Jesse Unruh on Sirhan Sirhan's death penalty verdict

KPIX-TV news footage from April 24th 1969 featuring brief scenes of Ch.5 reporter Rollin Post interviewing Speaker of the California State Assembly Jesse M. Unruh (1922-1987) at an airport, who comments on the death penalty verdict for Sirhan Sirhan. Sirhan was found guilty of murder in the first degree for shooting Senator Robert F. Kennedy to death on June 6th 1968 at the Ambassador Hotel. Unruh states: "I do feel that the death penalty verdict, even though I agree with the first degree murder, is a mistake. I think that Bob Kennedy was one of the most gentle and considerate, concerned human beings that I've ever known in my life. His whole campaign was based on non-violence, upon bringing the American people together and I hardly think that the last chapter to be written here ought to be one where we take the life of another man." Note that Unruh helped convince Senator Kennedy to enter the 1968 presidential race and managed his California campaign to a victory in the Democratic primary race, before Kennedy was assassinated. Sirhan Sirhan's sentence was commuted to life in prison in 1972. Opening graphic designed by Carrie Hawks.