Summary  
The documents detail U.S. government efforts to manage international condolences following Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination on June 5, 1968, and diplomatic correspondence related to these tributes. The U.S. Department of State coordinated messages of sympathy from foreign leaders, including President Lyndon B. Johnson’s telegrams to Mexican leader Arturo Jauregui, Yugoslav officials, and others. Condolence books were distributed in cities like Milan, Belgrade, Tromsø, and Panama City, with reports on public tributes such as candlelight vigils, religious services, and union work stoppages. Administrative memos from the White House and State Department outline procedures for handling diplomatic replies, including deadlines for responses and formatting guidelines. A separate memo addresses Panama’s First Vice President Max Delvalle, who claimed legitimacy after disputed elections, prompting a U.S. decision to acknowledge his message orally rather than formally due to political sensitivities in Panama.  

Key People  
- **Lyndon B. Johnson**: U.S. President who transmitted condolences to foreign leaders and received messages from international entities.  
- **Arturo Jauregui**: Mexican leader who expressed sympathy for Kennedy’s family.  
- **Christoval Ensedicto Borges**: Brazilian president of the Associação dos Fundacionários Públicos do Estado de São Paulo, whose organization sent condolences.  
- **Ludwig Erhard**: Former German Chancellor who responded to U.S. President Johnson’s message.  
- **Radivoj Uvalic**: Assistant Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in Yugoslavia.  
- **Milošević (Mike Splifak)**: Yugoslav leader who sent a personal condolence message to the Kennedy family.  
- **Max Delvalle**: Panama’s First Vice President, whose claim to presidency after contested elections influenced U.S. diplomatic responses.  
- **Walt W. Rostow**: White House official involved in diplomatic correspondence.  
- **Dean Rusk**: Secretary of State, recipient of condolences and administrative memos.  
- **Francis Cunningham**: U.S. Consul General in Quebec, who responded to a condolence telegram from Quebec Premier Daniel Johnson.  

Key Locations  
- **Mexico City**: Received condolences from President Johnson and was referenced in telegrams.  
- **Belgrade/Zagreb**: Sites of public tributes, including candlelight vigils and a funeral mass at St. Peter’s Church.  
- **Tromsø, Norway**: Hosted a condolence book signed by locals.  
- **Milan, Italy**: Hosted religious services, union work stoppages, and commemorative events.  
- **Panama City**: Received a telegram from Max Delvalle expressing grief over Kennedy’s death.  
- **Washington, D.C.**: Headquarters of the White House and Department of State.  
- **Quebec City**: Site of diplomatic correspondence with Quebec Premier Daniel Johnson.  
- **Lima, Peru**: Involved in condolence messages from Peruvian officials.  

Key Events  
- **June 5, 1968**: Assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy in Los Angeles.  
- **June 28, 1968**: U.S. President Johnson sent condolences to foreign leaders and families.  
- **June 7–14, 1968**: Public tributes in Yugoslavia, including a condolence book signed by citizens and officials.  
- **June 5–12, 1968**: Commemorative services in Milan, including masses at San Vito Church and the Anglican Church of All Saints.  
- **June 7, 1968**: A funeral mass held in Belgrade’s St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church.  
- **June 6–26, 1968**: U.S. government processing condolences from foreign leaders and managing diplomatic responses.  
- **June 17–26, 1968**: Administrative handling of condolence messages, including instructions for replies to Panama’s Delvalle and Quebec’s Johnson.  

Key Organizations  
- **U.S. Department of State**: Coordinated international condolences and transmitted messages to foreign leaders.  
- **Associação dos Fundacionários Públicos do Estado de São Paulo (Brazil)**: Sent a condolence letter to Kennedy’s family.  
- **International School of Milan**: Held a commemorative program following Kennedy’s death.  
- **Yugoslav Federal Executive Council**: Included in expressions of sympathy from Yugoslav officials and citizens.  
- **U.S. Embassies**: Facilitated the distribution of condolence books and received tributes from foreign nationals.  
- **White House**: Directed diplomatic responses and internal memos.  
- **Embassies of Panama, Peru, Colombia, and Quebec**: Sent condolences and engaged in diplomatic communication.  
- **Office of the Secretary of State**: Handled clearance and distribution of messages.

RFK Declassified Files

pol_6-2_us_kennedy_06_18_1968_senator_robert_f._kennedy-part_1_of_5.pdf

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