June 6, 2013
BOBBY KENNEDY DIED 45 YEARS AGO THIS MORNING, JUNE 6, 1968
Los Angeles, California (JFK+50) New York Senator Robert F. Kennedy died 45 years ago this morning, June 6, 1968, at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles.
The Senator's death at 1:44 a.m. came more than 25 hours after he was shot in the kitchen of the AMBASSADOR HOTEL* following a speech celebrating his California primary victory.
Doctors operated on RFK for 3 hours and 45 minutes but were pessimistic due to the extent of bullet and bone fragments they found scattered through the brain.
Senator Kennedy had been walking through the hotel kitchen pantry and was shaking hands with some employees when 24 year old SIRHAN SIRHAN** opened fire.
The assassin fired 8 shots from a 22 caliber Iver Johnson pistol. 3 shots hit RFK. One entered at point blank range behind the right ear while the other two entered behind RFK's right armpit.
Five other people were struck by bullets but all survived. They included...
Elizabeth Evans
Ira Goldstein
Paul Schrade
Irwin Stroll
William Weisel
JFK+50 Note
Just as in the JFK and MLK assassinations, there has been discussion about the possibility of a conspiracy in the killing of RFK.
Last year, as reported by Brad Johnson and Michael Martinez of CNN, eyewitness NINA RHODES-HUGHES, who was standing a few feet behind RFK when he was shot, offered to testify at the next parole hearing for Sirhan that she heard 12 to 14 shots.
SOURCE: "RFK assassination witness willing to testify for Sirhan Sirhan's lawyers," by Brad Johnson and Michael Martinez, www.cnn.com/.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/08/justice/california-rfk-second-gun
With the Senator at the time of death were his wife Ethel, sister-in-law Jacqueline Kennedy, brother Ted, Peter Lawford and Steven Smith.
Robert F. Kennedy was 42 years old.
Robert F. Kennedy on Campaign
Photo by Evan Freed (1968)
"Bobby is now in the realm of legend and myth, and even in death inspires an effort to improve the lot of humanity."
William J. Eaton, 1969
*The Ambassador Hotel (1921-1989) was located at 3400 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. Designed by Myron Hunt and offering 500 rooms, it was frequented by many Hollywood celebrities. Six Academy Award ceremonies were held there.
The hotel was the home of the famous Coconut Grove night club. It closed in 1989 and was demolished in 2005.
The Ambassador Hotel
Los Angeles, California (2004)
**Sirhan Bishara Sirhan was born in Jerusalem in 1944 and emigrated to the U.S. at the age of 12. Described as a Palestinian Christian with Jordanian citizenship, he was tried for the murder of RFK in 1969. Sirhan was convicted and sentenced to death but received a commutation to life imprisonment in 1972.
Sirhan Sirhan has been held in solitary confinement at the Pleasant Valley State Prison in Colinga since October 2009. Repeated attempts for parole have been denied.
BOBBY KENNEDY DIED 45 YEARS AGO THIS MORNING, JUNE 6, 1968
Los Angeles, California (JFK+50) New York Senator Robert F. Kennedy died 45 years ago this morning, June 6, 1968, at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles.
The Senator's death at 1:44 a.m. came more than 25 hours after he was shot in the kitchen of the AMBASSADOR HOTEL* following a speech celebrating his California primary victory.
Doctors operated on RFK for 3 hours and 45 minutes but were pessimistic due to the extent of bullet and bone fragments they found scattered through the brain.
Senator Kennedy had been walking through the hotel kitchen pantry and was shaking hands with some employees when 24 year old SIRHAN SIRHAN** opened fire.
The assassin fired 8 shots from a 22 caliber Iver Johnson pistol. 3 shots hit RFK. One entered at point blank range behind the right ear while the other two entered behind RFK's right armpit.
Five other people were struck by bullets but all survived. They included...
Elizabeth Evans
Ira Goldstein
Paul Schrade
Irwin Stroll
William Weisel
JFK+50 Note
Just as in the JFK and MLK assassinations, there has been discussion about the possibility of a conspiracy in the killing of RFK.
Last year, as reported by Brad Johnson and Michael Martinez of CNN, eyewitness NINA RHODES-HUGHES, who was standing a few feet behind RFK when he was shot, offered to testify at the next parole hearing for Sirhan that she heard 12 to 14 shots.
SOURCE: "RFK assassination witness willing to testify for Sirhan Sirhan's lawyers," by Brad Johnson and Michael Martinez, www.cnn.com/.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/08/justice/california-rfk-second-gun
With the Senator at the time of death were his wife Ethel, sister-in-law Jacqueline Kennedy, brother Ted, Peter Lawford and Steven Smith.
Robert F. Kennedy was 42 years old.
Robert F. Kennedy on Campaign
Photo by Evan Freed (1968)
"Bobby is now in the realm of legend and myth, and even in death inspires an effort to improve the lot of humanity."
William J. Eaton, 1969
*The Ambassador Hotel (1921-1989) was located at 3400 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. Designed by Myron Hunt and offering 500 rooms, it was frequented by many Hollywood celebrities. Six Academy Award ceremonies were held there.
The hotel was the home of the famous Coconut Grove night club. It closed in 1989 and was demolished in 2005.
The Ambassador Hotel
Los Angeles, California (2004)
**Sirhan Bishara Sirhan was born in Jerusalem in 1944 and emigrated to the U.S. at the age of 12. Described as a Palestinian Christian with Jordanian citizenship, he was tried for the murder of RFK in 1969. Sirhan was convicted and sentenced to death but received a commutation to life imprisonment in 1972.
Sirhan Sirhan has been held in solitary confinement at the Pleasant Valley State Prison in Colinga since October 2009. Repeated attempts for parole have been denied.
