Introduction
After spending a few too many hours reading over time-lines here, I've decided to give one a go after doing some research. It seems to me that taking a certain June 5th 1968 as my POD, I could completely open up a decent chunk of America's post-war history to revision. So, here we go. Don't go too hard on me!
TRAGEDY AVERTED
KENNEDY SURVIVES ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT; SUSPECTED ASSAILANT, ARAB IMMIGRANT, ARRAIGNED; FBI AGENT WILLIAM BARRY DEAD
Tragedy nearly struck the Kennedy family for a second time as Robert Kennedy, contender for the democratic presidential nomination, narrowly survived an assassination attempt.
Following his hard-fought victory in the California presidential primary, Kennedy went to speak to supporters at the Ambassador hotel. After giving a rousing speech at the embassy ballroom that aimed to prepare his backers for the possibility of a rowdy convention fight, Kennedy proceeded to a designated press area, where he fielded questions about his primary rival, Eugene McCarthy. As he finished the press conference, the assailant, a young Arab immigrant, rushed Kennedy from the left side with a fire-arm, firing several shots. Reportedly, at least two shots landed in Kennedy’s left arm. He was hurried off to the hospital on a stretcher, where he received emergency care. In the early morning we received word that Kennedy, although in critical condition due to blood loss, would survive.
If it was not for the heroic effort of William Barry, Kennedy’s guard and an FBI agent, the possible presidential candidate may have perished. According to witnesses at the scene, as soon as Barry saw the assailant, he rushed to intervene, shielding Kennedy and preparing to subdue the would-be assassin. Barry was shot at nearly point-blank range in the head, and he died almost immediately after receiving gunshot wounds. The FBI agent bought the time necessary for two of Kennedy’s other guards, former athletes, to tackle down the assailant. Today, the suspect is in custody.
According to sources in the Kennedy campaign, there were widespread worries about the security of the Ambassador hotel. The assailant was reportedly spotted by a bus-boy, Juan Romero, in the hotel kitchen that led from the embassy ballroom to the press area. Kennedy initially planned to pass through this area to arrive at the Press area, but his campaign eventually persuaded him to take a safer route. If Kennedy passed directly through the narrow hotel kitchen, he may have been far more vulnerable to a blind-side assault.
In solidarity with the Kennedy family, Eugene McCarthy, his stalwart rival for most of the primary, announced that he would suspend his own campaign’s operations for three days. The president, who most believed to be covertly backing another rival, Hubert Humphrey, has visited the recovering Kennedy at the (thus far undisclosed) hospital. The visit was remarkable because of the political rivalry between the two men: for most of the campaign, Kennedy has run on an anti-war Platform and drawn on the portions of the Democratic base that were most dissatisfied with Johnson’s record of over-seas military engagement.
Right now, the status of Robert Kennedy’s presidential campaign is in the air. Although the potential nominee has received a tremendous out-pouring of support after the assassination attempt, many doubt whether he will be healthy enough to be the nominee. When asked about the campaign, the potential nominee’s brother, Ted Kennedy said “Right now, I am worried about the health of my dear friend and brother. I do not know whether his historic campaign will continue, but it will have to be Bobby’s decision and his decision alone. Right now, all I can tell you is that I have far more urgent, far more personal concerns than the status of a political campaign”.
From the New York Times, June 5th, 1968