RFK: America's lost president

Robert Kennedy Sr, often referred to as RFK, is remembered as one of the most iconic figures in American history.

    We honor Robert Francis Kennedy and his life today, as on this day (June 5th) in 1968, he was shot. And though he held on to life until the late hours of the night, the wound was fatal, despite hours of neurological surgery attempting to remove the bullet and bone fragments from his brain. He died at 1:44 a.m., nearly 25 hours after being shot. 

    Bobby Kennedy's legacy is characterized and remembered by a profound commitment to justice, equality, and the common good. In a speech in South Africa in 1966, Robert Kennedy exclaimed, "Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." As we reflect on his life, we not only celebrate his accomplishments and mourn the way he cared about other people, but we also contemplate and wonder about the potential of an amazing presidency that could've been. A presidency that tragically never existed.

    RFK was born into the Kennedy family. This was a family that was very influential, wealthy, and political.  Born on November 20, 1925, to Joseph Kennedy Sr, and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, "Bobby" was the seventh of their nine children. From a young age, Bobby's father made it clear that one of his children would become a powerful politician one day. His early life was marked by privilege and opportunity. It was a very competitive family. Bobby himself recalled, "...and when you come from that far down, you have to struggle to survive." During his childhood, his father called him the "runt" of the family and wrote him off, focusing most of his attention on his eldest children, Joseph Jr., and John. His parents also involved Robert and his siblings in discussions of history, current world affairs, and happenings in the United States. Robert's childhood was one where he felt he had to prove himself to his family. In the competitive household, Bobby wanted to get respect, admiration, and attention from his father, especially. Author Evan Thomas recounts a famous story of when Robert was about seven or eight years old and went sailing with his family in Nantucket Sound. Desperate to get his father's attention, he flings himself overboard. The problem was that he couldn't swim. So there he is, struggling and flailing about in water that can be as deep as 85 feet, but lucky for him, one of his brothers picks him out of the water, and tells Bobby that he is either "very brave or very foolish." On top of this, Bobby's childhood was also one of struggle. He was constantly working on overcoming his fears, both small and large. Evan is an author who has studied the life of Robert Kennedy thoroughly. In an interview, Evan states, "Everybody's childhood is important, but his really was for a couple of reasons: One is Bobby Kennedy's life was a life of struggle--mostly for good purposes. He was constantly working to overcome his fears; I think until the moment he died, he was working to overcome fear." After his older brother Joe died in WW2, Bobby left school and joined the Navy. He survived the war and returned to marry Ethel Kennedy in 1950. They would go on to have 11 children together. 

    Bobby then managed his brother's campaign for the U.S. Senate in 1952 and helped him win. This was the first time Bobby played a part in his brother's political life. It foreshadowed what was to come, as a few years later, he helped JFK with his presidential campaign. During the deadliest of threats, he was the first man the President went to. 

    But it was his dedication to public service that truly defined him. As attorney general under his older brother, John F. Kennedy, Robert emerged as a fearless advocate for civil rights, playing a role in the desegregation of schools and the enforcement of voting rights for African Americans. At times, his relentless pursuit of justice put him at odds with firmly held ideas for how things should be done. Still, he remained undeterred, earning a positive reputation for the marginalized, oppressed, and very unfortunate people who were struggling in some way. His fight against poverty is a big part of his legacy today. In his own words, "I've seen despair and hopelessness, and I've seen children who are starving to death in the United States." In his life, Robert Kennedy has been exposed to the suffering of countless people and tried to help them all. 

    On the evening of April 4th, 1968, Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis. Though he wasn't scheduled to make a stop in Indianapolis, he did. He wrote a speech while riding on the train. This would be one of his most famous speeches. His goal was to announce the death of Dr. King while remaining calm and requesting that people not resort to violence or revenge as a response. Many people still think of these powerful words today, "We can move in that direction as a country, in greater polarization blacks amongst blacks, and whites among whites filled with hatred toward one another. Or we can make an effort, as Martin Luther King did, to understand, and to comprehend, and replace that violence, that stain of bloodshed that has spread across our land, with an effort to understand compassion and love." Just two months later, Robert himself would be gunned down, just as King and his brother had been.

    The presidency that could've been under Bobby Kennedy is one of the biggest "what if" questions in our country's history. His unwavering justice, his ability to inspire, and his vision for a united and thriving nation in America suggest and lead people to think that he would have been one of our greatest presidents. RFK was uniquely able to connect with people from all walks of life, understanding their struggles and aspirations. He also had leadership skills that few today have. His empathy, courage and relentless pursuit of the common good characterize these leadership skills. He would have left a positive mark on the United States.