Robert F. Kennedy: Ripples of Hope: Kerry Kennedy in Conversation with Heads of State, Business Leaders, Influencers, and Activists about Her Father's Impact on Their Lives

by Kerry Kennedy

Kerry Kennedy, daughter of Robert F. Kennedy, shares personal remembrances of her father and through interviews with politicians, media personalities, celebrities and leaders, explores the influence that he continues to have on the issues at the heart of America's identity. Robert Kennedy championed the disenfranchised from Watts to the Mississippi Delta. He battled corrupt union bosses and protected Alabama Freedom Riders. He embraced Cesar Chavez and opposed the Vietnam War. He fought racism, lauded courage and called for peace. He soothed those who suffered, and he suffered himself. He announced his 1968 bid for the presidency saying "I am convinced that this country is on a perilous course and because I have such strong feelings about what must be done, and I feel that I'm obliged to do all that I can. I run to seek new policies - policies to end the bloodshed in Vietnam and in our cities, policies to close the gaps that now exist between black and white, between rich and poor, between young and old, in this country and around the rest of the world. I run for the presidency because I want the Democratic Party and the United States of America to stand for hope instead of despair, for reconciliation of men instead of the growing risk of world war. I run because it is now unmistakably clear that we can change these disastrous, divisive policies only by changing the men who are now making them."

Merging undaunted courage and emotional honesty in the quest for social, economic and racial justice, the hope of youth, the mindless menace of violence, the struggle in cities and the challenges faced by rural America, Robert Kennedy remains a hero and inspiration to individuals on the entire range of the political spectrum.
To honor her father on the 50th anniversary of his death, Kerry Kennedy has turned to others to share how he influenced their lives, from politics: Joe Biden, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, John Lewis, Barack Obama; from business: Apple CEO Tim Cook, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz; from entertainment: Tony Bennett, Alfre Woodard, Martin Sheen, and Shirley McClaine; from Journalism: Chris Matthews, Soledad O'Brien, Joe Scarborough; as well as American labor leader Dolores Huerta, feminist Gloria Steinem, and many other well-known personalities.

Genres: History, Biography, Politics, Nonfiction, Memoir, Historical

336 pages, Hardcover

First published June 5, 2018

About the author

Mary Kerry Kennedy is an American human rights activist and writer. She is the seventh child and third daughter of Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Skakel. She is the president of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, a nonprofit charitable human rights advocacy organization.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

"When I think about Bobby Kennedy's legacy, what stands out aren't laws of policy. It's inspiration.

Barack Obama

"He understood that in order for people to feel common ground they had to know you didn't look down on them and that you were pulling for them and you respected them."

Bill Clinton

"Robert Kennedy personified what we need now in this country."

Chris Matthews

"Robert Kennedy empathized with people who didn't have power over their own lives, whether because they were poor, or black, or female, or young, or from another country. That capacity of mind and spirit seemed to have grown in him."

Gloria Steinem

[Jen S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew next to nothing about RFK when I got this book. I went to a workshop called Speak Truth to Power and I loved what the RFK foundation was doing, so I decided to give the book a try. I loved it. I purposely read it slowly because I wanted the positive, inspiring stories to last longer. Great book.

[Karl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

How I wish that today's world had more of the optimism that Bobby Kennedy possessed...
This book should be required reading in all high schools. Young people need to know who Robert F. Kennedy was as an individual, a politician, and a "changer". This book made me hopeful that there are citizens around the world who possess the qualities that Bobby strove to enlightened his community with. I highly recommend this book! It is one of the best books of 2018!

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. It’s amazing how many people RFK inspired through his work with civil rights, education, justice and peace. This is not a biography. It’s a collection of interviews with actors, actresses, politicians ( past presidents, senators), journalists, musicians, civil right activists and even an 18 year old woman, who never met RFK, but was so inspired by his humanitarianism, she is following in his footsteps.
Would things be different if RFK wasn’t assassinated? Maybe. We need more RFK’s.

[WM D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robert Kennedy. Ripples of hope by Kerry Kennedy is a great read. This book should be on everyone"s summer reading list.

[Barbara White · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is truly amazing. I learned much about a man whose life was so short. Students of history would enjoy this read. I couldn't put it down.
Thanks to Goodreads First Reads for a copy of this book.

[Vnunez-Ms_luv2read · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book!!! Such a tribute to Robert Kennedy by his daughter. I really enjoyed this book and highly recoomend it to anyone interested in this great man. Very inspriing. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this book down; it was the first "real" book I read after spending the whole COVID "pause" on an ereader. Kerry Kennedy has created a diverse and powerful collection of those who were touched by her father's life. The title comes from the speech RFK gave in South Africa in 1966; he said:
“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events. It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”- Robert F. Kennedy, June 6, 1966

Here is a review from the book's publisher:
https://www.centerstreet.com/titles/k...
The daughter of Robert F. Kennedy shares personal remembrances of her father and through conversations with politicians, media personalities, celebrities and leaders, explores the influence that he continues to have on the issues at the heart of America’s identity. Robert F. Kennedy staunchly advocated for civil rights, education, justice, and peace; his message transcended race, class, and creed, resonating deeply within and across America. He was the leading candidate for the Democratic nomination for the presidency and was expected to run against Republican Richard Nixon in the 1968 presidential election, following in the footsteps of his late brother John. After winning the California presidential primary on June 5, 1968, Robert Kennedy was shot, and he died the following day. He was forty-two.

Fifty years later, Robert Kennedy’s passions and concerns and the issues he championed are — for better and worse-still so relevant. Ripples of Hope explores Kennedy’s influence on issues at the heart of America’s identity today, including moral courage, economic and social justice, the role of government, international relations, youth, violence, and support for minority groups, among other salient topics.

This book captures the legacy of former senator and U.S. attorney general Robert F. Kennedy through commentary from his daughter, as well as interviews with dozens of prominent national and international figures who have been inspired by him. They include Barack Obama, John Lewis, Marian Wright Edelman, Alfre Woodard, Harry Belafonte, Bono, George Clooney, Gloria Steinem, and more. They share personal accounts and stories of how Kennedy’s words, life, and values have influenced their lives, choices, and actions. Through these interviews, Kerry Kennedy aims to enlighten people anew about her father’s legacy and bring to life RFK’s values and passions, using as milestones the end of his last campaign and a life that was cut off much too soon.

I've purchased this book for family and friends; in our own time of darkness, I needed to be reminded that not even death can silence the voice of justice. John Lewis's chapter was especially moving; in an excerpt from his acceptance speech, he says:
"This one man inspired hundreds and thousands not only here in America, but around the world to stand up and speak out. I probably would not be involved in American politics today, if it hadn't been for Bobby Kennedy. His courage in the face of tragedy and his determination to serve, gave me a greater sense of hope, a greater sense of believing that I should not get lost in a sea of despair, but should do what I could to make our country a better county and our world a better community for all of us. Thank you for this Ripple of Hope Award named in honor of one of the most inspired leaders of the 20th century, my friend and brother, Robert F. Kennedy."
https://rfkhumanrights.org/news/rep-j...

The Ripple of Hope awards are given annually, and in 2020, Dr. Fauci was one of the recipients. His video, along with that of Colin Kaepernick and Dolores Huerta, can be seen here:
https://rfkhumanrights.org/awards/rip...
This PBS special is worth watching: https://www.pbs.org/video/a-ripple-of...
And PBS also had an episode on "What If"? he had lived: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexpe...

1963-1968: those five years saw the assassinations of JFK, MALCOLM X, MLK, and RFK. Five years. If we'd have had the social media presence that exists in 2021, those murders might have been exposed as was the death of George Floyd.

[Samuel Cao · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I usually don't give book reviews, but this was just an amazing book. I got interested in public service and the idea of entering politics to help other people because of RFK. To think what the nation lost, I can only imagine the number of problems we're seeing today that would've been alleviated or solved had Bobby lived. We might not have had the Carter, Reagan, nor Clinton years. Foreign policy would look different. Certainly, we would be a more just and prosperous society. Discrimination would be less. For a man who was so well off that he could've retired to play golf, he used the capacity innate within each individual to understand one another. He went on strike with Cesar Chavez; he walked the reservations with Native Americans; he fought for the kids in the Mississippi Delta; he jumpstarted community development in Bedford-Stuyvesant. All of this wouldn't have yielded Bobby the most political clout, yet he still did it because it was the right thing to do.

Despite Bobby's reservations with campaigning on behalf of one political party, it's his honesty and empathy that appeals to both the Left and the Right. This book gives a three-dimensional glimpse into the man that was Bobby Kennedy whose words are still relevant for our times.

“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” ― Robert F. Kennedy

[Mikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of essays, interviews and first-hand accounts by or with people who knew or had lasting impressions of Bobby Kennedy, who was murdered during his campaign for the Presidency of the United States makes me wonder how different things might have been had he succeeded. A man who publicly admitted his earlier mistakes, who became a pacifist and an advocate for the disenfranchised and those who suffered under the weight of inequalities due to skin tone, Bobby Kennedy was a man of and for the people, whatever their background. He would have worked to lessen and/or eliminate those inequalities. Sadly, he didn't get the chance. He was assassinated due to fear and greed by one of those who wanted to maintain the status quo. 50 years on and the divisions and inequalities are still in place. White privilege still seeks to rule. Fortunately there are those who have worked and continue to strive for equality, as Bobby Kennedy did.

I enjoyed reading this book. The contributors didn't all agree with one another but they all viewed the life and work of Bobby Kennedy with honor and respect.

[P.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was alive when Robert Kennedy was assassinated. I remember it well. My family spoke about the times often. I was young but very aware of what was happening. We were devastated when Bobby Kennedy was killed. This book, I believe, should be required reading for all youths. I expected it to be a daughter's unattainable tribute to her father. It wasn't. She interviewed people who knew or looked up to her father. It was an honest, forthright telling of what the times were like when her father was in the public eye. I was there and this book is very accurate. I knew the Kennedys weren't perfect. However, Bobby Kennedy was unique. He stood up for justice and humanity at a time when doing so could cost him his life. He was well aware of this when he spoke in Indianapolis the day Martin Luther King was assassinated. He was told not to do so but he insisted. He was a brave humanitarian. I highly recommend this book for everyone!

[Kellie Innes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've said it before and I'll say it again...if RFK had not been assassinated, this country would be in a different--and better--place. Of course, I'm not alone in that thought, and that line of thinking is entirely unproductive as it's impossible to change the past. Reading through these various interviews did instill some sense of hope that RFK's persona and legacy has touched so many people, but it was interesting that most people came at it with a sense of defeat. With him gone, so, too, did the dream of hope and the dream of America disappear.

Also, it was interesting to see Kerry's remarks with the interviewees...obviously it's hard to be unbiased about your father, but I do wish that she was a little more objective in guiding the conversations, especially when it came to direct memories/perceptions of RFK.

[Nicolas · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Some men see things as they are and ask why; I dream of things that never were and ask why not?"
I really enjoyed it, I was really interested in learning more about Bobby Kennedy, and while I was originally looking for a strict biography of him, this was a pleasant and welcome surprise. This books main premise is that it is a compilation of interviews conducted by his daughter, Kerry Kennedy, who questions important people who either knew RFK or have been impacted by him in some way, ranging from freedom fighters from Bobby's era to George Clooney. While it can get a little bit repetitive after a while, it was a really strong way to get to know and understand a person like Bobby, and has radically inspired me to try and be more like Bobby.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daddy Ripples

It is a very good book with KK talking with numerous individuals about how “Daddy” affected their lives and the world. I almost quit reading during the introduction because RFK was referenced as “Daddy” while being described as the perfect person by KK. While I suppose that humanizes him because he was that to her, for me it minimizes the book somewhat as well because the majority of the people she was talking to are so prominent in their fields that it became a “tell me how Daddy changed your life” book. Ultimately, it is a book about hope about how RFK can and does inspire people to be more like him and my rating is based on that.

[kiara! · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a RFK fanatic which is probably why I don’t feel as though I gained much of anything from this book. The discussions with Harry Belafonte, Gloria Steinem, Dolores Huerta were perfectly done. My only issue is that at times Kerry gets a bit argumentative with the speaker which makes for good conversation but I think she refused to see that her father did have his own faults which we rectified in time. It was wonderfully crafted but I feel as though some speakers were just unnecessary. Tim Cook and co)

[Madison Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kerry Kennedy beautifully captures her father’s courage, compassion, and lasting impact through personal memories and insightful interviews with influential voices. This book is honest, emotional, and inspiring, a reminder of the values Robert F. Kennedy stood for and the legacy he left behind. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves history, justice, or powerful human stories. An unforgettable and important read.

[Stephanie Lutman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an insightful book. To read about people who were and are influenced by a man that hasn’t been with us for about 50 years, at the time this book was published, is incredible. Some people actually knew him but many didn’t. That a man who was taken from us so young can still have that kinda impact says a lot about the man.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Kerry Kennedy interviews various people- politicians, social activists, artists, actors to understand the impact her father Senator Robert Kennedy had on their lives and activism. Deeply moving and inspiring to hear how this man touched so many and continues to touch so many.

[Jeffrey Adelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly inspiring work. 50 years after his death, his words continue to serve as a powerful influence on so many. Reading his words now, I can see how devastating his death was in 1968. Can’t help but think how much better America could have been had he become President instead of Nixon.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a okay novel in my opinion. It could have been a little better in my opinion. I do therefor like the style of writing in this novel I can see our president’s motivation and journey through out this book. I would recommend if you enjoyed or wanna learn more about Robert F. Kennedy.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is greatly needed at this time in our country. I am grateful for the life of this man and the ripples that are his legacy.

[Frank Murtaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring tribute to a man whose ideas and beliefs are as poignant (and demanding of our attention) today as they were a half-century ago. A life can be cut short. A movement cannot.

[Stephy Costa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read. It was nice to hear accounts of those who knew him and worked with him. Might get kindle book or print copy and reread it.

[Christopher Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little on the self glorification of the people who are interviewed. Patting their own back and less about Kennedy.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful man with great values.

[Joy Pierce · Rating 3 out of 5]

It had lots of interesting facts.

[John Paul Gairhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Each of us can work to change a small portion
of the events, and in the total of all these acts will
be written the history of this generation.”

[Craig McGraw · Rating 3 out of 5]

A series of essays by celebrities politicians and others that tell how RFK inspired them

[D.S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was extraordinary. My father was a great admirer of RFK, and I came to be, as well. His death was such a terrible loss for this country. I've read many books about him and, at the end of each, I always felt wrenching heartbreak for what will never be.

Amazingly, Kerry Kennedy has created a book that informs, inspires and uplifts. Each of the interviewees has a unique, compelling perspective on how Bobby continues to motivate and elevate. When the book ended, I felt optimistic because "ripples of hope" (created by him) continue to spread. I highly recommend this work to anyone who is interested in social justice, equality and liberty.