- Born
- Died
- Birth nameRobert Francis Kennedy
- Nicknames
- R.F.K.
- Bobby
- Height5′ 9½″ (1.77 m)
- Robert Francis Kennedy (1925-68), US politician, was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, the third son of Ambassador Joseph P. Kennedy and wife Rose Kennedy. He studied at Harvard and at the University of Virginia University Law School, served at sea (1944-46) in World War II, was admitted to the bar (1951), and served on the Senate Select Committee on Improper Activities (1957-59), when he prosecuted several top union leaders. An efficient manager of his brother John F. Kennedy's presidential campaign, he was an energetic Attorney General (1961-64), notably in his dealings with civil rights problems. He became senator from New York in 1965. After winning the Californian Democratic presidential primary election, he was shot at a hotel in Los Angeles. His assassin, Sirhan Sirhan, a 24-year-old Jordanian-born immigrant, was sentenced to the gas chamber in 1969, but was not executed.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Lester A Dinerstein <lester1@earthlink.net>
- SpouseEthel Kennedy(June 17, 1950 - June 6, 1968) (his death, 11 children)
- Children
- Parents
- RelativesCaroline Kennedy(Niece or Nephew)John Kennedy Jr.(Niece or Nephew)Christopher Lawford(Niece or Nephew)Patrick Joseph Kennedy II(Niece or Nephew)Maria Shriver(Niece or Nephew)Robert Shriver(Niece or Nephew)Anthony Shriver(Niece or Nephew)Tim Shriver(Niece or Nephew)Mark Shriver(Niece or Nephew)Ted Kennedy(Sibling)Rosemary Kennedy(Sibling)Kathleen 'Kick' Kennedy(Sibling)Eunice Kennedy Shriver(Sibling)Patricia Kennedy(Sibling)Kick Kennedy(Grandchild)Bobby Kennedy III(Grandchild)John Francis Fitzgerald(Grandparent)Jean Kennedy Smith(Sibling)Joseph P. Kennedy Jr.(Sibling)John F. Kennedy(Sibling)Cara Kennedy Cuomo(Grandchild)Mariah Cuomo(Grandchild)Zachary Kennedy-Bailey(Grandchild)
- Strong Boston accent
- In 1965, still mourning his brother John's death, he journeyed to Canada to climb Mount Kennedy (on the Alasken-Canadian border) which had been named in his brother's honor. Breaking away from the team of experienced mountain climbers, Kennedy made it to the summit making him the first man ever to reach the top.
- He once got into a contest with Richard Burton, who greatly admired him, in which they tried to outdo the other by quoting William Shakespeare's sonnets. Both were word-perfect, and Burton was forced to "win" the contest by quoting one of the sonnets backwards, a feat Bobby could not match.
- In stark contrast to his older brother John F. Kennedy's poor health, Robert was a very strong and physically active man who enjoyed hiking and kayaking, among other outdoor activities.
- He was the only Kennedy son to complete his father's challenge to not drink or smoke until his twenty-first birthday (for which his father rewarded him with $1,000), and he didn't have any ash trays in his home (unusual for the 50's-60's).
- Had 11 children: Kathleen Kennedy Townsend (b. 1952), Joseph Kennedy (b. 1953), Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (b. 1955), Courtney Kennedy Hill (b. 1957), Michael Kennedy (b. 1959, d. 1998), Kerry Kennedy Cuomo (b. 1960), Christopher Kennedy (b. 1964), Max Kennedy (b. 1966), Douglas Kennedy (b. 1967), Rory Kennedy (b. 1968), and David Kennedy (d. 1984).
- I'm tired of chasing people.
- I've seen despair and hopelessness, and I've seen children who are starving to death in the United States. I mean, not 'I read about children who are starving to death in the United States', but I've seen children who are starving to death in the United States. And, as the reports have said, they will never recover mentally after the age of four.
- Tragedy is a tool for the living to gain wisdom, not a guide by which to live.
- Ultimately, America's answer to the intolerant man is diversity, the very diversity which our heritage of religious freedom has inspired.
- People say I am ruthless. I am not ruthless. And if I find the man who is calling me ruthless, I shall destroy him.
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