CASE NUMBER SIRIAM, SIHRAH BISHARA JORDAN-US JACKET PS 7-1 1/1/67 No. SUBJECT DATE DATE Please do not change or remove paper from this subject or delete or delete paper with office stamp or notification. notifications.

Summary  
The documents detail U.S. Department of State communications regarding Sirhan Bishara Sirhan’s trial for assassinating Robert F. Kennedy, diplomatic concerns over international media narratives, and efforts to coordinate legal and intelligence responses. Key points include:  
1. Sirhan was convicted in 1968-1969, with a plea deal approved by Secretary of State William P. Rogers offering him a life sentence. U.S. officials monitored Arab media portrayals of Sirhan as a martyr linked to Palestinian resistance, noting Jordanian and Saudi outlets criticizing American policies toward Israel.  
2. The Palestinian Women’s Association distributed leaflets framing Sirhan’s actions as politically motivated, aligning his crime with the broader Palestinian struggle for self-determination.  
3. Diplomatic correspondence highlighted concerns over potential regional tensions, including Jordan’s refusal to send an official observer to Sirhan’s trial.  
4. U.S. diplomats interviewed Bishara Sirhan (Sirhan’s father) in Jerusalem in November 1968, noting his vague responses about dates and names but emphasizing his cooperation. Bishara claimed Sirhan had lived in Pasadena and New York, working for a construction company, and planned travel to Jordan, Syria, and Kuwait to raise funds for his son’s defense.  
5. The State Department requested coordination of interviews with Sirhan through Washington, stressing transparency about inquiry origins. A Los Angeles Police Department letter sought historical data on Sirhan’s family for potential legal arguments regarding diminished capacity due to trauma.  

Key People  
- **Sirhan Bishara Sirhan**: Accused of assassinating Robert F. Kennedy; subject of diplomatic and investigative scrutiny.  
- **William P. Rogers**: U.S. Secretary of State who approved Sirhan’s plea deal.  
- **Evelle Younger**: Los Angeles District Attorney involved in negotiating the plea agreement.  
- **Bishara Sirhan (father)**: Interviewed by U.S. diplomats; sought support for his son’s legal case.  
- **Abdul Salem Al-Uri**: Jordanian parliament member accompanying Sirhan on travel plans; associated with Fatah.  
- **Consul Congenoff**: U.S. diplomatic officer who conducted the interview with Bishara Sirhan.  
- **Harrison M. Symmes**: U.S. Ambassador to Jordan, responded to police inquiries about Sirhan’s family.  
- **Thomas Reddin**: Chief of Police in Los Angeles, initiated inquiry into Sirhan’s background.  

Key Locations  
- **Los Angeles, California**: Site of Sirhan’s trial and sentencing; location of the Los Angeles Police Department’s inquiry.  
- **Jerusalem**: Interview site for Bishara Sirhan; historical residences of Sirhan’s family (1910–1957).  
- **Amman, Jordan**: Center for diplomatic discussions and media coverage.  
- **Jidda, Saudi Arabia**: Monitored press reactions to Sirhan’s case.  
- **Beirut**: Site of Sirhan’s press conference where he claimed Kennedy’s pro-Israeli policies provoked his actions.  
- **Jordan, Syria, Kuwait**: Destinations for Bishara Sirhan’s planned travel to raise funds for his son’s defense.  

Key Events  
- **Sirhan Bishara Sirhan’s trial (1968)**: Conviction for assassinating Robert F. Kennedy led to international media scrutiny and political debates.  
- **Plea deal approval (February 1969)**: U.S. officials endorsed a life sentence in exchange for a guilty plea, aiming to mitigate regional tensions.  
- **November 29, 1968**: Interview of Bishara Sirhan by Consul Congenoff in Jerusalem; he provided employment and residency details but remained vague about specific dates.  
- **October 1968**: Planning of travel to Jordan, Syria, and Kuwait for fundraising related to Sirhan’s legal case.  
- **Press conference by Sirhan in Beirut (September 26, 1968)**: Claims Kennedy’s pro-Israeli policies provoked his assassination.  
- **Diplomatic inquiries into Sirhan’s family history**: U.S. embassies in Jordan, Kuwait, and Jerusalem tracked his family residences and historical context.  
- **Historical references to Jerusalem’s conflicts (1918–1948)**: Mentioned as potential factors influencing Sirhan’s background.  

Key Organizations  
- **U.S. Department of State**: Oversaw diplomatic responses, coordinated interviews, and monitored international media narratives.  
- **Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)**: Involved in tracking intelligence related to Sirhan’s activities and regional implications.  
- **National Security Council (NSC)**: Engaged in discussions about the political ramifications of Sirhan’s case.  
- **Palestinian Women’s Association**: Distributed leaflets justifying Sirhan’s actions as part of the Palestinian cause.  
- **Fatah**: Political group associated with Abdul Salem Al-Uri, a companion on Sirhan’s travel plans.  
- **Los Angeles Police Department**: Requested historical data on Sirhan’s family for potential legal defense arguments.  
- **U.S. Embassies in Jordan, Kuwait, and Jerusalem**: Involved in visa processes, legal support, and diplomatic discussions regarding Sirhan’s case.

RFK Declassified Files

ps_jordan_1_1_67_sirhan_sirhan_biashara_jordan-us_ps_7-1_1_1_67-part_1_of_2.pdf

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