A handful of American political figures have been elevated to near demigod status by the historians who recount the achievements of these men. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln immediately come to mind as the greatest American presidents. We revere these men because that’s what we have been taught to do from a young age. Their contributions to America are inspiring and, in many ways, form the backbone of the American Dream. Since the average American will never actually meet the men on capital hill who run the country, we must rely on the media and historians to truthfully portray the actions of politicians. Perhaps in the not too distant future (10-20 years) a more biased and opinionated media could spin it so that we could revere current leaders the same way we respect Washington or Lincoln. It might just take an A&E Biography show which talks about how Bush “brought democracy to Iraq” to paint a favorable picture of him for posterity.I fell in love with Robert F Kennedy after watching the American Experience documentary about him. I constantly find myself reflecting on the legacy he left behind. It is unfair to compare any single contemporary presidential candidate to RFK, but I can’t help but see the glaring differences between current politicians and RFK. The politicians of today are the carefully molded product of focus groups. These modern politicians are driven by a selfish self-gratifying ambition to hold office. Bobby was content to quietly and loyally serve his older brother during the JFK administration. A series of unpredictable circumstances catapulted him into the political arena where he would win the senate race in New York and the Democratic nomination for the presidency. RFK reluctantly sought the Democratic presidential nomination only because he genuinely feared that the other contenders (Lyndon Johnson and Eugene McCarthy) would lead the country in the wrong direction. After winning the New York senate race, the sincerity of RFK’s motives were revealed when he said, “If my brother were alive I wouldn’t be here. I’d rather have it that way.”
Like his older brother, RFK embodied all the classic Kennedy traits that America fell in love with. Whether it was the fiercely competitive backyard football games or his courageous mountain climbing expedition, RFK repeatedly showed that he was not afraid to test his physical limits. Bobby matured into a deeply introspective intellectual primarily as a result of JFK’s untimely death. He would often turn to the poetry of Aeschylus to find solace during the turbulent events which marked the sixties.
Bobby’s ability to genuinely empathize with the plight of struggling American minority groups may have been his greatest strength as a presidential candidate. Despite President Johnson’s best efforts, many African Americans still felt hopelessly discriminated against in the late sixties. Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated hours before Bobby addressed a black audience in Indianapolis. To comfort the African American community during their time of great loss, Bobby said,
“For those of you who are black and are tempted to be filled with hatred and distrust of the injustice of such an act, against all white people, I would only say that I can also feel in my own heart the same kind of feeling. I had a member of my family killed, but he was killed by a white man. But we have to make an effort in the United States, we have to make an effort to understand, to go beyond these rather difficult times.”
Despite his privileged background, Bobby could relate to the hardships facing Americans because he had suffered the greatest loss of all after losing President Kennedy.
Modern politics seems to be dominated by partisan bickering marked by politicians stubbornly arguing their agendas along party lines without even considering yielding to the views of others regardless of the strength of the counterarguments. RFK was a rare politician who could transcend party politics and listen to reason. As the attorney general in President Kennedy’s cabinet, Bobby enjoyed overreaching influence in foreign policy which extended well beyond the role of his position. He fervently backed an all out attack on the nascent communist regime that Fidel Castro was building in Cuba. After deliberating and debating with other Kennedy cabinet members, RFK was persuaded that a preemptive attack on Cuba violated the loose American doctrine of not mounting the first attack on foreign powers. Bobby would also gradually change his hawk perspective toward the Vietnam War and go as far as to acknowledge that he was wrong to support the war. He urged President Johnson to shift his strategy from a military coup to one of diplomacy and negotiations with Ho Chi Minh. Bobby had the humility to admit when he was wrong and listen to the reason of others when forming his own views.
Like his older brother, RFK embodied all the classic Kennedy traits that America fell in love with. Whether it was the fiercely competitive backyard football games or his courageous mountain climbing expedition, RFK repeatedly showed that he was not afraid to test his physical limits. Bobby matured into a deeply introspective intellectual primarily as a result of JFK’s untimely death. He would often turn to the poetry of Aeschylus to find solace during the turbulent events which marked the sixties.
Bobby’s ability to genuinely empathize with the plight of struggling American minority groups may have been his greatest strength as a presidential candidate. Despite President Johnson’s best efforts, many African Americans still felt hopelessly discriminated against in the late sixties. Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated hours before Bobby addressed a black audience in Indianapolis. To comfort the African American community during their time of great loss, Bobby said,
“For those of you who are black and are tempted to be filled with hatred and distrust of the injustice of such an act, against all white people, I would only say that I can also feel in my own heart the same kind of feeling. I had a member of my family killed, but he was killed by a white man. But we have to make an effort in the United States, we have to make an effort to understand, to go beyond these rather difficult times.”
Despite his privileged background, Bobby could relate to the hardships facing Americans because he had suffered the greatest loss of all after losing President Kennedy.
Modern politics seems to be dominated by partisan bickering marked by politicians stubbornly arguing their agendas along party lines without even considering yielding to the views of others regardless of the strength of the counterarguments. RFK was a rare politician who could transcend party politics and listen to reason. As the attorney general in President Kennedy’s cabinet, Bobby enjoyed overreaching influence in foreign policy which extended well beyond the role of his position. He fervently backed an all out attack on the nascent communist regime that Fidel Castro was building in Cuba. After deliberating and debating with other Kennedy cabinet members, RFK was persuaded that a preemptive attack on Cuba violated the loose American doctrine of not mounting the first attack on foreign powers. Bobby would also gradually change his hawk perspective toward the Vietnam War and go as far as to acknowledge that he was wrong to support the war. He urged President Johnson to shift his strategy from a military coup to one of diplomacy and negotiations with Ho Chi Minh. Bobby had the humility to admit when he was wrong and listen to the reason of others when forming his own views.
I’m not certain if America will ever see another man as qualified to hold the office of president as Robert Francis Kennedy. Current leaders are motivated by their own personal quests for recognition rather than what is actually best for the country. Sound advice from non-partisan committees are falling on the deaf ears of leaders who are concerned most with self preservation. The idealism, modesty, and diplomacy of RFK contrast so sharply with the dubious motives of current leaders. RFK’s self-doubt and introspection may have been the greatest sources of his strength. He was a troubled man who empathized with a concerned and disillusioned American majority which questioned the direction the country was taking. Bobby Kennedy was truly an inspiration and I can’t help but wonder how America would be different if his life was not tragically cut short.
