Jacqueline Kennedy Rushes to Make It to the Funeral of Martin Luther King, Jr.

It was suggested “to make Martin Luther King's brother come to the airport to meet me – which I thought the greatest imposition of all.”

Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot and killed at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968. His death shocked a country rocked by a controversial war and widespread civil discord. It sparked an outpouring of grief for the slain civil rights leader, who continues to stand for equal rights, peaceful protests and justice for all. There was a viewing and memorial service for Dr. King in Memphis, and his body was returned to Atlanta for burial on April 5. President Lyndon B. Johnson declared a national day of mourning for him on April 7.

The Kennedy family was emotionally and actually involved in the moment, both because of its support for civil rights and identification with King’s struggles, and the assassination in their own family of President John F. Kennedy. After the King assassination, New York Senator Robert Kennedy arranged for the plane that brought Corretta Scott King to Memphis. Then an extraordinary moment in American history occurred when Kennedy had to break the news of King's death to a large gathering of African Americans attending a campaign rally for his bid to get the 1968 Democratic nomination for president in Indianapolis. In a brief speech that night, he pleaded for reconciliation, unity and brotherhood. He would himself be assassinated just two months later.

The funeral was held on April 9, 1968, and commenced with a service for family and friends at the Ebenezer Baptist Church, where King and his father had both served as senior pastors. The church was filled with some 1,300 people, including many dignitaries. Among those present were Jacqueline, Robert and Teddy Kennedy, Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, and soon-to-be-president Richard M. Nixon. The service began with King’s close associate, Rev. Ralph Abernathy, who succeeded King as leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, delivering a sermon which called the event "one of the darkest hours of mankind." At his widow's request, King eulogized himself: His last sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church, a recording of his famous 'Drum Major' sermon, given on February 4, 1968, was played at the funeral. In that sermon he makes a request that at his funeral no mention of his awards and honors be made, but that it be said that he tried to "feed the hungry," "clothe the naked," "be right on the [Vietnam] war question," and "love and serve humanity."

Jacqueline Kennedy was in New York during this assassination crisis, away from her family and support system, and a number of people were concerned that with the assassination of her husband less than five years previous, she not be burdened with travel arrangements to Atlanta nor travel down there alone. Robert Kennedy and Nicholas Katzenbach notably tried to help. Katzenbach was Robert Kennedy’s main man at the Justice Department during RFK’s service as his brother’s Attorney General, and was the Kennedy emissary to the South during the violent confrontations over racial segregation in 1961-63.  He sought protection for the Freedom Riders, helped get James Meredith enrolled at the University of Mississippi, and bounded up the steps at the University of Alabama in June 1963 to face Governor George Wallace, who had pledged to block the registration of two black students to the college. Katzenbach was later Attorney General and an architect of the landmark civil rights laws of the Johnson administration. King once praised Katzenbach as someone who “made significant contributions to the parade of progress in human relations.”

But all was a mass of confusion amidst the tragedy. The arrangements RFK and Katzenbach sought to make for Jackie were delivered in phone messages left at night and relayed by secret servicemen; nobody really had the opportunity to connect. As it turned out, Katzenbach was under the impression that he was going to assist Mrs. Kennedy, while she accepted an offer from Rachel (Bunny) Mellon, her closest confidant, to accompany her to Atlanta on the Mellon private jet. Mrs. Mellon had helped the former First Lady redecorate the White House and redesign the Rose Garden, and had presided over the floral arrangements for JFK’s bier.

Autograph letter signed, 3 pages, on her personal pale blue stationery, New York, April 10, 1968, to Katzenbach, concerning the confusion surrounding her arrangements to attend the funeral of Martin Luther King, Jr. "Dear Nick, Bobby called this evening, and I feel so terribly about the mixup that happened. When the Secret Serviceman telephoned me to wake me up at 4:30 am, he said in a sleepy voice that he saw a piece of paper there that must have come during the night – that you would fly up from Washington to go down to Atlanta with me at 6:30. And I said no, no, he mustn’t bother to do that. I’m all set, and going down with Mrs. Mellon on her plane. He said, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it’. And when we left he said that everything was all right. So many confusing messages had come to me all the day before – when I couldn't reach Bobby. Teddy was going to try to come up to fly down with me; then I was on a plane with everyone from the Greek Patriarch to Stanley Steingut. Then Bill Walter was going to make Martin Luther King's brother come to the airport to meet me – which I thought the greatest imposition of all. I was miserable until I talked to Bunny [Mellon], & she said we could go together and that way I knew we could be self-sufficient and not bother anyone and not get involved with anyone. Whoever left the message about you in the middle of the night neglected to say that the message was from Bobby. I thought you were just being nice and getting up in the middle of the night to accompany me, when you could have instead just be going easily down on the plane from Washington. Now that I know the whole story, I am just sick about it, and I wish so much we could turn the clock back and that we could have gone together. And I hate to think how ungracious my answer must have sounded when it got back to you even more jumbled by a few more alert Secret Servicemen. Please know how sorry I am, and please understand all the day-long confusion that made it happen. As ever, affectionately, Jackie.” With the envelope in her hand, free franked and postmarked April 10, 1968.

It is interesting to note that Abernathy and those planning the funeral learned at the last minute that Katzenbach, who was then Undersecretary of State, would not be attending. Abernathy personally intervened to insist that he come. This is the Western Union telegram from Abernathy to Katzenbach, Atlanta, 8:52 am, April 9, 1968. “We have just been advised that you may not be able to attend the brief religious service in Atlanta for Doctor King. It is urgently requested that you attend to serve as a living testimonial in honor of the past work and future achievements yet to be gained. We are also wiring the Vice President requesting that he use his good offices in urging you to accompany him to Atlanta. We fervently hope that you will honor us with your presence Tuesday at 10:30 at Ebenezer Baptist Church.” Since the telegram was apparently sent less than two hours before the start of the services, Katzenbach was surely notified by phone in advance and the telegram confirmed the request. Katzenbach did, in fact, attend.

A fascinating group illustrating the urgency of the moment, from the Katzenbach papers.