Lot 238

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Description:

First Hand Account of the Aftermath of Robert Kennedy's Assassination

1p, measuring 8" x 10.5", Riverside, California, dated June 7, 1968. A handwritten letter 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 of Robert F. Kennedy. His letter reads in part: 

"...On the morning of the 5th I had all of 15 min 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 along the Chief nurse and a doctor. John Glenn also came along and so did twelve of Kennedy's staff. We stayed over night in Washington and arrived back here at 3AM 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...I was on TV twice so they say, but I didn't get a chance to see it." The letter is accompanied by the original hand addressed envelope.

Robert Kennedy was assassinated at The Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, moments after addressing his supporters in the hotel ballroom. Kennedy had just won both the California and South Dakota primaries the day before, and the atmosphere drastically turned from celebratory to tragic. RFK 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. Kennedy was taken to the hospital but was pronounced dead at 1:44am on June 6. With flattened mail folds and hole punches at the top edge. Usual wear to the envelope. From the collection of Ron Hoskins assasinologist.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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January 6, 2021 10:30 AM EST
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