What do you think?
Rate this book
The Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy: Crime, Conspiracy and Cover-Up - A New Investigation
Longlisted for the People's Book Prize 2018
At 12.16am on Wednesday, June 5, 1968, Senator Robert F. Kennedy was shot and mortally wounded in the kitchen service pantry of the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles. He had just won the California Primary, an important victory in his quest for nomination as the Democratic Party’s candidate in the US Presidential election late that year. A little over 24 hours later, he was pronounced dead.
A 24-year-old Palestinian immigrant, Sirhan Bishara Sirhan, was captured in the pantry with a smoking gun in his hand. Eyewitnesses had seen him step out in front of Kennedy and begin shooting with a small calibre revolver. He fired all eight bullets in its chamber. In April 1969, Sirhan was convicted of Robert Kennedy’s murder and the wounding of five others. He was sentenced to death, later commuted to life imprisonment. He has been in prison – often in solitary confinement – ever since. Fifteen applications for parole have been rejected.
That is the official history of the murder of Robert F. Kennedy. Now, on the 50th anniversary of the assassination, award-winning investigative journalists Tim Tate and Brad Johnson uncover the true story.
This book is the result of more than 25 years’ painstaking forensic work. The authors have scrutinised more than 100,000 official documents, located previously unknown recordings, and conducted original new interviews with key figures in the case.
They show that Sirhan could not have fired the fatal bullets, reveal detailed evidence of a murderous conspiracy involving organised crime, and disclose CIA documents detailing successful experiments to create a hypno-programmed political assassin. The book also unmasks the likely identity of one of the most enduring mysteries in the case – the infamous ‘Girl in the Polka Dot Dress’.
At 12.16am on Wednesday, June 5, 1968, Senator Robert F. Kennedy was shot and mortally wounded in the kitchen service pantry of the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles. He had just won the California Primary, an important victory in his quest for nomination as the Democratic Party’s candidate in the US Presidential election late that year. A little over 24 hours later, he was pronounced dead.
A 24-year-old Palestinian immigrant, Sirhan Bishara Sirhan, was captured in the pantry with a smoking gun in his hand. Eyewitnesses had seen him step out in front of Kennedy and begin shooting with a small calibre revolver. He fired all eight bullets in its chamber. In April 1969, Sirhan was convicted of Robert Kennedy’s murder and the wounding of five others. He was sentenced to death, later commuted to life imprisonment. He has been in prison – often in solitary confinement – ever since. Fifteen applications for parole have been rejected.
That is the official history of the murder of Robert F. Kennedy. Now, on the 50th anniversary of the assassination, award-winning investigative journalists Tim Tate and Brad Johnson uncover the true story.
This book is the result of more than 25 years’ painstaking forensic work. The authors have scrutinised more than 100,000 official documents, located previously unknown recordings, and conducted original new interviews with key figures in the case.
They show that Sirhan could not have fired the fatal bullets, reveal detailed evidence of a murderous conspiracy involving organised crime, and disclose CIA documents detailing successful experiments to create a hypno-programmed political assassin. The book also unmasks the likely identity of one of the most enduring mysteries in the case – the infamous ‘Girl in the Polka Dot Dress’.
268 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 25, 2018
412 people are currently reading
287 people want to read
About the author
Tim Tate
25 books67 followersTim Tate is a multiple award-winning British documentary film-maker and bestselling author.
His films - mostly investigative, always campaigning - have been honoured by Amnesty International, the Royal Television Society, UNESCO, The Association for International Broadcasting, The International Documentary Association, the New York Festivals and the US National Academy of Cable Programming. He often speaks at international conferences and university seminars.
He is also the author of fifteen published non-fiction books. These include the best-selling "Slave Girl" which told the true story of a young British woman sex-trafficked to Amsterdam; "Girls With Balls" which uncovered the secret history of women's football; "Hitler's Forgotten Children", which tells the extraordinary and harrowing story of a woman who was part of the Nazi Lebensborn programme to create an Aryan master race; and "Yorkshire Ripper - The Secret Murders" which reveals long-suppressed evidence showing that Peter Sutcliffe killed 23 more victims.
His 2017, "Pride", tells the extraordinary true story behind the hit movie of the same name. In 1984,in the depths of the bitterly-fought miners' strike, a group of very cosmopolitan London gay men and women made common cause with the very traditional communities of a remote south Wales valley - and helped keep its mining families alive at at a time when the British government was trying to starve them into submission.
His latest book - The Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy: Crime, Conspiracy and Cover-Up (Thistle Publishing) is the result of 25 years investigation by Tim and his co-author, former CNN journalist Brad Johnson. It presents detailed forensic, ballistic and eyewitness testimony showing that the convicted assassin, Sirhan Sirhan, could not have shot Kennedy. It reveals that Los Angeles Police disregarded and then suppressed clear evidence of a conspiracy behind the assassination and makes a compelling case for a new official inquiry.
His films - mostly investigative, always campaigning - have been honoured by Amnesty International, the Royal Television Society, UNESCO, The Association for International Broadcasting, The International Documentary Association, the New York Festivals and the US National Academy of Cable Programming. He often speaks at international conferences and university seminars.
He is also the author of fifteen published non-fiction books. These include the best-selling "Slave Girl" which told the true story of a young British woman sex-trafficked to Amsterdam; "Girls With Balls" which uncovered the secret history of women's football; "Hitler's Forgotten Children", which tells the extraordinary and harrowing story of a woman who was part of the Nazi Lebensborn programme to create an Aryan master race; and "Yorkshire Ripper - The Secret Murders" which reveals long-suppressed evidence showing that Peter Sutcliffe killed 23 more victims.
His 2017, "Pride", tells the extraordinary true story behind the hit movie of the same name. In 1984,in the depths of the bitterly-fought miners' strike, a group of very cosmopolitan London gay men and women made common cause with the very traditional communities of a remote south Wales valley - and helped keep its mining families alive at at a time when the British government was trying to starve them into submission.
His latest book - The Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy: Crime, Conspiracy and Cover-Up (Thistle Publishing) is the result of 25 years investigation by Tim and his co-author, former CNN journalist Brad Johnson. It presents detailed forensic, ballistic and eyewitness testimony showing that the convicted assassin, Sirhan Sirhan, could not have shot Kennedy. It reveals that Los Angeles Police disregarded and then suppressed clear evidence of a conspiracy behind the assassination and makes a compelling case for a new official inquiry.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
August 11, 2019
Assassination
On June 4th, 1968 in the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, Robert Kennedy was shot dead - exactly two months after Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis. For many Americans the disbelief was palpable, they lost another great man, a former Attorney General, and a potential President of the USA. Following the assassination of Robert’s brother, President John F Kennedy in 1963, the whole Kennedy involvement in US politics became cloaked in conspiracy theories, murderous plots, government and criminal collusion, and cover-ups. It seemed that this dark period in US politics was being manipulated by forces where assassination was a tool for driving a hidden agenda. Who were the sinister forces?
There is a wealth of information surrounding this tragic incident so it was intriguing to read what new material could contribute to the debate and body of knowledge. This book approaches the periods before, during and after the assassination. It explores the people associated with Robert and the investigation teams and those that may have had an axe to grind. It is all too easy to lay out facts in chronological order and state, job done. Tim Tate and Brad Johnson do a sterling job of presenting a natural flow to the story, unravelling the compelling and detailed elements of the background, shooting and motivations of various parties.
Most books covering conspiracy theories tend to get so preoccupied with providing a compelling argument as to why 'their' view is correct that they become blind to other pieces of information that don’t support their position. This is especially true when the amount of data is overwhelming and this book leaves much of that decision open to the reader. The narrative starts back with Robert’s life as Attorney General and his subsequent period following John’s assassination. The authors outline Robert’s thinking prior to his decision to run for President, and why his change of direction, albeit against the advice of his other brother, Teddy. The Kennedy’s had amassed considerable powerful enemies during their era in politics and many avenues of investigations should have been explored. Following Robert’s assassination by Sirhan Bishara Sirhan the flaws into the investigation are presented and the inconsistencies during the trial and whether the gunman acted alone.
The detail in this book is quite significant, especially as it covers multiple perspectives but the authors have invited us to make up our own mind, although it is pretty easy to see which theory they believe. I would be encouraged to read further into this story not least because I feel the USA and the World was cheated out of a great leader. I would highly recommend this book and invite other readers to make up their own minds as it is such a significant period in history.
Many thanks to Thistle Publishing Limited, for an ARC version of the book in return for an honest review.
On June 4th, 1968 in the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, Robert Kennedy was shot dead - exactly two months after Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis. For many Americans the disbelief was palpable, they lost another great man, a former Attorney General, and a potential President of the USA. Following the assassination of Robert’s brother, President John F Kennedy in 1963, the whole Kennedy involvement in US politics became cloaked in conspiracy theories, murderous plots, government and criminal collusion, and cover-ups. It seemed that this dark period in US politics was being manipulated by forces where assassination was a tool for driving a hidden agenda. Who were the sinister forces?
There is a wealth of information surrounding this tragic incident so it was intriguing to read what new material could contribute to the debate and body of knowledge. This book approaches the periods before, during and after the assassination. It explores the people associated with Robert and the investigation teams and those that may have had an axe to grind. It is all too easy to lay out facts in chronological order and state, job done. Tim Tate and Brad Johnson do a sterling job of presenting a natural flow to the story, unravelling the compelling and detailed elements of the background, shooting and motivations of various parties.
Most books covering conspiracy theories tend to get so preoccupied with providing a compelling argument as to why 'their' view is correct that they become blind to other pieces of information that don’t support their position. This is especially true when the amount of data is overwhelming and this book leaves much of that decision open to the reader. The narrative starts back with Robert’s life as Attorney General and his subsequent period following John’s assassination. The authors outline Robert’s thinking prior to his decision to run for President, and why his change of direction, albeit against the advice of his other brother, Teddy. The Kennedy’s had amassed considerable powerful enemies during their era in politics and many avenues of investigations should have been explored. Following Robert’s assassination by Sirhan Bishara Sirhan the flaws into the investigation are presented and the inconsistencies during the trial and whether the gunman acted alone.
The detail in this book is quite significant, especially as it covers multiple perspectives but the authors have invited us to make up our own mind, although it is pretty easy to see which theory they believe. I would be encouraged to read further into this story not least because I feel the USA and the World was cheated out of a great leader. I would highly recommend this book and invite other readers to make up their own minds as it is such a significant period in history.
Many thanks to Thistle Publishing Limited, for an ARC version of the book in return for an honest review.
July 19, 2018
In 1968, Robert F Kennedy was elected as the Democratic party’s presidential candidate. Immediately afterward, he was shot and killed in the kitchen of the California hotel in which he was staying. Sirhan Sirhan, a Syrian nationalist, was arrested and convicted – but the story doesn’t end there.
Tim Tate, an investigative journalist and documentarian, along with Brad Johnson, an award winning writer and producer, could not accept the government’s account of the events of that fateful day, a day which transformed the very fabric of our nation.
1968 was a volatile time in American history: civil rights marches, feminist marches, the murder of Martin Luther King; the nation was being torn apart at the seams. The calm in this storm, often, was Robert Kennedy – Bobby – the younger brother to JFK, former Attorney General and darling of the Democratic Party. His murder and the subsequent government inquiries shocked the American people to their core. Sirhan Sirhan, a Syrian nationalist, immediately was taken into custody, charged and convicted of the crime. He has not, however, waivered through the years regarding his innocence.
Before this book was written, RFK, Jr, Bobby’s son, met with Sirhan Sirhan – alone – for hours, just the two of them talking. Attorney RFK, Jr. asked pertinent questions as any attorney would do. RFK, Jr. came away convinced, without doubt, that Sirhan Sirhan did not fire the fatal shot into his father’s head. He is asking for a re-opening of the case.
As an historian and an admirer of the Kennedy family, I have read extensively about the family, each son, a few of the daughters and both assassinations – RFK and JFK. I know that while John was the flashier of the two brothers, Bobby was the reasonable, thoughtful, quiet one. I also have read Bobby’s journals during a mid-east visit that he and John took before JFK was elected. While JFK was “squishy” on mid-east matters, particularly on the Israel-Palestine issue, Bobby was steadfast in his support of Palestinian and Muslim rights. He wrote extensively regarding his doubts and questions pertaining to Israel’s policies against Palestine and Syria – and no, the Syrian problem is not a new thing, but rather was exacerbated during this time. Bobby supported Syria and the people there. Which begs the question, why would a Syrian kill the only presidential candidate who publicly supported their cause?
Aside from the political fall out that such an act would cause, the forensic evidence never has matched Sirhan Sirhan. In all of the photographs taken, Sirhan is standing in front of RFK when the shot was fired. This is well documented. Yet the bullet fired was to the back of Kennedy’s head. This alone should have raised doubts into the government inquiry, and for many it did. However, no amount of questioning would alter the government’s findings: Lone shooter, Sirhan Sirhan.
Tate and Johnson have conducted extensive research into all of the areas of this assassination and they have presented a well laid out, thoughtful review of the murder, arrest and subsequent inquiry. They concluded, as did RFK, Jr., that Sirhan Sirhan might have been complicit in the murder, but he was not the actual murderer. This does, of course, imply a conspiracy. While I don’t actually believe in conspiracies, as such, I do believe in government machinations and cover-ups. The US has thousands of government cover-ups on record now that once were considered “conspiracies” to the lay American. When governments lie in order to create war against innocent people, an inquiry into the death of a “bothersome” political candidate isn’t far-fetched at all. Remember, too, who ultimately went on to win that election and ask yourself, in retrospect, if he was a trustworthy man. Hardly.
In an interview with The Washington Post, as well as many other venues since, Robert Kennedy, Jr. has pointedly stated that Sirhan did not kill his father, that there had to have been another gunman in the room and that a new investigation must be opened. I cannot think of a greater endorsement for this cause than his statement.
I already have admitted to being a Kennedy fanatic and, most likely, would have read this book regardless. It is, however, an excellent book, thoroughly researched and expertly written. The writing is so engrossing that I could not put it down until I turned the very last page – and then I went online to read more! It covers not only the assassination, but the tumultuous times surrounding it. It has been fifty years since this tragedy and it is past time that, as Americans, we address this issue.
I never have been more grateful to receive a book to review than I was this one! My appreciation to @TimTate and @BradJohnson, not only for the book but for their time spent on its research. Thank you, also, to Thistle Publishing Co. and #Netgalley for this opportunity.
Tim Tate, an investigative journalist and documentarian, along with Brad Johnson, an award winning writer and producer, could not accept the government’s account of the events of that fateful day, a day which transformed the very fabric of our nation.
1968 was a volatile time in American history: civil rights marches, feminist marches, the murder of Martin Luther King; the nation was being torn apart at the seams. The calm in this storm, often, was Robert Kennedy – Bobby – the younger brother to JFK, former Attorney General and darling of the Democratic Party. His murder and the subsequent government inquiries shocked the American people to their core. Sirhan Sirhan, a Syrian nationalist, immediately was taken into custody, charged and convicted of the crime. He has not, however, waivered through the years regarding his innocence.
Before this book was written, RFK, Jr, Bobby’s son, met with Sirhan Sirhan – alone – for hours, just the two of them talking. Attorney RFK, Jr. asked pertinent questions as any attorney would do. RFK, Jr. came away convinced, without doubt, that Sirhan Sirhan did not fire the fatal shot into his father’s head. He is asking for a re-opening of the case.
As an historian and an admirer of the Kennedy family, I have read extensively about the family, each son, a few of the daughters and both assassinations – RFK and JFK. I know that while John was the flashier of the two brothers, Bobby was the reasonable, thoughtful, quiet one. I also have read Bobby’s journals during a mid-east visit that he and John took before JFK was elected. While JFK was “squishy” on mid-east matters, particularly on the Israel-Palestine issue, Bobby was steadfast in his support of Palestinian and Muslim rights. He wrote extensively regarding his doubts and questions pertaining to Israel’s policies against Palestine and Syria – and no, the Syrian problem is not a new thing, but rather was exacerbated during this time. Bobby supported Syria and the people there. Which begs the question, why would a Syrian kill the only presidential candidate who publicly supported their cause?
Aside from the political fall out that such an act would cause, the forensic evidence never has matched Sirhan Sirhan. In all of the photographs taken, Sirhan is standing in front of RFK when the shot was fired. This is well documented. Yet the bullet fired was to the back of Kennedy’s head. This alone should have raised doubts into the government inquiry, and for many it did. However, no amount of questioning would alter the government’s findings: Lone shooter, Sirhan Sirhan.
Tate and Johnson have conducted extensive research into all of the areas of this assassination and they have presented a well laid out, thoughtful review of the murder, arrest and subsequent inquiry. They concluded, as did RFK, Jr., that Sirhan Sirhan might have been complicit in the murder, but he was not the actual murderer. This does, of course, imply a conspiracy. While I don’t actually believe in conspiracies, as such, I do believe in government machinations and cover-ups. The US has thousands of government cover-ups on record now that once were considered “conspiracies” to the lay American. When governments lie in order to create war against innocent people, an inquiry into the death of a “bothersome” political candidate isn’t far-fetched at all. Remember, too, who ultimately went on to win that election and ask yourself, in retrospect, if he was a trustworthy man. Hardly.
In an interview with The Washington Post, as well as many other venues since, Robert Kennedy, Jr. has pointedly stated that Sirhan did not kill his father, that there had to have been another gunman in the room and that a new investigation must be opened. I cannot think of a greater endorsement for this cause than his statement.
I already have admitted to being a Kennedy fanatic and, most likely, would have read this book regardless. It is, however, an excellent book, thoroughly researched and expertly written. The writing is so engrossing that I could not put it down until I turned the very last page – and then I went online to read more! It covers not only the assassination, but the tumultuous times surrounding it. It has been fifty years since this tragedy and it is past time that, as Americans, we address this issue.
I never have been more grateful to receive a book to review than I was this one! My appreciation to @TimTate and @BradJohnson, not only for the book but for their time spent on its research. Thank you, also, to Thistle Publishing Co. and #Netgalley for this opportunity.
June 4, 2018
3.5
1968.
The spring of my sophomore year of high school found me falling into a depression that lasted several months. Personal and family problems were behind most of it, with national events weighing down with extra pressure as we saw the deaths of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy.
1968 was such a bad year, I avoided thinking about it for decades; I have tried to understand it for decades more.
In those days, my dad would wake me up before he left for work at Chrysler in Highland Park, MI. I turned on my radio while dressing for school. That June 5 I learned that Robert F. Kennedy had been shot. It caught me unawares, a gut-punch that left me breathless.
I had a two-mile walk to high school. Then I ran to my friend's locker to find her devastated. Her parents didn't understand her grief, she said. I wrote in my diary that I silently prayed, "Don't let him die."
Looking back, it seems that with RFK's death the dream of a just society died, too.
(Alright, I have read biographies and I know that Bobby was no one's idea of perfection. But he did have an awakening and envisioned a better America for everyone.)
We watched the news. We saw how Sirhan Sirhan stood in front of Bobby and shot him and knew that Bobby died. Sirhan went to prison.
End of story.
Apparently, this story's end was manipulated for easy answers and for fifty years people have been searching for answers that better fit the evidence. Beginning with the fact that Sirhan was in front of RFK by several feet but RFK died from a bullet that struck him in the back of the head.
Oh, and it seems that Sirhan's gun held eight bullets but thirteen may have been fired.
Investigative journalists Tim Tate and Brad Johnson's book The Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy presents an entire history of investigations into Bobby's death, drawing on 100,000 official documents and 25 years of forensic work.
I am not easily drawn to conspiracy theories. All kinds have been made over the years. Was Sirhan hypnotized? Did the government brainwash him? Were a girl in a polka dot dress and a man in a gold sweater involved? Did the police destroy evidence to hide something? Where witnesses harassed or ignored? It is all very interesting but I am not placing bets on any of them.
What seems possible is that the LAPD had decided that Sirhan had the gun and they ignored evidence and testimony and gaps that did not fit into their story.
Reading Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson and The Shine Will Shine by Ray Hinton and I Can't Breathe by Matt Taibbi proves that the police do make decisions and manipulate evidence to be consistent with what they believe. It is very possible the LAPD did that fifty years ago.
Paul Schrade was behind Kennedy and was also shot. He believes there was a second gunman. He went to Sirhan and told him he believed he was innocent. "You were never behind Bob, nor was Bob's back ever exposed to you," Schrade told Sirhan.
We will never know the truth of Bobby's murder. It is one more 'unsolved mystery' for us to ponder. What is the point? my husband asked; Bobby is still dead.
It was interesting to learn about fifty years of investigation regarding Bobby's death. My interest did not lag.
The Daily Mail is serializing the book.
View the trailer for the book at https://vimeo.com/272208961?ref=tw-share
I received a free ebook from the publisher.
1968.
The spring of my sophomore year of high school found me falling into a depression that lasted several months. Personal and family problems were behind most of it, with national events weighing down with extra pressure as we saw the deaths of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy.
1968 was such a bad year, I avoided thinking about it for decades; I have tried to understand it for decades more.
In those days, my dad would wake me up before he left for work at Chrysler in Highland Park, MI. I turned on my radio while dressing for school. That June 5 I learned that Robert F. Kennedy had been shot. It caught me unawares, a gut-punch that left me breathless.
I had a two-mile walk to high school. Then I ran to my friend's locker to find her devastated. Her parents didn't understand her grief, she said. I wrote in my diary that I silently prayed, "Don't let him die."
Looking back, it seems that with RFK's death the dream of a just society died, too.
(Alright, I have read biographies and I know that Bobby was no one's idea of perfection. But he did have an awakening and envisioned a better America for everyone.)
We watched the news. We saw how Sirhan Sirhan stood in front of Bobby and shot him and knew that Bobby died. Sirhan went to prison.
End of story.
Apparently, this story's end was manipulated for easy answers and for fifty years people have been searching for answers that better fit the evidence. Beginning with the fact that Sirhan was in front of RFK by several feet but RFK died from a bullet that struck him in the back of the head.
Oh, and it seems that Sirhan's gun held eight bullets but thirteen may have been fired.
Investigative journalists Tim Tate and Brad Johnson's book The Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy presents an entire history of investigations into Bobby's death, drawing on 100,000 official documents and 25 years of forensic work.
I am not easily drawn to conspiracy theories. All kinds have been made over the years. Was Sirhan hypnotized? Did the government brainwash him? Were a girl in a polka dot dress and a man in a gold sweater involved? Did the police destroy evidence to hide something? Where witnesses harassed or ignored? It is all very interesting but I am not placing bets on any of them.
What seems possible is that the LAPD had decided that Sirhan had the gun and they ignored evidence and testimony and gaps that did not fit into their story.
Reading Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson and The Shine Will Shine by Ray Hinton and I Can't Breathe by Matt Taibbi proves that the police do make decisions and manipulate evidence to be consistent with what they believe. It is very possible the LAPD did that fifty years ago.
Paul Schrade was behind Kennedy and was also shot. He believes there was a second gunman. He went to Sirhan and told him he believed he was innocent. "You were never behind Bob, nor was Bob's back ever exposed to you," Schrade told Sirhan.
We will never know the truth of Bobby's murder. It is one more 'unsolved mystery' for us to ponder. What is the point? my husband asked; Bobby is still dead.
It was interesting to learn about fifty years of investigation regarding Bobby's death. My interest did not lag.
The Daily Mail is serializing the book.
View the trailer for the book at https://vimeo.com/272208961?ref=tw-share
I received a free ebook from the publisher.
August 27, 2018
If you enjoy reading historical non-fiction events that are embroiled in a conspiracy, then this would be a book I would recommend reading. With the wealth of information and the plethora of opinions as to what occurred on that fateful night June 4th, 1968 in the Ambassador hotel, I initially had reservations as to what new aspect this book could contribute to the controversy. I have been pleasantly surprised, most books covering conspiracy theories tend to get so overwhelmed with data and detail that it becomes confusing and complicated, losing its flow and usually biased to one view without acknowledging or considering opposing views. This book approaches the before, during and aftermath and the people connected based on reviewing all the information available regarding this affair. It is not just a chronology of incidents, it is well presented and has a natural flow unravelling the compelling and detailed complexities of this event and the subsequent trail case of the assassin Sirhan Bishara Sirhan, demonstrating that it was not a straightforward open and shut case.
It begins with a report of the assassination, then provides a summary detail of Robert’s life and his career prior to becoming attorney general working with his brother John and subsequent work after John’s assassination. Robert’s views and changes of his views over those years are outlined and explained why he chose to run in the race to be nominated as the Democratic candidate for the 1968 presidential elections against Richard Nixon, and against his brothers Teddy’s advice. The story also details the many powerful enemies he accumulated during his illustrious career. Brilliantly described are the subsequent investigations and the detailed investigation and insight into the assassin Sirhan Bishara Sirhan, the inconsistencies of the following investigation, and trial and whether he was a lone assassin.
There are sections where it does get quite detailed and some-what off-piste. For instance, the detailed in-depth look into the origins of Hypno-assassin or the backgrounds to people involved with the case. However, you do realise and appreciate the relevance of such in-depth analysis to keep track of how it all fits with the argument being put forward.
You do have to remain focused on the chronology of events or you may get confused as to the role played by some of the key members. In other words, it’s not a book that you could read and leave for a while and pick up some weeks later and grasp the gist of, recall the complexities of the argument being put forward and the relevance of people involved. Therefore, I would suggest you read it within a short time frame.
Meticulous research has been conducted to deliver a detailed analysis of this event and the fallout. I did not feel I was being led or persuaded to one absolute view or that the conspiracy, or not, was unequivocally answered. I was more issued with all information available regarding this subject and being allowed to make my own judgement. In which case It left me with more questions than answers and wanting to find out more and investigate further into this historical event. Hence, I would not add my opinion at this point as it would be biased, instead, I would recommend this book and allow the reader to make up their own opinions.
It begins with a report of the assassination, then provides a summary detail of Robert’s life and his career prior to becoming attorney general working with his brother John and subsequent work after John’s assassination. Robert’s views and changes of his views over those years are outlined and explained why he chose to run in the race to be nominated as the Democratic candidate for the 1968 presidential elections against Richard Nixon, and against his brothers Teddy’s advice. The story also details the many powerful enemies he accumulated during his illustrious career. Brilliantly described are the subsequent investigations and the detailed investigation and insight into the assassin Sirhan Bishara Sirhan, the inconsistencies of the following investigation, and trial and whether he was a lone assassin.
There are sections where it does get quite detailed and some-what off-piste. For instance, the detailed in-depth look into the origins of Hypno-assassin or the backgrounds to people involved with the case. However, you do realise and appreciate the relevance of such in-depth analysis to keep track of how it all fits with the argument being put forward.
You do have to remain focused on the chronology of events or you may get confused as to the role played by some of the key members. In other words, it’s not a book that you could read and leave for a while and pick up some weeks later and grasp the gist of, recall the complexities of the argument being put forward and the relevance of people involved. Therefore, I would suggest you read it within a short time frame.
Meticulous research has been conducted to deliver a detailed analysis of this event and the fallout. I did not feel I was being led or persuaded to one absolute view or that the conspiracy, or not, was unequivocally answered. I was more issued with all information available regarding this subject and being allowed to make my own judgement. In which case It left me with more questions than answers and wanting to find out more and investigate further into this historical event. Hence, I would not add my opinion at this point as it would be biased, instead, I would recommend this book and allow the reader to make up their own opinions.
June 25, 2018
Being British and of an age where I would've only been a twinkle in my father's eye when this awful event occurred in June 1968 explains why I have no knowledge of the murder of Robert F. Kennedy, JFK's brother. He was killed five years after his brother was assassinated at Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas. I am endlessly fascinated by JFK and the conspiracy theories surrounding his death so naturally this book gained my interest right away.
"The Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy" is an incredibly detailed look at the facts surrounding the case. It seems as though the author's have researched meticulously in order to compile enough evidence to present in this book. There's no doubt that this will have taken an obscene amount of time to put together. This was an intriguing and thought-provoking read, I always enjoy learning about the various conspiracy theories whether it is with regard to 9/11, American and British involvement in the war in Syria, Tony Blairs decision to invade Iraq based on "evidence" of WMD or the assassinations of President JFK and his brother.
Tate and Johnson have taken particular care to make sure the writing is accessible, immersive and above all enjoyable for the reader. They clearly both share the same point-of-view on his assassination but the facts that were presented seemed to be fairly balanced which is not an easy feat.
A compelling and engrossing book that history fans will appreciate, especially those into American history. Those who entertain the idea that things are not always as they seem will find this engaging too. I have read a few books from this publisher and found each one to be excellent. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Thistle Publishing for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
"The Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy" is an incredibly detailed look at the facts surrounding the case. It seems as though the author's have researched meticulously in order to compile enough evidence to present in this book. There's no doubt that this will have taken an obscene amount of time to put together. This was an intriguing and thought-provoking read, I always enjoy learning about the various conspiracy theories whether it is with regard to 9/11, American and British involvement in the war in Syria, Tony Blairs decision to invade Iraq based on "evidence" of WMD or the assassinations of President JFK and his brother.
Tate and Johnson have taken particular care to make sure the writing is accessible, immersive and above all enjoyable for the reader. They clearly both share the same point-of-view on his assassination but the facts that were presented seemed to be fairly balanced which is not an easy feat.
A compelling and engrossing book that history fans will appreciate, especially those into American history. Those who entertain the idea that things are not always as they seem will find this engaging too. I have read a few books from this publisher and found each one to be excellent. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Thistle Publishing for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
June 11, 2018
This is the first book I've read about the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. While I'm not certain there was a conspiracy to kill Bobby Kennedy, I do believe that the subsequent investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department was less than competent.
It also seems that the man convicted for Kennedy's murder, Sirhan Sirhan, didn't get a fair trial. The failure to release police files on the case for 20 years seems to have been a decision deliberately designed to cloud the issues surrounding Kennedy's death and Sirhan's motives for killing him.
That said, I felt that the authors of this book were cherry-picking parts of the story to fit their claims of a conspiracy although their evidence of a cover-up seems solid enough.
I found it very significant that the autopsy of Kennedy, carried out by the then Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner for the County of Los Angeles, Thomas Noguchi, concluded that the fatal shot was fired into the back of Kennedy's head, behind the right ear, from an upward angle, and from a distance of no more than 0.5 to 3 inches. Every eyewitness to the Kennedy assassination stated that Sirhan Sirhan was in front of Kennedy when he fired. So how does a bullet from Sirhan's gun which is pointed at his victim's face, end up entering the back of his head? Unless of course it is another of those "magic" bullets which was responsible for the death of Bobby Kennedy's brother, John F. Kennedy in Dallas 5 years previously?
To me, this is the strongest argument in favour of a "second gunman" theory put forward by investigative journalists Tim Tate and Brad Johnson in this book.
However, other conspiracy theories about this case failed to convince. The evidence of a woman in a polka dot dress and an unidentified man accompanying Sirhan Sirhan in the Ambassador Hotel where the shooting took place seems speculative as does the claim that one of the hotel's security guards fired the fatal shots.
The ballistics evidence for there being more bullets fired than those contained in Sirhan's gun and expert testimony that as many as 13 bullets had been fired is stronger but inconclusive - although most of it is far better than any of the "expert" evidence presented by Los Angeles police and those who prosecuted Sirhan Sirhan.
The book also details how, in the last 50 years, there have been numerous attempts to stage an inquiry into RFK's assassination and also to have Sirhan Sirhan paroled, but all have met with failure.
The final words go to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr who was aged 14 at the time of his father's death.
Earlier this year (2018), in an interview with The Washington Post, he said he believed that Sirhan did not kill his father, and that a second gunman was involved.
It also seems that the man convicted for Kennedy's murder, Sirhan Sirhan, didn't get a fair trial. The failure to release police files on the case for 20 years seems to have been a decision deliberately designed to cloud the issues surrounding Kennedy's death and Sirhan's motives for killing him.
That said, I felt that the authors of this book were cherry-picking parts of the story to fit their claims of a conspiracy although their evidence of a cover-up seems solid enough.
I found it very significant that the autopsy of Kennedy, carried out by the then Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner for the County of Los Angeles, Thomas Noguchi, concluded that the fatal shot was fired into the back of Kennedy's head, behind the right ear, from an upward angle, and from a distance of no more than 0.5 to 3 inches. Every eyewitness to the Kennedy assassination stated that Sirhan Sirhan was in front of Kennedy when he fired. So how does a bullet from Sirhan's gun which is pointed at his victim's face, end up entering the back of his head? Unless of course it is another of those "magic" bullets which was responsible for the death of Bobby Kennedy's brother, John F. Kennedy in Dallas 5 years previously?
To me, this is the strongest argument in favour of a "second gunman" theory put forward by investigative journalists Tim Tate and Brad Johnson in this book.
However, other conspiracy theories about this case failed to convince. The evidence of a woman in a polka dot dress and an unidentified man accompanying Sirhan Sirhan in the Ambassador Hotel where the shooting took place seems speculative as does the claim that one of the hotel's security guards fired the fatal shots.
The ballistics evidence for there being more bullets fired than those contained in Sirhan's gun and expert testimony that as many as 13 bullets had been fired is stronger but inconclusive - although most of it is far better than any of the "expert" evidence presented by Los Angeles police and those who prosecuted Sirhan Sirhan.
The book also details how, in the last 50 years, there have been numerous attempts to stage an inquiry into RFK's assassination and also to have Sirhan Sirhan paroled, but all have met with failure.
The final words go to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr who was aged 14 at the time of his father's death.
Earlier this year (2018), in an interview with The Washington Post, he said he believed that Sirhan did not kill his father, and that a second gunman was involved.
June 5, 2018
*I received a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review.*
Actual Rating: 4.5
I was born in 1999, and I'm 19 now as I write this review. When I was in my junior year of high school, I had to interview adults from different generations, and this is one question I asked: What was one pivotal historical event you remember? Robert Kennedy's death was never mentioned. So, I have to admit that prior to reading this book, I was very ignorant about what actually happened; the only thing I knew was the iconic train funeral. With that being said, this is not a book I would typically read, but I definitely don't regret picking it up.
I really loved the writing style, first and foremost. It simplified everything so that even I could understand it (aside one very technical-sounding section that flew a bit over my head). The scenes were written in a way that I felt like I could watch them in real time. It was meticulous and intense, and honestly reading this book made everything seem so unbelievable that I had to remind myself it was non-fiction.
More importantly, this book definitely seemed like a very credible investigation. Everything mentioned was cited, and the book was very thorough. It covered everything ranging from the murder itself to the investigation afterward (or the lack thereof), to speculation, to the social effect that this event had on the political atmosphere. One thing I was super excited to read about was the theory about the girl in the polka dot dress; this book labeled what was fact and what was just speculation, and it shed light on what has been lumped in with other conspiracy theories. Along with this, several extremely interesting topics that stood out to me were the accidental audio tape and Sirhan's odd behavior during questioning.
I also liked how Dr. Martin Luther King's death was mentioned, as it greatly contributed to how the writer's viewed RFK's assassination within the scope of history, not as an individual issue.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to everyone who's interested in reading about this moment in history. I actually went to a modern art museum a few months ago, and one exhibit had chronological pictures of RFK's train funeral; having seen slices of this historical event through both investigative and artistic lens has been very enlightening for me, and I strongly encourage others to do the same!
Actual Rating: 4.5
I was born in 1999, and I'm 19 now as I write this review. When I was in my junior year of high school, I had to interview adults from different generations, and this is one question I asked: What was one pivotal historical event you remember? Robert Kennedy's death was never mentioned. So, I have to admit that prior to reading this book, I was very ignorant about what actually happened; the only thing I knew was the iconic train funeral. With that being said, this is not a book I would typically read, but I definitely don't regret picking it up.
I really loved the writing style, first and foremost. It simplified everything so that even I could understand it (aside one very technical-sounding section that flew a bit over my head). The scenes were written in a way that I felt like I could watch them in real time. It was meticulous and intense, and honestly reading this book made everything seem so unbelievable that I had to remind myself it was non-fiction.
More importantly, this book definitely seemed like a very credible investigation. Everything mentioned was cited, and the book was very thorough. It covered everything ranging from the murder itself to the investigation afterward (or the lack thereof), to speculation, to the social effect that this event had on the political atmosphere. One thing I was super excited to read about was the theory about the girl in the polka dot dress; this book labeled what was fact and what was just speculation, and it shed light on what has been lumped in with other conspiracy theories. Along with this, several extremely interesting topics that stood out to me were the accidental audio tape and Sirhan's odd behavior during questioning.
I also liked how Dr. Martin Luther King's death was mentioned, as it greatly contributed to how the writer's viewed RFK's assassination within the scope of history, not as an individual issue.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to everyone who's interested in reading about this moment in history. I actually went to a modern art museum a few months ago, and one exhibit had chronological pictures of RFK's train funeral; having seen slices of this historical event through both investigative and artistic lens has been very enlightening for me, and I strongly encourage others to do the same!
Want to read
March 25, 2025“Meanwhile, The Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy by Tim Tate and Brad Johnson was released that same year and suffered from none of these flaws. The two conspiracy researchers had spent some 25 years heavily involved in the case, and although their volume was only around half the length of the Pease book, it seemed a far more effective treatment of the topic, including eyewitness accounts but focused primarily upon the undeniable physical and forensic evidence while avoiding any damaging bouts of unwarranted speculation.”
-Ron Unz, “RFK Jr. vs. I.F. Stone on the Kennedy Assassinations”, July 31, 2023
-Ron Unz, “RFK Jr. vs. I.F. Stone on the Kennedy Assassinations”, July 31, 2023
July 22, 2018
I received a free ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Full review to come. I knew next to nothing about RFK's assassination, aside from the fact he was shot by a guy whose last name was the same as his first. Yet another example of Bobby forever being in John's shadow. Quite a lot of interesting material to mull over.
See my full review here: https://allthebookblognamesaretaken.b...
Full review to come. I knew next to nothing about RFK's assassination, aside from the fact he was shot by a guy whose last name was the same as his first. Yet another example of Bobby forever being in John's shadow. Quite a lot of interesting material to mull over.
See my full review here: https://allthebookblognamesaretaken.b...
May 15, 2022
I feel this barely scratches the surface of the RFK murder. The authors touch upon the girl in the polka dot dress and CIA mind control but they don't go full on rabbit hole. For 25 years of research I would expect more than 300 pages. The book didn't convince me.
August 27, 2018
The Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy: Crime, Conspiracy and Cover-Up - A New Investigation
by
Tim Tate
At 12.16am on Wednesday, June 5, 1968, Senator Robert F. Kennedy was shot and mortally wounded in the kitchen service pantry of the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles. He had just won the California Primary, an important victory in his quest for nomination as the Democratic Party’s candidate in the US Presidential election late that year. A little over 24 hours later, he was pronounced dead.
A 24-year-old Palestinian immigrant, Sirhan Bishara Sirhan, was captured in the pantry with a smoking gun in his hand. Eyewitnesses had seen him step out in front of Kennedy and begin shooting with a small calibre revolver. He fired all eight bullets in its chamber. In April 1969, Sirhan was convicted of Robert Kennedy’s murder and the wounding of five others. He was sentenced to death, later commuted to life imprisonment. He has been in prison – often in solitary confinement – ever since. Fifteen applications for parole have been rejected.
That is the official history of the murder of Robert F. Kennedy. Now, on the 50th anniversary of the assassination, award-winning investigative journalists Tim Tate and Brad Johnson uncover the true story.
This book is the result of more than 25 years’ painstaking forensic work. The authors have scrutinised more than 100,000 official documents, located previously unknown recordings, and conducted original new interviews with key figures in the case.
They show that Sirhan could not have fired the fatal bullets, reveal detailed evidence of a murderous conspiracy involving organised crime, and disclose CIA documents detailing successful experiments to create a hypno-programmed political assassin. The book also unmasks the likely identity of one of the most enduring mysteries in the case – the infamous ‘Girl in the Polka Dot Dress’.
My thoughts
rating 5 stars
I never pick up books like this one even though i love non fiction , but for some reason I decided to give it a try , especially when the publisher asked me if i was interested in review it , i sent them a message back saying thanks and i had already requested it from Netgalley which I had was sure when i get to it but I was going to give it a try. And I'm glad I did , its more then what I thought it was going to be , its more then just about the Kennedy family , its about a case that everyone that worked it seemed to want to try and hide facts or information from the public . Its about a case that some just wanted closed . While I don't know a hole lot about the case some of the information I do know because of what's been told on crime Tv shows i like to watch and that's that's been made available at various points in time over the last 50 years, but thanks to the hard work of the authors they bring to life and out in the open new information and new revelations, and some that were just not easy to find unless you had the inclination to dig deep into the LAPD files that were released in 1988 and the court proceedings since Sirhan was convicted.So if you want to know what I'm taking about then you must read the book. With that said I want to think Netgalley as well as they publishers for think of me and letting me read and review this book in change for my honest opinion.
by
Tim Tate
At 12.16am on Wednesday, June 5, 1968, Senator Robert F. Kennedy was shot and mortally wounded in the kitchen service pantry of the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles. He had just won the California Primary, an important victory in his quest for nomination as the Democratic Party’s candidate in the US Presidential election late that year. A little over 24 hours later, he was pronounced dead.
A 24-year-old Palestinian immigrant, Sirhan Bishara Sirhan, was captured in the pantry with a smoking gun in his hand. Eyewitnesses had seen him step out in front of Kennedy and begin shooting with a small calibre revolver. He fired all eight bullets in its chamber. In April 1969, Sirhan was convicted of Robert Kennedy’s murder and the wounding of five others. He was sentenced to death, later commuted to life imprisonment. He has been in prison – often in solitary confinement – ever since. Fifteen applications for parole have been rejected.
That is the official history of the murder of Robert F. Kennedy. Now, on the 50th anniversary of the assassination, award-winning investigative journalists Tim Tate and Brad Johnson uncover the true story.
This book is the result of more than 25 years’ painstaking forensic work. The authors have scrutinised more than 100,000 official documents, located previously unknown recordings, and conducted original new interviews with key figures in the case.
They show that Sirhan could not have fired the fatal bullets, reveal detailed evidence of a murderous conspiracy involving organised crime, and disclose CIA documents detailing successful experiments to create a hypno-programmed political assassin. The book also unmasks the likely identity of one of the most enduring mysteries in the case – the infamous ‘Girl in the Polka Dot Dress’.
My thoughts
rating 5 stars
I never pick up books like this one even though i love non fiction , but for some reason I decided to give it a try , especially when the publisher asked me if i was interested in review it , i sent them a message back saying thanks and i had already requested it from Netgalley which I had was sure when i get to it but I was going to give it a try. And I'm glad I did , its more then what I thought it was going to be , its more then just about the Kennedy family , its about a case that everyone that worked it seemed to want to try and hide facts or information from the public . Its about a case that some just wanted closed . While I don't know a hole lot about the case some of the information I do know because of what's been told on crime Tv shows i like to watch and that's that's been made available at various points in time over the last 50 years, but thanks to the hard work of the authors they bring to life and out in the open new information and new revelations, and some that were just not easy to find unless you had the inclination to dig deep into the LAPD files that were released in 1988 and the court proceedings since Sirhan was convicted.So if you want to know what I'm taking about then you must read the book. With that said I want to think Netgalley as well as they publishers for think of me and letting me read and review this book in change for my honest opinion.
March 27, 2025
I don't generally waste my time reading books about conspiracy theories, which are aimed at a simplistic (largely) American mindset requiring the recipient to possess "secret knowledge".
The RFK assassination is the most straightforward of the Big 3 in the 1960s, as the perpetrator, Sirhan Sirhan was jumped on, still possessing a gun, having fired all its 8 bullets. The book is reasonably balanced, covering the background, the evening of the shooting, the evidence, the trial, and the "cover-up" in the years after the investigation. Unlike the JFK killing, which had the Warren Investigation straight afterwards, a lot of information was withheld for years, and an audio recording of the shootings emerged many years after the events.
The book then outlines the main conspiracy theories, two of which involve extra gunmen (one of whom is the mysterious Girl in the Polka Dot Dress), and a third (the most bizarre) where Sirhan has been hypnotised into shooting the Senator (a la Manchurian Candidate).
The various theories all compete and can't all be possible. A perfectly obvious killer who planned and has admitted the crime means Occam's razor, like JFK's assassination, suggests that a lone gunman was doubtless responsible for the death of RFK without the need to invoke complexities. Nonetheless, the book is a good background to the assassination, and explores all the options without peddling any particular alternative to the obvious one.
The RFK assassination is the most straightforward of the Big 3 in the 1960s, as the perpetrator, Sirhan Sirhan was jumped on, still possessing a gun, having fired all its 8 bullets. The book is reasonably balanced, covering the background, the evening of the shooting, the evidence, the trial, and the "cover-up" in the years after the investigation. Unlike the JFK killing, which had the Warren Investigation straight afterwards, a lot of information was withheld for years, and an audio recording of the shootings emerged many years after the events.
The book then outlines the main conspiracy theories, two of which involve extra gunmen (one of whom is the mysterious Girl in the Polka Dot Dress), and a third (the most bizarre) where Sirhan has been hypnotised into shooting the Senator (a la Manchurian Candidate).
The various theories all compete and can't all be possible. A perfectly obvious killer who planned and has admitted the crime means Occam's razor, like JFK's assassination, suggests that a lone gunman was doubtless responsible for the death of RFK without the need to invoke complexities. Nonetheless, the book is a good background to the assassination, and explores all the options without peddling any particular alternative to the obvious one.
December 12, 2018
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. Was it going be a big conspiracy theory? Was what it said going to seem credible? For the tl;dr crowd, the answers to those questions are no and yes.
The somewhat more detailed explanation is that the book does a good job of explaining not only the official story and how it came to be, but also pointing out where that story has issues. Unlike a conspiracy theory, they don’t point fingers and spin yarns with conclusions about who did what and why, instead just laying out the facts and clues, leaving it to the reader to draw their own conclusion. I certainly found the evidence they presented to be disconcerting. I’ll leave it to you to draw your own conclusions.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
The somewhat more detailed explanation is that the book does a good job of explaining not only the official story and how it came to be, but also pointing out where that story has issues. Unlike a conspiracy theory, they don’t point fingers and spin yarns with conclusions about who did what and why, instead just laying out the facts and clues, leaving it to the reader to draw their own conclusion. I certainly found the evidence they presented to be disconcerting. I’ll leave it to you to draw your own conclusions.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
September 16, 2019
The authors look at the events of the 5 June 1968 and the subsequent investigation. Was Sirhan Sirhan the man who actually fired the shot that killed Robert F. Kennedy, and did he act alone?
I have read lots of books about the JFK murder but none about his brother, Bobby Kennedy even though I have always found Bobby to be the more intriguing person. After reading this comprehensive, detailed, and well researched book, it seems that there are even more unanswered questions about the RFK assassination. The authors argue that, amongst other things, destruction of physical evidence, and the discrediting and pressuring of witnesses to amend or recant their testimony took place. This book is a compelling argument for the case to be reopened and thoroughly re-investigated.
It was an absolutely riveting read. I will definitely be reading other books on this subject.
I have read lots of books about the JFK murder but none about his brother, Bobby Kennedy even though I have always found Bobby to be the more intriguing person. After reading this comprehensive, detailed, and well researched book, it seems that there are even more unanswered questions about the RFK assassination. The authors argue that, amongst other things, destruction of physical evidence, and the discrediting and pressuring of witnesses to amend or recant their testimony took place. This book is a compelling argument for the case to be reopened and thoroughly re-investigated.
It was an absolutely riveting read. I will definitely be reading other books on this subject.
July 1, 2018
This thoroughly and meticulously researched examination of the assassination of Robert F Kennedy makes for some very interesting reading. Something in the investigation went very wrong and the many mistakes made at the time and the subsequent manipulation of the facts make it possible that now the truth will never be established about what actually happened and who actually fired the fatal shots. There was for sure some sort of cover-up and it would appear that the man actually convicted didn’t in fact kill Kennedy, however implicated he might have been. A fascinating account of some very murky goings-on.
August 14, 2018
Lone gunman or conspiracy?
Just what was it that attracted assassins to kill brothers John (‘Jack’) and Robert (‘Bobby’) Kennedy?
Both brothers had made a lot of enemies, but Bobby, particularly, had more than his fair share; from political ones like Hoover, Nixon & Johnson and the CIA through to union ones like Jimmy Hoffa, President of the then all-powerful Brotherhood of Teamsters.
I am sure we all remember where we were when Jack Kennedy was shot, but what about Bobby’s killing? I certainly don’t and maybe this is why it seems to have received less publicity and official investigation. Indeed, there seems to be evidence of official covering-up and the withholding of evidence throughout what investigations there were.
Rather than the shooter being solely Sirhan Sirhan, there is possibly enough evidence to suggest that, as he only held an eight-shooter and there were at least thirteen shots fired, there must have been another shooter in the kitchen pantry of the Ambassador Hotel. This was where Bobby had just held his acceptance speech as the nominee for the Democratic Party in the 1968 Presidential election.
This book is the culmination of twenty-five years of investigative journalism. It is finely researched and makes the reader aware of the possibilities and probabilities surrounding the assassination. Nearly four hundred pages long, this is not an easy read but it is well-documented and researched.
However, at the end the reader is still left with the question of ‘was it a lone gunman or was there a conspiracy?’ I am not sure we will ever know the real answer to that question.
Sméagol
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of this book to review
Just what was it that attracted assassins to kill brothers John (‘Jack’) and Robert (‘Bobby’) Kennedy?
Both brothers had made a lot of enemies, but Bobby, particularly, had more than his fair share; from political ones like Hoover, Nixon & Johnson and the CIA through to union ones like Jimmy Hoffa, President of the then all-powerful Brotherhood of Teamsters.
I am sure we all remember where we were when Jack Kennedy was shot, but what about Bobby’s killing? I certainly don’t and maybe this is why it seems to have received less publicity and official investigation. Indeed, there seems to be evidence of official covering-up and the withholding of evidence throughout what investigations there were.
Rather than the shooter being solely Sirhan Sirhan, there is possibly enough evidence to suggest that, as he only held an eight-shooter and there were at least thirteen shots fired, there must have been another shooter in the kitchen pantry of the Ambassador Hotel. This was where Bobby had just held his acceptance speech as the nominee for the Democratic Party in the 1968 Presidential election.
This book is the culmination of twenty-five years of investigative journalism. It is finely researched and makes the reader aware of the possibilities and probabilities surrounding the assassination. Nearly four hundred pages long, this is not an easy read but it is well-documented and researched.
However, at the end the reader is still left with the question of ‘was it a lone gunman or was there a conspiracy?’ I am not sure we will ever know the real answer to that question.
Sméagol
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of this book to review
June 24, 2018
Published on the 50th anniversary of Robert Kennedy's assassination in L.A. in 1968. After all this time, and with the many books on this topic on my bookshelf, surely there can be nothing new to be uncovered. I have all the publications from Robert Blair Kaiser to Fernando Faura's 'Polka Dot File', yet Tate & Johnson's 25 years of work on the killing of RFK brings new revelations to the study in 2018.
The two investigative journalists have delved into the California State archives that contain the records of the Special Unit Senator's volumes that took the best part of twenty years to be released for public scrutiny, as well as the RFK Assassination Archives at the University of Massachusetts. The two have also tracked down and interviewed important witnesses from the time. However, what is new and profound in this book is the Pruszynski recording of the shooting in the Ambassador Hotel pantry and the possible identification of the mysterious companion of Sirhan, the girl in the polka-dot dress as witnessed by Di Pierro and Sandy Serrano and others. (Sadly the book does not contain a photograph of the suspected polka-dot dress girl, one Elayn Neal. The picture that I have seen does not resemble the identikit drawing of the supposed girl from Faura's book.)
All in all Tate and Johnson have produced a very worthwhile addition to this tragic case.
The two investigative journalists have delved into the California State archives that contain the records of the Special Unit Senator's volumes that took the best part of twenty years to be released for public scrutiny, as well as the RFK Assassination Archives at the University of Massachusetts. The two have also tracked down and interviewed important witnesses from the time. However, what is new and profound in this book is the Pruszynski recording of the shooting in the Ambassador Hotel pantry and the possible identification of the mysterious companion of Sirhan, the girl in the polka-dot dress as witnessed by Di Pierro and Sandy Serrano and others. (Sadly the book does not contain a photograph of the suspected polka-dot dress girl, one Elayn Neal. The picture that I have seen does not resemble the identikit drawing of the supposed girl from Faura's book.)
All in all Tate and Johnson have produced a very worthwhile addition to this tragic case.
May 31, 2018
I received an electronic version of this book from NetGalley.
I was in junior high school and not a particular follower of the news when Senator Kennedy was shot and killed in Los Angeles. This event caught my interest, and for a period of time I read everything I could find about the Kennedy family. In that era, most of what I read could be best described as puff pieces. It was not until much later that the reading public began to get a glimpse of the seamier underside of America's so-called royal family.
All that aside, the untimely death by murder of anyone, public figure or not, is always a tragedy, and in order for justice to be done, the hunt is on to find out what happened, how it happened and who was responsible.
I never could figure out how Senator Kennedy got shot in the back and in the back of the head when all the eyewitnesses reported that the known shooter was in front of him. This book painstakingly sifts through the available evidence, and concludes that there was indeed a second shooter, and that Sirhan Sirhan, the man convicted for the crime, might have been the victim of some mind control experiment in which he was "programmed" to play the assassin. It sounds farfetched, but the authors present evidence that such experimentation really did happen during that time period. What was not clear to me in my reading, however, is exactly how the conspirators maneuvered their patsy into position, at the right time and in the right place to start shooting, or how the victim was maneuvered into position to be shot at.
The book also lays out plausible evidence for the probable identity of the infamous "girl in the polka dot dress," and her possible role in the conspiracy.
As I was already skeptical of the "lone gunman" theory, I am no more or less convinced after reading this book that Senator Kennedy was the victim of an assassination conspiracy. Assuming the authors are recounting the evidence truthfully, and I have no reason to believe otherwise, there are a number of factors in the "official" story that do not add up. This book offers plausible theories to explain them. But chances are, at this late date, 50 years after, we will never know the identity of the alleged second shooter, nor why someone or a group of someones felt it necessary to remove Robert F. Kennedy.
All in all, an interesting and plausible read for those interested in this particular slice of American history.
I was in junior high school and not a particular follower of the news when Senator Kennedy was shot and killed in Los Angeles. This event caught my interest, and for a period of time I read everything I could find about the Kennedy family. In that era, most of what I read could be best described as puff pieces. It was not until much later that the reading public began to get a glimpse of the seamier underside of America's so-called royal family.
All that aside, the untimely death by murder of anyone, public figure or not, is always a tragedy, and in order for justice to be done, the hunt is on to find out what happened, how it happened and who was responsible.
I never could figure out how Senator Kennedy got shot in the back and in the back of the head when all the eyewitnesses reported that the known shooter was in front of him. This book painstakingly sifts through the available evidence, and concludes that there was indeed a second shooter, and that Sirhan Sirhan, the man convicted for the crime, might have been the victim of some mind control experiment in which he was "programmed" to play the assassin. It sounds farfetched, but the authors present evidence that such experimentation really did happen during that time period. What was not clear to me in my reading, however, is exactly how the conspirators maneuvered their patsy into position, at the right time and in the right place to start shooting, or how the victim was maneuvered into position to be shot at.
The book also lays out plausible evidence for the probable identity of the infamous "girl in the polka dot dress," and her possible role in the conspiracy.
As I was already skeptical of the "lone gunman" theory, I am no more or less convinced after reading this book that Senator Kennedy was the victim of an assassination conspiracy. Assuming the authors are recounting the evidence truthfully, and I have no reason to believe otherwise, there are a number of factors in the "official" story that do not add up. This book offers plausible theories to explain them. But chances are, at this late date, 50 years after, we will never know the identity of the alleged second shooter, nor why someone or a group of someones felt it necessary to remove Robert F. Kennedy.
All in all, an interesting and plausible read for those interested in this particular slice of American history.
October 19, 2023
The death of JFK’s brother Robert F Kennedy on Thursday, June 6 1968 sent shockwaves through America which reverberate to this day. Additionally, there was and still is a lot of controversy regarding who was his assassin. The public largely feel that the man Sirhan Sirhan convicted of his murder was not his assassin. After more than 25 years of painstaking research, Tate and Johnson published their book regarding the assassination of Robert F Kennedy. Both believed that Kennedy himself deserved more than the speculations and colluded or poorly supported allegations. By methodically laying out in detail all the evidence, they hoped that the readers would be able to come to their own conclusions. Hopefully this would help allay/dissipate the mystery surrounding RFK’s death putting to rest any controversy once and for all.
Have the authors been successful in their goal? True they laid out every aspect of the criminal case following RFK’s death. There is no doubt that they have indeed painstakingly researched the archival evidence in detail and from numerous angles. Unfortunately, time was against them. As they encountered difficulties in obtaining evidence some evidence was not available for their inspection or at the very least obscured through time.
Why was there any controversy surrounding RFK’s death? Was it interference in police investigations? Or was it a conspiracy theory? One thing was sure. RFK had enemies in the White House even within his own Democratic Party, those opposed to the principles of freedom and equality that he stood for. The public mostly the poorer Americans were rooting for him. As I read the bio I was thrown back to those times when the country was in turmoil and widespread racial violence existed. It was thrilling to discover a man from a privileged background was capable of inspiring hope in a nation torn by inequality and suffering discord and disillusionment.
It is left for the reader to decide who the assassin/s was/were. In this the second edition, the authors have certainly laid out the evidence in all its gory detail. There is a list of their sources at the end of each chapter. They have even included photographs taken from the crime scene illustrating how the LAPD arrived at their conclusions. Long listed for the Peoples Book Prize 2018, it is a gem for those who love true crime, conspiracy and cover up.
Have the authors been successful in their goal? True they laid out every aspect of the criminal case following RFK’s death. There is no doubt that they have indeed painstakingly researched the archival evidence in detail and from numerous angles. Unfortunately, time was against them. As they encountered difficulties in obtaining evidence some evidence was not available for their inspection or at the very least obscured through time.
Why was there any controversy surrounding RFK’s death? Was it interference in police investigations? Or was it a conspiracy theory? One thing was sure. RFK had enemies in the White House even within his own Democratic Party, those opposed to the principles of freedom and equality that he stood for. The public mostly the poorer Americans were rooting for him. As I read the bio I was thrown back to those times when the country was in turmoil and widespread racial violence existed. It was thrilling to discover a man from a privileged background was capable of inspiring hope in a nation torn by inequality and suffering discord and disillusionment.
It is left for the reader to decide who the assassin/s was/were. In this the second edition, the authors have certainly laid out the evidence in all its gory detail. There is a list of their sources at the end of each chapter. They have even included photographs taken from the crime scene illustrating how the LAPD arrived at their conclusions. Long listed for the Peoples Book Prize 2018, it is a gem for those who love true crime, conspiracy and cover up.
June 30, 2018
I was finishing my freshman year at the University of Maryland when Bobby Kennedy was assassinated. This incident was fresh on the heels of the assassination of Martin Luther King and the race riots of D.C. and Baltimore. In truth, it felt to me like every good person who had come forward to help our nation achieve greatness and fairness for all of us, was being struck down. And just five years after JFK had been killed. What an unbelievable tragic loss for his family and Ethel left alone with all of those little children. I was so upset by it all, that I turned from listening to the news and had soured to the idea that our nation could improve.
This book was the first time in fifty years that I have read of any further investigation into any of these assassinations. I think I became interested in reading this book, because I heard that Bobby Kennedy, Jr. thought Sirhan Sirhan was innocent. I have often thought that JFK's assassination was not investigated properly and that we will never know the truth. I now believe that the CIA had both JFK and RFK killed, though I've had that suspicion for a long time.
The overwhelming amount of research that these authors put into this book is just amazing. I think what clinched it for me was the forensic evidence that the fatal shot was inflicted from behind RFK and only inches from his head. That and the fact that there were 13 shots fired, but Sirhan's gun only held 8 bullets. It's obvious to me that the police were trying to make everything fit what they believed to be what happened there, but their idea of how the crime was committed was incorrect.
I couldn't put this book down. It was very easy to read and, of course, fascinating to see the facts uncovered.
I received a free e-copy of #TheAssassinationOfRobertF.Kennedy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
This book was the first time in fifty years that I have read of any further investigation into any of these assassinations. I think I became interested in reading this book, because I heard that Bobby Kennedy, Jr. thought Sirhan Sirhan was innocent. I have often thought that JFK's assassination was not investigated properly and that we will never know the truth. I now believe that the CIA had both JFK and RFK killed, though I've had that suspicion for a long time.
The overwhelming amount of research that these authors put into this book is just amazing. I think what clinched it for me was the forensic evidence that the fatal shot was inflicted from behind RFK and only inches from his head. That and the fact that there were 13 shots fired, but Sirhan's gun only held 8 bullets. It's obvious to me that the police were trying to make everything fit what they believed to be what happened there, but their idea of how the crime was committed was incorrect.
I couldn't put this book down. It was very easy to read and, of course, fascinating to see the facts uncovered.
I received a free e-copy of #TheAssassinationOfRobertF.Kennedy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
August 19, 2018
For me this has got to be the 'go to book' if you want a comprehensive yet understandable account of the issues involved in this case.
'The book that kept giving' it became even more satisfying as I progressed through the chapters and everything started to come together.
One thing wasn't entirely clear to me from the narrative, though. Sirhan is always described as being in front of RFK whilst the autopsy report shows the shot that killed him came from the rear. This made LAPDs insistence he killed Kennedy uncomprehensible.
However I viewed one of the re-enactments described in the book on Youtube which shows that whilst Sirhan would have been in front of RFK as he walked through the pantry, RFK turned to his left (apparently to shake someone's hand) thus presenting his right side to Sirhan as he fired. That explains to me why the LAPD felt able and safe (certainly initially) to cling to their assertion that Sirhan was the assassin.
An excellent book.
My conclusions?
Was Sirhan a 'Manchurian Candidate' assassin foiled by witnesses, whilst the Security Guard messed up in trying to return fire and accidentally killed RFK leaving the LAPD to deal with the question 'why screw up two lives when one will do'?
Was the Security Guard the real assassin and Sirhan the 'Manchurian Candidate' distraction?
Was someone else the real assassin?
I don't think we'll ever know but certainly the autopsy and the later ballistic tests show, for me at least, that Sirhan Sirhan didn't kill Bobby Kennedy.
The conduct of the LAPD and the DA (not to mention the defence team) would make any reasonable person expect a reinvestigation or retrial at least. It looks like it will never happen and Sirhan, I fear, will never be released because in jail he can be 'contained' along with the truth.
'The book that kept giving' it became even more satisfying as I progressed through the chapters and everything started to come together.
One thing wasn't entirely clear to me from the narrative, though. Sirhan is always described as being in front of RFK whilst the autopsy report shows the shot that killed him came from the rear. This made LAPDs insistence he killed Kennedy uncomprehensible.
However I viewed one of the re-enactments described in the book on Youtube which shows that whilst Sirhan would have been in front of RFK as he walked through the pantry, RFK turned to his left (apparently to shake someone's hand) thus presenting his right side to Sirhan as he fired. That explains to me why the LAPD felt able and safe (certainly initially) to cling to their assertion that Sirhan was the assassin.
An excellent book.
My conclusions?
Was Sirhan a 'Manchurian Candidate' assassin foiled by witnesses, whilst the Security Guard messed up in trying to return fire and accidentally killed RFK leaving the LAPD to deal with the question 'why screw up two lives when one will do'?
Was the Security Guard the real assassin and Sirhan the 'Manchurian Candidate' distraction?
Was someone else the real assassin?
I don't think we'll ever know but certainly the autopsy and the later ballistic tests show, for me at least, that Sirhan Sirhan didn't kill Bobby Kennedy.
The conduct of the LAPD and the DA (not to mention the defence team) would make any reasonable person expect a reinvestigation or retrial at least. It looks like it will never happen and Sirhan, I fear, will never be released because in jail he can be 'contained' along with the truth.
July 14, 2019
For the most part I found this to be an interesting read. I have never read much on the assassination of Robert Kennedy.
Some of the sections just dragged and made my eyes cross...especially the pages and pages and pages of the electronic tests on the audio tapes that appeared to record the actual shooting in the pantry.
It was rather obvious that those in charge of the murder didn't really give a flying monkey's ass about finding out what really happened that night...quite similar to his brother's assassination 5 years earlier.
No matter how people feel about a person's beliefs it doesn't give anyone the right to murder someone for those beliefs...that's supposed to be what the constitution was written for. At the end of the day...he was still a very young man who was following his own path (forced on the family by their father) who was needed by his family and friends but someone thought he should die for that path. It left a pregnant wife with 10 other children fatherless for the rest of their days.
The author goes into a few directions that I don't know if they were necessary but he did so we have to read them or skim them as I did.
Some of the sections just dragged and made my eyes cross...especially the pages and pages and pages of the electronic tests on the audio tapes that appeared to record the actual shooting in the pantry.
It was rather obvious that those in charge of the murder didn't really give a flying monkey's ass about finding out what really happened that night...quite similar to his brother's assassination 5 years earlier.
No matter how people feel about a person's beliefs it doesn't give anyone the right to murder someone for those beliefs...that's supposed to be what the constitution was written for. At the end of the day...he was still a very young man who was following his own path (forced on the family by their father) who was needed by his family and friends but someone thought he should die for that path. It left a pregnant wife with 10 other children fatherless for the rest of their days.
The author goes into a few directions that I don't know if they were necessary but he did so we have to read them or skim them as I did.
July 14, 2018
Arguably, the most famous of the Kennedy clan after President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert Kennedy was killed fifty years ago by a lone assassin's bullet. Why was he killed and by whom are questions still open for debate.
I have to confess that I am addicted to any book about the 1960s assassinations. Place the words Kennedy, King, Malcom X, Medgar in the book title and my purchase is assured. While this book was a rehash of the facts of the murder, new and previously understated details made this book a satisfying read.
The format is a comprehensive brew of everything that was whispered about this murder. While half of the book was not new for me the other half was worth the time spent. This book will get anyone up to speed in the basics (and beyond) of the assassination right away. Lovers of contemporary history will relish this time while those who hold disdain for political mysteries will be bored.
Although I got a copy from Netgalley to review, I would have eagerly bought this book.
#TheAssassinationOfRobertF.kennedy #NetGalley
I have to confess that I am addicted to any book about the 1960s assassinations. Place the words Kennedy, King, Malcom X, Medgar in the book title and my purchase is assured. While this book was a rehash of the facts of the murder, new and previously understated details made this book a satisfying read.
The format is a comprehensive brew of everything that was whispered about this murder. While half of the book was not new for me the other half was worth the time spent. This book will get anyone up to speed in the basics (and beyond) of the assassination right away. Lovers of contemporary history will relish this time while those who hold disdain for political mysteries will be bored.
Although I got a copy from Netgalley to review, I would have eagerly bought this book.
#TheAssassinationOfRobertF.kennedy #NetGalley
November 22, 2020
What I liked most about this book was that the authors raise questions without answering them. Instead of asserting, as so many books of this type do, that (fill in name here) conspired to kill Bobby Kennedy, they admit that they don’t know. But they raise interesting questions. Was there a second gunman in the room when Kennedy was shot in June 1968 after winning the California primary? There is some circumstantial evidence that this may be the case.
Of greatest interest to me is the psychological state of the convicted killer, Sirhan Sirhan. Sirhan suffered from amnesia, and cannot recall what happened that night. Under hypnosis, it became clear to experts that he may well have been hypnotised before. A “Manchurian Candidate”, programmed to assassinate RFK? Not likely.
But in one of those meaningless but inevitable coincidences, Kennedy was brought to the hotel — and was staying at the home of — noted Hollywood director John Frankenheimer. You know, the man who directed the film, “The Manchurian Candidate”.
Of greatest interest to me is the psychological state of the convicted killer, Sirhan Sirhan. Sirhan suffered from amnesia, and cannot recall what happened that night. Under hypnosis, it became clear to experts that he may well have been hypnotised before. A “Manchurian Candidate”, programmed to assassinate RFK? Not likely.
But in one of those meaningless but inevitable coincidences, Kennedy was brought to the hotel — and was staying at the home of — noted Hollywood director John Frankenheimer. You know, the man who directed the film, “The Manchurian Candidate”.
November 16, 2022
This book was very good. It was well-written and well researched with lots of details. I've done tons of reading and written a book on the JFK Assassination I've read some on the MLK and RFK murders as well but not nearly as much as JFK. While I've always found it hard to believe Sirhan was the lone assassin of RFK, after reading this book and becoming more familiar with the evidence, it is inconceivable to me how any rational person could conclude Sirhan did not act alone. While it is indisputable that Sirhan fired shots at RFK, the evidence shows the fatal shot came from behind RFK at almost point blank range and there is zero evidence Sirhan ever got that close and also, all evidence shows he was always in front of RFK. There are many mysteries regarding this assassination and even evidence Sirhan was brainwashed to shoot at RFK. I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the RFK assassination. The authors do a good job of presenting evidence and letting the reader draw conclusions.
July 20, 2018
This was a fascinating look at the questions surrounding the assassination of RFK and the subsequent "investigation" into his death. Despite ostensibly occurring in front of dozens of eye-witnesses, the murder has long been one surrounded by allegations of conspiracy and cover up. This is in part due to the victim, in part to the state of the world and US government at the time of the death, and in part due to the bizarre series of events themselves. Tate and Johnson do a marvelous job at presenting the facts as they were originally presented and then supplementing them with the material that has been made available in the intervening years. They top this off with a pointed series of spot-on-pertinent questions and then patiently point out the lack of even remotely pertinent "answers" that have been provided by various government and law enforcement entities over the course of the past fifty years.
The book reads like a novel; the time leading up to the events at the Ambassador Hotel on that fateful night are presented in crisp, clear prose that runs taut and - even though I knew roughly what happened - kept me on the edge of my seat for the details. Their research was also well presented and supplemented with historical context that kept even the recitations of facts (or "facts", as the case may be and the evidence suggests) from ever feeling dry or monotonous. This was a great look at a long-standing political conundrum (did Sirhan Sirhan act alone or was there a larger conspiracy underpinning the assassination - and, in fact, did Sirhan Sirhan even actually assassinate RFK) as well as an engaging and informative look at a particular moment in time when the U.S. may well have gone in a very different direction (geo)politically had events played out differently...
All in all it was a fascinating and timely read, and I'm looking forward to digging into the other topics Tate and Johnson have investigated.
The book reads like a novel; the time leading up to the events at the Ambassador Hotel on that fateful night are presented in crisp, clear prose that runs taut and - even though I knew roughly what happened - kept me on the edge of my seat for the details. Their research was also well presented and supplemented with historical context that kept even the recitations of facts (or "facts", as the case may be and the evidence suggests) from ever feeling dry or monotonous. This was a great look at a long-standing political conundrum (did Sirhan Sirhan act alone or was there a larger conspiracy underpinning the assassination - and, in fact, did Sirhan Sirhan even actually assassinate RFK) as well as an engaging and informative look at a particular moment in time when the U.S. may well have gone in a very different direction (geo)politically had events played out differently...
All in all it was a fascinating and timely read, and I'm looking forward to digging into the other topics Tate and Johnson have investigated.
July 8, 2018
RFK Assassination: Crime, Conspiracy & Cover-Up
An enjoyable read (even if most of the facts presented are already well known. The additional information presented about the identity of the polka dot woman is especially intriguing. Reveal her motives on that fateful night and the case is cracked open. My own opinion is that she was in on the plot to get Sirhan into the pantry at that critical time. This she did before disappearing into history. Alas, officialdom seems very reluctant to reopen the case but, works like this, simply confirm that RFK was murdered by a second gunman but those in power do not want this shocking fact to become common knowledge. Those who deny this are just as guilty as the shooter who was stood behind RFK that fateful night back in June 1968...
An enjoyable read (even if most of the facts presented are already well known. The additional information presented about the identity of the polka dot woman is especially intriguing. Reveal her motives on that fateful night and the case is cracked open. My own opinion is that she was in on the plot to get Sirhan into the pantry at that critical time. This she did before disappearing into history. Alas, officialdom seems very reluctant to reopen the case but, works like this, simply confirm that RFK was murdered by a second gunman but those in power do not want this shocking fact to become common knowledge. Those who deny this are just as guilty as the shooter who was stood behind RFK that fateful night back in June 1968...
November 14, 2023
A good introduction to the conspiratorial interpretation of Robert Kennedy’s assassination. The authors have some good points, such as the bullet removed from Kennedy’s body not matching other bullets fired from Sirhan’s gun. Most importantly was the coroner’s finding that the fatal shot to Kennedy’s head came from behind and from a range of only one to three inches, while the witnesses all placed Sirhan as being in front of Kennedy and at least one to three feet away. However, it’s very odd that no one in that crowded room, with people all around him, saw someone place a gun to Kennedy’s head. Also, the armed security guard who was right behind Kennedy, Thane Cesar, whom many suspected of being the second gunman, was cleared by a polygraph test.
The Kindle version is marred by multiple typos, and one of the photos seems to be misidentified.
The Kindle version is marred by multiple typos, and one of the photos seems to be misidentified.
May 31, 2018
The Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy: Crime, Conspiracy and Cover-Up - A New Investigation was an interesting read to me. I have an obsession with reading up on crime, especially, those involving public figures. I learned so much about Robert F Kennedy and his assassination. The book is easier to read than a lot of other crime books I have read.
I give The Assassination of Robert F Kennedy 5 stars and highly recommend it.
I received this book from the publisher, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
I give The Assassination of Robert F Kennedy 5 stars and highly recommend it.
I received this book from the publisher, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
May 30, 2018
Such an amazing and informative book. Very well researched. I sat down meaning to read for a short time, but read it all before I stopped. Anyone interested in history should read this book. As I read parts of it to my husband, he was hanging on every word. When it comes out, he will be buying it So well written. I learned so much that I never knew and it makes so much sense to me now. I received this book from Net Galley for an honest review and no compensation.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews