Forgotten Men of History - Bobby Kennedy

Article by Rob Russell. Edited by Tom Hercock. Additional Research by Helen Midgley.

In a resumption of the theme ‘forgotten men of history’ for the final issue of the year, I’m going to shift my attention to Bobby Kennedy. Admittedly Bobby Kennedy isn’t as much of a random blast from the past like previous choices in the ‘forgotten men of histories’ hall of fame. On purely obscure levels, both Marcus Garvey and Julius Martov will take some beating. However, if ever there was a man who lived in the shadows of other memorable historical figures then Bobby Kennedy epitomizes that man, in his instance behind his older brother, President John F. Kennedy. 

Often not given the credit he deserves, for his behind the scenes work during the Kennedy administration, Bobby served as the United States Attorney General from January 1961, and remained in situ 9 months beyond his brother’s infamous assassination until September 1964. He also acted beyond this capacity, as a crucial advisor to the President, and was central to many of the key decisions made throughout the Kennedy years (1961-1963). Of his numerous successes, Bobby Kennedy is most renowned for his efforts during the Cuban Missile Crisis of November 1962. Bobby showed his political skill by easing tensions between the somewhat aggressive, militant members of the Kennedys inner circle (often termed hawks), and those who favoured more peaceful options (doves). The result of this was that the Kennedy administration chose a naval blockade, as opposed to a full scale military invasion of Cuba, in response to the Soviet Union placing nuclear weapons on the island, less than 100 miles from the United States. What is more, Bobby was central to negotiations with government members of the Soviet Union, which eventually led to a peaceful outcome of the crisis. Despite much acclaim often being placed at the feet of his older brother, due to his handling of Cuba, John Kennedy is believed to have said on the evening of the peaceful resolution to the crisis: “Thank God for Bobby.”

Bobby Kennedy however, is revered for far more than his aptitude in foreign affairs, and that is his relationship with civil rights. Held up by many to be one of the greatest modern liberal politicians in recent American history, Bobby worked tirelessly for the improvement of African American civil rights. During his time as Attorney General, he fought for the desegregation of all government departments on Capitol Hill, and passionately called for such departments to hire a larger number of African Americans. With regards to civil rights, his most notable success came in his involvement and support of the Freedom Rides in the early 1960s.

The final chapter in Bobby’s life deserving of much attention, is his attempt to run for the Democratic presidential nomination, in the 1968 election. Upon becoming a Senator for New York in January 1965, a position which he held for a further three years until his death, he positioned himself for the 1968 election. Bobby won the initial California presidential primary in early June 1968, yet sadly his involvement in the race to White House was cut tragically short. Just after a small victory speech on the 5th June 1968, Bobby Kennedy like his brother before him was shot by an assassin (Sirhan Sirhan) and resultantly died of his injuries on June 6th 1968. It signalled the end of his hopes of reaching the White House, and more importantly brought about the death of one the most liberal, energetic and hope enthusing politicians in American history.

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Robert Francis “Bobby” Kennedy was born on 20 November 1925; he was the seventh child of Joseph P. Kennedy and

Rose E. Fitzgerald. He was eight years younger than his brother John F. Kennedy for whom, during JFK’s presidency, RFK would serve as Attorney General.

RFK took a strong stance against organised crime, but found working with J. Edgar Hoover a struggle and therefore their campaigns were not wholly successful.

RFK was a supporter of the civil rights movement. He said that:

“We will not stand by or be aloof. We will move. I happen to believe that the 1954 Supreme Court school desegregation decision was right. But my belief does not matter. It is the law. Some of you may believe the decision was wrong. That does not matter. It is the law.”

After JFK’s assassination in 1963, Bobby Kennedy supported the family but resigned as Attorney General so that he could stand for, and win, a seat in the Senate representing New York.

Bobby Kennedy became a voice for the anti-Vietnam War movement in the later 1960s. He stated that:

“We’re going in there and we’re killing South Vietnamese, we’re killing children, we’re killing women, we’re killing innocent people because we don’t want a war fought on American soil, or because (the Viet Cong are) 12,000 miles away and they might get 11,000 miles away. Do we have the right, here in the United States, to say we’re going to kill tens of thousands, make millions of people, as we have, millions of people refugees, killing women and children, as we have.”

On 16th March 1968, Bobby Kennedy announced that he would run for president: he stood in the race against Eugene McCarthy and incumbent president Lyndon B. Johnson (who would shortly resign from his campaign). Kennedy said that: “I do not run for the presidency merely to oppose any man but to propose new policies.”

Bobby Kennedy united with Martin Luther King Jr. (the civil rights movement leader) on the issues of civil rights and the Vietnam War. But when, in April 1968, King was assassinated, Kennedy became more radical in his views of civil rights. He argued that “somebody has to speak up for the Negroes and Indians and Mexicans and poor whites.”

However, on 5th June 1968, Bobby Kennedy was shot in the head by assassin Sirhan Sirhan.

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