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A Slice of Life
by Francine Brokaw
The Last Campaign: Robert F. Kennedy and 82 Days That Inspired America by Thurston Clarke
From March 16 to June 4 1968, there was a bright light that lit the country. The optimism and excitement of the last campaign of Robert Kennedy has since to be repeated and many feel it never will. This book chronicles the events of those months with Kennedy’s comments, speeches, and reaction to his audiences, critics, followers, and others. It begins with Robert Kennedy’s anguish over the decision whether he should run for the presidency or not. His brother was against it but his wife was pushing him to run.
Nevertheless, he decided he could not live with himself if he did not do what he could to put the country on a different path, as he was convinced the present course was not in the best interest of the people. As he said in his announcement, “I run because I am convinced that this country is on a perilous course and because I have such strong feelings about what must be done, and I feel that I'm obliged to do all that I can.”
With Eugene McCarthy already challenging incumbent Democratic President Lyndon Johnson, many saw RFK as an opportunist, however he had decided to run before the first primary, although he did not announce until after that primary in New Hampshire. The timing might not have been advantageous, but he gained strength from the first day to the last, faltering slightly in Oregon but bouncing back in California and South Dakota.
This book focuses on many of Kennedy’s speeches as he traveled around the country talking to crowds of people instead of running a media campaign, as many of his advisors had suggested. He felt more comfortable talking with the people, touching them and letting them touch him. He was most comfortable on Indian reservations and in Black ghettos than in affluent college campuses.
RFK often went into hostile territory and was confronted by those who heckled him and called him names. After his speeches he usually held question and answer sessions and looked forward to them. This is where he shined. This is where his wit and intelligence took over. Forget the prepared speeches. Kennedy was at his best when he was just talking from his heart. This was especially evident when he addressed a crowd in Indianapolis when he informed the people that Martin Luther King had just been assassinated. He calmed their fear and although many of the cities burned that night in protest and hatred, Indianapolis was quiet, due to the effect RFK had on the people. By bringing up the memory of his brother, who had also been assassinated, he formed a bond with the crowd.
When he began the campaign, Robert Kennedy was often thought of as a shadow of his brother. But he evolved during the 82 days and by the end no one confused him with JFK. By June 1968, Robert Kennedy had finally come into his own. But this was short lived as he was assassinated after his victory speech in Los Angeles after the voters of California overwhelmingly chose him.
From the very beginning, Kennedy knew he would not make it to the White House. He said there were “guns” between him and the White House. He once said that his kids would be all right if something happened to him, but he was concerned about the country. When he was asked how he would like to be remembered, he said, “That I’d made some contribution to my country, to those who were less well off. …I’d like to feel that I’d done something to lessen (their) suffering.”
1968 was a time before presidential candidates were afforded secret service protection. The candidates had to rely on their own security or the local police. After Kennedy’s assassination Congress granted the Secret Service protection to all the major presidential candidates, and that is still effective to this day. However, back in 1968 Robert Kennedy and his family had the suspicion that he would meet the same fate as his older brother. Yet he forged on because he had a deep, abiding commitment and driving force propelling him every day to get to the people and win so he could make a difference.
This was a different time in politics. There were very few presidential campaigns and the party big wigs were the ones who ultimately selected their candidates. At the time, Mayor Daley of Chicago was the one man Robert Kennedy had to win over. And, according to the book, on the night of June 4, he did just that. Unfortunately, he did not get to take advantage of it.
This book weaves together many personal accounts of the campaign and chronicles the days and weeks of the last campaign. Many people, myself included, feel they know everything about this campaign, however there are item in the book that even I did not know. And yes, I do know a lot and I was involved in putting together a book on RFK many years ago. So this, book taught me some new facts and put me back into the bright light, as it were, and electricity of RFK.
This week it will be 40 years since the bright light went out. While Robert Kennedy is gone, his words live on. His dream continues. His questions persist. Paraphrasing George Bernard Shaw, he said, "Some men see things the way they are, and ask why? I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?"
The Last Campaign is a good way to rediscover the days 40 years ago “That Inspired America.”
© 2008 Francine Brokaw
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