</s>LOS ANGELES 02 8:11PM JDR URGENT 6/26/68 JDR TO DIRECTOR (62-587) AND LOS ANGELES (56-156) NEW YORK (44-1643) AND RICHMOND (PLAINTEXT) FROM WASHINGTON FIELD (173-135) 3P RECEIVED BY CODED TELETYPE- KENSALT ADAM WADISKY, SEVEN THREE ONE EIGHT CHURCHILL ROAD, : MC LEAN, VIRGINIA, WAS AT AMBASSADOR HOTEL WHEN KENNEDY WAS - SHOT. WALINKSMAIDE TO KENNedy. FNIU, UNO OR UNO LNU, AMBESSADOR HOTEL MANAGER OR ASSISTANT MANAGER AT SCENE OF SHOOTING, Wulls BILL WISH ALSO THERE AT TIME OF SHooting AND CAN BE. LOCATED THROUGH AMBASADOR REGISTER. PETE HAMMILL, FREE LANCE WRITER WHO RESIDES IN NEW YORK NEAR KENNEPPERMAN IN CALIFORNIA, WHARE PHOTOGRAPH NEGRO NEWSPAPERMAN IN CALIFORNia, WHARF PHOTGRAPH APPEARED IN TIME OR NEWSWEEK AFTER SHOOTHING REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN NEAR KENNEY WHEN SHOT. THIS INDIVIDUAL SAID HE HAD, END PAGE ONE 6-16-156-A-306 Tel Sant WFO. For then info. SEARCHED INDEXED 1-2-3-6 for the inte. SERIALIZED ADV. the waterer. FILED JUN2 6 1968 for los ANGELES 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail investigative efforts by U.S. federal agencies, particularly the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), to examine Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination on June 5, 1968, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Key elements include witness accounts from hotel staff like Adam Wadisky and journalists such as Jules Witcover, identification of Sirhan Sirian as a suspect linked to Cuban exile groups (RECE), and FBI coordination across multiple offices to locate individuals for questioning. Separate records reference John L. Lawrence, a patient at Colorado State Hospital with legal ties to political figures, and John M. Lawrence’s court-ordered confinement due to mental health evaluations. Investigations also include interviews with Joan Braden, Thomas Braden, Jerry Sims, and Jerry Owen, who described encounters with individuals allegedly connected to Sirhan Sirian. Surveillance footage from the Ambassador Hotel and Canadian authorities’ analysis of film were reviewed. Legal proceedings involving John L. Lawrence and declassification under Executive Order 14176 are noted. Threatening communications against witnesses like Jerry Owen and requests for further investigation into Sirhan Sirian’s movements and associates are highlighted.  

Key People  
- **Adam Wadisky**: Ambassador Hotel employee present during the assassination.  
- **Sirhan Sirian** (Sirhan B. Sirhan): Suspect identified at a Hollywood meeting involving Cuban exiles; referenced in multiple investigations.  
- **Pete Hammill**: Freelance writer potentially near Kennedy during the shooting.  
- **Jules Witcover**: Journalist interviewed about the incident.  
- **John L. Lawrence**: Colorado State Hospital patient with legal and political ties, including petitions against RFK.  
- **Joan Braden**: Women for Kennedy campaign chair; interviewed by FBI regarding the assassination.  
- **Thomas Braden**: Delegate and husband of Joan Braden; mentioned in witness interviews.  
- **Jerry Sims**: CBS cameraman present at the Ambassador Hotel.  
- **Mr. Uno**: Hotel manager allegedly influencing RFK’s route change to the Colony Room.  
- **L.L. Sandlin**: LAPD detective contacted by Jerry Owen regarding threats.  

Key Locations  
- **Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles**: Site of RFK’s assassination and surveillance footage review.  
- **Hollywood, California**: Meeting involving Cuban exiles linked to Sirhan Sirian.  
- **Denver County Courthouse, Colorado**: Location of John L. Lawrence’s legal proceedings.  
- **Colorado State Hospital (CSH), Denver**: Institution where John L. Lawrence was a patient.  
- **San Francisco, Palo Alto, Santa Ana, California**: Locations tied to Jerry Owen’s encounters and threats.  
- **Toronto**: Site of film review coordination by Canadian authorities.  

Key Events  
- **June 5, 1968**: RFK’s assassination at the Ambassador Hotel; last-minute route change to the Colony Room.  
- **FBI interviews**: With witnesses including Joan Braden, Thomas Braden, Jerry Sims, and hotel staff.  
- **Surveillance footage review**: Analyzed by Canadian authorities for evidence.  
- **Legal proceedings**: Involving John L. Lawrence’s commitment to Colorado State Hospital and subsequent discharge.  
- **Threatening communications**: Against Jerry Owen, including phone calls warning him to remain silent.  
- **Investigation into Sirhan Sirian**: His alleged ties to Cuban exile groups (RECE) and movements prior to the assassination.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Central agency coordinating investigations, witness interviews, and surveillance analysis.  
- **Cuban Revolutionary Exiles (RECE)**: Group linked to Sirhan Sirian’s alleged affiliations.  
- **Colorado State Hospital (CSH)**: Institution where John L. Lawrence was a patient.  
- **Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)**: Involved in reviewing footage and responding to threats against witnesses.  
- **Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)**: Coordinated film review for evidence analysis.  
- **U.S. District Court, Denver**: Jurisdiction over John L. Lawrence’s legal proceedings.  
- **New York Times**: Covered press coverage and reporting on the assassination.  

Note: Social security numbers or similar 9-digit identifiers were present in the text but redacted as per guidelines.

RFK Declassified Files

56-la-156-a_sec_002_ser_201--part_5_of_6.pdf

Document Summary

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