Kennedy attended both Harvard College and the University of Virginia School of Law, and soon after graduation, he worked as a lawyer for the U.S. Department of Justice. In 1952, Kennedy managed his brother John F. Kennedy’s successful campaign for the U.S. Senate from Massachusetts. He went on to manage his brother’s presidential campaign in 1960, serving as Attorney General in the administration. Robert Kennedy’s popularity increased with his brother’s rise to presidency, and he soon became a favorite among the people.
However, it is Robert Kennedy’s later work as U.S. Senator and his involvement with the Civil Rights Movement and anti-poverty efforts that cemented his legacy. Robert Kennedy remains the most prominent symbol of protest against the Vietnam War, and his 1968 presidential campaign was focused on issues of social injustice and inequality in America.
The Civil Rights Movement had gathered momentum in the early sixties with significant breakthroughs like the Montgomery Bus Boycotts and Martin Luther King Jr’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech. It was during this time that Robert Kennedy began to advocate for and champion integration, desegregation, and equality for all, unequivocally opposing discrimination and racism in all forms. He worked closely with civil rights leaders, most notably King, and played a pivotal role in facilitating the integration of public spaces in the Southern United States.
Kennedy’s commitment to the disadvantaged was also evident in his work with the Anti-Poverty Program, which aimed at alleviating economic distress in underprivileged communities. He was a proponent of “equal opportunity” that emphasized broad-based education, jobs, and other means of economic empowerment.
In 1968, Kennedy announced his candidacy for the presidency, running as a Democrat. His campaign was built around the theme of resistance against social injustice and inequality, a stark contrast to the conservative views of the incumbent president, Richard Nixon. Robert Kennedy’s speeches and public addresses were filled with rhetoric that resonated with the masses, and he quickly emerged as a popular choice for the presidency. Unfortunately, his run for the presidency was cut tragically short when he was assassinated in Los Angeles on June 6, 1968.
Robert Kennedy may have been seen by some as a fiery social justice crusader, but to his supporters, he was a passionate and compassionate public servant who constantly fought for the underdog. He remains a symbol of hope and the unrelenting pursuit of justice for millions of Americans who fight for equality, democracy, and peace.
His loss was a painful reminder of the struggles for social and racial justice in the country, and his legacy continues to inspire future generations to fight for a better, more equitable America. In 2018, almost 50 years after his tragic death, Robert Kennedy’s life and achievements continue to be celebrated as a testament to his unwavering dedication to the people he served.