Robert F Kennedy Robert F Kennedy (RFK) was born on November 20, 1925 in Brookline, Massachusetts . Growing up in the Kennedy clan, RFK was often the target of his father’s domineering temper; however his competitive streak was admired by his parents and six siblings. RFK served with the US Navy for a brief period before going on to attend Harvard University . After graduating from Harvard in 1948, he enrolled at the University of Virginia School of Law. One year prior to graduating in 1951, RFK married Ethel Skakel, with whom he later had 11 children. Fresh out of Law School in 1952, RFK began managing his brother John F Kennedy’s successful campaign for US Senate. From 1953 to 1956, he served as counsel to the Senate subcommittee, chaired by Sen. Joseph McCarthy. In 1957, RFK became chief counsel to the subcommittee investigating labor rackets, where he proved his tenacity and toughness by exposing the corruption in the Teamsters Union. In 1960, RFK again managed his brother John F Kennedy’s campaign; this time, for the presidential elections. RFK was included in his cabinet as attorney general and hired as his brother's closest adviser. Following John F Kennedy's assassination in 1963, RFK served for a period in President Lyndon Johnson's cabinet before resigning in 1964 to run for election as Senator from New York .
An active advocate of social reform, RFK became a strong spokesman for minority rights. In 1968, he was initially hesitant to run for the Democratic presidential nomination; however on March 16 of that year, RFK announced his running. After winning a series of primary victories, on June 4, 1968, RFK delivered a victory speech at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California . As he departed, RFK was fatally wounded by the gunshot of 24-year-old Palestinian assassin, Sirhan B Sirhan, who was captured at the scene and convicted of murder. Upon the urging of RFK’s younger brother, Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy, Sirhain’s sentence was reduced from death by gas chamber to life imprisonment.
In comparison to his brothers, RFK was the most religious of the Kennedy clan, who all had an Irish-Catholic upbringing. Compared to his brother, John F Kennedy, RFK lacked the same savvy speaking skills; instead, relying on his convictions and passion for social justice to carry his speeches. However, the brothers are said to have had one interest in common, iconic bombshell, Marilyn Monroe. To date, conspiracy theories abound that Monroe ’s cause of death was actually murder, precipitated by affairs she had with both Kennedy brothers. In his political practices, RFK was often described as “ruthless.” However, he demonstrated he also had a sense of humor to back it up, once joking to a reporter, “If I find out who has called me ruthless I will destroy him!” An honest and open RFK also admitted to having a short temper when it came to people who were the opposite, once confessing: “My biggest problem as counsel, is to keep my temper. I think we all feel that when a witness comes before the United States Senate he has an obligation to speak frankly and tell the truth. To see people sit in front of us and lie and evade makes me boil inside. But you can't lose your temper - if you do, the witness has gotten the best of you.” |
