Seems the only appropriate reaction would have been not to comment on his death at all. Once you do you are stuck with either praising somebody who was probably a murderer who escaped justice, or speaking ill if the dead. No win situation. Self inflicted political wound.
Agreed.
Yeah, why the hell should the White House comment on a random murder at all? Much less one 30 years ago?
Can anyone imagine Eisenhower commenting on such a case? Even one big in the news? Imagine they asked him to comment on the Lindbergh murder case form 1932?
Ridiculous.