Robert F. Kennedy on the presidential campaign trail in California, 1968 (John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum)
It was hard work, but before he was killed by an assassin’s bullet in 1968, Robert F. Kennedy had emerged, victoriously, from behind the shadow of his brother John, a war-hero and beloved fallen president. In the new biography, Bobby Kennedy: A Raging Spirit, MSNBC’s Hardball anchor Chris Matthews, who wrote the best-selling John Kennedy: Elusive Hero, provides a more in-depth portrait of Robert F. Kennedy. He was often ignored by his father and overshadowed by his older brother. He resisted taking the easy way, enlisting in the Navy as a common sailor rather than accept a chance to be a naval officer. It was a choice that opened a life-changing personal and political path, connecting him with people from all walks of life who would turn out for him in his 1968 campaign.
RFK was the rarest of politicians—both a pragmatist who knew how to get the job done and an unwavering idealist who could inspire millions. Matthews shines a light on all the important moments of his life, from his early years and his start in politics to his crucial role as attorney general in his brother’s administration and his tragic run for president.
Bobby Kennedy: A Raging Spirit (Simon and Schuster) is available for sale and signing.
