</s>OPTIONAL FORM NO. 10 SAT MAY 18, 1972 -1914-14 (SAT 18, 2012-1914) UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT Memorandum TO : : SAC, WFO (173-135) DATE: 7/17/68 FROM : SA ROGER D. ASHLAND SUBJECT: KENSALT Mrs. NADINE RUSH, 1317 M Street, North West, Washington D. C. advised SA ASHLIND at 7/15/68 NORMAN WHEELOCK continues to reside on that address in her basement rear apartment. He has been in a drunken condition previous day and night. She has added, in a was not home and probably could be found in a bar somewhere. He beat her up previous night and upset things in her he beat her previous night night and upst things in here. but he had said to him alcoholic and mentally ill he was then said to have him during the police had been called to check on him during a disturbance that evening not had not arrested WHEELDOCK. On 17/17,68, SAS ASHLND and PHILIP and COCHLAN obtained the following information from NORMAN WHEEELOCK; He was drinking beer during the interview. On various days, while drinking, he had made statements indicating he was involved drinking, and he had had made STIRIAN, he does not know STIRIAN SIRIAN and has never been offered, he doesn't know SIRIAN. He said he would stop saying things like that to people. people. 1- 173-135-135 RDA: rda (1) 1-173-134-144 1-183-144 1-1-4-4.4-1.4.1-2-1/4-2.1/2-2/2.2-4/4.2/1-3/4/2/4 SEARCHED INDEXED-1 SERIALIZED-FILLED MAY 191968 FBI-1 - WASH. F.O. Caspian F.0. Buy U.S. Savings Bonds Regularly on the Payroll Savings Plan

The documents detail FBI investigations into potential threats against Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) during his 1968 presidential campaign, including reports on individuals allegedly planning his assassination, witness accounts of the June 5, 1968, shooting at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, and logistical details of RFK’s movements. Key elements include Norman Wheelock’s history of domestic violence and erratic behavior, Clifford Flittty’s alleged threats made during a flight from Sydney to London, and FBI efforts to track Flittty’s whereabouts. Mrs. Guy’s account of witnessing the shooting at the hotel is noted, along with witness descriptions of the chaotic aftermath. The FBI requested photographic analysis of a 1968 Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) photograph showing RFK with an unidentified individual and someone resembling Sirian Stirian/Sirhan Sirhan. Witness statements from journalists like John Herbers and Joseph Giordano describe the sequence of events, including the shooting, medical response, and interactions with suspects. Interviews conducted by the FBI on June 26–28, 1968, included correspondents, campaign staff, and hotel personnel, with details about RFK’s route changes post-speech and crowd surges during the incident.  

Key People  
- **Norman Wheelock**: Resided at 1317 M Street NW, Washington D.C., with U.S. Navy serial number [SSN REDACTED] (802299) and employment by Leslie Engking; reported threatening to harm STIRIAN or SIRIAN.  
- **Clifford Flittty**: American industrialist with Ameranda Petroleum Co., described as 5 feet tall, gray hair, glasses; allegedly made threats against RFK during a flight from Sydney to London (stops: Honolulu, San Francisco, New York).  
- **Mrs. Nadine Rush**: Reported Wheelock’s threats to harm STIRIAN or SIRIAN.  
- **Mrs. Naomi Gross**: Reported Flittty’s alleged threats against RFK.  
- **Mrs. Guy**: Witness at the Ambassador Hotel during RFK’s speech; described witnessing RFK being shot and a chaotic scene with physical altercations.  
- **Sirian Stirian/Sirhan Sirhan**: Mentioned as an individual resembling someone seen near Kennedy in a 1968 photograph, later identified as the alleged assassin.  
- **William Barry**: Described as part of Kennedy’s staff, observed struggling with Sirhan Sirhan post-assassination.  
- **Rosie Grilly**: Professional football player reportedly involved in restraining Sirhan Sirhan after the shooting.  
- **John Herbers**: New York Times correspondent who witnessed the event and described the sequence of actions.  
- **Joseph Giordano**: Senator Kennedy’s office manager, present during the speech and aftermath; noted a white female in a polka-dot dress interacting with police.  
- **Frank Manklewicz**: Press Secretary for Kennedy’s campaign, provided details on planned routes and observations of the shooting.  
- **Dun Gifford**: Legal assistant to Senator Edward Kennedy, described witnessing Sirhan Sirhan holding a gun and the struggle post-shooting.  

Key Locations  
- **Washington D.C.**: Wheelock’s residence (1317 M Street NW), FBI field offices.  
- **Sydney, Australia**: Flittty’s origin; flight departure point for his alleged threats against RFK.  
- **Honolulu, San Francisco, New York**: Flight stops mentioned in Flittty’s alleged threats.  
- **Los Angeles, California**: Ambassador Hotel (site of RFK’s speech and assassination), including the Embassy Room, Colonial Room, kitchen area, and ballroom.  

Key Events  
- **Norman Wheelock’s reported domestic violence and erratic behavior** (1968).  
- **Clifford Flittty’s alleged statements about assassinating RFK during a flight to London** (June 1968), including references to a "bullet belt" and a handwritten note.  
- **FBI investigation into Flittty’s whereabouts**, involving field offices in Los Angeles, Honolulu, and New York; noted he was last seen disembarking at New York, appearing "in complete control."  
- **Mrs. Guy’s account of witnessing RFK’s shooting** at the Ambassador Hotel (June 4, 1968), including confusion about the shooter’s identity.  
- **Photograph analysis requested by the FBI**, involving a May 1968 LAX photo showing Kennedy with an unidentified individual and someone resembling Sirian Stirian/Sirhan Sirhan.  
- **Witness accounts of the assassination** from journalists (e.g., John Herbers, David Adamson) and staff members (e.g., Joseph Giordano, Frank Manklewicz), including descriptions of the shooting, medical response, and interactions with suspects.  
- **Post-assassination chaos**, including crowd surges, difficulty accessing the scene, and efforts to secure the Ambassador Hotel.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations into threats against RFK, reviewed witness statements, and requested photographic analysis for suspect identification.  
- **U.S. Customs and Immigration Service (HIS)**: Mentioned in context of passport records.  
- **Ameranda Petroleum Co.**: Corporate affiliation linked to Clifford Flittty.  
- **Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)**: Involved in coverage of Kennedy’s campaign, with crew members like John Lewis providing accounts of events during the speech.  
- **National Broadcasting Company (NBC)**: Correspondent Charles N. Quinn reported witnessing the shooting from the hotel ballroom.  
- **London Daily Telegraph and London Sunday Times**: Journalists David Adamson, Hillary Lamb, and Geoffrey Hoggson provided witness accounts of the event.  
- **Senate Office Building (U.S.)**: Location of interviews with Senate legislative assistant Adam Walinsky.  
- **Ambassador Hotel (Los Angeles)**: Site of RFK’s speech and assassination, including critical locations like the kitchen area and Colonial Room.

RFK Declassified Files

173-wfo-135_volume_2_combined-part_5_of_6.pdf

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