A Time it Was: Bobby Kennedy in the Sixties

by Bill Eppridge

On June 6, 1968, at the age of 42 and at the height of his popularity, Robert F. Kennedy was tragically assassinated. Presidential candidate, U.S. Senator, father—Kennedy was all of these things—and, to many Americans, he embodied the power of possibility and positive change during a period of social unrest, racial inequality, and war.   Renowned Life photographer Bill Eppridge followed and photographed Kennedy during his early campaign days up to his untimely death, and A Time It Was features dynamic images of the public Kennedy, as well as rare, intimate ones, many of which have never before been published. An essay by Pete Hamill places the events in historical context, while Eppridge shares his insider’s perspective on Kennedy. Released to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of Kennedy’s death, A Time It Was reveals why the memory and legacy of Kennedy and his dreams continue to be relevant today.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Lori B]

Bought it when it first came out on the 40th anniversary of his death. Have leafed through it; read some passages, but just haven't been able to bring myself to read it. Too heartbreaking of what might have been.
One of my favorite photos is the back cover: Bobby Kennedy and his dog on the beach in Oregon prior to the California primary. Beautiful; haunting.

[JRB · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice photos and as well as the stories behind them that Eppridge provides at times. Hamill's essay is worthy, too. The way Kennedy treated the letter Hamill wrote to him, taking it around and showing it to others, suggests that the young writer put into words what Kennedy could not himself.

[Ms. S........... · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a time of hope and dispair...some things never change. Appropriate reading for this time of upcoming elections.

[Trevor Seigler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful coffee-table book full of photos taken by Bill Eppridge of Robert Kennedy during virtually all of the latter's public life in the Sixties. Starting out as his brother's campaign manager and bulldog of an Attorney General, Bobby Kennedy eventually became a much more thoughtful and soulful person in the wake of John F. Kennedy's death. Campaigning for human rights for many of the most disadvantaged in America and indeed around the world, RFK led a public life of service and was the subject of much speculation concerning a possible presidential bid against his brother's successor, Lyndon Johnson. He died in June 1968, having begun a march to the Democratic nomination that might very well have ended with a return to the White House, only as chief executive, had an assassin's bullet not rung out in the night at a hotel kitchen.

The photos in here are beautiful, capturing Kennedy both in public-speaking mode and in moments of unguarded spontaneity. Someone who was very uneasy in the public spotlight, Kennedy nevertheless had a winning way with crowds, and many of the photos presented also capture that. Above all, each photo shows how Kennedy evolved out from under his brother's enormous shadow to become a leader in his own right.

Robert F. Kennedy is one of my heroes, and I was thrilled to find this book first on my library's shelf and then, after I'd read it the first time (yes, this is a re-read), on sale at the library book sale (it was between me and a guy with hand-written pieces of paper taped to his chest whining about "the tyranny of being masked" as to who would buy this...I'm guessing he was happy with his Ayn Rand books, actually. And no, I'm not making this up; dude literally had taped pieces of paper on his shirt). This is a great collection of photographs, an essential edition to the library of anyone who esteems Bobby Kennedy and the work that he had begun while on the campaign trail to make America a better place for all.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

One thing that I have a huge weakness for is coffee table books. For some reason, I love this oversized, picture heavy format, and rabidly collect them. A long time ago, when still in high school, I begged for this book from my parents as a gift, and I’m very sad I only got to reading it now, much later.

The glimpse into the campaign trail is super interesting, given the technological differences back then. I couldn’t stop taking notes while reading, the images where heartstopping. He really had the momentum to change the country and was cut short.

The biggest thought that kept surfacing for me was both how different things are now (a presidential campaign could not ever accrue speeding tickets on the trail, and can you imagine the criticism if a candidate signed autographs and crowd-surfed?!) but also how similar. References to gun control, shootings, and international struggle permeate the scenes of RFK on the road.

What a perfect photo essay.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful photography. This book would have spoken volumes even without the words. I was not alive during this time, but I could feel the energy, the passion, and the sense of hope that so many people had in the Kennedys; and also the devastation with the death of Bobby and John. It's hard to believe that those things are a part of our country's history - MLK, RFK, JFK - all lost so young. But their spirit remains alive. Thanks to photographers like Eppridge, those who were not there can have a first-hand view at that time in our history.

Dave Eggers states - “Books have a unique way of stopping time in a particular moment and saying: Let’s not forget this." That is certainly the case with this book.

[Ginny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another retrospective of the Robert F. Kennedy campaign and his assassination. Obviously some historical text, but it was also, and primarily, a pictorial book. Wonderful photographs taken by Bill Epperidge - photographer with the campaign.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic, moving journey into Bobby Kennedy's life and final days. The book is beautifully written and the photographs are sublime.