The Unjust Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy “Wait, John F. Kennedy’s brother was shot, too?” All Americans have heard of the assassination of John F. Kennedy, but as the years go on, Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination is often overlooked. It occurred in a monumental time in US history, towards the end of the Civil Rights movement. He was shot on June 5, 1968, just two months after the important Civil Rights leader, Martin Luther King. The assassination of Robert F. Kennedy was unjust, because he was a popular leader and a beloved man, although some may see him as a hypocritical person. While his famous brother, President John F. Kennedy, was still alive, RFK mostly worked behind the scenes. That all changed in 1963, when John was killed, …show more content…
It is easy to see RFK as hypocritical. There is no denying that he was extremely privileged. He was a white male, born into a rich, politically powerful family. Some may argue that he represented the elitist and indulged in the privileges of that segment of society, while he claimed to be for equality (Steyn). However, RFK used that privilege to help those who hadn’t won the birth lottery. Kennedy’s assassin, Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian, was upset with the creation of Israel (Bobby Kennedy is Assassinated). He felt that Kennedy, who had supported making Israel a country, was the direct cause of the suffering of his people. However, coming off of the Holocaust, the creation of Israel was a popular idea among many, guilt filled world leaders. While it was a bit careless and cruel to ignore the Palestinians living in the territory taken over by Israel, RFK was looking out for the safety of the Jewish people, many of whom had no home anymore. So while he did support the creation of Israel, many would argue that it was a just creation. He certainly wasn’t the only one who could be blamed for its creation, and he was coming from a good place. He definitely didn’t deserve to be killed (Creation of Israel). Whether or not you like Senator Robert F. Kennedy, there’s no denying his impact on the United States of America, and the people in it. Assassination is rarely just, and Robert Kennedy was a popular and beloved
In 1960, John F. Kennedy was elected president of the United States. During his campaign he had promised to lead the country down the right path with the civil rights movement. This campaign promise had brought hope to many African-Americans throughout the nation. Ever since Lincoln, African-Americans have tended to side with the democrats and this election was no different. The Kennedy administration had noticed that the key to the presidency was partially the civil rights issue. While many citizens were on Kennedy’s side, he had his share of opposition. Malcolm X differed on the view of the President and observed that the civil rights movement wasn’t happening at the speed Kennedy had pledged. Malcolm X possessed other reasons for his dislike of John F. Kennedy and his brothers, especially Robert. The Kennedy government stood for racial liberalism and Malcolm X argued their true intentions for the civil rights movement weren’t in the best interest of the black population. This tension streamed both ways. John Kennedy and the Federal Bureau of Investigation felt that Malcolm X had become a threat to national security. James Baldwin has written essays that have included the repeated attacks on the white liberal and supports Malcolm in many of his theories and actions.
The assassination of John F. Kennedy shocked the whole country at the time. It was the shattering of Camelot. But to understand what happened in Dallas on November 22, 1963, we must first look at Kennedy's background. Where he came from, what he did, in his private life, and political life. John Kennedy, in spite of what the public may have thought was no saint, and his actions may be what angered enough people in his own country, and government to commit one of the highest crimes in the country; the assassination of the commander and chief.
Just four months after announcing his determination for nomination, Kennedy was shot and killed on June 5th, 1968. He was shot just after he won California’s democratic primary. He left behind a pregnant wife and ten children. (“Biography: RFK,” n.d.)
Kennedy is not only recognized as one of the best presidents that America has ever brought into office, but was also an important figure within the Civil Rights Movement, and was an extraordinary leader for our country during one of America's most difficult times. JFK outdid himself, and most definitely proved himself to be a great leader for the United States. People remember Kennedy mainly for his fondness, and the way he inspired people with his intensified speeches, charm, and sensitivity. Before being handed over office, JFK had goals set for the US, and nearly accomplished all of them. Although, JFK's devastating assassination in 1963 tended to overshadow his major and significant accomplishments during his time in office; JFK's accomplishments were deserving of his lasting memory because of his iconic role in leading the Civil Rights Movement, and his leadership during one of America's most threatening times, the Cuban Missile Crisis. Although, Mr. Kennedy faced a few mishaps during his time in office, it is a fact to say that JFK handled most of his problematic encounters in a sophisticated and professional manner that made him likable by many citizens, regardless of his
The president has been shot! Roy harvey Oswald assassinated JFK on November 22,1963. This was one of the most heartbreaking event in the 1960’s. This was a very important event, and it was very major. There was a lot of conspiracy going on in this event.
Lee Harvey Oswald was assassinated on November 24th, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. He was shot by a man named Jack Ruby during his transportation to the Dallas county jail. This incident took place two days after Lee Harvey Oswald murdered John F. Kennedy. (Knight 3) This was a shock to America. Over the span of 48 hours, the President of the United States and his notorious assassin were gunned down in the midst of the media. These mysterious events led to multiple conspiracy theories about the reasoning behind them. (Cran and Loeterman) The assassination of Lee Harvey Oswald was justified because he was the cold-blooded killer of a nation’s leader, however, many people believe that he was murdered to prevent the public from knowing about the real
John. F. Kennedy was in Dallas, Texas in a car driving down the street near the Texas book depository and a grassy knoll, when three shots were fired that ended Kennedy’s life, hitting him directly in the bottom neck and then the next shot fired went straight to his head, the second shot was fatal. While Lee Harvey Oswald was calmly eating his lunch in the Texas book depository in which he worked, they found a Carcano Model 91/38 infantry rifle on the sixth floor and again Oswald who was calmly eating his lunch, was the only one in the building. He was on the second floor when the police took him into questioning but while they were in the police station a man named Jack Ruby shot and killed
Kennedy is also known for his inspiration of not only the U.S.A, but the world. One especially memorable quote from Kennedy was “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,” which inspired many to do more for America. Likewise, Kennedy also inspired many by establishing the Peace Corps on March 1, 1961, in order to “promote world peace and friendship” (history.com). Kennedy inspired Americans with his civil rights activism. He proposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (jfklibrary.com). Unfortunately, during a motorcade through Dallas, Texas, he was shot by former U.S marine (wikipedia.org) Lee Harvey Oswald on November 22, 1963 (jfklibrary.comwikipedia.org). The incident shocked many Americans, and even more shocking was that Kennedy’s killer was shot by nightclub owner Jack Ruby.
John F. Kennedy’s assassination was not justified because he impacted America through his support of the civil rights movement and he confronted the car war tension in Cuba and Vietnam; however some were threatened because he had ties with the mafia. John F. Kennedy didn’t focus on civil rights until his last few months of presidency. John F. Kennedy and Sam Giancana were working together. Sam Giancana was head of the Chicago crime syndicate. People believed that Giancana helped Kennedy win the 1960 west Virginia primary. During Kennedy’s presidency there was a rumor that the mob wanted to kill a cuban leader.
The assassination of John F. Kennedy was a very tragic and devastating time for america. Until then there was never a live murder on television. America lost a leader and a good man. Even in his last moments he was meeting people and trying to make america a better place. John F. Kennedy was a great president will be remembered by his friends family and the rest of
John F. Kennedy was killed by more than Just Oswald, but they couldn’t find out who it was. He was killed on November 22nd 1963. He was killed in Dallas, Texas. Nobody knows why JFK was assassinated. Everyone believes that it is Fidel Castro that was behind Oswald ( Kirkus Reviews, 2013). Castro has attempted assassination plots. There was an entry of a bullet coming in front of JFK.
John f. Kennedy did a lot through his life. He help severe in the U.S navy during world war two he severed on the motor torpedo boat PT-109 after he was rejected from the army do to his back problems. He suffered from addison's disease, back problems, and he was hospitalized many times throughout his whole life. He was both in the house of representatives and U.S. senate before becoming president on the 35th president in 1961. The bill kennedy made eventually pass by as the landmark civil rights act in 1964. He was the catholic president, he was also diagnosed with a rare endocrine disorder called addison's disease. He missed the votes in 1954 and was hospitalized after back surgery. His brother joe jr. was killed in august 12, 1944 when his navy airplane exploded on a secret mission against a german rocket launching site. His son was elected a seat in the senate in 1962 and he entered the congress in january 1947 at the age of 29.
Kennedy was in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas with his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, and the mayor of Dallas, John Connally. At 12:30 pm, during the motorcade, three shots were fired at the car, the first missing, the second wounding both Mayor Connally and President Kennedy, and the third fatally wounding him in the side of the head. The shots were fired by none other than Lee Harvey Oswald, who was perched in a local warehouse that he worked at with a rifle. Then, Oswald fled the building and killed Officer J.D. Tippet when he stopped Oswald in the street (Oswald Bio). With this information, Oswald’s assassination couldn’t be anymore justified because John F. Kennedy was a political leader, serving first in the US House of Representatives and the US Senate, and then finally he was elected as the 35th President of the United States. He helped ease Cold War tensions with the Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (JFK Bio), and delivered the famous quote, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” So, he was a political figure who millions of citizens look up to, but he received lots of support from the African-American community in particular, because of his Civil Rights activism. In September of 1962, he sent the National Guard to Mississippi to protect James Meredith, who later became the first black student to enroll at the University of Mississippi (JFK Bio). Also, he sent a civil rights bill to Congress
On Friday, November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas, John Kennedy hoped to gain support for the upcoming election. Kennedy, who was accompanied by his wife Jaqueline, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and Mrs. Johnson, Senator Ralph Yarborough of Texas, Governor John B. Connally, and Mrs. Connally was riding in an open car in a motorcade driving from Love Field airport to the Dallas Trade Mart (“Kennedy”). At 12:30 p.m. CST, President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was shot (“Kennedy”). The fearless John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy seemed to know that death would eventually arrive at his doorstep, as it did. Although one shooter, Lee Harvey Oswald, was able to slay the president, questions still remain if he was the one and only shooter. Many unanswered questions and mysterious claims suggest that Oswald was not the lone shooter, but that a second shooter was able to assist in the assassination of Kennedy.
From 1961 to 1963, John Fitzgerald Kennedy did a great job leading the United States as its president. Although this is a considerably short amount of time for a man to be president, J.F.K will always be remembered for his contributions to the U.S. During Kennedy’s presidency, he was diplomatic to other countries, he generated new ideas for the new frontier and the space race, and he endeavored to solve the racial tension going on in America at the time of his presidency.