Threats to Senator Eugene McCarthy during the 1968 campaign before the August convention.
Threat One
On 3/22/68 an anonymous caller phoned a wrong number and told that person that if McCarthy accepted the nomination, he would kill him.
Threat Two
A letter postmarked March 31, 1968 was sent to the McCarthy for President Headquarters in Washington, D.C.. The letter writer said that he wanted to kill Gene McCarthy and his wife. Enclosed was a .22 caliber bullet, a picture of a rifle silencer. The letter consisted of obscenities.
The letter was received on April 3, 1968. It was printed in red ink on standard, lined steno paper. It said, “This will be my contribution to McCarthy if he don’t set his (obscenities)… In case you don’t belive (sic) I’ll kill him I have a silencer on my rifle still don’t belive me? Well I’ll tell you that a silencer for a .22 will have to be exactly 8n long and 3n around and made of heavy metal casing.” Included was “a sketch of a rifle barrel illustrating how acoustical packing may be used to make a silencer.”
An April 5, 1968 FBI document states that McCarthy was the victim of the Detroit letter. Fingerprints are needed from the office personnel at the McCarthy for President Finance Committee for elimination purposes.
The man whose name was on the letter was previously arrested on May 22, 1965 for frequenting a gambling establishment.
The FBI discovered that on February 2, 1968, someone sent an obscene letter to President Johnson under the the man’s name. Michigan State Police reported that the man was not the writer of the letter.
In April of 1968, the man who was framed in this incident received a number of threatening letters himself. The extortion attempts were for amounts such as $25.
There is no other information about this case.
Threat Three
An April 1, 1968 letter to Vice-President Hubert Humphrey cites his support of the war. The letter writer calls on the Vice President to help him "legally" shut these men up and concludes, "I would really feel it a duty to eliminate these men or as many as I could before I was killed--- I believe in this enough to die for my Country---" It is an emotional letter that is aimed at other anti-war politicians, including Bobby Kennedy. "You have no idea how this effects me--- Bobby Kennedy is taking advantage of the youth about the Veitnam (sic) War --- This borders on treason.-- He is using Politics, and to me he is dangerous and a traitor using his high position to cover this--- he wants power...”
The first statement got the attention of the feds. Letter mentions Sen. Fulbright, Sen. Robert Kennedy, Sen. Wayne Morse, Sen. McCarthy, Congressman Wolff, Stokely Carmichael. It appears that they labeled it extortion. Suspect was confined to a VA Hospital and the FBI did not consider him dangerous.
Threat Four
Information is mostly redacted on this April 15, 1968 incident. Documentation details a threat to McCarthy’s car by “black racists” during a visit to Los Angeles. Further documentation suggests that the threat was regarded as serious. Secret Service, US Attorney, LAPD, Military Intelligence, LA County Sherriff's Office were involved. The Los Angeles McCarthy Campaign Manager was advised of this threat.
Threat Five
During the Oregon Primary Election campaign in April and May of 1968, the McCarthy Campaign received calls from a suspect in Dallas. He wanted to speak with McCarthy. On June 5th, the Suspect called from Syracuse asking to speak with McCarthy. "He made the additional statement that if *** did not take some action about getting him in contact with Senator McCarthy that he, ***, "might do something to make the Kennedy thing look like child's play."
The files state that "The above facts indicate a possible violation of the Federal Extortion Statute exists."
Documents contain information that the suspect had been treated for mental illness and had recently returned to heavy drinking. Assistant US Attorney declined to authorize prosecution because it didn't constitute a violation of the Extortion Statute.
Threat Six
An attempted fire bombing of the McCarthy Headquarters in San Francisco occurred on June 5, 1968. Garbage cans were thrown through windows accompanied by Molotov cocktails. A suspect had possible connections with the Black Panther Party. After the arrest, other members of the Black Panther Party arrived on the scene after the arrest.
Important Note
An FBI memo dated June 5, 1968 notes that McCarthy’s personal secretary contacted the FBI regarding Kennedy’s murder. She was seeking information for McCarthy’s safety. It is noted that on March 25, 1968 she was told that the FBI had no authority to provide protection. It was the local authorities who were in charge of McCarthy’s protection. The secretary asked who would check the plane that McCarthy would take. The FBI assured her that they would provide any information about threats to the Senator.
Threat Seven
A memo describes a telephone threat against Johnson and McCarthy that occurred on June 6, 1968 from Long Beach, California.
Threat Eight
An FBI memo dated June 7, 1968 described overheard threats in a bar.
Threat Nine
A memo dated June 10, 1968 described a threat via a postcard shoved under the door of the New Mexico McCarthy Headquarters. It said that the same thing that happened to Kennedy should happen to McCarthy.
Threat Ten
An FBI memo describes a June 10, 1968 interview with a restaurateur from Texas who overheard "various claims about the man's intention to kill a senator in California." The restaurateur believed that the man "was either Syrian, Italian or French." It includes a graphic description of the man's mannerisms and actions during his time in the restaurant.
Threat Eleven
An FBI memo dated June 11, 1968 described a note that was found detailing the deaths of politicians and futures threats.
Threat Twelve
On June 17, 1968, the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce in California received a threatening letter about McCarthy.
Threat Thirteen
A June 27, 1968 letter received by the FBI in the form of a tip about a threat against both McCarthy and Humphrey.
Threat Fourteen
A threat against McCarthy on July 13, 1968 when he spoke at the Colorado State Democratic Convention.
Threat Fifteen
An FBI memo cites a possible threat against McCarthy during a proposed visit to Nashville on July 20, 1968.
Threat Sixteen
A man from Arab, Alabama registered at the Mayflower Hotel in DC on 7/29/68. A problem with the billing, along with the discovery of .25 caliber bullets in the room caused the FBI to get involved. Candidates had offices or headquarters at the hotel.
Threat Seventeen
A threat to McCarthy during a fundraising dinner on August 11,
1968. Caller on July 28, 1968 to the San Diego Campaign Headquarters said that they didn't like McCarthy and asked questions. No threats were made, but they acted suspicious.
