aLm 7/12/68
by Date dictated
This document containg neither recommendationg nor conclusiong of the FBI. It i8 the property of the FBI and is loaned to
your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outgide your agency.
1968 .
man,
"GO ,
==================================================
Page 19
==================================================
LA 56-156
quickly through the kitchen passageway
She grabbed LUCY SALINGER S hand , who she stated
ws 8 KENNEDY volunteer and a Los Angeles resident , and
together they ran into the kitchen passageway _ She stated
this area slanted downward in the direction they were running
and that it wa8 cluttered with al1 sorts of cables She
tried to focus her attention on the Senator' s head, thereby
making it easier for her to determine his whereabouts She
had just left the entrance to the kitchen and noticed the
Senator shaking hands with various kitchen employees and
continue proceeding down the hallway when she suddenly heard
3 sound like a firecracker and she saw 3 red-like flash
three to four feet from the left of the Senator' 8 head .
She estimates that she was approximately ten feet from the
Senator when she observed this She instantaneously realized
that she was there and that shots were being fired_ She
later recalled hearing eight distinct shots Everything
appeared to her like still frames in a stop-action movie
She recalls seeing the Senator 8 head and suddenly everyone
dropping to the floor After the first shot the remaining
ones sounded like a lighted string of firecrackers Thejy
appeared to be very high in the air for when she saw the
flashes she had to look up and the flashes appeared higher
than the heads of the group of people in front of her
From her position, mhich wa S behind and slightly to the left
rear of the Senator
2
the flashes were slightly to the left
front of the Senator When the shots were fired
>
she also
noticed a cameranan violently throw himself against the wall-
She also heard people screaming, and she recalls the words ,
M "Get out of the wa;y Let 9 get out of here
The individual who fired the shots at the Senator
appeared to her to be wearing a
powder blue jacket and he
seemed to be framed against the walls which were also powder
blue When she saw he seemed to be turned from her 80
that she saw part of his back and left side a8 he wa;s in what
she described a8 a semi-crouch position_ She originally
recalls that she told the Los Angeles Police Department that
she 9a w the blue jacket in 8 sea of white Two days later she
366
him,
==================================================
Page 20
==================================================
EA 56-156
found out that SIRHAN BISHARA SIRHAN was wearing a powder blue
jacket She stated she could not identify the individual who
fired the shots because she did not see his face , but she
thinls that she could identify the jacket he was wearing.
What she does know
)
however , was that this individual was
not a Negro _
Following the shooting_
9
she does not exac tly recall
what happened in the kitchen area She vaguely remenbers
that she was on the floor and that people were stepping on
her Her hugband told her that she left the area on a dead
run and shouted, "He 8 killed" as she proceeded back toward
the Embassy press are: It was aS she wa s leaving the kitchen
passageway when her husband grabbed her and told her not to
make those kind of statement s She recalls that she lost her
purse in the kitchen area and before Leaving, she heard someone
I sajy , towels and ice
She later heard people shouting from the kitchen
M area, They got 'em" several times from several individuals _
She described the general area being filled with
hos tility, women shouting and screaming, and general confusion
She advised that she considers that security in the
area wa s very l: in that the guard in the kitchen portion of
the Embassy Room seened to allow any unauthorized individuals
through that area In this regard many individuals who were
authorized to enter the erea were denied access
367
"Get
==================================================
Page 21
==================================================
FD-3 02 (Rev. 4-15-64 )
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Date 58/68
NELSON RISING was interviewed at his place of
employment_
9
433 South Spring Street , at which time he furnished
the following information:
He was a volunteer for Senator ROBERT F KENNEDY ,
and on June 4 , 1968, he and his wife, SHARON , went to the
Ambassador Hotel to await the results of the California
primary He arrived at the hotel at approximately 7:30 pm ,
and Went immediately to the Embassy Room of the hotel On
several occasions he left the Embassy Room to drinks
and cigarettes , but was in the room when Senator KENNEDY
gave his victory speech
At the time of' the victory speech he was approximately
30 feet away from Senator KENNEDY and as KENNEDY left the
podium after the speech; RISING and his wife, SHARON_ began
to move towards the door of the Embassy Room in an effort to
leave the hotel A8 they were moving, at the rear of the
crowa he heard shouting and screaming from the area of the
door leading to the kitchen At first he thought Senator
KENNEDY had decided to leave the Embassy Room through the
crowd but later people began saying that there had been 3
shooting and someone began asking for a doctor About this
time, STEVE SMITH asked the people to leave the Embassy Room
RISING and his wife then went into the lobby of the Ambassador
Hotel While in the lobby rumors again spread that KENNEDY
had not been shot , but orle of' the aide8 had been shot Still
later a man wearing a sweater came out of the Embassy Room
and said that KENNEDY had been shot The sweater the man
was wearing had blood on it and RISING stated that he wa8 'he
man in the newspaper photograph shown fanning KENNEDY _ When
this man came into the lobby and stated that KENNEDY had
been shot, another individual unknown to RISING , became
excited and started to fight with him After breaking up
this fight , RISING next recalls seeing the police taking
SIRHAN BISHARA SIRHAN from the Ambassador Hotel This was
the first time RISING can recall ever seeing SIRHAN BISHARA
SIRHAN
7/2/68 Los Angeles , California Los Angeles 56-156
On at File
368
SA RICHARD P DOUCETTE/cld 7/8/68
by Date dictated
This document containg neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI: It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to
your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.
get
==================================================
Page 22
==================================================
2
Ia 56-156
While awaiting in the lobby to see what was
happening, RISING recalls talking to someone who stated that
had seen SIRHAN BISHARA SIRHAN earlier in the evening
trying to get into the zmbassy Room by claiming that he wa 8
with the press This person was also supposed to have
seen SIRHAN BISHA RA SIRHAN trying to get into a better posi-
tion near the stage when Senator KENNEDY was giving his
victory speech RISING is not certaln who this person was ,
but he believes it wa S either JZRRY DODDERMAN or 3 friend of
DODDERMAN 8 RISING was not sure of the
speliing
of
DODDERMAN and thought that perhaps It could have been
DODDZRSON In any case DODDZRMAN handled the sound equip-
ment for KENNEDY, was formerly employed by 8 newspaper in
Tulsa Oklahoma and should be able to be contacted through
TZD KENNEDY' s Office in Washington D C . RISING further
described this man as being a white male approximately 23
years old , blond curly hair, six
feet tail-
At about 2:00 am_ RISING and his wife, SHARON
left the Ambassador Hotel and went to the home of BOB
THOMPSON _
9
later returning, at about 4;00 to the Ambassador
Hotel, where he picked up his car and returned to his own home
369
they
am,
==================================================
Page 23
==================================================
FD-902 (Rev. 4-15-64)
1
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGA TION
Date 78168
Mr A_ W RISSER
2
4020 Lovers Lane
9
Dallas
9
Texas =
advised he is employed as a soundman With National Broad-
casting Company (NBC) RISSER said. he was 2 member of the
officlal Party traveling with Senator ROBERT F KENNEDY
prior toSenator KENNEDY 8 assassination He traveled with
the KENNEDY party from 19
9
1968 until the 'time Of
KENNEDY ' s assa8sination in Los
Angeies:
'iHe traveled With
him and worked with him throughout' the primary elections
in the States of Oregon and California Included in the,
party for NBC were Mr HENRY KOKOJAN
9
2 cameraman and Mr
TOM McLENDON
9
an electrician; who were also 'associated with
the group.
On the early morning of June 5
9
1968 and dur the
evening Of June 4 , 1968
9
RISSER ' and his NBC group were
stationed in the Embassy Room at the Ambassador Hotel in
Los Angeles to make. filmg Of Senator KENNEDY '8 victory
speech in the California' Primary lection_ RISSER said
immediately after Senator KENNEDY finished the victory.
speech shortly after nidnlght , he left the stand through:
a raar exit RISSER Sa1d he. and the other members of the
NBC crew renained in the Embassy Room ' finishing up their
assigned jobs When ` they were 'suddenly aware that Something
had happened in the outside hal a1 the rear of the
stage RISSER advised because he and the crew were in the
process of ' finishing 4p the "filning and because were
unaware of what had, happened to Senator KENNEDY
9
no further
filming was `done during the course Of the' shooting incident
RISSER said he was not an ye witness to; thei shooting
because he remained in the, Embassy; Room:: and he does not
possess any_photographs which were taken '@t the time
Senator KENNEDY was shot RISSER' said at the actual time Qf
the Shooting he Was stationed behind 2'" camera' platform
which had been constructed in the ' Embassy Room_ The
form' was located across 'the room from the" speakers stand
He advised al1 television and motion picture Cameras were
situated in this location.
J70
On 6/25/68 at
Dallas Tezas ~File # Dallas 175-9_
Los' ,Angeles 56-156
by SA CHARLES T BRONN JR Ltk Date dictated '_ZLLL68
Thie document contain8 peitber recommendatione nor conclueiona of the FBL. It i8 property of the FBI and i8 loaned to
your agency; it and ite contents are 'not to be distributed outaide your agency.
May
ing
lway
they
plat_
tbe
==================================================
Page 24
==================================================
DL 175-9
RISSER said the members of the NBC crew had expeceed
Senator KENNEDY to 16ave the room the main entrance to
the room which would have been to Senator KENNEDY !s left
from the position in which he had just spoken _ The reas
Son for his last minute change of plans was not known _
It was presued by the NBC crew that KENNEDY had changed
his route in order to save time in leaving the room
RISSER Said the room was very crowded and it would have
taken Senator KENNEDY considerably longer to leave the room
by the main entrance RISSER said he saw a group Of people
looking into a
kitchen hallway and Suddenly people began
screaning and crying: RISSER S first impression was
Senator KENNEDY had collapsed from physical, exhaustion due
to the intensive schedule he maintained throughout the
Oregon and California primaries RISSER said he did not
know who made the decision which changed KENNEDY 's route
on leaving the Embassy Room _ He said he presued this was
2 last minute decision on the part of someone since it
had been expected Senator KENNEDY would exit through the
main entrance , although nothing definite had ever been
Said on the actual route he was to leave the room _
RISSER Said he did not observe SIRHAN SIRHAN prior to
the time Senator KENNEDY was shot and he did not observe
SIRHAN any time after the Shooting_
71
by
==================================================
Page 25
==================================================
FD-3 02 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Date
72/58
RICHA RD HARVEY RITTNER, age 18, 5132 White Oak
Avenue
9
Encino California
9
Apartment No 123, telephone
number
788-2286,
furniehed the following information with
reepect to hie knowledge of the ghooting of Senator KENNEDY
at the Ambaggador Hotel on June 5, 1968:
On the evening of June 4 1958, he Tent to Dodger
Stadiuml and gaw the Lox Angelee Dodgerg-Pitteburgh Pirates
baseball game with friende JIM and ANDREA BUSCH. He returned
to his home where he changed hie clothes then went to JIM 8
house in She rman Oake
3
from where the three of' them departed
en route to the Ambassador Hotel to eee Senator KENNEDY On
the inbound Hollywood Freeway at approximately Ba rhan Boulevard
they heard the beginning of the speech. After arriving at
the Ambaegador Hotel they parked their car in the rear parking
lot directly south 0f the Ambaseador Hotel facing eouth.
They decided not to entef the hotel 8ince the epeech wa 9 still
going on and there wae a very large crowd in the vicinity
and they thought that the ballroom would be very crowded _
Immediately following the epeech they heard %ot of confufion
on the radio, and then they heard someone try to clear the
rom Then, STEMLN SMTTH came on the air and started telling
everyone to pleage clear the room They thought at that time
that he Waa Senator KNNEDY because of hie accent Then
another individual
J
Tho they later learned mas 3 priest came
on the air and etated , need medical attention for the
4i Senator_ Pleage clear the room
At that time two individuale caie walking quickly
by their car heading eouth One a male caucasian of Mexican
estraction wae aeked by JIM what had happened and this
individual stated that ne worked at the notel a2 a waiter
that he had juet shaken hande with Senator KENNEDY ;
and, €hat
someone had just ehot Senator KENNEDY and that he waz dead
Ae thie individual wa & etating that Senator KENNEDY had jut
been ehot he demongtrated this simulating a gun with hie
rigit hana and pointed it to nis
bhead
He also stated that
he had ducked to the fljoz to out of the way of the bullete _
On 31/58 at Encin California File # Loe Angelee 56-156
372
by SA DAVID H COQX_ vaa Date dictated
7/1/68_
This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It i8 the property of the FBI ad is loaned to
your agency; it ad it8 contents are not to be digtributed outeide your agency.
"we
get
==================================================
Page 26
==================================================
2
LA 55-155
RITTNER, Jiae geated on the paesenger eide of
tne BUSCH car net to thne window and he sak this individual
tnzough the frort window A female caucagian, #ho Kas with
the unknomn iale, was standirg on the paesenger : ide of the
BUSCHI car ne:t to RITTNER but she did not eay anything
He deecriked these individuale a? foll3w8 :
(1) Ra ce Mexican
Sex Male
Age 25 to 35 yeare
If Helgnt 5'9' to 5'12"
Weight 179 to 192 pounds
Dreee Da r< etingy brim hat;
Blue ehirt
)
xhaki truse
darl ca rdigan sreater;
untidy appea rance
(2) Se% Female
Ra ce Caucaeiar
Hair Shoulder leneti b:own in color
Drees Long dark eoat
After JIM talked t? the unznown ia le individual they
weni tovard the Ambazeadoz Hotel mhere JIM' & eieter, ANDRZA
saw a plainclothes policeinan towrom they told tne etory cor-
cerning the eyewitnese They then Went into the hotel mhere
tney 2aw 2 3re of the televieion coverage O1 tne event on
channel tw) from the RAFZZRTY headqua rters He recalle tnat
appro_inately 1:43 a .., he telephoned hie Lather to tell him
that IENNEDY had been ehot and that ne
9
RITTNER , wae al1 right
He recalle nearing a story being passed a round that 3 Trom
Encin) wag shot and he didn t Jant hig rattier to think that
Ie ka: the boy He recalle tnat they etajec at the notel until
aporj imately 4:03
a . il _
9
Then ne and JIM BUSCH #ent nome
toEether arter stopping of1' for coffee JIM' < sister, ANDRZA
[et c3re friende at thne hotel and went njule with them _
373
He ,
r8,
boy
==================================================
Page 27
==================================================
FD-302 (Rev. 4+15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTICATION
Date_
6/20/68
WARREN ROGERS 1622 30th Street , N Washington,
D.Co , (TDC) furnished the following information:
He advised thac he 18 employed by "Look"i Magazine
as their WDC Bureau Chief He seid that on June 5 , 1968 , he
Was i12 the Ambassador Hotel
2
Los Angeles
9
California He
stated that he had been in the Enbassy Room during most of
Senator KENNEDY ' s speech , but had gone {o the temporary press
headquarters in the Colonial Room just prior to the conclu-
sion 0f the speech.
ROGERS said that he Was in the Colonial Room when
he heard what he thought to be firecrackers fired, #e
said he immediately vent out OE the Colonial Room through the
door into the kitchen area0 He said that he ran into a number
of people struggling wi th a ian wo Was Jater identified 88
SIRHAN SIPHIAN ROGERS said chat he did not see KENNEDY sho€.
ROCERS said that et the time he left the Ebassy Room,-
whieh 1v85
during KENNEDY
S speech , it was his understanding
that KENNEDY Planned
to come to the Colonial Room through the
kitchen area< He said that to the best of his knowl it
was KENNEDY S own idea to g0 via the kitchen in order to
avoid the large crowd in the Embassy RooI, He #ecalled the
original had been for KENNEDY to exit through the czowd
in the Enbassy Room, buz this Tas changed 23 stated above,
He said there Wvag 10 indication that anyone other than KENNEDY
influencedithe change_
ROGERS said that he had never seen SIRHAN SIRHAN
prior to the shooting and could not recall geing any girl
in a D dot dress .
JTL
On_6120L68_
atl
Weshington DcC .
FIle
WFO 173-135
by
'SA R, STEVEN POLACHEK bah 6/20/68
Date dictated
This documenf conlains neilher recommendotions nor conclusions ol Ihe FBI. I Is Ihe properly of Ihe FBI and Is looned to Your ogency}
il ond ils conlenls ore nol lo be disfrlbuled oulside Your agency.
Wo ,
being
edse
plan
polka-
==================================================
Page 28
==================================================
FD-302 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
6/15/68
Date
MICHAEL ROUNSEVILLE , age 19, residing 9660 18alc01968,
Pico Rivera, California advised on the evening of June 4,
he and an acquaintance PAT OSBORN , went from Pico Rivera to
the
Ambasgador Hotel, Eos
Angeles to attend the victory
celebration 0f Senator ROBERT F KENNEDY
9
who apparently had
won the delegates from the state of California to the
Democratic National Convention to be held in the Summer of
He stated they arrived at the Ambassador Hotel about
8:00
p n _ and attempted to enter the room where Senator
KENNEDY was to give his victory speech _ They were prohibited
from entering the room and advised the room was only for members
of the prese or people who had held executive positions in the
KENNEDY campaign ROUNSEVILLE stated thereafter he and OSBORN
were directed to another room in the hotel where precinct workers
of the campaign were holding a victory celebration He stated
he remained in this room for the remainder of the evening
and he stated he watched on television monitors the victory
statement gi ven by . Senator KENNEDY in another room of the
hotel
He stated, however_ that he had never been in the
presence of Senator KENNEDY
that evening
or the following
morning and only became aware of the a8sassination of the Senator
when the word spread through the hotel that the Senator had been
shot ROUNSEVILLE said he did not see the senator and
did not see the assassination He has no knowledge whateoever
of the alleged assassin or circumstances surrounding the
assa8sination except those he has learned from the prese and
television
ROUNSEVILLE stated the only information he could
give which would have any bearing whatsoever on the investigation
regarding the a8sa8sination of Senator KENNEDY 18 tha t he
did see a young girl in the room where he was at the Ambaseador
Hotel, who in an apparent emotional outburst made s ome
muddled comments regarding the assa88ination He stated
6/14/68 Pico Rivera, California Los Angeles 56-156
On at File # 375
SA FRANCIS J . 0 'HARA/mmc 6/15/68
by Date dictated
This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and i8 loaned to
your agency; it ad its contents are not to be distributed outgide your agency.
1968
==================================================
Page 29
==================================================
2
LA 56-156
this girl name unknown, later was Interviewed by one or more
of
thetelevision
networks and the girl furnished information
C oncerning the presence at the assa88ination scene of another
girl in a polkadot dress ROUNSEVILLE stated he would Question
and examine closely any statements made by .this girl who
furnished information concerning the girl in the polkadot
dres8 , because it 18 his considered opinion that this girl
in such a highly emotional state, could have 8aid anything,
none of which might have had any basis in reality.
ROUNSEVILLE advised that the photograph of him and
OSBORN , which appeared in the latest edition of Life magazine
along with others depicting the apparent state of shock was
not taken anyplace in the immediate vicinity of the assassination
9 but in another room entirely removed from the assas8ination
site_
ROUNSEVILLE adviged that he could furnish no other
information concerning this matter.
376
==================================================
Page 30
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FD-3 02 (Rev. 4-15-64 )
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
6/28/68
Date
LON BRUCE RUBIN
)
5925 Glade Avenue
)
Woodland
Hillg
5
California_
2
home telephone 883..2133_
9
adviged that
he is an attorney
9
although not practicing in his profeesion
the pregent time RUBIN stated he 18 presently engaged
in the building businees and 1e as8ociated with the Kaufman
and Broad Building Company whose offices are located at
10889 Wilshire Boulevard Log California
9
businegs
telephone numbers
'879-2780
or
47ge282i
RUBIN advised that
during the evening of June 4
9
1968 he and his wife BARBARA,
attended the theatre They were joined by another couple
named Mr and Mrs PHILLIP BELL
3
addre&e unknown _
9
Arcadia,
California RUBIN stated that BELL was employed with him
in the building business After &ttending the theatre, and
on the spur of the moment
9
they decided to g0 to the Ambasgador
Hotel and attempt to see Senator KENNEDY RUBIN advised
they drove to the hotel in geparate care
Upon arrival at the Ambageador Hotel
9
RUBIN advised
he let hig wife
9
BARBARA, off at the Wilehire lobby entrance
He" continued up to the parking area where he received a
parking ticket froin the attendant which clocked in at
11.55 p . m RUBIN advised he
stili
has this parking ticket
in hig poseession He then continued to the lower parking
lot
5
where he parked hig car and returned to the hotel on
foot RUBIN adviged he proceeded to the hotel
where he met the BELL couple talked for approximately a
minute and then looked for hig wife RUBIN estimated that
approximately fifteen minutes had elapged from the time he
parked his car and the tine he finally located his wife
BARBARA _ RUBIN stated they were unable to enter the Embaesy
Room where Senator KENNEDY was speaking inaemuch a8 the room
Wag filled to capacity and there were Security Guards the
doors He stated the BELL couple decided to leave
9
but he
and hig wife were intent upon getting into the room where
Senator KENNEDY was speaking- RUBIN etated he and his wife
then walked down a hallway
9
where obgerved a door which
they entered and found themgelves in a kitchen They proceeded
6/22/68 Woodland Hillg
9
California Los Angeles 56-156
On at File #
37
SAg MARTIN LAUER and 6/24/68
EDWARD A PLEVACK /EAP /eb
by Date dictated
Thi8 document containg neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI: It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to
your agency; it ad it8 contents are not to be distributed outgide your agency.
at
at
they
==================================================
Page 31
==================================================
2
LA 56-156
through the kitchen and found themgelves in the Embasey Room
at the podium where Senator KENNEDY wag
juet ending hishi:
speech_ RUBIN recalled Senator KENNEDY at the conclusion
of his epeech, made some comment conce rning Mayor YORTY _
RUBIN recalled when he Walked through the kitchen
9
he
obgerved some waiters by a check-out desl . He algo observed
three waiters who were wearing white jackete: He vaguely
recalled an individual who looked out of place standing to
his left as he proceeded through the kitchen toward the
ballroom . RUBIN recalled this person appeared to be wearing
worktype clothee , pogeibly jeans
9
and hig facial characteristicg
conformed with those of the waitere RUBIN adviged he did
not pay any attention to this pereon and therefore would not
be able to identify hii
RUBIN stated after Senator KENNEDY concluded his
epeech_
9
he turned to hig right and walked from the podium
toward the kitchen RUBIN etated hig wife
>
BARBARA, who wag
on the other eide of the podium algo proceeded toward the
kitchen door in ari effort to a look at Senator KENNEDY_
RUBIN adviged he wae approximately ten feet behind hig wife
5 being pushed forward by the crowd He stated his wife
dieappeared through the doors which entered into the kitchen
Shortly thereafter
9
he heard approximately eix ghots
5
and at
the time he recalled that it sounded like an electrical outlet
had 'ghorted out RUBIN stated from his position, at this time,
he Wag unable to look into the kitchen RUBIN stated the
next thing he remembers Wa8 a woman running through the
kitchen doors into hig arms She had blood on her RUBIN
stated there was a Security Guard to his right and he
pughed the woman over to the guard and ingtructed him to
a doctor At thi: point RUBIN stated he was intent on getting
to his wife and he manazed to step just ineide the kitchen
door where he found the area in complete pandemonium_ He aleo
obeerved_people lying on the floor He said at thig point hie
wife BARBARA, met him and she appeared to be in a state of
ghock and requeeted him to get her out of there RUBIN stated
he guided her through the crowd
5
and finally managed to
acrose the ballroom and proceeded to the ALAN 'CRANSTON
Headquarterg RUBIN gaid he sat his wife down and obtained a
drinl for her They remained here for a short period and
watched the activities on television RUBIN etated hig wife
378
get
get
they
get
==================================================
Page 32
==================================================
3
IA 56-156
was etill in a etate of shock, and they left the hotel and
returned to their car RUBIN stated that due to the confueion
and traffic
2
they were unable to move from the parking lot
After some period of time
9
RUBIN recalled that 8 woman came
up to the car and aeked if there were any witneesee to the
shooting, as the police wanted to interview them RUBIN advised
he and wife then left the vehicle and returned to the hotel
Photographg of SIRHAN BISHARA SIRHAN
9
together with
other photographe
9 were displayed to RUBIN and he advised,
a8 an attorney and in good conscience , he could not identify
this pereon as being identical to the individual he obgerved
in the kitchen
379
==================================================
Page 33
==================================================
FD-302 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Date
6/26/68
BARBARA RUBIN also known as Mrs Lon Bruce Rubin,
hous ewife, Glade Avenue Woodland Hille, California ,
telephone
86925183,
related the follow
She and her husband had gone to the Embassy Room at
the Ambassador Hotel Los Angeles
3
California , shortly after
midnight on June 5,
i968.
The purpos e wa: to join the campaign
party of Senator ROBERT F_ KENNEDY They were unable to
into the Embassy Room through the main entrance, a8 it wa 8 full_
They found that by going through a kitchen area, off this room,
could enter the Embassy Room without being challenged _
There were only three people in the kitchen when she and her
husband entered They were all dark complected men, two of
whom appeared to be kitchen workers as they were moving about _
One was tall and the other ehort _ The third man, slight of
build
9
wae just 8 tanding aga inst the wa 11 in about the middle
of the kitchen She did not note details of his dress but did
note this third man did not appear to be a kitchen worker
Mrs RUBIN and her husband went on into the Embassy
Room just a8 Senator ROBERT KENNEDY was finishing his speech.
had arrived at a point 8 few feet from the podium where
Senator KENNEDY was 8
tanding when he mad e s ome remark about
Mayor SAM YORTY of Los Angeles
)
which ended his speech_ Senator
KENNEDY then started for the kitchen Mr and Mrs RUBIN
followed hin _ They were S eparated by the pressure of the crowd
near the kitchen door and Mrs RUBIN followed the KENNEDY party
into the lritchen Mx RUBIN got trapped and did not get
into the kitchen
Mr PAUL SCHRADE was right behind Senacor KENNEDY ana
Mrs RUBIN was behind Mr SCHRADE When she suddenly heard three
shots followed by five quick shots She realized 8 omeone wa 8
shooting in her direction but she could not S ee who it was , a8
Mr SCHADE wa s taller than she_ at this point , If hit the
It floor along with a young blonde woman, and kept her head down
until she felt the shooting had stopped She saw people_ g9 down
on the floor and briefly saw Mr KENNEDY on the floor When she
6/21/68 Wood land Hills, California File #Los Angeles 56-156
On at
380
SA RICHARD M_ WOOLF and
SA LCSLIE F WA RREN LFW /sro Date dictated
6/25/68
by
This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI: It is the property of the FBI ad is loaned to
your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outgide your agency.
ing:
get
they
They
She ,
==================================================
Page 34
==================================================
2
La 56-156
up she ran out of the kitchen to join her husband She
hid behind things until ehe found her way out as she did not
kcnow whether or not there might be more shooting_
The Los Angeles Police Department had questioned
Mrs RUBIN briefly after the shooting
9
asking her if she had
8 een the shooting She replied and was not questioned
further_
Mrs RUBIN had appeared on television but wa 8 not
interviewed She was 8tanding near the door of the Embassy
Room when the television news cameras picked up an interview
being conducted of a Negro doctor who had been at the scene
There had been some comnent in news programs and in the press
of a couple being gought for interview exact source not
recalled She was of the opinion the descriptions furnished of
the being gought and apparently seen in the kritchen area
before the shooting generally fit that of her and her husband
Mrs RUBIN described hergelf a8 a white female_ 33
Ii years of age, 5' 5 wearing two-inch heels , olive
135 140 pounds dark ghoulder length hair worn bouffant
darl eyes She wa 8 wearing a white dress with red belt sash
and a bright red and white checkered jacket _ She , at times
3 carried the jacket.
She described Mr RUBIN as 8 white male, 6' , 185
pounds 35 years of age, broad shoulders He was wearing a
navy
biue
blazer and gray slacks
Mrs RUBIN furnished a photograph of herself taken in
March 1968 , which she said could be used for further identificatio:
if desired The photograph need not be returned
Following examination of photographs of SIRHAN SIRHAN
and his brothers
9
Mrs RUBIN was of the Opinion that the photograpl
of STRHAN SIRHAN res embled the person she had seen in the kitchen
381
got
"no'
couple
comple ioyie,
==================================================
Page 35
==================================================
LA 56-156
stand ing against the wal1 about five to seven minutes before
Senator KENNEDY finished his gpeech - She had not noted the
man in question in the kritchen closely enough to make a positive
identification She had no recollection of seeing any of the
brothers of SIRHAN SIRHAN at any time _
382
==================================================
Page 36
==================================================
FD-302 (Rcv. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Date_
6/24/68
WILLIAM SC0TT Vice Pregident 8n2d Director f
Newz , WMCA Radio , New York, New York, wa8 interviewed bj
Special Agents JOFIN BRADSHAW , JR_ and JAMES E SNIECOCKI
at his office, 415 Madigon Avenue , New Yoxk, New York.
SCOT advised 'hat he Wa8 at the Ambazsador
Hotel on June 4 and 5, 1968 & time Senator Robert F
Kennedy W88 shot_ He related a gtatement that he had
made to ap8ociate8, rhat approximately one and one half
hours prece ding the KENNEDY Bhooting, that he Wvltnessed
81 unidentiried White male Walking past the Radio Prob8
Table in 8 strange manner This incident Wa8 recalled
by him after the shooting In that thi8 individual had
hif right hand 1n his coat pocket Wlth his left hand
clasped over the coat pocket_ A the Gime, he 'chought
maybe thio individual had stolen goxe of tne press equipe
ment and 128 trying to hide 1t in hi8 pocket_ He checked
and did noc nore Bny equlpment miseing ,. Lacer , however,
efter beeing SIPFAN SIRHAN' € photogzaph he recalled 8
8imilarity 0€ SIRFAN witn this unidenciried male and
chought maybe chis Wa8 SIRAAN &n posaibly that he wa8
holaing 8 gun in bib pocket _ Tne unidentified male
$
0f
the general deacription of SIRRAN, Iaw wearing 2 light
blue zipper , windbrealer #ype , jacket and tan khali
trouser8
0
SCOT 8teted that ne Was not In the immediate
8r88 cf the Hotel of the Bhooting and had no phocographs
of the ensuing event8. Other than poseibly the above
unidentified person being SIRHAN, he does not recall
8eeing SIRHAN either before or after the shooting.
J83
6/21/68 New York, New York NY 44-1640
On_ at File # _
848 JOHN BRADSHAW JRo &
JAMES E,
0
SNIEGOCIT/pr 6/24/68
by Date dictated
This document conlains neilher recommendations nor conclusions of Ihe FBI. It Is Ihe properly of Ihe FBI and Is loaned to agency;
il and ils contenls ore nof lo be distribuled oulside agency.
Your
Your
==================================================
Page 37
==================================================
FD 302 (Rev 4-15
64)|
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Date_
3 , 1968
1r FENNETH 4. GIEC , Routc 2, Boz 427 =
9
staced thet
O1}
Yriday, 31 , 1968 , while att ending the aftermoon reces
at the lollywood Park: Racetrack with his brother, KEITII ii.
CIEG, he took U? a conversation with 2 mnan he not believes to
be identieal to SIZiE] SIXiXA? _ Ile stated he did not Iow it
was SIRHAI ttil he vicwed recent photographs of SIrin in
newspaper s cad onl telcvision . SIE: appeared well educated,
intclligently with English aiid had only
a
slight
trace of ar acceit.
Zle steted Guring the early of ihe
races SIBIMN 5
only conversation Vas about the Various horses
a1d matters gencrally pertaininng to racing. }ie said tiat leter,
during possibly the {ifth or sizth race, a man $ S 1240 which
appeared to be Jewish appeercd 0fl tlle card ond SIKLAiI stated
hna was "a4) Aral" and bcga degrading the Je1s Ile advised
SIIRLSS w2z
standing with hin and lis brorher fron aboui the
third rece until they left at the ed 0f the eighth race for
a total time span of about Onle and # half to ttzo hour: -
Ie staced that during thai time he did mor observe
az1yone in the ar(2 wlio oppeared to kaow Sllie and SITiIAW
ialked to no 0ro but thcm .
lc Said S iLizt dia not "flash arourc" 3 lot of noney
no5 act like he hnad a lot of nloizey . lle &dced Xxc cid not
observe a billfold but rather notcd he took his bills fro a
Small roll He wes of ihe opinion that this 142;832 lne believes
to be SIZAAN TZ s the type 0f person who spent 8 lot of time
around racetracks nd based his opinion 01l the fact he
observed this Ilzun to bc kowledgeable about horses and raccs
ad interested in2 the Same
He stated he Tould describe this Ian as {ollows:
On
7/3/68 Mettler Station, Califorigfile SC` 62-76
by
SA IIERI G . IELLEZ/sY
Date dictated_
7/3/63
This documeni conlains neithe recommendallons nor concluslons 0l Ihe FBI. It is Ihe properly 0l Iho FBI ond is loaned to Your agency;
it und Mls conlenls ore nof to b0 distribuled oulside agency.
July
Nay
good spoke
Part
Yout
==================================================
Page 38
==================================================
SC 62-76
2
Race White
Sex Nale
Age About 25
Height 5 ' 21
Weight 120-130
Build Small
Complexion Olive
Hair Dark, bushy
Features Small hands with very
small fingerrails
Oothing Dark slacks , light colored
windbreker
335
==================================================
Page 39
==================================================
FD-3 02 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGA TION
1 7 /23/68
Date
Mr JERRY ALIEN STMS , 13048 Cornish Crest Road Whittier,
California, a free-lance cameraman, telephone No _
944-6822,
phoned the Los Angeles Office of the FBI and s tated that the
FBI in New York City had been attempting to locate him for inter-
view a8 a potential witnes8 in the shooting of Senator ROBERT
KENNEDY _
Mr SIMS said that he was in the Embassy Room of the
Amba sgador Hotel, Los Angeles, at the time that Senator KENNEDY
wa 8 shot and that he did not see the shooting nor did he
See SIRHAN SIRHAN a t any time
Mr STMS had trave led with the Senator ROBERT KENNFDY
Campaign Party in Indiana
9
Oregon, Nor thern California and the
Los Angeles area and he had no recollection of ha ving ever seen
any person who he thought might be SIRHAN SIRHAN.
Mr SIMS said that he wa 8 a co-operator of two corpor_
I ation: in New York City_ "Simthing Company and Fortune Cookie
Films 630 9th Aven ue , Suite 411, New York City, New York. If it
was ever desired t? contact him, he could be reached either at
a ca11 service telephone No _ in New York City, JU 6-6493 who
wo uld know his whereabouts at a11 times_
9
or at his above residence
phone SIMS claimed to do contract work for the Columbia Broad _
casting System_
7/18/68 Los Angele8, California Los Angeles 56-156
On at File #
SA IESLIE # WARREN/sdb 7/19/68
by Date dictated
This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI: It is the property of the FBI and i8 loaned to
your agency; it &nd its contents are 'not to be distributed outside your agency.
386
==================================================
Page 40
==================================================
FD-3 02 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Date
7/17/68
FREDDIE STEWART
9
17156_ Ventura Boulevard
9
advised
that he was at the Ambassador Hotel during the night of
June 4-5, Mr STEWART said that he has no_personal
knowledge concerning the shooting of Senator ROBERT F
KENNEDY He said he was not in the area where Mr_ KENNEDY
was shot.
Mr _ STEWART said that he has seen newspaper
photographs of SIRHAN SIRHAN
9
and he does not ever recall
having met this individual before He said that he cannot
recall ever having seen SIRHAN SIRHAN at the Ambassador Hotel
during the night of June 4-5,
7/11/63 Encino
5
California Los Angeles 56-156
On at File #
387
by
SA JOHN F MORRZSON /eb
Date dictated
7/11/68
This document contains neither recommendationg nor conclusiong of the FBI. It i8 the property of the FBI and ig loaned to
your agency; it ad its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.
1968_
1968_
==================================================
Page 41
==================================================
FD-3 02 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGA TION
7/18/68
Date
Mr : WILLIAM A SWEARINGEN , 10823 Barman Avenue ,
Culver City, telephone 838-3463 .
was contacted at Paramount
Studios , Me lrose and Marathon, Hollywood, Ca lifornia He
furnished the following informa tion:
His Social Security Number 18 He PII
wa8 born July 24, 1337, at Hollywood , FTorida He 1S 3 freez
lance cameraman
On June 4, 1968 , he wa 8 wor king a8 a8sistant cameraman
on a CBS camera crew a8signed to the Ambaswador Hotel The
cameraman wa8 JOHN VIAZANKO_
Shortly after midnight on June 5, 1368 , he was in
the hallway just outside the Embassy Rooin of the Ambassador
Hotel
M He heard S Oreone say , thing happened inside
He could not reca11 the identity of this individual .
He did not hear any sounds that sounded like gun
shots
A ehort time later, he observed an individual, who
he cjuld not describe being carried out of the pantry area of
the hotel by several individuals _
About the same time he heard people in the hotel sa ying
that Senator ROBERT F KENNDY had been shot in the kitchen
area of the hotel _
He attempted to enter the lcitchen area but was denied
entrance by 3 security guard.
He wa8 shown a photograph of SIRHAN BISHARA SIRHAN and
he advised that he saw this individual 's photograph in the news _
paper on June 5, 1368 , and a180 observed SIRHAN on te levision
7/15/68 Hollywood, California Los Angeles 56-156
On at File #
SA J C_ FISHBECK , JR and 388
SA ROBERT F_ PICKARD /RFP /sdb 7/17/68
by Date dictated
This document containg neither recommendationg nor conclusion8 of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to
your agency; it and its contents are 'not to be distributed outside your agency.
"Some
==================================================
Page 42
==================================================
2
IA 56-156
He noted that prior to observing SIRHAN'8 photograph
in the newepaper chat he did not ever see this individual
before
He advised that k did not see SIRHAN on the night
that Senator KENNEDY was shot .
389
==================================================
Page 43
==================================================
FD-302' (Rev. `4+15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Date_
6/20/68
BILL THEIS , Hearst Newspapersp 1700 Pennsylvania
Avenue , Np furnished the followlng information:
In his capacity 8s 2 correspondent for Hearst
Nevspapers, THEIS accompanied tlze CKENNY campaign party
part of the time in the Oregon primary &nd in the Celifornia
primary . He spent his tima between the KENNEDY and M CARTHY
campaigns in both Oregon &nd Californiao In California he
accompanied KENNEDY around San Franciseo and on the Senator" g
train trip frou Fresno t0 Sacramentoo TTEIS was not vith the
KENNEDY party during the camnalgning eround Los Angeles.
Ac the tine of the shoocing cf Senator RENNEDY ,
TEIS was in a terporary press room adjoining chne rcom There
the Senator gave his victory speecha He and the other reporters
were in chiis room}
weiting for the Senator %o appear for 8
press conference after the victory speechs _
As che reporters vere expecting KENNEDY S appeararce
in the room they heard noiges gounding like Eirecreckers & Ten
to fifteen seconds after these noises THEIS went through the
doors into the kitchen Where he observed ROOSEVELT GRIER,
RAF ER JOHNSON end BILL BARRY wrescllng with an individual
whon he leter leazned was SIEHAN SIRHAI . He also sew the
Senator on the floor,
He imedietely wenc to &
phone &nd called his officee
While he was On the phone he sam the police take SIRHAN out 0f
the horele
After KENNEDY S victory speech THEIS did not know
how KENNEDY intended to enter the temporary pre8s room, but
only chat he was to iakce 312 eppearance 1n2 that roonl, THEIS
did not
renember having seen SIRHAN SIRHAN at any cine prlor
J90
On_
6/18/68
of
Weshingtone Da C ,
File #_
WFO 173-135
SA JOHN PATTERSON: tab 6/19/68
by_ Date dictatcd_
This document contoins ncither recommendations nor conclusions of thc FBI: It is the property of the FBl and is looncd to Your agency:
if and its confents are nof lo be distributed outside Your agcncy.
We p
Lo
==================================================
Page 44
==================================================
WFO 173-135
2
to seeing him 0n the floor wrestling with BARRY
9
JOHSON &nd
GRIER_ TREIS did not remember seeing
a girl in a
Polka-dot
dress at che election night party ax the Ambassador Hocele
J81
==================================================
Page 45
==================================================
FD-3 02 (Rev. 4-15-64 )
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
7/10/68
Date
KAY THOMSON 3010 West Fourth Street, Los Angeles
California , telephone Number 382-3397, who was the coordinator
of' Citizens Groups for Senator ROBERT F KENNEDY and who i8
now emp Loyed in like capacity for ALAN CRANSTON Democra tic
Sena torial candidate for the State of Californla
1
furnished
the follow information conc erning her knowledge of the
shooting of Senator ROBERT F KENNEDY :
On June 1968 , She arrived at the Embassy Room of
the Ambagsador
'otei
with her husband ROBERT THOMSON_ and
prior to the speech by the Senator she concerned herself with
making arrangements for many volunteers to enter the ball room
who had not been igsued passes During the speech, she and
her husband were located in the s outhwest corner of the bal1
room, and shortly after the speech ended the crowd s eemed to
surge toward the area just to the right of the platform and then
it surged back_ She did not hear any unusual noises at the
time but she did hear a wi oman 8 cream "He ' g dead , M after which
this wOman became generally disturbed She then heard THAD
HEA TH call from the platform area for a doctor She al80
heard DAVID STETNER do the same thing _ STEPHEN SMITH
3
Senator
KENNEDY ' s brother-in-law
)
then took the microphone and asked
the crowd in the ball room to please leave the area With
her husband ROBERT, and s everal other individuals whos e names
she does not know , they attempted to clear the ass embled
individuals from the Embassy Room When this was done, she
and her husband returned immedia to their apartment where
they followed the proceedings on televigion
She was shown a photograph of SIRHAN B_ SIRHAN and
she advised that she did not 8ee this individual a8 ,any time
while at the Ambassador Hotel and that she can furnish no
further information regarding the shooting of Senator ROBERT #
KENNEDY
7/8/68 Los Angeles , California Los Angeles 56-156
On at File #
392
SA DAVID H_ cOok/sro 7/9/68
by Date dictated
This document containg neither recommendationg nor conclusions of the FBI: It is the property of the FBI and i8 loaned to
your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.
ing
tely
==================================================
Page 46
==================================================
FD-3 02 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGA TION
Date
37Lo/68_
ROBERT Es THOMSON
3
3010 West Fourth Street
9
Los
Angeles California telephone Number 382-3397 furnished
the
foliowing
informa tion with respect to his knowledge of
the shooting of Senator ROBERT F KENNEDY at the Ambassador
Hotel on June 5, 1968 :
He arrived at the ball room of the Ambagsador Hotel
at approximately 8:00 p . m_ on June 4 , 1968 , and waited there
until Senator KENNEDY s tarted his speech_ He recalled 8 tanding
between the television platforms located on the west and south
walls of the Embassy Room _ Shortly after the Senator 8 speech,
at approximately midnight, he thought he heard balloons popping,
and he a8sumed that the balloons he heard were thos e that were
us ed as decorations over the tform area from which the Sena tor
spoke Just after this , however he heard 8 omeone say that the
Senator wa $ shot and he noticed that this reaction spread across
the roon _ At that time he realized that the sounds he had
thought were balloons popping must have been shots
Shortly thereafter he observed a middle aged
being escorted from the kitchen area with blood 8 treaming down
her face Follow this , he and his wife attempted to clear
the ball room in support of instructions from the Los Angeles
Police Department After the ball room was cleared, he and
his wife, KAY, left the Ambassador Hotel and returned to their
home where they wa tched the rema ining events on television.
THOMSON was shown a photograph of SIRHAN B_ SIRHAN
and advised that he did not observe this individual at any
time while at the Ambassador Hotel_ He s tated he could furnish
no further information of value concerning the shooting of
Senator ROBERT F KENNEDY _
On
7/8/68 at Le8_Angeles
J
California File # Log Angeles 56-156
393
SA DAVID H COOK_ 8ro 79/68
by Date dictated
This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI, It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to
your agency; it and its contents are :not to be distributed outside your agency.
pla
lady
ing
==================================================
Page 47
==================================================
FD-3 02 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Date
7/15/68
JoY THORNTON re siding at 1280 South Barrington Avenue ,
Apartment 22, Loe Angeles California, advised that she and hex
husband JOHN Were a t the
'Ambaseador Hotel,
3400 Wilehire Boule
5
vard , Los Angele g on the: night of June 4 5, 1968
She stated that she and her hueband were present at
the time that Senator ROBERT F KENNEDY gave his victory speech
in the Embassy Roon She stated that abou? One hour before
Senator KENNEDY gave the speech she and her husband entered the
room through the kitchen were Senator KENNEDY was later shot
Mrg THORNTON stated that she has no personal knowledge
concerning the activities tha i took place in the area where
Senatox KENNEDY wias shot She stated she and her husband were
not in rhe immediate area at the time he was shot She stated
she has seen newspaper photographs of SIRHAN SIRHAN and she cannot
recall ever having seen this individual before She stated she
did not See SIRHAN SIRHAN at any time while she wa8 at the
Ambaseador Hotel on the night of' June 4 ,
L
June 5,
Mrs THORNTON stated that she was a volunteex worker at
the KEMEDY for President Campaign Headquartere located a %
5616 Wilshire Boulevard She etated she vorked for about three
months prior to the pr imary election at the front desk in the
headquarters: She stated ehe m'orked abot 12 houxe a day during
this time and she doe : not recall ever having seen SIRHAN SIRHAI
at the headquartere
Mre _ THORNTON stated that her hueband JOHN C ould fur
I
nish n0 farther information other than What she has already given
On
7/15/68
at
Los Angele€ , California
File
#Ioe Angeleg 56-156
394
by 8A JOHN p MORRISON nmb Date dictated
7/15/63
Thig document containg neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI: It i8 the property of the FBI &d is loaned to
your agency; it and it8 contents are 'not to be digtributed outgide your agency.
1963 1968
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Page 48
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W'O 173-135
RSP : bah
1
On June 20 1963 , STAN TRETICK , 2953 lrizona lve-
nue, N_W, _
9
Washington, DcC 0 (TEC)
Tas contacted by SA T.
STZVEN PCLACIEZ _ TRETICK said that he is a reporter for
"'Look" Kagazine and was in the Ambassador Hotel Los Angeles
California on June 5 1968 _ He said that at tne time
Senator KNNZDY was shot he (TRETICK) Tas in the IEN"EDY suite
01 the Sth floor of the hotel TREICX advised that he did
not Icnow which way the KENMEDY party intended to leave the
Ebassy Roo:n and he said that he had not seen SIRHAN prior
to the shooting He could offer 10 information concerning'
the in the polta-dot dress ,
395
girl
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Page 49
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FD-3 02 (Rev. 4-15-64)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGA TION
1 6/7/63
Date
Mrs KATHERTNE A TURRELL , residence 20912
Spindrift Lane Huntington Beach, was contac
ted
at her
father' s residence, 2127 Aralia Street _ She advised that
she and her family attended the Senator KENNEDY victory
celebration at the Ambassador Hotel on June 4-5,
She stated that she was S tanding about ten feet to the
right of Senator KENNEDY as he spoke recognizing his
victory on June 4 1963,
9
in the California primary and
that many_KENNERY supporters had lined up
9
arm in arm , on
Senator KENNEDY S right, providing a corridor through which
he was expected to travel -
She stated it was her understanding Senator KENNEDY
would exit to his right, through this human corridor to
leave through a door behind and to the right of her, which
she could not see_ She stated there were many good sized
men in this human corridor and approximately at midnight
on June 4 she
looked
over this group into the
Embassy Room_
'On
the other side of the human corridor
she observed an individual 8 tanding above the corridor.
She surmised he must have been standing on a box of some
kind She s tated this individual joined his hands together
and gestured to someone behind her and to her right who
she did not see a8 if he was going to dive over the human
corridor She steted that with his lips he said_ "I am
Mi going to get him_ She stated she barely heard him utter
these words
9
could not recall what his voice sounded like
but there is no doubt in her mind that he uttered these
words She stated she cannot be sure what he meant , but
since there were several hundred people in the Embassy Room;
the noise made his voice just barely audible She estimated
she stood about 30 feet from this individual and described
him a8 follows :
Sex Mele
Race White
In mid 20s
Hair Dark, with sideburns and
Los Angeles 56-156
On
6/6/63
at
Newport_Beach__CalifornieFile #
SA PHILIP P HANLON/eb
396 6/7/63
by Date dictated
Thi8 document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI, It is the property of the FBI and i8 loaned to
your agency; it and itg contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.
1963
1963
Age
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Page 50
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2
LA 56-156
small mustache; hair
receding and bald in front
Clothing Apparel White, button down shirt,
open at the neck, wearing
white golf alpaca sweater
Build Slender
Complexion Olive
She advised that sometime later after the
shooting of the Senator occurred, she met with her father,
FREDERICK BAEDEKER at the Ambassador and told him of this
incident She advised that when they returned home on
June 5
9
1963 and while watching Tempo I, the STAN BORHAM
and MARIA COLE
show at noon she observed this individual
being interviewed by them
ana
identified him to her father
a5 the same individual who had made the above statement_
She stated the above individual who she described
is definitely not SIRHAN the suspect in this case, and
she saw no girl in a polka dot dress .
397