Air Force Pilot Escorts Robert Kennedy's Children, John Glenn To Washington After Assassination

Robert F. Kennedy was shot at The Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles on June 5, 1968, and was pronounced dead at the hospital at 1:44 a.m. on June 6. The shooting occurred moments after addressing supporters in the hotel ballroom. He had just won both the California and South Dakota primaries the day before. Kennedy had cut through the hotel kitchen after being told it was a shortcut to a press room and was shot multiple times by Sirhan Sirhan, a 24-year-old Palestinian. 

Offering a one-page, 8 x 10 ½, first-hand account of the aftermath, dated a day after Kennedy’s passing from Ed H. Tassara to his friends the Demartines. Tassara had served in the United States Air Force and was called to duty, possibly as the Private Security Government Pilot, after the shooting.

He writes, “...On the morning of the 5th I had all of 15 mins notice to be on a plane and on my way to L.A. Three of us left March AFB (Air Force Base) in the Generals plane with instructions to take six of the Kennedy children back to Washington, DC. We also took the Chief nurse and doctor. John Glenn also came along and so did twelve of Kennedy’s staff. We stayed overnight in Washington and arrived back here at 3 AM this morning. We moved so fast that all we had with us was the clothes on our backs and our guns, period. It was the fastest round trip I ever made in my life.”

The letter is accompanied by the original hand addressed envelope.

Mail folds, hole punches at the top edge. Usual wear to the envelope.

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