FIELD U.S. INFORMATION SERVICE MESSAGE UNCLASSIFIED POL 6-2 US/Kennedy. R3/R Classification Robert F. FROM: USIS BOOOTA ARA 126 TO: USIA WASHINGTON JOLNT STATE/USA /NR WESSAGES NO. JUL 1 3:05 PM 68 RECEIVE, 1 REF: None /CPR 10A/S/C SUBJECT: June 25, 1968 DATE RS/R COPY 7/55 Bobot 16 Senator Kennedy Death p DATE AGENCY USE to the E-M/R document files. 60T SUEMARY: EMBASSARY PARTICIPATED IN THE MEMORY OF DEATH, ACTIVITIES FOLLOWING SENATOR KENNEDY'S DEATH. ACTION WHICH CAUSED SHOCK AND SADNESS THROUGHOUT COLOMBIA, AMBASSADOR REYNOLD R. CARLSON INFORMATION SERVICE PROVIDED ABUNDANT PRESS, INFOR PUBLIC DECLARATIONS ON BEHALF OF U.S ., FILM AND RADIO MATERIALS TO MEDIA. INFOR 1/R The death of Senator Robert F. Kennedy produced an outpouring of sincere grief and sympathy in the press and public here. More than 1000 persons 185 signed their two condolence books, placed in the Chancery lobby and in the Ambassador's residence and over three hundred more wrote letters of condolence. IMV Memorial church services were held all over Colombia, and Ambassador Reynolds es R. Carlson and members of his staff attended three such services in Bogota, at two which the Ambassador briefly spoke. The most impressive in these WALR was on June 9 at Claud Kennedy, where a memorial service celebrated on 10,000,000 celebrated in the plaza, at the others at a mass at the English Speaking Chapalty on June 12. June 8, and services were the Newtown Presbyterian Church on Wednesday June 12, The Ambassador twice made statements for the media, on June 5, while hopes the senator made Kennedy's survival, and on June 6, after he <loc_158><loc_691>the deceased declarations appeared in most Columbian papers, were <loc_158><loc_705>broadcast by the two television stations, and by all major radio networks.

The documents detail U.S. government and embassy activities following Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination on June 5, 1968, with additional administrative procedures related to condolences received after his death on June 6, 1968. In Colombia, the U.S. Embassy organized condolence book signings, memorial services, and media coverage, including over 1,300 signatures in Bogota and public gatherings led by Ambassador Reynolds R. Carlson. The Embassy also coordinated press materials for international broadcasts. In Mexico, diplomatic messages of condolence were exchanged with President Lyndon B. Johnson, while the Dominican Republic issued an official mourning decree on June 8, 1968. Ex-Chancellor Ludwig Erhard of West Germany sent a letter to Johnson expressing sympathy. The White House prepared standardized replies to international condolences within 48 hours. In Italy, memorial services in Florence included a requiem mass, public tributes, and speeches by Mayor Luciano Bausi and U.S. Consul General Joseph C. Wheeler. Correspondence from Jamaica’s Prime Minister Sir Alexander Bustamante, Ecuador’s Dr. Guillermo Molina DeFranc, and Finnish officials also conveyed condolences to Johnson and Mrs. Kennedy.  

Key People  
- **Reynolds R. Carlson** (U.S. Ambassador to Colombia)  
- **Lyndon B. Johnson** (President of the United States)  
- **Robert F. Kennedy** (Senator assassinated on June 5, 1968)  
- **Mrs. Robert F. Kennedy** (Recipient of condolence messages)  
- **Ludwig Erhard** (Former Chancellor of West Germany)  
- **Sir Alexander Bustamante** (Jamaican Prime Minister)  
- **Dr. Guillermo Molina DeFranc** (Ecuadorian Minister of Health)  
- **Karl-Erik Forssel** (Bishop of Porvo Diocese, Finland)  
- **Luciano Bausi** (Mayor of Florence, Italy)  
- **Joseph C. Wheeler** (U.S. Consul General in Florence, Italy)  

Key Locations  
- **Bogota, Colombia** (condolence book signings, memorial services)  
- **Washington, D.C.** (White House, Department of State, U.S. Information Service)  
- **Mexico City, Mexico** (diplomatic correspondence with ORIT and Mexican officials)  
- **Bonner, Germany** (Erhard’s letter to Johnson)  
- **Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic** (government condolences)  
- **Helsinki, Finland** (book of condolence for public signatures)  
- **Quito, Ecuador** (condolences sent to Johnson)  
- **Kingston, Jamaica** (messages exchanged with U.S. officials)  
- **Florence, Italy** (memorial services, requiem mass, city council meeting)  

Key Events  
- **June 5, 1968**: Assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy in Los Angeles; U.S. Embassy activities in Colombia and Mexico commenced.  
- **June 6–7, 1968**: Diplomatic condolences sent to President Johnson and Mrs. Kennedy from Jamaica, Ecuador, Finland, and other nations.  
- **June 8, 1968**: Dominican Republic issued an official mourning decree.  
- **June 7–13, 1968**: Memorial services in Florence, Italy, including a requiem mass, public tributes, and speeches by local officials and the U.S. Consul General.  
- **June 11–13, 1968**: White House directed drafting of standardized replies to international condolences.  

Key Organizations  
- **U.S. Information Service (USIS)** (managed media efforts and press materials)  
- **Department of State** (handled diplomatic correspondence and telegrams)  
- **White House Communications Office** (coordinated administrative procedures for condolence replies)  
- **Organization of Ibero-American Nations (ORIT)** (facilitated Mexican diplomatic messages)  
- **Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America** (sent condolences to Johnson and Mrs. Kennedy)  
- **City Council of Florence** (held a special session to honor RFK’s memory)

RFK Declassified Files

pol_6-2_us_kennedy_06_18_1968_senator_robert_f._kennedy-part_2_of_5.pdf

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