</s>Dr. King had only been gleaned from sporadic reports, and this particular report to the Director was provided by Division 6 which had responsibility for civil rights matters. In the beginning of 1962, the FBI started and rapidly continued to gravitate toward Dr. King. The sequence of events has already been reported in some detail by the Senate Select Committee as well as in the Robert Murphy Report which you received in March, 1976. The task force in its review of pertinent documents con- firms these reports. In essence, the Director communicated to Attorney General Kennedy during 1962 and 1963 a host of memorandum concerning the interest of the Communist Party in the civil rights movement, and, in particular, Dr.King's relationship with two frequently consulted advisors whom the FBI had tabbed as members of the Committee Party. As a result of the deep interest in civil rights affairs by the Attorney General and by the Kennedy Administration, these FBI reports had the effect of learning Robert Kennedy and affecting his decisions on the national level. The net effect of the Bureau memoranda nearly culiminated in the summer of 1963 when Attorney General -114- 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document details the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)’s surveillance and counterintelligence operations targeting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) from 1962 to 1968, primarily due to allegations of Communist Party, USA (CPUSA) influence. Surveillance included technical monitoring of King’s residences in Atlanta, Georgia, and SCLC offices, as well as installation of microphones at hotels such as the Americana Hotel, Sheraton Atlantic, and New York Hilton. FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover publicly criticized King, labeling him a “notorious liar” and accusing him of communist ties. Despite claims of communist infiltration, the task force concluded no evidence existed linking King or SCLC to CPUSA. The surveillance program was later deemed unwarranted due to lack of substantiated threats. The FBI also monitored Coretta Scott King’s activities and engaged in efforts to discredit her and associates. In 1968, the Bureau transmitted extensive surveillance transcripts to the White House, including information on King’s personal life and alleged communist connections. An autopsy report confirmed King’s death resulted from a gunshot wound to the neck, causing spinal cord damage and internal bleeding. Recommendations included sealing sensitive files, improving FBI oversight, and preventing unauthorized dissemination of investigative data.  

Key People  
- **Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.**: Civil rights leader subjected to FBI surveillance and discrediting campaigns.  
- **J. Edgar Hoover**: FBI Director who spearheaded anti-King operations, including public denunciations and covert actions.  
- **William C. Sullivan**: Assistant Director of Domestic Intelligence Division; advocated expanded FBI efforts against King and CPUSA influence.  
- **Robert F. Kennedy**: Attorney General who initially supported surveillance of King but later denied requests due to concerns about communist infiltration.  
- **Coretta Scott King**: Spouse of Dr. King; monitored by the FBI without a formal security investigation.  

Key Locations  
- **Atlanta, Georgia**: Home of Dr. King’s residence and SCLC offices; subject to electronic surveillance.  
- **New York City**: Sites of technical surveillance installations (Americana Hotel, Sheraton Atlantic, New York Hilton).  
- **Washington, D.C.**: Headquarters of the FBI and location of meetings involving Hoover and Sullivan.  

Key Events  
- **1962–1963**: FBI initiated technical surveillance on King and SCLC based on claims of CPUSA influence.  
- **August 1963**: Assistant Director Sullivan presented a report concluding limited Communist Party influence over the Negro population, prompting Hoover to re-evaluate strategies.  
- **October 1963**: FBI authorized technical surveillance of King’s residence and SCLC offices in New York City.  
- **December 1964**: Public dispute between Hoover and King escalated after Hoover criticized him during a congressional hearing.  
- **1968**: FBI transmitted surveillance transcripts to the White House, including information on King’s personal activities and alleged communist ties.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted surveillance, counterintelligence operations, and discrediting campaigns against King and SCLC.  
- **Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)**: Civil rights organization led by Dr. King; subject to FBI surveillance.  
- **Committee for the Re-election of President Lyndon B. Johnson (CRP)**: Involved in post-assassination efforts to establish a national holiday for King, which the FBI attempted to obstruct.  

Additional Notes: Two other summaries contain financial transaction records from December 1967 to January 1968, including payments for dance lessons, hotel stays, educational courses, and miscellaneous expenses. These entries reference locations such as Los Angeles, Provincial Hotel, and Locksmithing Institute, with some redacted text (e.g., "[SSN REDACTED]"). The financial records do not appear to relate directly to the MLK assassination investigation or its associated activities.

MLK Declassified Files

157-tp-3231_629182_176-02-part_4_of_6.pdf

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