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RFK: His Words for Our Times
In honor of the fiftieth anniversary of Robert Francis Kennedy’s death, an inspiring collection of his most famous speeches accompanied by commentary from notable historians and public figures.
Twenty-five years after Bobby Kennedy was assassinated, His Words for Our Times, a celebration of Kennedy’s life and legacy, was published to enormous acclaim. Now, a quarter century later, this classic volume has been thoroughly edited and updated. Through his own words we get a direct and intimate perspective on Kennedy’s views on civil rights, social justice, the war in Vietnam, foreign policy, the desirability of peace, the need to eliminate poverty, and the role of hope in American politics.
Here, too, is evidence of the impact of those he knew and worked with, including his brother John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Cesar Chavez, among others. The tightly curated collection also includes commentary about RFK’s legacy from major historians and public figures, among them Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Eric Garcetti, William Manchester, Elie Wiesel, and Desmond Tutu. Assembled with the full cooperation of the Kennedy family, His Words for Our Times is a potent reminder of Robert Kennedy’s ability to imagine a greater America—a faith and vision we could use today.
Twenty-five years after Bobby Kennedy was assassinated, His Words for Our Times, a celebration of Kennedy’s life and legacy, was published to enormous acclaim. Now, a quarter century later, this classic volume has been thoroughly edited and updated. Through his own words we get a direct and intimate perspective on Kennedy’s views on civil rights, social justice, the war in Vietnam, foreign policy, the desirability of peace, the need to eliminate poverty, and the role of hope in American politics.
Here, too, is evidence of the impact of those he knew and worked with, including his brother John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Cesar Chavez, among others. The tightly curated collection also includes commentary about RFK’s legacy from major historians and public figures, among them Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Eric Garcetti, William Manchester, Elie Wiesel, and Desmond Tutu. Assembled with the full cooperation of the Kennedy family, His Words for Our Times is a potent reminder of Robert Kennedy’s ability to imagine a greater America—a faith and vision we could use today.
587 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 13, 2018
RFK: His Words for Our Times presents a collection of notable speeches, mostly culled from Bobby Kennedy's time as U.S. Attorney General and U.S. Senator (D-NY) between 1961 and 1968. My favorite was a largely extemporaneous but heartfelt oration in Indianapolis on the night of Martin Luther King's assassination. (He was on a street corner in a rough neighborhood, and the attendees were only just learning of MLK's passing as he spoke.) That city, unlike many others in America that evening, did not experience riots or major unrest after his appearance. Coincidence? I think not - and I'd like to believe that Kennedy would've been a great president at the right time.
January 29, 2022
I am a huge Kennedy fan, and have read most all things Kennedy. I've seen this book for awhile and was very pleased that it finally was available for my use. WOW! What an amazing book, and one that helped me to personally study and learn gaps that I felt I had regarding Bobby Kennedy. This book was amazing in letting us read his speeches that helped him become one wonderful politician, Attorney General, and Senator. To lose three very special people during those 4-5 years being John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and then Robert Francis Kennedy. I was a youngster when these happened, but they made an impression on me. Now being an older person to read books on their lives has been most grasping and fascinating.
In honor of the fiftieth anniversary of Robert Francis Kennedy’s death, an inspiring collection of his most famous speeches accompanied by commentary from notable historians and public figures.
Twenty-five years after Bobby Kennedy was assassinated, RFK: His Words for Our Times, a celebration of Kennedy’s life and legacy, was published to enormous acclaim. Now, a quarter century later, this classic volume has been thoroughly edited and updated.
Through his own words we get a direct and intimate perspective on Kennedy’s views on civil rights, social justice, the war, foreign policy, the quest of peace, the need to eliminate poverty, and the role of hope in American politics. With messages of hope in the midst of a fractured nation and globe, Kennedy’s words speak to our times as strongly as they did to his own, a legacy testified to here by highly individualized reflections from notables, including Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, five Nobel Peace Prize laureates, two Pulitzer Prize winners, the holder of twenty-two Grammy Awards, Fortune magazine’s Businessperson of the Year, and others.
Here, too, is evidence of the impact of those he knew and worked with, including his brother John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Cesar Chavez, among others. The tightly curated collection also includes commentary about RFK’s legacy from major historians and public figures, among them Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Eric Garcetti, William Manchester, Elie Wiesel, and Desmond Tutu. Assembled with the full cooperation of the Kennedy family, RFK: His Words for Our Times is a potent reminder of Robert Kennedy’s ability to imagine a greater America—a faith and vision we could use today.
This is a very complete book in its goal. I really appreciate their research and studying to compile such a wonderful book. The anticipated sad ending was known and dreaded, but really thought this an excellent book. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
In honor of the fiftieth anniversary of Robert Francis Kennedy’s death, an inspiring collection of his most famous speeches accompanied by commentary from notable historians and public figures.
Twenty-five years after Bobby Kennedy was assassinated, RFK: His Words for Our Times, a celebration of Kennedy’s life and legacy, was published to enormous acclaim. Now, a quarter century later, this classic volume has been thoroughly edited and updated.
Through his own words we get a direct and intimate perspective on Kennedy’s views on civil rights, social justice, the war, foreign policy, the quest of peace, the need to eliminate poverty, and the role of hope in American politics. With messages of hope in the midst of a fractured nation and globe, Kennedy’s words speak to our times as strongly as they did to his own, a legacy testified to here by highly individualized reflections from notables, including Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, five Nobel Peace Prize laureates, two Pulitzer Prize winners, the holder of twenty-two Grammy Awards, Fortune magazine’s Businessperson of the Year, and others.
Here, too, is evidence of the impact of those he knew and worked with, including his brother John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Cesar Chavez, among others. The tightly curated collection also includes commentary about RFK’s legacy from major historians and public figures, among them Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Eric Garcetti, William Manchester, Elie Wiesel, and Desmond Tutu. Assembled with the full cooperation of the Kennedy family, RFK: His Words for Our Times is a potent reminder of Robert Kennedy’s ability to imagine a greater America—a faith and vision we could use today.
This is a very complete book in its goal. I really appreciate their research and studying to compile such a wonderful book. The anticipated sad ending was known and dreaded, but really thought this an excellent book. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
May 12, 2018
I always followed RFK when I was a little girl. Listening to him speak on television, led me to believe he was ahead of his time. After reading this collection of his speeches. that belief has solidified my feelings 50 years after his assassination. I think of what his family lost that early June 6th morning in 1968 as well as our country and the world. He saw the big picture: racism, racketeering, war and the need to take care of the poor. When I look at what we, as a country, are facing now in 2017, the same problems are confronting us. Without the rational, insightful leader to guide us, we seem like a ship with no captain. Robert F. Kennedy was a wise man sent to earth to right wrongs and I pray for such a leader to guide us now! Every student of life should read his words and see his actions because they show what an intelligent man he was and what we lost.
December 8, 2019
This book does an excellent job of encapsulating Kennedy’s beliefs and ideals. Some of the content in the book was dry and left me wanting. If it weren’t for one or two sections, I would’ve been mightily tempted to give it five stars.
In contrast to the drier portions of the book, there were times when I felt like RFK was either speaking directly to me personally, or the country as a whole. I truly loved his remarks on there needing to be a change in the way we view public service and politics in this country. The negative connotation surrounding politics today and in his day does nothing to improve the condition of the people. He presented the case for greater citizen engagement very eloquently and compellingly.
After I finished reading his remarks at the conclusion of the 1968 California Primary prior to his assassination, I realized how much I had come to admire his approach to politics. He genuinely tried to understand the plights of others. In addition to this, the book emphasizes his willingness to engage in substantive ways with those who held contrary positions to his own. It was in this way that he was able to build a rather unlikely coalition that spanned many very different demographics.
Overall, it is a very worthwhile read that carries within it many valuable lessons in how we must approach government and realizing the ideals of the American Dream in this country.
In contrast to the drier portions of the book, there were times when I felt like RFK was either speaking directly to me personally, or the country as a whole. I truly loved his remarks on there needing to be a change in the way we view public service and politics in this country. The negative connotation surrounding politics today and in his day does nothing to improve the condition of the people. He presented the case for greater citizen engagement very eloquently and compellingly.
After I finished reading his remarks at the conclusion of the 1968 California Primary prior to his assassination, I realized how much I had come to admire his approach to politics. He genuinely tried to understand the plights of others. In addition to this, the book emphasizes his willingness to engage in substantive ways with those who held contrary positions to his own. It was in this way that he was able to build a rather unlikely coalition that spanned many very different demographics.
Overall, it is a very worthwhile read that carries within it many valuable lessons in how we must approach government and realizing the ideals of the American Dream in this country.
January 5, 2019
A must read for anyone on any political spectrum. The world needs more Bobby Kennedy’s right about now.
June 5, 2020
Amid the riots of the past week or so, as well as the anniversary of his assassination (which happened only about ten minutes ago as I write this), I decided that reading this book again would be a worthy venture. And it absolutely was.
This is by no means a biography, but rather a collection of just about every major speech that Kennedy gave during his life. From his days as a “ruthless” prosecutor working for Joe McCarthy to the spring of 1968 on his campaign for president when he broke bread with Caesar Chavez, any RFK quote you have ever heard is guaranteed to be in this book. Of course, just reading the speech out of the blue with no context can be quite confusing, but the author provides adequate context for each speech, not too much to make this a textbook, but just enough, maybe a paragraph or two, which sets the scene and really adds to the understanding of what Bobby was trying to say. Along with context, there are also a few anecdotes that are put throughout the book that help to understand what kind of person Kennedy was, but again, not too much where it turns into a biography, just little tidbits. A book like this allows insight into a person beyond what a typical biography would give, for it paints the picture the same way that it was painted to the people who would have voted for him, and seeing him in that light is a truly enriching experience, especially for anyone who has the slightest interest is American history or politics.
Very simply, this book is a collection of his speeches, therefore there is not much to screw up, but also not much to do well. It is what it is. Nevertheless, this is perhaps the only nonfiction book that I have ever read where my view of the book goes beyond simply recommending it to people, but rather by requesting that people read it. Bobby Kennedy was a politician, and most politicians are slime, there’s not much getting around that. But something about RFK, to me at least, is different. He seemed to truly care, especially after his brother’s assassination. He brought a level of compassion to government that had never been seen before or since, and I believe that it is beneficial for anyone to see that it is possible for leaders to not be the heartless robots that seem to be the only option today. After reading this book, I have found that I hold every politician to the standard that Bobby Kennedy set, and while I have been massively disappointed, it’s still a standard that I believe will help our world if we hold our leaders to that standard. On top of that, his words are simply inspirational. Of all the things I have ever heard on my life, none have had as profound an impact on me as his Day of Affirmation speech, which I first discovered when I read this for the first time. And, of course, with the riots of the past week as I’m writing this, his speech announcing the death of Martin Luther King as well as his Mindless Menace of Violence speech the next day are reminders that leaders can have an impact and make things better with mere words. It is speeches like those that will frankly change any readers life for the better, and in turn they will make the world better. That’s what I believe, at least. Anyway, I seem to be rambling a bit, but, not only will I recommend this book, but I will ask, no, beg you to read this. It is truly a worthwhile read that of more people read, I believe that the world will be a better place.
This is by no means a biography, but rather a collection of just about every major speech that Kennedy gave during his life. From his days as a “ruthless” prosecutor working for Joe McCarthy to the spring of 1968 on his campaign for president when he broke bread with Caesar Chavez, any RFK quote you have ever heard is guaranteed to be in this book. Of course, just reading the speech out of the blue with no context can be quite confusing, but the author provides adequate context for each speech, not too much to make this a textbook, but just enough, maybe a paragraph or two, which sets the scene and really adds to the understanding of what Bobby was trying to say. Along with context, there are also a few anecdotes that are put throughout the book that help to understand what kind of person Kennedy was, but again, not too much where it turns into a biography, just little tidbits. A book like this allows insight into a person beyond what a typical biography would give, for it paints the picture the same way that it was painted to the people who would have voted for him, and seeing him in that light is a truly enriching experience, especially for anyone who has the slightest interest is American history or politics.
Very simply, this book is a collection of his speeches, therefore there is not much to screw up, but also not much to do well. It is what it is. Nevertheless, this is perhaps the only nonfiction book that I have ever read where my view of the book goes beyond simply recommending it to people, but rather by requesting that people read it. Bobby Kennedy was a politician, and most politicians are slime, there’s not much getting around that. But something about RFK, to me at least, is different. He seemed to truly care, especially after his brother’s assassination. He brought a level of compassion to government that had never been seen before or since, and I believe that it is beneficial for anyone to see that it is possible for leaders to not be the heartless robots that seem to be the only option today. After reading this book, I have found that I hold every politician to the standard that Bobby Kennedy set, and while I have been massively disappointed, it’s still a standard that I believe will help our world if we hold our leaders to that standard. On top of that, his words are simply inspirational. Of all the things I have ever heard on my life, none have had as profound an impact on me as his Day of Affirmation speech, which I first discovered when I read this for the first time. And, of course, with the riots of the past week as I’m writing this, his speech announcing the death of Martin Luther King as well as his Mindless Menace of Violence speech the next day are reminders that leaders can have an impact and make things better with mere words. It is speeches like those that will frankly change any readers life for the better, and in turn they will make the world better. That’s what I believe, at least. Anyway, I seem to be rambling a bit, but, not only will I recommend this book, but I will ask, no, beg you to read this. It is truly a worthwhile read that of more people read, I believe that the world will be a better place.
September 5, 2018
I've always felt connected to both MLK and Bobby Kennedy, since 1968, the year I was born, is forever linked with them since it is the year that both of them were assassinated. So I knew I wanted to read this to know more about RFK.
This book was a great insight into both RFK's character as well as what was happening in the 60s in the US and the rest of the world. I learned so much about a time period that I didn't know a lot about. So well worth the time spent reading this.
I am a lifelong Republican, but when reading RFK's words, I know I would have voted for him had I been alive back then. I wonder how different the world might have been had he had a chance to be President and put some of his ideas into action.
This book was also depressing to me in that many of the issues and ideas that RFK wanted to address seem to be unchanged, or even worse, than they were 50 years ago. Having lost his brother and then MLK to shooters, had he survived, what would he think about Vegas and Parkland today? It is sad that so much time can by, with good people aware of what is wrong, but yet nothing is done to change anything.
This book was a great insight into both RFK's character as well as what was happening in the 60s in the US and the rest of the world. I learned so much about a time period that I didn't know a lot about. So well worth the time spent reading this.
I am a lifelong Republican, but when reading RFK's words, I know I would have voted for him had I been alive back then. I wonder how different the world might have been had he had a chance to be President and put some of his ideas into action.
This book was also depressing to me in that many of the issues and ideas that RFK wanted to address seem to be unchanged, or even worse, than they were 50 years ago. Having lost his brother and then MLK to shooters, had he survived, what would he think about Vegas and Parkland today? It is sad that so much time can by, with good people aware of what is wrong, but yet nothing is done to change anything.
November 14, 2018
With all of the craziness going on in this country over the last couple of years, it was really refreshing to read something about when politics were also pretty turbulent and one man tried to make a difference. It is easy to bemoan how badly we need all of the qualities that Bobby represented now more than ever and that is partly because this book does a great job of showing his growth and evolution as a person and politician. I think the book did a nice job of giving just enough biographical and background information on the speeches so they were pretty easy to understand as well. While I think some might find reading this many of his speeches dry (and the speeches really do take up most of the book), I found it engaging and inspirational. It is easy to remember all of Bobby's strengths and forget about the hard work he put in to realize them. If you have an interest at all in Bobby or his politics, I would think you'd enjoy reading this book. I would recommend watching some of his speeches as well to see how well he delivered them too.
September 18, 2019
This is an outstanding book; I encourage everyone to read it. The editors have authored fine introductions to support these speeches and essays. You can almost feel what it must have been like to participate in Senator Kennedy's run for the White House. He presented with sincerity, openness, and above all, integrity as he addressed matters of great debate. He was willing to state his beliefs and challenge his own by confronting those who thought differently and could support their views. He was willing to challenge people in their thoughts rather than conform to what the voters might have been thinking. One must suspect he was killed because of his great skill and potential to lead. It is sad we can never know how the United States and possibly the world might have changed had be been elected President. The world needs leaders, not conformists or hypocrites. Senator Kennedy was a great leader with a once substantial following. We can only hope another like him will one day brave the electorate and commit to serving our Nation.
March 6, 2021
Robert F. Kennedy has long been a personal hero of mine, and I can remember coming across the 1993 edition of this book probably not long after it came out, though I didn't get too far into it at the time. Having recently checked it out from the local library again (I'd done so on at least two previous occasions, again without getting too far into it), I've finally read it and enjoyed it immensely. I've also found myself wishing we had more leaders of RFK's caliber in America today.
"RFK: His Words for Our Times" is a collection of some of Bobby Kennedy's most powerful and substantive speeches from his long career in politics. Beginning with a lecture he presented following a 1955 tour of Soviet Asia, the book goes through the career of Kennedy as he worked for his brother Jack's successful presidential bid, as JFK's attorney general, as a senator from New York in the wake of JFK's assassination, and during his own presidential bid which was cut short by his death from a gunman's bullet in June 1968. You really get to see RFK's evolution as a human being, his deepening awareness that the privileges granted to him by virtue of his family's wealth versus the obvious disadvantages to being born poor, Black, Hispanic, or otherwise neglected in America. Kennedy had an active hand in his speeches, never letting them go by from his speechwriters without significant input when time permitted. Though the product of collaboration, each speech feels like it bears the stamp of Bobby Kennedy's own hand, because each speech feels like something he would say if he were speaking off the cuff instead of from prepared statements. The two speeches that feel the most timeless are the "Ripples of Hope" speech that he gave in 1966, on a trip to South Africa, and his extemporaneous remarks on the night that Martin Luther King Jr. was gunned down, during a scheduled event at Indianapolis.
Each speech is prefaced by context written by the two editors, Edwin Guthman (a former aide of Kennedy's), and C. Richard Allen. The speeches are sometimes edited for clarity or to reduce redundancies, but many still carry the power of what it must have felt like to hear them live. Bobby Kennedy, had he lived, might have made for one of our greatest presidents, or he might have been unable to bring us together as a country after the tragic involvement in Vietnam and the tumult of the Sixties, but he would've at least tried. In these speeches, we get a glimpse of what we lost when he stepped away from the stage one June night in 1968, victorious in the California primary.
"RFK: His Words for Our Times" is a collection of some of Bobby Kennedy's most powerful and substantive speeches from his long career in politics. Beginning with a lecture he presented following a 1955 tour of Soviet Asia, the book goes through the career of Kennedy as he worked for his brother Jack's successful presidential bid, as JFK's attorney general, as a senator from New York in the wake of JFK's assassination, and during his own presidential bid which was cut short by his death from a gunman's bullet in June 1968. You really get to see RFK's evolution as a human being, his deepening awareness that the privileges granted to him by virtue of his family's wealth versus the obvious disadvantages to being born poor, Black, Hispanic, or otherwise neglected in America. Kennedy had an active hand in his speeches, never letting them go by from his speechwriters without significant input when time permitted. Though the product of collaboration, each speech feels like it bears the stamp of Bobby Kennedy's own hand, because each speech feels like something he would say if he were speaking off the cuff instead of from prepared statements. The two speeches that feel the most timeless are the "Ripples of Hope" speech that he gave in 1966, on a trip to South Africa, and his extemporaneous remarks on the night that Martin Luther King Jr. was gunned down, during a scheduled event at Indianapolis.
Each speech is prefaced by context written by the two editors, Edwin Guthman (a former aide of Kennedy's), and C. Richard Allen. The speeches are sometimes edited for clarity or to reduce redundancies, but many still carry the power of what it must have felt like to hear them live. Bobby Kennedy, had he lived, might have made for one of our greatest presidents, or he might have been unable to bring us together as a country after the tragic involvement in Vietnam and the tumult of the Sixties, but he would've at least tried. In these speeches, we get a glimpse of what we lost when he stepped away from the stage one June night in 1968, victorious in the California primary.
February 23, 2025
This was an excellent read!!
Having already read several biographies about the Kennedy family—Bobby Kennedy in particular—I really appreciated the opportunity to engage with his political beliefs directly through his own words.
The book traces the evolution of his views throughout the 1950s and 1960s, from the beginning of his public life to his tenure as Attorney General in his brother’s administration, his time in the Senate, and ultimately his presidential campaign and tragic assassination.
Even though I was familiar with his life, this collection provided deeper insight into his involvement with causes such as migrant farm workers’ unions (including his work with César Chávez), his visit to South Africa during apartheid, and his commitment to the Bedford-Stuyvesant project.
One of the most compelling aspects of Bobby Kennedy’s speeches is his ability to balance both logic and emotion in his responses to the injustices felt by minority groups and those living in poverty. He understood the power of moral outrage—not just as a personal reaction, but as a tool to inspire action in others. His speeches emphasise that while logic and policy are essential, meaningful change also requires deep empathy and a willingness to feel anger at injustice. This blend of reason and passion made him an extraordinary leader and a politician who truly connected with the people.
I read a quote somewhere once about how the Kennedy brothers were so popular and their deaths so tragic because, in spite of the violence and turbulence of their times, they saw the citizens of America at their best and spoke to the people's better angels. After reading this book, I get it!
Having already read several biographies about the Kennedy family—Bobby Kennedy in particular—I really appreciated the opportunity to engage with his political beliefs directly through his own words.
The book traces the evolution of his views throughout the 1950s and 1960s, from the beginning of his public life to his tenure as Attorney General in his brother’s administration, his time in the Senate, and ultimately his presidential campaign and tragic assassination.
Even though I was familiar with his life, this collection provided deeper insight into his involvement with causes such as migrant farm workers’ unions (including his work with César Chávez), his visit to South Africa during apartheid, and his commitment to the Bedford-Stuyvesant project.
One of the most compelling aspects of Bobby Kennedy’s speeches is his ability to balance both logic and emotion in his responses to the injustices felt by minority groups and those living in poverty. He understood the power of moral outrage—not just as a personal reaction, but as a tool to inspire action in others. His speeches emphasise that while logic and policy are essential, meaningful change also requires deep empathy and a willingness to feel anger at injustice. This blend of reason and passion made him an extraordinary leader and a politician who truly connected with the people.
I read a quote somewhere once about how the Kennedy brothers were so popular and their deaths so tragic because, in spite of the violence and turbulence of their times, they saw the citizens of America at their best and spoke to the people's better angels. After reading this book, I get it!
December 2, 2025
As a 15 year old I was only nominally aware of RFK at the time of his assassination, and had no informed opinion about him or his politics. That said, under normal circumstances I would not read collected speeches of pretty much anyone, but when I saw that a former colleague of mine from CNCS was one of the editors of this compilation (early on Rick Allen was chief of staff under Eli Segal while I was a nobody under pretty much everyone else) I had to get it. I’m very glad I did. It’s an insightful look, at least for me, at someone who I knew only as the brother of JFK, attorney general under the same, a senator, and a candidate for the presidency in 1968. I was thoroughly taken by RFK’s often controversial rhetoric about the state of both national and world affairs, and in retrospect would loved to have seen him as President. How much of his grand visions would have implemented during those turbulent times had he been elected, we’ll never know. However, it was exciting to hear his assessments of much that was going on back then, as well as his visions for an improved nation and world. Listening to him made me long for a current day politician with similar values and outlook.
Publisher:
“In honor of the fiftieth anniversary of Robert Francis Kennedy's death, an inspiring collection of his most famous speeches accompanied by commentary from notable historians and public figures.”
Publisher:
“In honor of the fiftieth anniversary of Robert Francis Kennedy's death, an inspiring collection of his most famous speeches accompanied by commentary from notable historians and public figures.”
October 20, 2025
Outstanding. It always charges my batteries (so to speak) to read the words of RFK. I was a deep admirer of RFK and worked on his campaign in North Carolina in 1967 & 1968. He was a mensch. What I liked particularly about him was that he grew and matured as a person in the spotlight. I think emblematic of his growth was his impromptu speech in Indianapolis after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. That showed the journey that he was traveling. I am convinced that he would have been a great President, and this collection in this book confirms that assessment.
March 8, 2023
Excellent book; the speeches/quotes complied reflect on the man Bobby Kennedy was as well as his values without displaying them through a biographer's portrayal, which can often come across as bias.
The authors did a fantastic job on discussing the background and context of the speeches, ranging from his profound support for Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers to fighting for human rights.
The authors did a fantastic job on discussing the background and context of the speeches, ranging from his profound support for Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers to fighting for human rights.
June 6, 2023
Enjoyed this book very much. My main focus has always been on JFK but now turning to RFK…my only criticism is…with the torment of information we are now receiving regarding NWO and it’s participants, I wonder if RFK today would appreciate commentary from the likes for Bono, Clinton and Obama. I question if he’d be on the same page as they are, knowing what is transpiring. These characters are just that, characters and I doubt they are true believers of RFKs message.
July 15, 2018
Powerful. This book brought back many memories, good and bad, but all worthy of remembrance. I enjoyed the inside stories of Bobby's life. It's a great book for a study of RFK. I was thoroughly captured by what I was learning. It's a wonderful read. Thanks to Goodreads First Reads for a copy of RFK: His Words for Our Times.
December 8, 2019
Wonderful book! Through his speeches and other writings, the editors show what RFK valued and was passionate about. He had a lovely vision of equality for all during a time of great national upheaval. I was in high school and college during the 60s, so it was interesting to relive this time through Kennedy’s writings and my mature eyes.
July 27, 2018
This is a fantastic book for any lover of history or politics. It follows Robert's career from start to finish not in story form but with his many speeches. No spin, just his words. I rec'd a free copy of the book for this review.
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April 13, 2024Read this in ? 2018 ? Maybe ?
May 29, 2024
The CIA murdered Bobby Kennedy.
December 30, 2024
While the speeches themselves are not bad they are clearly products of their time and not nearly as relevant to our time as the author would like them to be.
January 19, 2025
A sampling of the speeches of Robert Kennedy given throughout his career in politics! Discover the heart of one who was a martyr for the American cause!
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August 15, 2018I won this book via Goodreads First Reads. I am an ECE Administrator and I added this book to the lending library for parents and staff at my school.
Want to read
January 31, 2019Disclaimer: I got a copy through a Goodreads giveaway.
RFK: His Words for Our Times edited by Edwin O. Guthman and C. Richard Allen
1968 was an amazing year in the United States. So many things changed. Vietnam was raging and so was sentiment about the carnage there. Apollo 8 circled the moon, on the first trip where humans went to another world. Martin Luther King Jr and Bobby Kennedy were assassinated. The fiftieth anniversary of these events has spawned a number of books. I already read “Rocket Men” about the Apollo 8 flight. The book RFK celebrated Kennedy’s legacy by pulling together pieces from many of his speeches. The book starts with a number of essays by others to explain the impact that RFK had on history and individuals. Then the speeches cover different time periods. This includes his time serving the rackets committee; his time as attorney general; in the senate; and his campaign for President in 1968. There are also speeches grouped together thematically.
I laughed reading the introduction to the next to last speech. Right before going to California, where he was killed, he came to my home state, Oregon. He lost the primary here. About his message not connecting with voters here, he said “Let’s face it; I appeal best to people who have problems.” His sense of humor was enjoyable.
In addition to the speech texts, there are also sections about the people he talked to, the circumstances of the visit, and how people reacted. This historical context builds the speeches into a flowing narrative.
RFK had a toughness that appealed to those who were scared by the problems of the time. But what really shown through was his compassion and energy for those in dire circumstances. He was the one who spoke up for unemployed blacks, underpaid migrant workers, farmers, starving children, and others experiencing injustice or extremity.
I highly recommend the book.
RFK: His Words for Our Times edited by Edwin O. Guthman and C. Richard Allen
1968 was an amazing year in the United States. So many things changed. Vietnam was raging and so was sentiment about the carnage there. Apollo 8 circled the moon, on the first trip where humans went to another world. Martin Luther King Jr and Bobby Kennedy were assassinated. The fiftieth anniversary of these events has spawned a number of books. I already read “Rocket Men” about the Apollo 8 flight. The book RFK celebrated Kennedy’s legacy by pulling together pieces from many of his speeches. The book starts with a number of essays by others to explain the impact that RFK had on history and individuals. Then the speeches cover different time periods. This includes his time serving the rackets committee; his time as attorney general; in the senate; and his campaign for President in 1968. There are also speeches grouped together thematically.
I laughed reading the introduction to the next to last speech. Right before going to California, where he was killed, he came to my home state, Oregon. He lost the primary here. About his message not connecting with voters here, he said “Let’s face it; I appeal best to people who have problems.” His sense of humor was enjoyable.
In addition to the speech texts, there are also sections about the people he talked to, the circumstances of the visit, and how people reacted. This historical context builds the speeches into a flowing narrative.
RFK had a toughness that appealed to those who were scared by the problems of the time. But what really shown through was his compassion and energy for those in dire circumstances. He was the one who spoke up for unemployed blacks, underpaid migrant workers, farmers, starving children, and others experiencing injustice or extremity.
I highly recommend the book.
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