A Letter From The Publisher: Apr. 12, 1968

THE week will be remembered for a long time. Surprise was followed by astonishment and then hope; violent tragedy elicited a response that at times soared to tragic violence. For journalists of all venues, the fantastic succession of events posed special problems.

Here at TIME, our aim was the same as it is every week—except a little more so. We try to channel the flow of events into a coherent pattern of stories, to emphasize the important details and, whenever possible,to provide perspective.

One of the first questions that occurs after an event as shocking as the assassination of Dr....