The Kent State Coverup
Joseph Kelner & James Munves
Contents
To Robert Kelner, who worried and slaved in this great cause,
and to those whose support meant so much:
Libbie, Gail and Dr. Kenneth Kelner.
J.K.
Tin soldiers and Nixon comin
Were finally on our own
This summer right here theyre comin
Four dead in Ohio
Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are gunnin us down,
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground?
How can you run when you know?
Four dead in Ohio,
Four dead in Ohio.
from Ohio,
Crosby, Stills and Nash, July, 1970
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power quartering large Bodies of Armed Troops among us protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States.
from the Declaration of Independence,
Thomas Jefferson, July 4, 1776
Kent State marked a turning point for Nixon. [The] beginning of his downhill slide toward Watergate.
from The Ends of Power,
H. R. Haldeman and Joseph Dimona
Illustrations
Jeffrey Glenn Miller.
Allison Krause.
Sandra Scheuer.
Arthur Krause, Sarah Scheuer and Joseph Kelner, chief counsel for the victims.
Florence and Louis Schroeder and Reverend John Adams.
Sarah and Martin Scheuer.
Judge Edwin Jones.
Federal Judge William K. Thomas.
Federal Judge Frank Battisti.
Federal Judge Don J. Young.
Governor James A. Rhodes and Adjutant General Sylvester Del Corso.
Seven of the guardsmen indicted in the federal governments criminal case.
The jurors.
Dean Kahler.
Sergeant Michael Delaney.
Peter Davies.
Galen Keller.
The ROTC Building burns, Saturday, May 2.
The student sitdown on Main Street, Sunday, May 3.
Monday, May 4. The students on the Commons
A few minutes later, tear-gas has been fired and the guardsmen have started their advance.
Driven from the Commons, the students reassemble.
The guardsmen approach the Pagoda.
The kneeling guardsmen and Alan Canfora on the practice field.
The guardsmen ascend Blanket Hill.
John Cleary.
Scott MacKenzie.
Joe Lewis, Jr.
The guardsmen reach the Pagoda.
Robert Stamps.
Jan Wrentmore.
Charlotte and Floyd Stamps
Alan and Albert Canfora.
Thomas Mark Grace.
Panorama of the parking lot, as the guardsmen kneel on the practice field.
The guardsmen turn and level their weapons.
The guardsmen shoot.
Aftermath. The parking lot, and the dead and wounded.
General Robert Canterbury after the shooting.
MAPS
Kent, Ohio.
Aerial view of the Kent State University Campus.
Chronology
APRIL 8 MAY 5 , 1970
April 810 | Student disturbances in Cleveland, 952 national guardsmen called out |
April 16, 17 | Student disturbances in Oxford, Ohio, 561 national guardsmen called out |
April 18, 19 | Student disturbances in Sandusky, 96 national guardsmen called out |
April 29 | Governor Rhodes issues proclamation calling out Ohio National Guard in aid of civil authorities to northeastern Ohio because of wildcat strike of Teamsters; 3,257 guardsmen called out |
Student disturbances at Ohio State University in Columbus; 2,861 guardsmen called to campus |
April 30 | President Nixon announces invasion of Cambodia |
May 1 | noon | Constitution burial ceremony, Commons, Kent State University |
5:30 P.M. | President White leaves Kent State for Mason City, Iowa |
8:00 P.M. | Disturbances in downtown Kent begin; $10,000 damage, 60 persons arrested |
midnight | Kent Mayor Satrom calls office of Governor Rhodes |
May 2 | 12:30 A.M. | Mayor Satrom declares state of civil emergency |
Mayor Satrom announces curfew effective 8:00 P.M. in city and 1:00 A.M. on Kent State campus |
Headline in Kent Record-Courier: NIXON HITS BUMS WHO BLOW UP COLLEGE CAMPUSES |
5:30 P.M. | Mayor Satrom requests National Guard |
7:30 P.M. | Crowd gathers at ROTC Building, Kent State campus |
8:30 P.M. | ROTC Building begins to smolder |
9:05 P.M. | Kent firemen arrive at ROTC Building |
9:30 P.M. | Ohio National Guard arrives in Kent; 1,196 men |
May 3 | 10:00 A.M. | Governor Rhodes arrives in Kent by helicopter |
11:00 A.M. | Governor Rhodes gives press conference in firehouse, denounces students, and vows to use all force necessary to keep campus open |
11:45 A.M. | President White arrives at Kent airport, meets Governor Rhodes |
4:00 P.M. | Kent State University, instructed by Ohio National Guard, issues letter prohibiting all forms of outdoor demonstrations and rallys [sic]peaceful or otherwise |
9:30 P.M. | Students sit down on Main Street at intersection with Lincoln Street |
11:00 P.M. | Students on Main Street dispersed by guardsmen |
May 4 | 10:30 A.M. | Meeting at Kent firehouse, presided over by General Canterbury |
11:20 A.M. | Meeting ends |
11:40 A.M. | Students and guardsmen confront each other on Commons |
11:50 A.M. | Riot Act read to students |
12:24 P.M. | 67 shots fired at students; 4 killed, 9 wounded |
May 5 | Governor Rhodes issues proclamation stating that martial law existed since April 29 |
Cast of Characters
I . THE PLAINTIFFS
Alan Canfora, Barberton, Ohio | Wounded in wrist |
John Robert Cleary, Scotia, N.Y. | Wounded in chest |
Thomas Mark Grace, Syracuse, N.Y. | Wounded in foot |
Mrs. Arthur Holstein, Plainview, N.Y. |
Mother of |
Jeffrey Glenn Miller, Junior, dcd. | Died instantaneously from head wound |
Dean Kahler, E. Canton, Ohio | Wounded in back |
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Krause, Pittsburgh, Pa. |
Parents of |
Allison Krause, dcd. | Died in ambulance from chest wound |
Joseph Lewis, Jr., Massillon, Ohio | Wounded in abdomen, leg |
Donald Scott MacKenzie, Summit Sta., Pa. | Wounded in neck |
James Dennis Russell, Teaneck, N.J. | Wounded in forehead, thigh |
Mr. and Mrs. Martin Scheuer, Youngstown, Pa. |
Parents of |
Sandra Scheuer, dcd. | Died in ambulance from neck wound |
Mr. and Mrs. Louis Schroeder, Lorain, Ohio |
Parents of |
William Schroeder, dcd. |