</s>July 1, 1968 Airtel 1 - Mr. Trimbach S.T. To: SAC, Los Angeles From: Director, FBI UNSUBS: TREAT AGAINST PRESIDENT JOHNSON, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, JUNE 28, 1968 Routel 6/28/68, Keep Bureau advised of results of investigation concerning Ivan and Alexey Tikhonoff, J- 62-587. JH-62-567. (5) NOTE: FBI, Los Los Angeles, on 6/29/68 , received anonymous telephone call saying that if Sirhan Sirhan dies so will President Johnson, since call was placed through the tele- phone company. Since call was located through the telephone- it originated. The number is listed to Ivan or Alexey Tikonoff. East Los Angeles. California. In a related development the Los Angeles Sheriff's Office received a telephone call from a Los Angeles newspaper ORIGINAL, FLED #1 (11) who had received a call from an anonymous man that he was going to kill President Johnson, Telephone company had traced this call also as a Tikhoonoff telephone. handling this as a threat to the President. DUPLICATE YELLOW 57OUL 1 1966 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI and RCMP investigations into threats against President Lyndon B. Johnson and Senator Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) in 1968, with a focus on the assassination of RFK on June 5, 1968. Key elements include:  
- An anonymous caller linked to Ivan or Alexey Tikhonoff in East Los Angeles threatened to kill President Johnson if Sirhan Sirhan died, with the call traced to that location. A similar threat was reported by a newspaper and also connected to Tikhonoff.  
- Leonard A. Smith of Los Angeles received letters from his son Phillip Smith, stationed in Africa (Somalia), discussing rumors of RFK’s assassination prior to the event.  
- The RCMP investigated a Montreal radio station transcript where an unknown female caller claimed to have met RFK’s assassin, described as Jordanian and arriving in Montreal via boat around 1965. The RCMP sought to identify the caller through contacts, referencing complaints from Sydney Morris and forms related to the investigation.  
- FBI records from July 1968 include a memorandum from Mexico City detailing Richard Allen Hunter’s letter expressing sorrow over RFK’s death, referencing Ernesto Oswald (possibly a misspelling of Lee Harvey Oswald) and his alleged connection to the assassination. Hunter received Social Security benefits in Mexico, but the FBI determined his letter lacked direct relevance.  
- Cartridge casings recovered from the San Gabriel Valley Gun Club were analyzed by the FBI laboratory, with one linked to Sirhan Sirhan’s 22-caliber revolver. The Bureau requested further analysis of other casings for potential matches.  
- Speculative discussions in FBI records reference Middle Eastern political groups, including Palestinian refugees, Dr. Camilo Chamut (possibly a misspelling), and Jordanian royal connections, though these lack concrete evidence.  
- Mike Vevoda in San Diego was detained after a police search revealed weapons and explosives, but the FBI noted no direct link to Sirhan Sirhan as LAPD withdrew interest.  
- Richard B. Sanders, described as a racist and revolutionary with ties to J.C. Penny Company, was flagged by the Secret Service for potential threats due to alleged support for RFK’s assassination.  
- Communications between U.S. and Canadian authorities include a memorandum from Legat in Tokyo referencing Bernard Boulton, a British businessman in Taipei, who claimed Jehovah’s Witnesses were linked to assassination plots. Fragmented details about unidentified individuals resembling “Stirham” and a woman associated with the Farm Workers Union are noted.  
- FBI memos reference photographs and slides of RFK at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, along with inquiries into Jimmy Mc Bride, a former U.S. Marine apprehended in Texas, for potential connections to RFK’s assassination. Shell casings were sent to the FBI Laboratory for analysis by the Los Angeles Police Department.  

Key People  
- **Sirhan Sirhan**: Linked to threats against President Johnson and the 22-caliber revolver found at the San Gabriel Valley Gun Club; casings from his weapon were analyzed by the FBI laboratory.  
- **Ivan/Alexey Tikhonoff**: Traced to East Los Angeles phone number associated with anonymous threats against LBJ.  
- **Leonard A. Smith**: Father of Phillip Smith, who reported rumors of RFK’s assassination in Africa prior to the event.  
- **Phillip Smith**: Peace Corps member stationed in Somalia; son of Leonard Smith.  
- **Sydney Morris**: Complainant referenced in RCMP documents related to the Montreal radio station investigation.  
- **Richard Allen Hunter**: Sent a letter to the FBI expressing sorrow over RFK’s assassination, referencing Ernesto Oswald and receiving Social Security benefits in Mexico.  
- **Dr. Camilo Chamut**: Mentioned in speculative discussions about Middle Eastern political groups and their alleged ties to RFK’s assassination.  
- **Richard B. Sanders**: Described as a racist, revolutionary, and potential threat; allegedly expressed support for RFK’s assassination.  
- **Bernard Boulton**: British businessman in Taipei who claimed Jehovah’s Witnesses were linked to assassination plots.  
- **Jimmy Mc Bride**: Former U.S. Marine apprehended in Texas; inquiries into his potential connection to RFK.  
- **Mrs. Patton**: Individual who reported televised footage of RFK’s assassination, including a female in a polka-dotted dress.  

Key Locations  
- **East Los Angeles, California**: Site of anonymous threats against President Johnson linked to Ivan/Alexey Tikhonoff.  
- **Montreal, Canada**: Location of the radio station transcript featuring an unknown female caller discussing RFK’s assassin.  
- **San Gabriel Valley Gun Club** (California): Site of cartridge casing recovery linked to Sirhan Sirhan.  
- **Mexico City Office**: Involved in reviewing Richard Allen Hunter’s case and international leads.  
- **Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico**: Location where Richard Allen Hunter was interviewed.  
- **Los Angeles, California** (Ambassador Hotel): Site of RFK’s assassination; referenced in photographs and slides.  
- **Taipei, Taiwan**: Location of Bernard Boulton’s residence.  
- **Denton, Texas**: Where Jimmy Mc Bride was apprehended.  
- **Ottawa, Canada**: RCMP headquarters referenced in correspondence.  

Key Events  
- **June 28, 1968**: Anonymous threats against President Johnson linked to Sirhan Sirhan and Ivan/Alexey Tikhonoff.  
- **May–June 1968**: Leonard Smith’s son Phillip reported rumors of RFK’s assassination in Africa prior to the event.  
- **June 7, 1968**: Montreal radio station CKGM transcript featuring an unknown female caller discussing RFK’s assassin.  
- **June 5–10, 1968**: Cartridge casings recovered from the San Gabriel Valley Gun Club; some linked to Sirhan Sirhan’s weapon.  
- **July 3, 1968**: FBI memos and records requests detailing ongoing investigations into RFK’s assassination, including Middle Eastern political connections and potential threats.  
- **June 26, 1968**: Richard Allen Hunter interviewed in Guadalajara; his letter to the FBI acknowledged RFK’s death.  
- **June 25–27, 1968**: Communications between U.S. and Canadian authorities referencing Jehovah’s Witnesses, photographs of RFK at the Ambassador Hotel, and RCMP investigations into televised footage of the assassination.  
- **July 2, 1968**: FBI inquiry into Jimmy Mc Bride’s potential connection to RFK.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted forensic analysis of cartridge casings, reviewed international leads, and flagged potential threats like Richard B. Sanders.  
- **Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)**: Investigated the Montreal radio station transcript and referenced complaints from Sydney Morris.  
- **Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)**: Collaborated with the FBI on casing recovery but withdrew interest in Mike Vevoda’s case.  
- **Secret Service**: Monitored potential threats to RFK, including Richard B. Sanders.  
- **J.C. Penny Company**: Employed Richard B. Sanders, described as a racist and revolutionary.  
- **Jehovah’s Witnesses**: Alleged group under investigation for ties to assassination plots, referenced in fragmented text.

RFK Declassified Files

62-hq-587_sec_019_ser_737-806-part_2_of_6.pdf

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