Reply #8: Yes, So Much of What He Said is Amazing [View All]

[Thoreau-Ly]

Listen to this Wikipedia entry about Robert, though, too.

The assassination of President Kennedy, which happened two days after Robert Kennedy's 38th birthday, was a brutal shock to the world, the whole nation, the Kennedy family, but especially to Robert. For the rest of his life, he never overcame the shock and personal grief of that day in 1963. Robert mourned John's death and the fact that so much of the Kennedy vision and promise was left tragically and ultimately unfulfilled.

During the days following the assassination, but just before the funeral, Kennedy wrote to his two eldest children, Kathleen, and Joseph II, telling them about the tragedy and to follow what their uncle started.

At the 1964 Democratic National Convention, Kennedy was due to give a speech prior to the showing of a memorial film dedicated to the late President. As Kennedy was introduced, tens of thousands of delegates, party workers, young members, observing journalists and others broke into thunderous applause and an outroar of support for the nervous and emotionally fragile Robert, standing at the podium. He broke down and began to cry. Despite repeated appeals by him and the chairman of the convention, the audience did not stop their display of support for Robert. The applause continued for about 22 minutes.

Robert Kennedy mustered enough strength to deliver the speech, but broke down into tears backstage. He would remain personally devastated for many months.

Too sad. Too sad.