History UsefulNotes / RobertFKennedy

Like John, Bobby is a very beloved figure for many people who lived through the turmoil of TheSixties. Arguably even more so than his brother, Bobby had the ability to inspire hope during what he described euphemistically as "interesting times." Even many cynics who don't buy into the Camelot mythology surrounding his brother have very positive things to say about Bobby. Ever since his death, there has been endless WhatCouldHaveBeen discussion surrounding him and his possible presidency, especially in light of his ability to unite Americans across all lines imaginable, a sharp contrast to the increasing polarization of the decades that followed his murder.[[note]]Most of this alternative history overlooks that Kennedy probably would not have won the nomination in 1968. Vice President Hubert Humphrey had the support of President Johnson and all the Democratic Party institutions, and the anti-war left was split between Kennedy and Eugene [=McCarthy=]. And even if Bobby had somehow won the nomination, the Democrats would've struggled in the election anyway, because there was such an intense backlash to Vietnam, and the traditional white Southern Democratic bloc had split apart, with much of it supporting the third-party candidacy of Alabama governor George Wallace (who carried five states), while Nixon's infamous "Southern strategy" attracted a fair share of voters by pandering to worries over racial and cultural issues. With Nixon only beating by Humphrey by 500,000 votes, Bobby might've been able to win the popular vote, but Nixon probably still would've comfortably taken the Electoral College. However, President RFK ''is'' an interesting what-if, and the possibility of him winning the nomination was taken seriously enough at the time for Humphrey's eventually winning it to be written off by many as him merely winning by default after Kennedy's death, ending up as one of many factors which crippled Humphrey's presidential run from the get-go.[[/note]] To this day, he's something of a lost hero for the Democratic Party -- a handsome, popular firebrand who had united people of color and the white working class under his banner, something his successors have struggled to do in the decades since his death.

He was known for being closer to his still enigmatic brother John than perhaps anyone else. He helped organized JFK's campaigns for the Senate and White House. John was willing to share with Bobby things that he kept hidden from most other people, and he almost always sided with his brother during debates within his administration. After John died, Bobby took care of his sister-in-law Jackie and her children, leading many people to speculate that they had an affair. People also think that, like his brother, he had an affair with Creator/MarilynMonroe, not that there is any substantial proof of either affair.

Like John, Bobby is a very beloved figure for many people who lived through the turmoil of TheSixties. Arguably even more so than his brother, Bobby had the ability to inspire hope during what he described euphemistically as "interesting times." Even many cynics who don't buy into the Camelot mythology surrounding his brother have very positive things to say about Bobby. Ever since his death, there has been endless WhatCouldHaveBeen discussion surrounding him and his possible presidency, especially in light of his ability to unite Americans across all lines imaginable, a sharp contrast to the increasing polarization of the decades that followed his murder.[[note]]Most of this alternative history overlooks that Kennedy probably would not have won the nomination in 1968. Vice President Hubert Humphrey had the support of President Johnson and all the Democratic Party institutions, and the anti-war left was split between Kennedy and Eugene [=McCarthy=]. And even if Bobby had somehow won the nomination, the Democrats would've struggled in the election anyway, because there was such an intense backlash to Vietnam, and the traditional white Southern Democratic bloc had split apart, with much of it supporting the third-party candidacy of Alabama governor George Wallace (who carried five states), while Nixon's infamous "Southern strategy" attracted a fair share of voters by pandering to worries over racial and cultural issues. With Nixon only beating by Humphrey by 500,000 votes, Bobby might've been able to win the popular vote, but Nixon probably still would've comfortably taken the Electoral College. However, President RFK ''is'' an interesting what-if, and the possibility of him winning the nomination was taken seriously enough at the time for Humphrey's eventually winning it to be written off by many as him merely winning by default after Kennedy's death, ending up as one of many factors which crippled Humphrey's presidential run from the get-go.[[/note]]

** Creator/TimRansom played Robert Kennedy in ''LBJ'' opposite Donovan.

* Jack Holmes played Robert Kennedy in the 2014 biopic ''Film/CesarChavez''. Holmes has also written and starred in a one man show about Kennedy titled ''RFK''.

Like John, Bobby is a very beloved figure for many people who lived through the turmoil of TheSixties. Arguably even more so than his brother, Bobby had the ability to inspire hope during what he described euphemistically as "interesting times." Even many cynics who don't buy into the Camelot mythology surrounding his brother have very positive things to say about Bobby. Ever since his death, there has been endless WhatCouldHaveBeen discussion surrounding him and his possible presidency, especially in light of his ability to unite Americans across all lines imaginable, a sharp contrast to the increasing polarization of the decades that followed his murder.[[note]]Most of this alternative history overlooks that Kennedy probably would not have won the nomination in 1968. Vice President Hubert Humphrey had the support of President Johnson and all the Democratic Party institutions, and the anti-war left was split between Kennedy and Eugene [=McCarthy=]. And even if Bobby had somehow won the nomination, the Democrats would've struggled in the election anyway, because there was such an intense backlash to Vietnam, and the traditional white Southern Democratic bloc had split apart, with much of it supporting the third-party candidacy of Alabama governor George Wallace (who carried five states), while Nixon's infamous "Southern strategy" attracted a fair share of voters by pandering to worries over racial and cultural issues. With Nixon only beating by Humphrey by 500,000 votes, Bobby might've been able to win the popular vote, but Nixon probably still would've comfortably taken the Electoral College. However, President RFK ''is'' an interesting what-if.[[/note]]

* Creator/MichaelStahl played Robert Kennedy in Creator/RobReiner's 2016 biopic ''LBJ''.

Like John, Bobby is a very beloved figure for many people who lived through the turmoil of TheSixties. Arguably even more so than his brother, Bobby had the ability to inspire hope during what he described euphemistically as "interesting times." Even many cynics who don't buy into the Camelot mythology surrounding his brother have very positive things to say about Bobby. Ever since his death, there has been endless WhatCouldHaveBeen discussion surrounding him and his possible presidency, especially in light of his ability to unite Americans across all lines imaginable, a sharp contrast to the increasing polarization of the decades that followed his murder.[[note]]Most of this alternative history overlooks that Kennedy probably would not have won the nomination in 1968. Vice President Hubert Humphrey had the support of President Johnson and all the Democratic Party institutions, and the anti-war left was split between Kennedy and Eugene [=McCarthy=]. And even if Bobby had somehow won the nomination, the backlash to Vietnam was so intense that it practically wrecked the Democrats as an electoral force for over two decades, meaning that Bobby could very well have fared better against UsefulNotes/RichardNixon than Humphrey did, but still lost. Still, President RFK is an interesting what-if.[[/note]]

* A scene with him is in Creator/DannyDeVito's ''Hoffa'' (1992). It's a depiction of Bobby's famous showdown with Jimmy Hoffa on the Senate floor. He's played by Kevin Anderson.

When Johnson announced in early 1968 that he would not seek another term as President, Bobby threw in his name for the Democratic primary at the last minute. He ran on a platform involving more help for the Civil Rights Movement, more aid to the impoverished, and, most famously, an end to the unpopular war in Vietnam. Despite its late start, the RFK campaign did fantastically well, with his active on-the-streets campaigning endearing him to many voters. When he heard just before a campaign rally that King had recently been assassinated, he delivered a largely improvised speech that remains his best moment. [[DownerEnding Two months later, Robert was himself assassinated.]] This came on night after he won the UsefulNotes/{{California}} primary and thus looked as though he stood a chance of winning the Democratic nomination. The convicted killer was Sirhan B. Sirhan, a Palestinian man who passionately opposed Kennedy's support of UsefulNotes/{{Israel}}. For what it is worth, Sirhan is still alive. Like the [[WhoShotJFK assassination of his older brother]], there are many conspiracy theories about his death and the mysterious circumstances around it.

Like John, Bobby is a very beloved figure for many people who lived through the turmoil of TheSixties. Arguably even more so than his brother, Bobby had the ability to inspire hope during what he described euphemistically as "interesting times." Even many cynics who don't buy into the Camelot mythology surrounding his brother have very positive things to say about Bobby. Ever since his death, there has been endless WhatCouldHaveBeen discussion surrounding him and his possible presidency.[[note]]Most of this alternative history overlooks that Kennedy probably would not have won the nomination in 1968. Vice President Hubert Humphrey had the support of President Johnson and all the Democratic Party institutions, and the anti-war left was split between Kennedy and Eugene [=McCarthy=]. And even if Bobby had somehow won the nomination, the backlash to Vietnam was so intense that it practically wrecked the Democrats as an electoral force for over two decades, meaning that Bobby could very well have fared better against UsefulNotes/RichardNixon than Humphrey did, but still lost. Still, President RFK is an interesting what-if.[[/note]]

* Bobby Kennedy makes an appearance in Creator/MartinScorsese's crime epic ''Film/TheIrishman'', where he's played by Jack Huston.

* Jack Holmes played Robert Kennedy in the 2014 biopic ''Film/CaesarChavez''. Holmes has also written and starred in a one man show about Kennedy titled ''RFK''.

* Jack Holmes played Robert Kennedy in the 2014 biopic ''Caesar Chavez''. Holmes has also written and starred in a one man show about Kennedy titled ''RFK''.

* The made-for-TV movie ''RFK'' (2002) is about him from the time of John's assassination to Bobby's own. Bobby is played by Creator/LinusRoache.

I thought I saw him walking off over the hill, with Abraham, Martin and John.

* He, of course, is one of the main characters in ''The Kennedys'', a 2011 miniseries. Bobby is actually presented rather more sympathetically than his brother, surprisingly. Creator/BarryPepper won an Emmy for playing him.

* ''{{Film/Bobby}}'' (2006) is about the day of his assassination. It was directed by {{Creator/Emilio Estevez}}.
* Bobby is one of the leads in ''Film/ThirteenDays'' (2000), where he is played by Steven Culp.

** John Shea played Bobby Kennedy in ''Kennedy'' opposite Sheen's JFK.
* Cotter Smith played Bobby in ''Blood Feud'', a two-part TV movie from 1983 about the conflict between Bobby and Jimmy Hoffa.

* In the 2016 film ''Film/{{Jackie}}'', which focuses on Jacqueline Kennedy after John's assassination, Bobby is portrayed by Creator/PeterSarsgaard.
* Michael Stahl played Robert Kennedy in Rob Reiner's 2016 biopic ''LBJ''.

* ''Bobby'' (2006) is about the day of his assassination. It was directed by Emilio Estevez.

Like John, Bobby is a very beloved figure for many people who lived through the turmoil of TheSixties. Arguably even more so than his brother, Bobby had the ability to inspire hope during what he described euphemistically as "interesting times." Even many cynics who don't buy into the Camelot mythology surrounding his brother have very positive things to say about Bobby. Ever since his death, there has been endless WhatCouldHaveBeen discussion surrounding him and his possible presidency.[[note]]Most of this alternative history overlooks that Kennedy probably would not have won the nomination in 1968. Vice President Hubert Humphrey had the support of President Johnson and all the Democratic Party institutions, and the anti-war left was split between Kennedy and Eugene [=McCarthy=]. And even if Bobby had somehow won the nomination, the backlash to Vietnam was so intense that it practically wrecked the Democrats as an electoral force for over two decades, meaning that Bobby would likely have fared a ''little'' better against UsefulNotes/RichardNixon than Humphrey did, but still lost.[[/note]]

* Creator/MartinSheen is the only actor to play both John and Robert Kennedy. He played John in ''Kennedy'' (a 1983 miniseries) and Robert in ''The Missiles of October'' (a 1974 made-for-TV play).

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Like John, Bobby is a very beloved figure for many people who lived through the turmoil of TheSixties. Arguably even more so than his brother, Bobby had the ability to inspire hope during what he described euphemistically as "interesting times." Even many cynics who don't buy into the Camelot mythology surrounding his brother have very positive things to say about Bobby. Ever since his death, there has been endless WhatCouldHaveBeen discussion surrounding him and his possible presidency.[[note]]Most of this alternative history overlooks that Kennedy probably would not have won the nomination in 1968. Vice President Hubert Humphrey had the support of President Johnson and all the Democratic Party institutions, and the anti-war left was split between Kennedy and Eugene [=McCarthy=].[[/note]]

Like John, Bobby is a very beloved figure for many people who lived through the turmoil of TheSixties. Arguably even more so than his brother, Bobby had the ability to inspire hope during what he described euphemistically as "interesting times." Even many cynics who don't buy into the Camelot mythology surrounding his brother have very positive things to say about Bobby. Ever since his death, there has been endless WhatCouldHaveBeen discussion surrounding him and his possible presidency.