KTTV Channel 11 - Robert F. Kennedy Assassination Coverage (Part 3, 1968)

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This clip made possible by the donations from our generous group of "Fuzzketeers" during the Spring 2012 Tape Transfer Fundraiser.

Here's Part 3, the final part, of coverage of the 1968 assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy as it was breaking, from Metromedia Television News, originating out of KTTV Channel 11 in Los Angeles (a future sister station to WFLD Channel 32) and aired on sister stations WNEW (now WNYW) Channel 5 in New York City and WTTG Channel 5 in Washington, DC. This 32-minute report was submitted by Metromedia in black-and-white 16mm kinescope film form for consideration for an award for "Reporting of an On-the-Spot News Story" as given by the Radio-Television News Directors Association. The anchor on this part (which originally aired in color, but is presented here in glorious black-and-white) is Jack Cole. Also featuring Metromedia News reporters Ken Jones and Clif Kirk. Includes:

Jack explaining how time has sorted out the chaotic moments following RFK's shooting, leading into a report from Ken Jones at the Ambassador Hotel's Embassy Ballroom where the shooting occurred. Ken recounts Bobby's movements before and after he was struck at the corridor of the kitchen. Sgt. J.R. MacArthur of the L.A.P.D. explains the whole chain of events, gesturing as he describes what went down as Bobby was shot and then the gunman Sirhan Sirhan was subdued and apprehended.

Jack then introduces excerpts of a press conference held by L.A.P.D. chief Tom Reddin in which he goes into detail on how Sirhan Sirhan was caught (before Reddin's comments were run, footage of newsmen being frisked outside L.A.P.D. headquarters is shown), followed by comments from L.A. Mayor Sam Yorty who was in on Sirhan's interrogation.

Jack segues into film from the Beverly Hilton (headquarters for RFK's rival for the Democratic Presidential nomination, Eugene McCarthy) where Clif Kirk talks with an agent who speaks about added protection for the candidates in the wake of Bobby's shooting.

Jack mentions how Kennedy's parents were in mourning (the patriarch, Joseph P. Kennedy, died a year later; a picture of him is shown on the screen as Jack recounts how they got the news), and brings up other Kennedy family tragedies: Joe Jr.'s death in World War II; Teddy's plane crash; President John F. Kennedy's assassination; and now Bobby. A picture of Rose Kennedy attending mass is then shown, followed by a picture of Bobby's eldest son Joe in mourning, another of Bobby Jr. strolling around the grounds in Hickory Hill, VA, a photo of other Kennedy children leaving L.A., and a shot of JFK's widow Jackie (who couldn't believe this latest incident had happened). Jack reports that President Johnson, after hearing the news, assigned additional Secret Service agents to the remaining candidates and phoned Teddy, and reads LBJ's message that he gave in response.

Next is a film clip of a chastened Eugene McCarthy giving a press conference at the Beverly Hilton earlier in the day (notice a KTTV microphone among those pointed at him), in which he gives his thoughts on the tragedy and announces he will suspend all political activity until further notice.

Jack then poses the question of what should the nation do in the wake of this latest political shooting, and more footage of McCarthy's press conference is shown. Jack mentions that Bobby won South Dakota as well as California, and was assured of 393-1/2 first-ballot votes at the Democratic Convention which took place only a few months later (amid much rancor) in Chicago, and then concludes this report by recounting the most recent political-based assassinations over the previous five years - Medgar Evers and JFK in 1963, American Nazi Party leader George Lincoln Rockwell (whom he did not mention by name) in 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King in April, and now Bobby. With pertinent commentary on this trend, he ends this report.

This aired on local Los Angeles TV (and also on the aforementioned Metromedia stations in New York and Washington) on Wednesday, June 5th 1968.

Date Uploaded: 07/10/2012

Tags: xx1960xx News

Spring 2012 Tape Transfer Fundraiser.

Here's Part 3, the final part, of coverage of the 1968 assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy as it was breaking, from Metromedia Television News, originating out of KTTV Channel 11 in Los Angeles (a future sister station to WFLD Channel 32) and aired on sister stations WNEW (now WNYW) Channel 5 in New York City and WTTG Channel 5 in Washington, DC. This 32-minute report was submitted by Metromedia in black-and-white 16mm kinescope film form for consideration for an award for "Reporting of an On-the-Spot News Story" as given by the Radio-Television News Directors Association. The anchor on this part (which originally aired in color, but is presented here in glorious black-and-white) is Jack Cole. Also featuring Metromedia News reporters Ken Jones and Clif Kirk. Includes:

Jack explaining how time has sorted out the chaotic moments following RFK's shooting, leading into a report from Ken Jones at the Ambassador Hotel's Embassy Ballroom where the shooting occurred. Ken recounts Bobby's movements before and after he was struck at the corridor of the kitchen. Sgt. J.R. MacArthur of the L.A.P.D. explains the whole chain of events, gesturing as he describes what went down as Bobby was shot and then the gunman Sirhan Sirhan was subdued and apprehended.

Jack then introduces excerpts of a press conference held by L.A.P.D. chief Tom Reddin in which he goes into detail on how Sirhan Sirhan was caught (before Reddin's comments were run, footage of newsmen being frisked outside L.A.P.D. headquarters is shown), followed by comments from L.A. Mayor Sam Yorty who was in on Sirhan's interrogation.

Jack segues into film from the Beverly Hilton (headquarters for RFK's rival for the Democratic Presidential nomination, Eugene McCarthy) where Clif Kirk talks with an agent who speaks about added protection for the candidates in the wake of Bobby's shooting.

Jack mentions how Kennedy's parents were in mourning (the patriarch, Joseph P. Kennedy, died a year later; a picture of him is shown on the screen as Jack recounts how they got the news), and brings up other Kennedy family tragedies: Joe Jr.'s death in World War II; Teddy's plane crash; President John F. Kennedy's assassination; and now Bobby. A picture of Rose Kennedy attending mass is then shown, followed by a picture of Bobby's eldest son Joe in mourning, another of Bobby Jr. strolling around the grounds in Hickory Hill, VA, a photo of other Kennedy children leaving L.A., and a shot of JFK's widow Jackie (who couldn't believe this latest incident had happened). Jack reports that President Johnson, after hearing the news, assigned additional Secret Service agents to the remaining candidates and phoned Teddy, and reads LBJ's message that he gave in response.

Next is a film clip of a chastened Eugene McCarthy giving a press conference at the Beverly Hilton earlier in the day (notice a KTTV microphone among those pointed at him), in which he gives his thoughts on the tragedy and announces he will suspend all political activity until further notice.

Jack then poses the question of what should the nation do in the wake of this latest political shooting, and more footage of McCarthy's press conference is shown. Jack mentions that Bobby won South Dakota as well as California, and was assured of 393-1/2 first-ballot votes at the Democratic Convention which took place only a few months later (amid much rancor) in Chicago, and then concludes this report by recounting the most recent political-based assassinations over the previous five years - Medgar Evers and JFK in 1963, American Nazi Party leader George Lincoln Rockwell (whom he did not mention by name) in 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King in April, and now Bobby. With pertinent commentary on this trend, he ends this report.

This aired on local Los Angeles TV (and also on the aforementioned Metromedia stations in New York and Washington) on Wednesday, June 5th 1968." /> Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share

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