Robert F. Kennedy, born on Nov. 20, 1925, in Brookline, Mass., who served as the U.S. Attorney General from Jan. 1961 to Sept. 1964 during his brother John F. Kennedy's presidency and a Democratic U.S. Senator from New York from Jan. 1965 until his death, sought throughout his life to alleviate poverty at home by emphasizing work over welfare with legislation that created jobs. Kennedy, 42, was assassinated on June 5, 1968, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, shortly after winning the California presidential primary while campaigning to become the U.S. president. His wife, Ethel, was pregnant with their eleventh child at the time of his death. Take a look back at Robert F. Kennedy's memorable life and tragic death.
Robert F. Kennedy is photographed in the Daily News Color Studio on Sept. 3, 1964.
Joseph Patrick Kennedy (1888-1969), the American Ambassador and financier, is with his wife and five of their nine children at the Princes Gate home on March 16, 1938, in London. From left are Kathleen, Edward (who became a Democratic senator), Joseph Kennedy, wife Rose Kennedy, Patricia (1924 – 2006), Jean and Robert, who would become a Democratic senator before his assassination.
Edward Moore Kennedy, the youngest son of Joseph Patrick Kennedy, is pictured at age 6 with his brother Robert Francis Kennedy, giving sugar to “Babar” the baby elephant at the children’s zoo on June 1, 1938, within Regent’s Park Zoo, in London.
Joseph P. Kennedy, the U.S. Ambassador to London, poses with his wife and children on Mar. 16, 1938, in London. From front left are Edward (Ted), Kathleen, Joseph P. Kennedy, his wife Rose, Patricia, Jean and Robert.
British zoologist, author and humanist Sir Julian Sorell Huxley opens Pets Corner with Edward Kennedy (front) and Robert Kennedy (rear) on June 1, 1938, when their father, Joseph Kennedy, was the American ambassador to Britain.
Joseph P. Kennedy, the U.S. Ambassador to London, walks with his wife and children on Mar. 16, 1938, in London. From the front are Edward, Joseph P. Kennedy, Robert, Kathleen, Patricia, his wife Rose and Jean.
Edward and Robert Kennedy, the youngest sons of Joseph P. Kennedy, the American Ambassador to Britain, opened Pets Corner at London Zoo on June 1, 1938, by feeding a baby elephant.
President-elect John F. Kennedy is surrounded by members of his family in the living room of the home of Joseph P. Kennedy, his father, on Nov. 9, 1960. Standing, left to right: Mrs. Robert Kennedy; Steve Smith and wife, Jean Kennedy; Senator Kennedy; brother Robert, campaign manager; sister, Patricia Lawford; Sargent Shriver; brother Ted’s wife, Joan; and British actor Peter Lawford. In foreground, left to right: Eunice Shriver, a sister; father, Joseph P. Kennedy with wife, seated in front; Mrs. John F. Kennedy; and Ted Kennedy, brother of the President-elect.
Robert F. Kennedy, chief counsel of the Senate Labor Rackets Committee on investigations is shown at the hearing on Mar. 19, 1957, in Washington, D.C.
President John F. Kennedy is shown surrounded by members of Congress including Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield, far left, at the signing of the Attorney General’s anti-crime program legislation on Sept. 13, 1961 in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C. Others in photo include U.S. Sen. Everett M. Dirksen, R-Ill., front row, fourth from left; Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, right of the president, and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, far right.
Robert Kennedy (L), the chief investigator for the Senate committee, sits with New York County District Attorney Frank Hogan, conferring about racketeering on April 5, 1957.
Robert F. Kennedy, brother and campaign manager of Sen. John F. Kennedy, speaks to the press after he spoke at a closed meeting of Democratic state legislative candidates, public officials and party leaders at a hotel, on Aug. 8, 1960, in New York. Kennedy said that during an intensive seven-day tour of the country, during which he met with more than 3,000 Democratic leaders, he found greater enthusiasm and a more unified Democratic party than there has been for some time.
Letting go of his mother’s hand, John F. Kennedy Jr. (he did not like the nickname John-John, a media invention) salutes his father’s flag-draped casket as it passes on Nov. 25, 1963, the boy’s third birthday. Behind JFK’s son is Robert Kennedy; Ted Kennedy is on the other side of Jackie, behind young Caroline, who was about to turn six.
Senator Elect Robert F. Kennedy lends a helping hand to John Kennedy Jr. on Dec. 31, 1964, as they make their way up the slope of Ajax Mountain, in Aspen, Colo.
Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy sits back after talking on the phone to Alabama Gov. John Patterson from his Washington, D.C. office on May 21, 1961, following the latest outbreak of race rioting in the state.
U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and his wife Ethel talk with a Buddhist monk on Feb. 19, 1962, during their one-day stop over in Bangkok, Thailand.
U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy is photographed on May 1, 1962.
Robert F. Kennedy leaves Temple Emanuel after the funeral services for the former Governor of New York and U.S. Senator, Herbert Lehman, on Dec. 8, 1963, in New York.
Robert Kennedy greets people at his triumphant return at the Glen Falls Airport on Nov. 4, 1964, in Glen Falls, New York, fulfilling his promise to return to the city, win or lose, after his bid for the U.S. Senate seat for New York.
Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, right, is shown with his brother, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, at the Four Seasons Restaurant on Mar. 23, 1964 in New York, during a fundraising event for the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library.
(L-R) Mario Procaccino, Sen. Robert Kennedy, Abraham Beame and Frank D. O’Connor on Oct. 12, 1965 in New York.
Sen. Robert Kennedy stands before the delegates at the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 28, 1964 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. One of the memorable moments from the convention included delegates standing in tearful silence as Robert Kennedy quotes Shakespeare in tribute to his slain brother, President John F. Kennedy: “When he shall die, take him and cut him out into stars, and he shall make the face of heaven so fine that all the world will be in love with night and pay no worship to the garish sun.”
Shipyard workers listen to Robert Kennedy on Sept. 24, 1964 in Brooklyn.
American politician Robert Kennedy, third son of Joseph Kennedy, pictured at the White House on Mar. 9, 1964, in Washington, D.C.
Sen. Robert Kennedy (D-N.Y.) campaigns for the presidency on Sept. 18, 1964 in Queens during the 1964 presidential campaign.
Frank Stanley, left, and Sen. Robert Kennedy tour the yards of a building renovation project on June 11, 1965, near Vest Pocket Park in Harlem.
Sen. Robert Kennedy and his wife, Ethel, carry Matthew out of Roosevelt Hospital on Jan. 20, 1965 in Manhattan.
Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy holds Bobby Johnson, 4, on her lap as she chats with brother-in-law, Sen. Robert Kennedy, at a party given by them for underprivileged children at William Hodson Community Center, at 1320 Webster Ave., on Dec. 17, 1965, in the Bronx.
Sen. Robert Kennedy signs autographs as hands reach out to him while he campaigns for Justice Silverman in the garment district on June 28, 1966 in Manhattan.
Sen. Robert F. Kennedy speaks at the Ambassador Hotel on June 5, 1968 in Los Angeles, following his victory in the previous day’s California primary election. The New York senator was shot just after jubilantly proclaiming victory in California’s Democratic presidential primary election.
Presidential candidate Sen. Robert F. Kennedy speaks to campaign workers on June 5, 1968, in Los Angeles, minutes before he was shot. At his side are his wife, Ethel, and his California campaign manager, Jesse Unruh, Speaker of the California State Assembly.
Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy lies on the floor at the Ambassador Hotel on June 5, 1968, in Los Angeles, moments after he was shot in the head. He had just finished his victory speech upon winning the California primary.
The cover of the New York Daily News on June 5, 1968: Kennedy Shot, Bullet in Brain — Surgeons Fight to Save Life — Bystanders crowd around Sen. Robert Kennedy moments after he was shot in the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.
The cover of the New York Daily News on June 6, 1968: RFK Dead — Robert Francis Kennedy (1925-1968) — An assassin’s bullet interrupted his moment of triumph.
Triumph and Disaster: The Thursday, June 6, 1968, edition of the New York Daily News on the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy.
Jacqueline Onassis, formerly Kennedy, attends the memorial service of Sen. Robert Kennedy with her son John, on the first anniversary of his death on June 12, 1969.
Mrs. Stephen Smith and her daughters place flowers on the grave of her late brother, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, following a memorial service at his grave site on June 6, 1969, the first anniversary of the late Senator’s death.
