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 U.S. Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Investigation


 For Immediate Release    Washington, D.C.
 August 31, 1999    FBI National Press Office

 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced today that it has added the following new subject matters to the Gangster Era, Famous Persons, and Historical Interest categories of its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Electronic Reading Room:

GANGSTER ERA


Pretty Boy Floyd and
Kansas City Massacre (Summary) 16 pages

Charles Arthur Floyd, alias "Pretty Boy", participated in the Kansas City Massacre in 1933 when four law enforcement officers, including one FBI Special Agent, were killed. Floyd was killed in 1934 by FBI Agents and local police officers while resisting arrest.

FAMOUS PERSONS


W.E.B. DuBois 927 pages

William E.B. DuBois, former Director of Publications of the National Association
for the Advancement of Colored People, was of interest to the FBI due to his affiliation with communist front groups.


William J. Donovan 747 pages

Background investigation of Major General William J. "Wild Bill" Donovan, Medal of Honor recipient and former Director of the Office of Strategic Services during World War II, forerunner of the Central Intelligence Agency.


Robert F. Kennedy 1263 pages

Background investigation of Robert F. Kennedy conducted in 1951 in connection with his employment as an attorney with the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice. He was appointed Attorney General in 1961 and served as a United States Senator 1965-68.

HISTORICAL INTEREST



Clergy and Laity Concerned About Vietnam 258 pages

Excerpts from the file regarding this pacifist organization which participated in many anti-war, anti-draft activities during the Vietnam War era of the late 1960's and early 1970's.


Robert F. Kennedy Assassination (Summary) 138 pages

Senator Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated on June 5, 1968, in Los Angeles, California, after winning the California primary for the upcoming Presidential election. Sirhan Sirhan is serving a life sentence for the commission of the crime.






There are now a total of 58 subject matters available to the public on this website. These documents are a representative sampling of those in the FOIA Reading Room located at FBI Headquarters. Portions have been blacked out to protect personal privacy, confidential sources, national security, etc., in accordance with the exemption provisions of the FOIA. The FBI plans to add several new subjects to the Electronic Reading Room on a monthly basis.

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FAS | Government Secrecy | August 1999 News ||| Index | Search | Join FAS