</s>June 22, 1968 General J.3/Kamby R.F. Dear Mrs. Gross President Johnson deeply appreciated the confidence reflected in your letter at this time of terrible sorrow. He asked me to thank you - and to reassure you of his lasting commitment to the cause of peace, unity, and justice for all men. With the President's gratitude, Sincerely, Whitney Shoemaker Assistant to the President Mrs. Sylvia Gross 30 Deerpath Roslyn Heights, New York 11577 AHH:msc~2 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents consist of correspondence between President Lyndon B. Johnson and individuals expressing condolences following the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy on June 5, 1968. Letters from citizens across the United States, including New York, Illinois, Puerto Rico, and Kansas, reflect grief over RFK’s death and admiration for Johnson’s leadership during national mourning. Recipients praised his commitment to peace, unity, and justice, with some referencing recognition of bravery by Roosevelt Grier and Rafer Johnson during the assassination attempt. Administrative notes reference declassification under Executive Order 14176. Additional correspondence includes discussions about societal unrest, law enforcement, crime control legislation, and references to the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence (NCCPV). Some letters mention federal resources used for transporting Kennedy’s body and public reactions to violence.  

Key People  
- Lyndon B. Johnson (President of the United States)  
- Robert F. Kennedy (Senator, assassinated on June 5, 1968)  
- Roosevelt Grier (individual praised for bravery during the assassination attempt)  
- Rafer Johnson (individual praised for bravery during the assassination attempt)  
- Whitney Shoemaker (Assistant to the President, author of responses)  
- Robert H. Fleming (Deputy Press Secretary)  
- Albert J. Suarez (recipient of a letter from Johnson)  
- Thomas A. Simonton (recipient of a letter expressing admiration for Johnson’s leadership)  
- Frank Fleming Jr. (recipient of a letter from the White House)  
- Mrs. Robert F. Kennedy (widow)  
- Reverend Fred R. Belk, Mrs. J. Richard Skidmore, Mrs. Amna Easley, and others (recipients of letters)  

Key Locations  
- Washington, D.C. (White House)  
- New York, New York  
- Puerto Rico  
- Illinois  
- Kansas  
- California (San Francisco, Fresno, Sacramento)  
- Oklahoma  
- Seattle, Washington  
- Kansas City, Missouri  
- Chicago, Illinois  
- Bloomfield Hills, Michigan  
- Wiesbaden, Germany  
- Honolulu, Hawaii  
- Cambridge, Massachusetts  
- Tulsa, Oklahoma  

Key Events  
- Assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy on June 5, 1968  
- National mourning and public expressions of grief following RFK’s death  
- Presidential responses to letters from citizens expressing condolences and admiration for Johnson’s leadership  
- References to recognition of bravery by Roosevelt Grier and Rafer Johnson during the assassination attempt  
- Discussions about societal unrest, law enforcement, crime control legislation, and political responsibility  
- Mention of federal resources (e.g., planes) used for transporting Kennedy’s body  
- Correspondence regarding constituent concerns about violence and political accountability  
- References to the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence (NCCPV) and its related enclosures  

Key Organizations  
- White House (U.S. President’s office, including staff such as Whitney Shoemaker and Robert H. Fleming)  
- National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence (NCCPV)  
- Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company (mentioned in a letter from Albert J. Suarez)  
- Baptist Student Union (associated with Joe Cobb, recipient of a letter)  
- U.S. Department of State  
- U.S. Senate Office Building  
- Central Files (document management system)  
- Fresno Cotton Exchange  
- Western Cotton Shippers Association

RFK Declassified Files

591583_lbj_whcf_subject_files_on_judicial_and_legal_matters_b34_f5.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search