San Quentin's Warden Nelson on the arrival of Sirhan Sirhan

About This Item

KRON-TV news footage from April 23 1969 with reporter Phil Wilson featuring scenes from an interview with Warden Louis S. Nelson (1910-2001), who discusses how their latest inmate Sirhan Sirhan will be treated and housed on death row at San Quentin state prison. Sirhan was just found guilty of murder in the first degree, for shooting Senator Robert F. Kennedy to death on June 6th 1968 at the Ambassador Hotel. Warden Nelson explains that Sirhan will be eating the same food as other death row inmates but will be more segregated, using a plan of Sirhan's cell to illustrate on-camera. When asked by Wilson: "Do you believe that the housing of Sirhan here will pose any special problems?" Warden Nelson responds by pointing out: "We're in the problem business, Phil. And this'll be the problem we get today. We'll have a new problem tomorrow." Sirhan was held at San Quentin until 1975, before being moved to Soledad. Begins with brief, exterior views of San Quentin. Opening graphic designed by Carrie Hawks.

Date
4/23/1969
Format
16mm color positive magnetic sound film
Digital Format
mp4 file
Genre
local newsfilm
Copyright Holder
Young Broadcasting of San Francisco, Inc.
Duration
2:57
Identifier
KRON 1945-1
Views
1173

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