Robert F. Kennedy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Robert F. Kennedy
Official portrait, c. 1965
United States Senator from New York
In office January 3, 1965 – June 6, 1968
Preceded by	Kenneth Keating
Succeeded by	Charles Goodell
64th United States Attorney General
In office January 21, 1961 – September 3, 1964
President	John F. Kennedy Lyndon B. Johnson
Deputy	Byron White Nicholas Katzenbach
Preceded by	William P. Rogers
Succeeded by	Nicholas Katzenbach
Personal details
Born	Robert Francis Kennedy (1925-11-20)November 20, 1925 Brookline, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	June 6, 1968(1968-06-06) (aged 42) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Cause of death	Assassination
Resting place	Arlington National Cemetery
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Ethel Skakel ​ (m. 1950)​
Children	Kathleen Joseph II Robert Jr. David Courtney Michael Kerry Chris Max Douglas Rory
Parents	Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. Rose Fitzgerald
Relatives	Kennedy family
Education	Harvard University (AB) University of Virginia (LLB)
Signature
Military service
Branch/service	U.S. Naval Reserve
Years of service	1944–1946
Rank	Seaman apprentice
Unit	USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr.
Battles/wars	World War II

Robert Francis Kennedy (November 20, 1925 – June 6, 1968) was an American lawyer and politician. People also knew him as RFK or Bobby. He served as the 64th United States Attorney General from 1961 to 1964. Later, he became a U.S. Senator for New York from 1965 until his death in 1968.

Like his brothers John and Edward, Bobby was an important member of the Democratic Party. Many people see him as a symbol of modern American liberalism, which focuses on social justice and equality.

Early Life and Education

Robert Francis Kennedy was born on November 20, 1925, in Brookline, Massachusetts. This town is just outside Boston. He was the seventh of nine children. His father, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., was a wealthy businessman and politician. His mother, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, was known for her charity work.

His parents came from well-known Irish-American families in Boston. Bobby had eight siblings: Joseph Jr., John, Rosemary, Kathleen, Eunice, Patricia, Jean, and Ted. All his grandparents were children of Irish immigrants.

Bobby's father, Joe Sr., had big political dreams. He hoped one of his sons would become president. At first, he hoped for his oldest son, Joseph Jr. After Joseph Jr. died in World War II, his hopes turned to John.

The Kennedy family in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, with Robert on the bottom left in a jacket, 1931

Bobby's older brother John was often sick. Because of this, John loved to read many books. Even though they weren't very close as kids, John would take Bobby on walks. He would tell him exciting stories about heroes and adventures from his books. They both loved the author John Buchan, who wrote The Thirty-Nine Steps.

As a child, Bobby went to many different schools. This meant he often had to make new friends. In 1938, he sailed to London with his mother and four younger siblings. They joined his father, who was serving as the Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Bobby attended the Gibbs School for Boys for seventh grade. He returned to the United States just before World War II started in Europe.

In September 1939, Bobby began eighth grade at St. Paul's School. This was an elite private school for boys in Concord, New Hampshire. His father liked this school.

After two months, his mother took him out of St. Paul's. She enrolled him in Portsmouth Priory School. This was a Catholic boarding school for boys in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Bobby attended Portsmouth for eighth through tenth grade.

In September 1942, Bobby transferred to his third boarding school, Milton Academy. This school was in Milton, Massachusetts. He went there for 11th and 12th grades. His father wanted him to go to Milton because he believed it would prepare him better for Harvard.

Military Service and College

In 1943, six weeks before his 18th birthday, Bobby joined the United States Naval Reserve. He started as a seaman apprentice.

He left active duty in March 1944. He left Milton Academy early to join the V-12 Navy College Training Program at Harvard College. This was in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

On December 15, 1945, the U.S. Navy launched a destroyer ship. It was named USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., after Bobby's older brother who died in the war. Bobby asked to leave his officer training so he could serve on this ship. On May 30, 1946, he received an honorable discharge from the Navy. For his service, he earned the American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.

Kennedy holding a football in Cape Cod with sisters Eunice and Jean, November 1948

In September 1946, Bobby started at Harvard as a junior. He got credit for his time in the V-12 program. He graduated from Harvard in 1948 with a bachelor's degree in political science.

In September 1948, he enrolled at the University of Virginia School of Law. He graduated from law school in June 1951.

Career Highlights

Bobby started his career as a reporter for The Boston Post. He also worked as a lawyer at the Justice Department. Later, he left to help his brother John's successful campaign for the U.S. Senate in 1952. The next year, he worked for a Senate committee led by Senator Joseph McCarthy.

He became well-known as the chief lawyer for the Senate Labor Rackets Committee from 1957 to 1959. Bobby left this committee to manage his brother John's successful campaign for president in 1960. He was then appointed United States Attorney General at age 35. This made him one of the youngest cabinet members in American history. He was his brother's closest advisor until John's assassination in 1963.

Bobby is remembered for supporting the civil rights movement. He also fought against organized crime and the Mafia. He was involved in U.S. foreign policy, especially concerning Cuba.

After his brother's death, he stayed in his job for several months during the Presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson. He then decided to run for the United States Senate from New York in 1964. He won against the Republican Senator Kenneth Keating.

As a Senator, Bobby spoke out against the U.S. being involved in the Vietnam War. He also worked to bring attention to poverty. He was a strong supporter of human rights and social justice. He traveled to other countries and worked with leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Cesar Chavez, and Walter Reuther.

In 1968, Bobby became a leading candidate for president. He was popular with poor people, African Americans, Hispanic people, Catholics, and young voters. His main opponent was Senator Eugene McCarthy.

His Death

After winning the California primary election, Bobby was shot. This happened just after midnight on June 5, 1968. He was shot by Sirhan Sirhan, a 24-year-old Palestinian man. Sirhan said he did it because Bobby supported Israel after the 1967 Six-Day War. Bobby died 25 hours later. Sirhan was arrested and found guilty.

Bobby's body was taken to Saint Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. Many people came to pay their respects. A special funeral service was held there on June 8. Members of the Kennedy family, President Lyndon B. Johnson, and his wife Lady Bird Johnson attended.

Robert F. Kennedy's grave in Arlington National Cemetery

After the service, Bobby's body was taken by a special train to Washington, D.C. Thousands of people stood along the tracks to honor him as the train passed.

Bobby was buried near his brother John at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. This is just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. Although he had wanted to be buried in Massachusetts, his family felt he should be next to his brother in Arlington.

On June 9, President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered security for all U.S. presidential candidates. He also declared a national day of mourning. After Bobby's death, the U.S. Secret Service was given the job of protecting presidential candidates.

Robert F. Kennedy Memorial built in 1971 across from his grave in Arlington National Cemetery

Family Life

The Kennedy brothers from left to right: Jack, Bobby and Ted, July 1960 in Cape Cod, Massachusetts

On June 17, 1950, Bobby married Ethel Skakel. She was the daughter of businessman George and Ann Skakel. They were married at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Greenwich, Connecticut. Bobby and Ethel had 11 children:

Bobby owned a home at the famous Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. But he spent most of his time at his estate called Hickory Hill in McLean, Virginia. This was west of Washington, D.C. His wife, Ethel, and their children continued to live there after he died. Ethel Kennedy sold Hickory Hill in 2009.

His Personality

People said Bobby was the gentlest and shyest of his family. He was also the least talkative. When he was a young boy, his grandmother worried he might be too soft. His mother also worried because he was the "smallest and thinnest." But they soon found out there was "no fear of that."

A family friend, Lem Billings, met Bobby when he was eight. Billings later said he loved Bobby, calling him "the nicest little boy I ever met." He also said Bobby was hardly noticed early on because "he didn't bother anybody." Luella Hennessey, who became the children's nurse when Bobby was 12, called him "the most thoughtful and considerate" of his siblings.

His siblings often teased him, as joking was common in their family. Bobby would either make jokes about himself or stay quiet. Even though he was gentle, he could speak his mind. Once, he argued with a priest in public, which shocked his mother. She later admitted he had been right all along. Even when fighting for a good cause, his comments could be "cutting."

Bobby's father had big dreams for his older brothers. But Bobby always showed strong loyalty to his family. His father and older brothers admired his competitive spirit. His loyalty made them feel even closer to him.

As a child, he was quite timid. His father's strong personality often made him a target. When working on his older brother John's campaigns, Bobby was more involved and determined than John himself. He paid close attention to every detail and fought every battle. He had always been closer to John than to other family members.

Legacy and Honors

Kennedy in a 1963 photograph taken for Look

Bobby Kennedy is remembered for his great speaking skills. He was also good at bringing people together. His death was a big blow to the hope for a better future. Many Americans felt this hope during the difficult 1960s.

Many believe Bobby's death was a major reason the Democratic Party lost the 1968 presidential election. Since he passed away, Bobby has been respected by both liberals and conservatives.

Bobby's ideas about using government power to help people who are less fortunate became very important to American liberalism. This is part of the "Kennedy legacy."

President George W. Bush dedicates The Justice Department building in honor of Robert Kennedy as Ethel Kennedy looks on.

After Bobby Kennedy's death, many roads, schools, and other places were named after him.

The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights was started in 1968. It gives awards to people who work for human rights around the world.

The sports stadium in Washington, D.C., was renamed Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in 1969.

In 1978, the United States Congress gave Bobby the Congressional Gold Medal. This is a high honor for special service.

On January 12, 1979, the U.S. Postal Service released a 15-cent stamp honoring RFK. Over 159 million of these blue-and-white stamps were printed. The stamp's design came from a family photo suggested by his wife, Ethel.

In 1998, the United States Mint released the Robert F. Kennedy silver dollar. This special coin had Bobby's picture on one side. On the other side were symbols of the United States Department of Justice and the United States Senate.

On November 20, 2001, U.S. President George W. Bush and Attorney General John Ashcroft dedicated the Department of Justice headquarters building in Washington, D.C. They named it the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building. This honored Bobby on what would have been his 76th birthday. Both spoke at the ceremony, as did Bobby's oldest son, Joseph.

Robert F. Kennedy silver dollar
Obverse	Reverse
Proof Robert F. Kennedy silver dollar

In 1969, a group of people started the Robert F. Kennedy Children's Action Corps. This group helps over 800 abused and neglected children each year.

A statue of Bobby is in the library of the University of Virginia School of Law. This is where he earned his law degree.

On June 4, 2008, the New York State Assembly voted to rename the Triborough Bridge in New York City. It became the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge. New York State Governor David Paterson signed this into law on August 8, 2008. The bridge is now often called the RFK-Triborough Bridge.

On September 20, 2016, the United States Navy announced they would name a refueling ship after Kennedy. Members of his family attended the ceremony.

Personal items and documents from his office are on display. You can see them in a special exhibit at the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum. Papers from his time as attorney general, senator, and activist are also there.

The Robert F. Kennedy Assassination Archives were started in 1984. They are stored at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. They contain many government documents, photos, and interviews. These materials were gathered by journalists and others who looked into the case.

Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.

Several public places honor both Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr..

• In 1969, Woodrow Wilson Junior College in Chicago was renamed Kennedy–King College.
• In 1994, the city of Indianapolis built the Landmark for Peace Memorial. It is near the spot where Bobby gave his famous speech on the night King died. The monument shows sculptures of RFK and King reaching out to each other. This symbolizes their efforts to bring different races together. A historical marker is also at the site.

In 2019, Bobby Kennedy's "Speech on the Death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." was chosen by the Library of Congress. It was added to the National Recording Registry. This means it is considered "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

In Movies and TV

Bobby Kennedy has been featured in many documentaries. He has also appeared in popular movies and TV shows. His role in the Cuban Missile Crisis was shown in the TV play The Missiles of October (1974). Martin Sheen played him in that show. Steven Culp played him in Thirteen Days (2000).

The movie Bobby (2006) tells the stories of several people leading up to his assassination. The film uses real footage from his presidential campaign. Dave Fraunces briefly plays him. Barry Pepper won an Emmy Award for playing Kennedy in The Kennedys (2011). This was an 8-part TV series. Peter Sarsgaard plays him in the movie about Jacqueline Kennedy, Jackie (2016). Jack Huston plays him in Martin Scorsese's film The Irishman (2019).

Interesting Facts About Robert Kennedy

• As a child, he loved American history. He decorated his bedroom with pictures of U.S. presidents.
• The young Bobby was a keen stamp collector. He once received a handwritten letter from President Franklin Roosevelt, who also collected stamps.
• At school, he was an average student. He even had to repeat third grade.
• In April 1939, he gave his first public speech. It was at the opening of a youth club in England.
• At Harvard, he played on the varsity football team as an end.
• Kennedy wrote a book about the Cuban Missile Crisis. It was called Thirteen Days.
• He was a very religious Catholic throughout his life.
• Bobby was the first brother of a U.S. president to serve as the U.S. Attorney General.

Images for kids

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  Ambassador Joseph Kennedy Sr. visits his sons (Robert, second from right) in Boston c. 1939

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  Kennedy (second from left) during his time at Bates College, in front of a snow replica of a Navy boat.

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  Robert, Edward and John Kennedy, early 1960s

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  Kennedy testifies before the Senate Committee on Government Operations' Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations about organized crime, September 1963

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  John F. Kennedy, J. Edgar Hoover, and Robert Kennedy (right) in 1961

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  Kennedy speaking to civil rights demonstrators in front of the Department of Justice on June 14, 1963

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  Kennedy and Vice President Johnson meeting with civil rights leaders at the White House on June 22, 1963

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  President Kennedy with his brother Robert, 1963

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  Robert Kennedy at the funeral of his brother, President John F. Kennedy, November 25, 1963

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  Kennedy with David Dubinsky, attending a 1964 (precise date unknown) Lyndon B. Johnson election campaign event. The sign in the background reads, "For President – Lyndon B. Johnson".

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  Kennedy at the 1964 Democratic National Convention

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  President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 as Ted and Robert Kennedy and others look on

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  Kennedy (right) speaks with children while touring Bedford–Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, February 1966

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  Pelé and Kennedy shaking hands after a game at Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro

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  Senator Robert F. Kennedy and President Lyndon B. Johnson in the Oval Office, 1966

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  Tired but still intense in the last days before his Oregon defeat, Robert Kennedy speaks from the platform of a campaign train.

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  Kennedy campaigning in Los Angeles (photo courtesy of John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum, Boston)

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  Kennedy delivers remarks to a crowd in the Ambassador Hotel moments before the assassination, June 5, 1968

See also

In Spanish: Robert F. Kennedy para niños

• Kennedy family tree
• List of assassinated American politicians
• List of peace activists
• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1950–99)