focus of world news. TASS, the official Communist Party news organ of the Soviet Union, used the occasion to highlight the problem of crime in the United States: "Murders, armed attacks, robbery, and rapes have become common in present-day America." Richard Speck and Charles Whitman dwarfed coverage of the White House wedding of Luci Baines Johnson and Patrick Nugent. When reminded that the Speck murders in Chicago had been called the "Crime of the Century," APD Chief Bob Miles replied, "It isn't anymore." Reporters from all over the world interviewed witnesses, victims, and victims' families.
2
Charlotte Darenshori, the secretary pinned down behind the base of a flagpole on the South Mall, remembered: ''I had a call from Dan Rather wanting me to be on the afternoon news, from the networks and from newspapers everywhere. I just didn't understand the interest."
3
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Reporters converged on Needville as well. Undoubtedly, many had to locate the hamlet on a map first. Kathy's mother stayed secluded. Mr. Leissner, struggling to hold back tears, candidly admitted his inability to explain what happened: "He [Whitman] was just as normal as anybody I ever knew, and he worked awfully hard at his grades. There was nothing wrong with him that I knew of. It's just a sad tragedy that happened to a very nice family."
4
Later in the week Kathy's body returned to Needville for services at the white, wooden Methodist church she had attended as a little girl. A large crowd attended her burial at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Rosenberg during a driving rain storm. Several classmates from her graduating class carried her body to its final resting place near a small oak tree.
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Charles Whitman's body had been taken to Cook's Funeral Home for an autopsy. As layers of clothing were removed, APD Sergeant Bill Landis found several 30-caliber M-1 Carbine clips and a 25-caliber automatic pistol. The autopsy did not take place until 8:55
A.M.
the next day,
after
Whitman had been embalmed.
5
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The University of Texas fully disclosed everything Whitman's transcripts, medical records, and employment applications. Chancellor Harry Ransom ordered an inquiry of the events leading to the incident, down to the "minute detail." But Texas Governor John
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