Robert F. Kennedy
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| Robert F. Kennedy | |
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 Unknown; dedicated to the Bettman Archive. Likely an organization working with t · Public domain · source | |
| Name | Robert F. Kennedy |
| Caption | Kennedy in 1964 |
| Office | United States Senator from New York |
| Term start | January 3, 1965 |
| Term end | June 6, 1968 |
| Predecessor | Kenneth Keating |
| Successor | Charles Goodell |
| Office1 | 64th United States Attorney General |
| President1 | John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson |
| Term start1 | January 20, 1961 |
| Term end1 | September 3, 1964 |
| Predecessor1 | William P. Rogers |
| Successor1 | Nicholas Katzenbach |
| Birth name | Robert Francis Kennedy |
| Birth date | November 20, 1925 |
| Birth place | Brookline, Massachusetts |
| Death date | June 6, 1968 (aged 42) |
| Death place | Los Angeles, California |
| Death cause | Assassination |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Ethel Kennedy (m. 1950) |
| Children | 11, including Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Joseph P. Kennedy II, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Kerry Kennedy |
| Education | Harvard University (BA), University of Virginia (LLB) |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Navy |
| Serviceyears | 1944–1946 |
| Rank | Seaman apprentice |
| Battles | World War II |
Robert F. Kennedy. Robert Francis Kennedy was an American politician and lawyer who served as the United States Attorney General from 1961 to 1964 and as a United States Senator from New York from 1965 until his assassination in 1968. He was a key advisor to his brother, President John F. Kennedy, and later became a leading voice for social justice and an anti-war candidate in the 1968 Democratic Party presidential primaries. His life and career were defined by his advocacy for civil rights, his fight against organized crime, and his transformative, though tragically shortened, presidential campaign.
Early life and education
Born in Brookline, Massachusetts, he was the seventh child of Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. and Rose Kennedy. He attended Milton Academy before enrolling at Harvard University, where he played varsity football and graduated in 1948. Following brief service in the United States Navy during the final stages of World War II, he earned his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1951. He married Ethel Skakel in 1950, beginning a family that would grow to include eleven children.
Early political career
Kennedy's political career began as a campaign manager for his brother John F. Kennedy's successful 1952 run for the United States Senate. He later served as an assistant counsel to Senator Joseph McCarthy on the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, a role he later expressed regret over. He gained national prominence as the chief counsel for the Senate Rackets Committee from 1957 to 1959, where his aggressive investigations into Teamsters union officials like Jimmy Hoffa were televised and showcased his tenacity.
Attorney General of the United States
Appointed United States Attorney General by President John F. Kennedy, he became one of the most powerful and activist attorneys general in American history. He vigorously pursued organized crime syndicates and made civil rights a top priority of the United States Department of Justice. He played a critical role during the Cuban Missile Crisis and deployed U.S. Marshals to protect the Freedom Riders. After the assassination of John F. Kennedy, he continued to serve under President Lyndon B. Johnson, helping to pass the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964.
United States Senate and presidential campaign
Elected to the United States Senate from New York in 1964, he focused on issues of poverty and racial inequality. He championed economic development in Bedford-Stuyvesant and was a vocal critic of the Vietnam War. On March 16, 1968, he announced his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination, positioning himself as a coalition-builder who could unite African Americans, white ethnic groups, and young voters. His campaign gained momentum with a crucial victory in the California Democratic primary on June 4, 1968.
Assassination and aftermath
Shortly after midnight on June 5, 1968, after delivering a victory speech at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, he was shot by Sirhan Sirhan. He died the following day at Good Samaritan Hospital. His death triggered an outpouring of national grief, with a funeral train carrying his body from New York City to Arlington National Cemetery, where he was buried near his brother. Sirhan was convicted of murder and sentenced to death, a sentence later commuted to life imprisonment.
Legacy and honors
Kennedy is remembered as a symbol of untapped potential and a passionate advocate for the marginalized. The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights (now Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights) was established in his memory. Numerous institutions bear his name, including the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building in Washington, D.C., and the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1978, and his legacy continues to influence American political discourse on equality and justice. Category:1968 murders in the United States Category:American anti–Vietnam War activists Category:American people of Irish descent Category:Assassinated American politicians Category:Attorneys General of the United States Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery Category:Democratic Party United States senators Category:Harvard University alumni Category:Kennedy family Category:People from Brookline, Massachusetts Category:Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom Category:Robert F. Kennedy Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II Category:University of Virginia School of Law alumni