Robert was born November 20, 1925 in Brookline, Massachusetts. Robert (a.k.a Bobby) was always the most responsible out of his nine siblings and did not act like an average day to day child. His father was a rich business man and his mother was the daughter of the mayor of Boston. Kennedy’s father became an ambassador to Britain, so the family moved to England. They moved back to the United States in 1939. Growing up, RFK attended Milton Academy Prep School and then focused on football and played at Harvard,the college he attended. Shortly after, he joined and played a huge role in the Navy, then after two years, he returned to Harvard in 1946 and graduated with a degree in business.
The next three years of his life were spent at the University of Virginia Law School. Robert then married a woman named Ethel, his sister’s room mate in 1951 and they had eleven children. The family of thirteen lived at an estate called Hickory Hill in Mclean, Virginia. In 1951, the same year Ethel and Bobby were married, Robert graduated law school, he then joined the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. In 1960, Bobby managed his brother’s presidential campaign. After John was elected as president, Bobby became U.S. Attorney General. Although, he was still one of JFK’s closest cabinet advisors until when his brother was assassinated in 1963 and Bobby resigned from the job. Bobby was with John all the years he was president. He was devastated by his brother’s death.
John Kennedy appointed Robert as the 64th U.S. Attorney General, he took on organized crime and helped defend Civil Rights. The first thing Bobby did was send a group of thousands of troops down to Oxford, Mississippi in order to send the first African American boy, James Meredith to the University of Mississippi. Ross Barnett, had attempted to bar the young boy, whose enrollment promoted riots and violence at the university. Also, Robert helped work with Lyndon Johnson on the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed segregation in voting, employment, and public facilities. Robert established the first coordinated program that included all twenty-six federal law enforcement agencies to investigate organized crime. This became better than the FBI. Robert increased funds and manpower while Attorney General.
In 1965, Bobby resigned from being the U.S. Attorney General and successfully ran for senator of New York, having the ultimate goal of becoming a U.S. presidential candidate. As Senator, Bobby initiated a number of state projects, including assistance to children with little privilege. Bobby also assisted children with disabilities. Bobby was also involved in the establishment of the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation. This program improved living conditions and opportunities for employment in depressed areas of Brooklyn. This program has been a model for communities since 1967. Bobby did much for the state of New York while he was Senator
In 1968, Robert was nominated to run for president against Eugene Mccarthy. Robert was thrilled by the idea that he would possibly become president, considering this was his ultimate goal. Unfortunately, on June 5, 1968, Robert was at the California Democratic Primary in the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Robert Kennedy was shot several times by Palestinian, Sirhan Sirhan. However, Robert didn’t actually die until the next morning. Robert’s presidential administration had ended before it had even begun.
Robert F. Kennedy made an impact on our country. He was a pioneer for Civil Rights. Robert held multiple public offices. He was loyal to his brother and our country. Robert’s Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, this program has been a model for communities since 1967. We lost what could have been an incredible president for the United States.