ASSASSINATIONS, BY SIDNEY E. ZION

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Records Related to the Assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00435573
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: June 6, 2025
• Document Release Date: June 12, 2025
• Publication Date: September 1, 1968

104-10117-10424 , SIRI1A:N:S , 1;n:14r Lee I larvey.0.,s lr/,an Sirhan - hat bred to tellIiris1714 , has chosrala r.einam ilhnt noiendal -source i ormatzon Is � ' . hadOtsspo;-en.toihe jiress: .14 aunand Cairo, relent!y k:iined.tteeeSrilo-Sirgin'i. f,inrdy, Bused upon irifiirmation supplied h.m �svritren exclusiv- RAMPARI S. the fidloninc account of Sirhan's .motivatians and the strategy ,nians for Because of the forthcoming .,trial and the difficulty of dealing "eith ihis-s-Ubject Isirhout emational eiri.'the.editors FAMPART*.,!laye elected tiqiresent this: eresVtO oitr - readers it chsplayi-- and;In as o jecttre a form as mute. � e s, 8 ECAOSE..1 klirAN Al2,413 T Was able to bretd: through the barrier of sus- ;a;:iOn that . had stopped other joorr�-:�:;ists c:.�ld and obtain the first in- derh interviews the Sirhan family. has , 1..4%.en Siih'e the aSsaSsination. From their 1.-- � :ominous and from what Sirbarthaisaid. .to them a picture. of the mztri and his.. - �, : -.. -,.. ,.� motives 1xins.to..etn,erge,. rellatitig the.,; misleading pOV r-aitiViiOhliaiif 4s;ii ni ,theu.s. prefi.7.--.,5-r�,,�**,..;:,_�,-,....,,. - - � -----1., , �,:1���,,,,,�3-,4.,,,,,,-; . . , The -fact t h.at'fitrhafk�litt:401:fiublicly, discussed histrial iSit6.2.40-"Ctdent:p is his ow n .1i a t l'it).. somOliing - ht1evdojed after thinkiniabout-it for Jorie.hours in his soe,..rally .madejail cell. In lait--�:he has c�onlided to his family that he will Ilex cm make any stateniem unless special , .. .- . ._ preN 'stmt.. 'are miide for :hi: .0 lut t room pril..cedings. What Sirhan wants . is: quite :,:mply. p,..!.�lit ity. lie wants ihe majoi tele: 1,ion netwoik:, to bc-iillowed I,' I,ro.id. ,!t the entm trial: If.the% do :hi.. he ...,, ,. li, v, ill tell all. 7An1l if they' r� fi!..... -- .!), ). !� !ter -'1 del iccendy asked :...i..1 .i .11yoi,i he gasp:if illx.r - :lent ir'..n replied ....... ..f.. To undia stand why Sithan,is indeed ..idahle of such .0 one one iiitist under- '-'...int! IIIIII he Is .141st and foremost an A:ab. horn :14 Vali:stint mitt i mistimed tk 111-1 1:Ii11-;:!..: III 11)1 rvl iddle Listern con- th,.-t. He 1, �ieepl cOMplilled IQ Inaking . .,.� ...., v.. , . his ..ria I a piihli., and political:fprtinilor .:. the Aril, ,. _ .... i 'oft :-.� .-.f,,, .it, .1, .:,:h 11.:it- and a . Assassinations � � cious _reader. Sirhan is confiant - _ � ut:h1s.".:town ability to -.Cope with his:, �icatment His eldest_llrottier�Sher�.if, - old rni.1hat 'Sirhari cies ofhis case as initnPas7tenhourS day in his CeJl. Shercif teat% that Sin; in recern1Y:said to: him, "I do not-nee' d a � , k.?ctoT_V�%.* :hp*:::-.1ArdifenCI:finiklf.7:�flyeiYern;:,*�02' 'Attorney Russell liarsoni_Js:_-defending., his client; and doing it on Sirhan's own grounds The Main iSSUe.," P4rioniltO1d::' me, is to answer this question shy for: what reason, did .Sirhan kill' Robert' Kennedy? There are 100 witnesses Who saw Sirhan shooting Mr. Kennedy, but _ � , one seems to know why he did it?? ; Sirhan and his attorney hope that the: defense�presUming that the Jeleviston.. netWOrlis. are allowed into shOW�thatl,',Sirhan.:.did -hitye 44mahce aforethOught#,in shoot: , � ing Kennedy because the act was a polit ical gestlire, and that Kennedy, to Sirhan 'at least, was merely' a � symbol., His brother Adel notes that Sirhan ) was just an assassin, heeould ha�ie:dOne it in- another way, just by having a gun with a '-:tele'scd-pe. He went iO the Ambassador:: 'Hotel eiiieeting -tO'get. 'caught; that why he left his notes at home. I believe that Sirhan wanted to get caught so that he could'saiivhai lie believes" HEN I.FIRST TRIED 10 meet with the Sirhan family, I wsie- ftsed.Securityiexiriely. heavy around them, and they are under. standably wary of new faces. Later, when I finally obtained an invitation to meet with them, Mrs,. Sirhan apologized, I believe 'for having been inhoipitable� a fellow Arab.' This family?, which fled Jordan to seek greater safety and security than it had 'known, is now living in terror. They are somewhat at m loss to understand the events which have suddenly catapulted them into history. None of the four brothers goes to hisjob; they all fed that . death follows them everywhere, and they move carefully, with a heavy guard. "Why don't you just leave this country?" I asked Shereif. "Where shall we go?" he answered. "TO whom shall we leave our brother? Our land is under Israel's' occupation_.Shereif:clarified.hii.,state. Ment:""OUr-brOther is in jail; we have to stay:" � � � F � prist�h e mat ope. _louttm Arab onstilates Wotilrittel - �;-�:�;,.-,.-i4.-�;.- '*:�*;',1ntked; I .eiS O'au who sisited Surhanin)"uilta. .tr rtquest d'icy assassin had expected the-,Aiah to treat hint as a 'hero. However,exce for some Palestinian' extremists-, hie has been universalli4epudiated ; Arab world.. Ohe ,Ara said editorialty,, rcsponsihilityfarthis that fed hini'ivitli7 that gave him Thc.gui. ble," Mern of ,the as c tooet .,.t Tab tuaents, - 't' it4t55c1415 _Association aof which. 'than-was :onc0..7(- an officer feel thatthelillmg of Kennedp.,'' Was a terrible rms. talcs.: One�ofjhem sat& to me, "What arelatiligIcili the rest of the A ra candidates? them all beca th-.wanC Israel?" � -Still, the Sirliane frien are rpga Arab, and they _live in .tin tmosjlheref that is more Arab than American. Thc entire family spent a good deal of time.. discussing the Arab-Israeli conflict,. The "mother Says, thatjhani Was the most- . sensitive and thiiiit -these discussions. Ad once saw a television I-Kennedy addressing the - Neveh Shalom Tem - . Oregon. While ui the nedy, wearing Ryar. thunitcd:States olved :during - lhat'wh.r ortland .:-.- agogue, Kent,. - declared that lieft�77J;ritel against aggression from.. whateverrurce...H � C � DECLASSIFICATION. QA FLAS OFT :i INTHIS DOCUMENT: I sensed not only therhans'.. con- fusion Alin also _SotniiterneSs:- They - ' havr ito(t-e% civet! any aid ,fro ntthe Arab countries. as they orlimailly)bougIit they niihL l'.irsoni rilsn,Sii4WiliitAur::: �. an 8'571 � .0 !Pt- "Unlike the SOAtietriamese," Ken- nedy said. "the Israspave shown they arc willing to fightfof (Weir own SillkiV-al?' Indeed. Israel is the very opposite or Vietnam: the Israeli government is very democrati, . t�fr, we and free of cortiip-; bon. Its people are united in its support:. "Me senator then urged the Johnson. Ad- mini'iiration to proceed at onci7th-ihe � sale or 50 Phaiutonrjej fighters to the - Israeli Air Force and tWit off econoniic aid to the Arab coUti'�ieOliii 'Whole rlitating Shereif lost, -- tZ�rilin page 8 episode made Sirha$1 recalls.."He left th - 'hands on his cars a klit'LIL:1) ;Pritinss..,111.1,11 isc 4iNkril sillian't. mother_ she the prop igrtd of the Zionists , , - � � - � . � --. elk .- tI,ITE;;V:as a,ainct his country, against ..���� � 41.1 oimind '.;1:fij'41ni'e has o ' . . thiri- but he'feelsii-ifiii:ItiZq$11, ta'd sorrs Nov. he wants Americans fp listeni have rieverlisiened And at their first nieeting Sirhan's mothiT said to him,::�_Shameo . Why have yon done stall replied, "It's too kite to speak-'of it But all the Americans dl knos hy.7. ----mAt wit in '011111.z-um)! ssasstin aim t�.? ENTEI N'S GARRISON T. i \ N I ) SI 1 11/41 S.1 ERN -Acici:a tandentattac_., gated that - work to -khe', fiction- on In W tarren R 11 ePort-,1- but reler: :. ,_.. ,...., . section of your -local .librarY.,':Tikftrst was Mark Lane's Rush. 10 : .1144g pile ii .1.,-. which convincingly; deniiiitizatedi'0'zi. .,....iiii.ilinci-St an page as to how much of - -, � � -------� �-��,,,., 4.p.yr - , - -- � . . _... , .., . ... ing the Warren CoMmisiiqtr..�..�pwn evks :_-Ahas.a factual base, how much of is : _., . .�.. � . , . . dence�that Oswald cou1-41b1.1civelcine��: . -:ruinor thliC,Iie.bas heard from people,.: it .:ilone, and drc4, the first filim,oullnies, :,.16W Muck:of:A ate charges :that, haVe:_ ' of the conspiracy. theory,-, The SeCond. he'en madel;ypeoplelike [Williariii,Gur::,, wz I N Edward lay Epsiein's:lifcfite.ii,:whith . Vich [whO:vOlunteered':tb.:.wOrk 'on the es:posed the rather Shoddy 'inner' Work-'.. investigation 'without pay, passed him- ., ... .- . : ine.ot the Commission and:lzi id bare the _self off as the Chief InVestigato4�then_s Iii v.i leek- it tint,illy employed to dis- turned on Garrison] agairiSt.,,Git' ison,-:- pet ii,,ii.,ns tli :I Corriiliracyile, .. which haven't tven sul)-stantiat riotny Both books became best sellers, but Where ekcept by �Gurvieh`s, stateinent thdr authors, have since gone different. them. And also that he tends -OS take was-s. Lane, who shuttered his law prac- facts and information and rumors and so lice and struggled for years to get his on, that occurred over a year and a half's mantis: ript published in the United period, and compress them all into States tit was first. pphlished in Britain), simultaneous events, so that a statement - has�stunipecl.the:COOMr.X. in. support of,, . made by Garrison at. one: time is. Ilistrict Attoti16)iiti,nrilsOn'silii.-6-'- ry-f.,.! . 'pounced Upon on the �Iiiisii-of informa-- � ihat ilie .iss:issiiizifibit was cai-ried ontliy!--.. :thin or statements he Made a year and a an anti-CasirO paramilitary team ii;Pe...ik": . r half later in a totally different context. � vised Ily IVII0tis With CIA affiliations, Cpstrlit. whose hook was n convorted COI :twit University Master's thesis:- the SUbjeCtrwas_urged,upoa hirnby h men- tor, .!..-',One of bartiiOnTinostfervid cusers. His 'vehicle ...is The New .Yorker; in the: issue Of July -13, be deltypred'a ,-25,000-; Word blait at, OadisOni efilling,the DA% nvestipticin;a ;frau ejiew7YOrkpc. article had !Val -over , up -at GarriSOn's office in NeW.Or-leans:--- :ACcordinglo Chief Investigator Lcans�:-,. TAndre � EpStein Spent abut 48 hours ; cep., al) � vn son4 Three hours at the (Ake, and asn't been seen since. Much or what he writes has occurred since this , - - - . ouch-and-go visit and is obviously hear- . � . say On his part; yet he -writes with the �,..:aitthoritatiVektine Of S partiCipant. doti!itedly ccirtvtrielli 7- A assumedly-is un 4;�E . . � aiming %ysm'vleintrica8es �Marmon s '515WMigatiOn. MU� 'thqsq familiar witn-=.!� ' f ifitiverSt For emu-pp e , .rr:ofcs., sor Ihtechafakrts,a,;1`;krtti:iic707.7.�, ty of liforni.ail....-.D.,iegoZ,.'au.hpr< of the oo� Tine 'Second Qswald(propounding: the-thcopf,c), Atn _ "444--45.SWEld: outelin Garrisol's Casein The �Neiir7York Review of. Books (September)4,-1967); recently ted on the articlet, 7-f ' "1 found it it facts, half- , , - facts rumors and very dubious informa- -lion from people hostile to Garrison.- 'Epstein has compressed all this to make it look like everything's on the -same _ level. I think it would take an awful lot of work -to disentangle what he's saying ����:.� --�::-.1:7,,,.,;Z,- . ,�:,:-..--.�...i...k...t�...4j&-,-7.---..._ So I think it'i'n quite unfait. prtme- ritriZ447- lion. whit 11110 iiiitor 11010 blithe, hut' '� which nisi) las.:1" lot .i!f6it'b' . � - . , . � � . . ., .- elentents'in it -1e-i-,-. -- ' ..�136...- -..:1;.:::�.,....f7,.::��1"1�....�:.),":�.. .. . e_..,of..iiiir 11.09 -'-':--:':1_.!:5*2.-- stein's-VegiOn'.-CiTuAlil'elesffinon*n )1'-' iiiiiii,.: AndreWS .4-4-;a IcolOillil -attOr.ner.Wlid` :- nUmbei-S,:anionirhi :for ... :-.1---,--:---,,-.:-.!..-,...--,�..-.: .,.:-.....,-is.b.�,t. Wald (who 'wanted bis:minddt lie _?�zt,.,.19.0J.,-...�2.:2-,/,:.: ame from .!1.7�1a iit%"5".:ii:f.,:i'tF,4,-.4 as Clay a -lawyetiyithou � giffe tl:leDarrgoitini. day to1dIthi--"CoMinission", mn Tip" -a Inalk after- the assailsnia :47-4 � OM taNtleSCtrii,b:ra.9....?�'. 1: Or- a homosexuals.:ii to Dallai and# en contends)34tran be has tialiy gave the I r.1.411Y-411rial fore, -die' -���� th h = a Lieheler ducted the m be was convm existed.r4f-- An objective Jot testimony. however told the Ha I3eit mately feet one in inches in height: tr's dressed'it des 'far BA/-6.71-a--; imagination An what ihe"Vee count -Alf' --men _sant ' ' ottrail. - I � dent MI 0 idi 0 n rev;Afi: itat _ �approki, feet-two ban' and -well= 1..bitf. -closely% -; fle As : * Tent .pf his utiari:' He re- ad pestered him to the pouit where he told them, -Write 4�:..wli'at.Y6it want, that I am nuts. I don't fun his Loci genii:irk to the IC..xunntisSion's Mr. Licbeler ;hitt Itcr- ._ � trim& wzis Only five feet, e`ithlinches. 'AndreWs expiii i -."thi'sitnie-i was looking for the feTI`Stri-be'...Wa-S-sitting down." Nowhere dOeshe refer to Ber- ein Was perhaps - trand as a '...boy." confused by his AzIi ,s4c.tc,,t- play Al okita ' hii 4'fct4 �1 on gi,19R,.-0:91.1r1-7- nued tot Pilo 12 C ;-in tinned .jr. m, page rison S C;INC, ts.ilstein evidently failed to .. :-�;,'hec.k the -Pc2IF- e records prep-ared, ....ppon, ' "-- 's arres-1.111' I arrest, - .- ' . i...,'lltig-t'li f�1iViiY . - ' , aw ' - . NJ, ,N!laiA'....iiiii-a-------,e-4.----,.%--- ..io Palioint'in'XI-01Snklit'�e9rdlhii:in'ti- . , : ...115sd if,j,:ii-040.1tiiii, ;Wit --.:..--7.7.,'The , d,. uf:641,15t..,r....0f3-tr,n _17.1?-4e. -1,1,1_ ,...� 01.11. an0 bootiii "i?-,-.-��,-, - 198ciprint , . .- 86 Cet, � - -- ''',--------7.- .71431iClirAfielfilr''t-r4�.7 ' -7-=,os,t �Yasematin '`' K''''a 7- ia t.....i,,--_-----,_-!ls.I. PITAt_Y .d4-rnei. "''''' sc:? 74, ho ja':: Intelligence agent O. claims he encOu' ritered OsWald itilvTexico;Oty in .1963. :and jiad been instructed by his spy superior to deter=. :mine_ if the rumors of an assassination attempt fudittii.Nagel! says hi': learned tbat ..tbe w:is scheduled for September 2(1 in Vkashington, D.C... and that Oswald 'Who crossed the border into Mei.kien the k-beIcire). was i be set 7 ihe -and alioAn front of the Ci.tbSti -HERE COM oNsto*.i...V�ik lithe htilitTangOetikr � e_,PresidentLop ihe. eve of- 'bis abdication, :arrang .:AccePk - resignation. of the justice:=4of The United States Sup, CZiifln rdcr to replace�. ihcr President's former lawyer. iti�n ItSSOCILI te just !cc: As a parlay,' tile PreSident- stibmitted - to the Senate the name or his oldest hand- holding crOnYicill.the yilt.:ancY',:::_i_l.eated - by the promot2iMiiifiiiii-:fOrpier:laWye..rc.' The chief: justice, ho ..wntteri :a:, famous report design. people that the. asSaSSiiiiiiinifi3ietit*;: President's predecesSor;WS'aWCO'ii'S, spirac., and the sole act Of a demented? m;nd. conditioned his resignation on the . Senate's approval of "the. appointments; The President's es -1a41 when called to icsiify before a 5ti:tilirt committee, i-oii.-eded that diii ing ti three years on thr high i; 1111,1 .111: 11:1(1 Clint Ii) lief rht� I. I C.0411111% :Ids MOS. � I)i.tt 1,111�:I1.ilit .10 ihiS n)lr_ he had silt 0�1 numerous cabinet-kw! IlleCtiligS, but that he had merely_"sumniarized" the views of others for theyberiefit'of the President; fl . That as a justice he had dressed down a prominent businessman who had criti- EMbassy in Mexico City. When the anti- Castro paramilitary team could not.,;:,, neirate the Presidential YseCtii-4_ 41i:4 i..01ingtcp;_iwal0 got ireprieve. But � age11,--.WhOSaYs lie wa-s-1::i.te;the attempt: -would 6ine: oil but failed to 'get the int `i-O- -Listen, faked :a bank; tEiihliery, in El 7,4ii*SepteMber that be Would: arreited and in federal: ciisind3'.;-0e*;?: 11_7cfl occurred as i.bein mentally unbalanced, noting that ''cbur;-:! ; records indicated that 24iigelf had suf- fered brain damage in an auplane crash.�; in 1957" and that, following:the, episode, he Was "an initiate of a federal institution for the Criminatii!inSane.Springhidd, Missouri."� As he does' so frequently throughout the article, Ep- stein delivers aversion which if devet 'oped fully Would throvi a different light Ct Avas given,Inte gence < - � xized war spending; though whether his call was made at the President's request 7:1144e'conicr nOt4stry.and rericain faithful to It$';;;-* , � That The lusinessman..;bad'retra - is...staternen ou �an- The r .proved to bearat�: That the justice couldn,�isit:: questions -COriCerning his Tjtidietal optn,A ions since the Constitution specifiih�V members of Congress may nOt tioned about their acts in any place Other:: . _ _ , . _ than in Congress; � ' That despite this asserted CoristitU 4tional bar, the usbce poniied lolusdis enhiiig vbie, against, cxtending.the � -yanonc-vote principle to local �ern-' rn-e-rit'aroroOf Of his devotion rights..-....- That; althOugh he had been at the President's disposal is advisor-intruilar- izer, he had never been'invol�;eatiii-dis- cussions that could conceivably.,treach the Court; the issues under disett%si).:tf..-1; the _ lop-level meetings had ranged titan the Vietnam War to riots in thr cities; � That the justice had voted to jail draft card burners and had voted against taking up for consideration the 'cloth of the War; , _ That he voted to give the police sweep- ing rights to stop-and-frisk, suspects on .training after his .recO , _ , - -- that he had no permanent- 4n.injury oteti,Ver, the.. fact that tobd trial .:. .L. v.n-,X. %-; ii40,--- igiv...7.-,1-tt-'4,1;t4-k_.W._ inp.lis-ltiat ,be centlyi,ne.,..was ..xeleaseo 1.:W9rth-fLPenitentiary,.74, :Springfieh only temporart ',- e publicationo .111 - Al', .-..: ,-.T., ,:' ,..4:�-444., ,:.14w,4 carnec-41 -La l'aomr1 4, ...,.., firiwvbtatng A ..�,20 le ii:ift..!,.3:2-1-4;Vf -S'ililk ---.,-,. ._tpi-�,m r. as: - a - three-judge fi;di..-ral-Pang1-41 ing aigUrnen s that,o .1ba..DA- ,.... . . ....� .. ---..,.,,,,,w,,,,;-!..0. ducting a iell,niorrterrq cutiiigr=. The:. defen � n ',Apparen moustr ,-;,�,-;,..,7_7,-,--.�-,,..,.......�-,45.4.7:4�44,kel. , ,,,i44 -41...,-,- . -.M7CC eoul panel,:,' Was', lawn r �*....10,4.. ense-s ar.gzun*n.y.,Y *' -d''''itiii' . an or el-6d e .0 ��,,iits...1, :-'. ...-.7r- st.:., - ... If Garrison d � 'a day EP-Stein *50,41,44.. ---,cbanteStre 2-than ,The defense:: ,stispicion:a That isvo sed elevationbe had 1 -4 � _let, -Concerning pit-t-Vaititi !.,i0 ence, Avnicti- imit .4 14,� � right to diso Ws olhose. ri(ft- - -4o1undarne 'traTtles'Of-Iffeliii- the Con �al -such �urged:- Led; wus pub.", cottntx n, a rare - ttigton,.1 e activates . . , tribv11ruyersity, 5g.stible from stitutiOn*.!".,4 cases nThalo",:lega but jailingninst. ?-gho.-1-11;*'; intervw frorriVii rotest e tcriit -On. the Court, he cath 'vine uphold- ing the conviction" nd five-year sentence of Ralph Ginzhiirg for "pandering" a non-obsene magazine; � That during each of his three terms he nearl) aliovay.s k otcd for business interests' against eitorts to ii down the It t 1%1 % ; .11.1 iii, uugluiiuI lii, vit-4.6 oii. thy (uituit he w,i,.. widOy:t tit iut rd Lu 'Myr been one or lilt: l'it�a heuul's 11190 11111,06AI advisors On tilt -4!ii114.41 if