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For his son, see Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Robert F. Kennedy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | November 20, 1925 Brookline, Massachusetts, United States |
| Died | June 6, 1968 Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Cause of death | Assassination |
| Political party | Democratic |
Robert Francis Kennedy (November 20, 1925 – June 6, 1968), also known by his initials RFK, was a Statesian politician and brother of President John F. Kennedy.
Early life
Robert Kennedy was the son of the millionaire Joseph Kennedy and supported Herbert Hoover during his childhood.[1]
Political career
Attorney General
Kennedy opposed the CIA-installed monarchy in Iran and refused to visit Iran on a trip around the world. His brother, John F. Kennedy, had threatened to end U.S. support for the Shah and publicly criticized his corruption.[1]
Kennedy's first call after his brother's assassination in 1963 was to the CIA desk officer. Robert Kennedy asked him, "Did your people conduct this horror?"[2]
During the early 1960s, was strongly anti-communist and supported the Vietnam War.[1]
Senate
By the late 1960s, Kennedy reversed his previous position and opposed the Vietnam War.[1]
Presidential campaign
Kennedy ran for President in the 1968 presidential election and planned to start an inquiry into his brother's assassination as soon as he became president. He won the 1968 presidential primary in California but was assassinated before the general election.[2]
Kennedy was a Zionist and approved sending 50 bombers to Israel.[2]
Assassination
Kennedy was scheduled to speak to reporters at the Ambassador Hotel on June 5, 1968 after winning the California primary. While walking through a narrow serving area, someone shot him three times from above and behind at very close range. Thane Eugene Cesar, a supporter of George Wallace's segregationist campaign, was behind Kennedy and was likely the shooter. Kennedy grabbed him and pulled off his tie while falling. Between the second and third shots, bystanders tackled Sirhan Sirhan, who was also shooting from in front of Kennedy. In addition to the four bullets that hit Kennedy, one went through his coat, and five hit other people. Polish journalist Stanisław Pruszyński made an audio tape of the shooting that recorded thirteen total shots coming from different directions.[1]
Aftermath
Sirhan Sirhan was accused of the assassination and sent to prison. His assigned defense lawyer, Grant Cooper, had also been the lawyer for mafia boss John Roselli who tried to kill Fidel Castro.[1]
Kennedy's son and daughter both believe that he was innocent. At Sirhan's parole hearing in 2016, Kennedy's close advisor Paul Schrade testified that Sirhan was not the real shooter. Schrade was also a witness and had survived a gunshot wound on the night of the assassination.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Jeremy Kuzmarov (2022-06-05). "New Evidence Implicates CIA, LAPD, FBI and Mafia as Plotters in Elaborate “Hit” Plan to Prevent RFK From Ever Reaching White House" CovertAction Magazine. Archived from the original on 2023-05-19.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 John Potash (2022-07-26). "New Four-Part Documentary “JFK: Destiny Betrayed” Leaves No Doubt That JFK Was Assassinated as Part of CIA Coup" CovertAction Magazine. Archived from the original on 2023-06-23.