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When I Think of Bobby: A Personal Memoir of the Kennedy Years
A friend of Robert Kennedy relates with humor and affection parties, crises involving RFK's children, his work, his friends, his account of Kennedy's assassination, and other incidents. 20,000 first printing. $30,000 ad/promo.
- GenresNonfictionHistoryMemoir
208 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 5, 2020
“The car rattled across the loose pipes of the cattle-guard bridge and the children started cheering at the same time. They yelled as loud as they could and until they ran out of breath, and then they took another breath and yelled some more. It was Klaxon-horn cheering, all voices merging into one continuous blast. At first, Bob and Ethel, leading the way in a separate automobile, grinned and looked at each other. But, in a moment, they couldn’t stand it anymore and they were cheering too.
They had hoped for it and talked about it and planned for it and here it was at last. They were through with bouncing from one rented house to another, a half dozen and more since they had taken up residence in Washington. Hickory Hill was now their base of operations, their headquarters, their safe haven, their own center of the universe…”
A family riding down the driveway of their new home, Hickory Hill, for the very first time. The exuberant shouts of excited children, and then the parents joining in. What a tender-hearted way to open this particular memoir, one that the author himself described as, “an affectionate portrait of Robert F. Kennedy.”
And as it turns out, Warren Rogers was in a unique position to write so fond a recollection of the man and his ever-expanding family. He was covering Washington for LOOK magazine and met the Kennedy’s soon after settling into his assignment. He became a good friend and a frequent visitor at Hickory Hill.
And although it may have been tempting for Rogers to write a more expansive telling of the life of this incredible man by including details of his public life and accomplishments, he chose to focus on the private Robert Kennedy, the husband, father and friend. There are, as the author put it, only scattered references to Kennedy’s public life. The book is so much stronger for it.
The life of Robert F. Kennedy, rich with experiences, so fast-moving, so adventurous, so daring was steeped in the love of his high-energy, passionate family. They were such an enthralling clan, so much so that when Rogers occasionally alluded to the historical milestones, they seemed concomitant by comparison.
The stories contained in this book are so extraordinary, so vividly told that I often found myself setting the book aside, trying to imagine the scenes he described. Here are just a few that stood out for me.
One was a tennis match story concerning the “super-charged” Ethel, Robert Kennedy’s amazingly energetic wife:
“One tennis partner, an Ivy League champion while at Yale, recalled that he planned to ‘take it easy with her’ because he estimated, as they lined up for singles that she was about seven months pregnant.
‘But then she started whizzing these balls back over the net at me, and I was suddenly in danger of physical harm…there was nothing for me to do but slam everything right back at her in self-defense.’”
As I read Roger’s telling of this scene, I suddenly saw an image of my own mother in the late stages of pregnancy with my youngest brother. It was late summer, and she was tanned, lean and very strong for a woman who stood just over five feet tall, and, now in pregnancy, surpassing the 100-pound mark.
My childhood home was situated on a large acreage and as a result, there was much grass to mow. My father did finally acquire a riding mower, but that was after I moved away from home. But in my time, we had three mowers, one for me, my younger brother Jason, and a “spare” just in case one broke down.
One day, my brother and I laid out the plans for a competition, setting the imaginary borders of a cutting area assigned to each of us, we were then going to compete to see who could cut their section faster. My mother overheard our plans and suggested she join in the challenge. We all agreed to the area she would cut, then fired up the engines and all three took off. I can still see the image of my mom, looking like her usual athletic self, except for the compact bulge of her tummy, cutting her section with agility and speed. It was an amazing sight to see. She gave us a good run for our money, easily explainable for my six-year-old brother, but I was nine, and didn’t relish the prospect of the story going around about being beaten in competition by my pregnant mother.
I did win, but by a much smaller margin than I later told my school friends.
But inside, my nine-year-old self was proud of the focus and determination of my mother. He possessed a strength I would notice in a few other women who I crossed paths in life. This was but one of the many ways my mother inspired me.
I immediately recognized that same brand of strength in Ethel Kennedy when I read this scene.
Another one concerned a Sunday gathering planned for Robert’s brother, the newly inaugurated President John F. Kennedy. The guests were a mix of old school chums, Navy pals, Washington staffers and even movie stars, one of which was actress Kim Novak, who joined in the high jinx of the party, jauntily steering her horse through the snowdrifts of the Kennedy’s front lawn. Others were attempting to mount their horses, (with varying degrees of success) and still others, donning suit, tie and overcoat, careening down the snow-covered slopes on toboggans.
It was then that the thirty-fifth President of the United States, dressed in his office attire of suit and overcoat, alighted from his car, surveying the general merriment, then deciding to make a memorable entrance of his own:
“He stood on one of the toboggans, looking quite dignified as it rocketed down the hill. Then he disappeared into some snow-covered bushes, later emerging, as the other guests remembered, brushing his overcoat and smiling.”
These were the scenes that told of the atmosphere of lively vigor of the Kennedy clan at Hickory Hill, a place where at one time a person could witness a swimming pool party of Kennedy children with sixty or more inner city kids. Or another time, a motley crew football match of children, dogs, football stars, clog wearing women, a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who’d just thrown off his suit jacket, pipe smoking academics, newspaper men and off duty U.S marshals and Secret Service agents.
These were the range of never-ending activities that one could expect when they came to visit the home of the 64th Attorney General of the United States, later as United States Senator from New York and still later, presidential candidate.
Singer Harry Belafonte said of Robert Kennedy, “Unlike most guys with his power, he was a great father.” As I read this book, I began to appreciate what was behind this statement. He strengthened his marriage and the unity of his family by giving his love, so freely and with such passion, and they in turn, did the same for him.
Rogers accomplished this, not by way of outright telling, but by showing how this family lived together.
There was the story of how RFK’s initial fear of horses was overcome by the urging and encouragement of his daughter Kathleen and her best memories of riding with her dad as he became more and more confident on horseback. His son Joe who, so much like his father, was a reckless but awkward teenager and how father and son uniquely understood each other. The love of football he shared with his son David, the way this wonderful father encouraged his son Bobby’s love of reptiles and birds of prey. There were many other tales of the heartwarming individual connections between father and each of his children, something that one might not expect from a family that would eventually include eleven children. The foundation of this family’s life was the enduring love between Bobby and Ethel.
Rogers writes, in the preface that, “This book is for those whose idealism was mobilized by Robert Kennedy,” this was certainly true for me. The great man died fifteen days before my first birthday, and as a result, my thoughts of him and his legacy come from books, documentaries and movies.
But despite not being a firsthand witness of the great events of his time, I’ve always been inspired by the man who encouraged his brother to make civil rights a priority for his administration, a man who spoke from his heart as he connected with the crowd in Indianapolis the same day Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated and perhaps most of all the man who, in my opinion, launched the most inspiring presidential campaign in the history of modern America.
I read this heartwarming account of the life of Robert F. Kennedy, I was reminded of the questions I’ve asked myself so many times over the years, questions such as: “Couldn’t something pass from the legacy of this man’s life to me?” Or, “Could not the learning of his great service to others summon a greater understanding and appreciation of the importance of service in my own life?”
It turns out that the answers to both of these questions are, “yes.”
When Robert F. Kennedy announced his candidacy for president, he did so amidst solid opposition from his own party, if he were to win, he said, it would be through the people. One of the reasons the political establishment opposed his candidacy was that his campaign was about achieving racial and economic justice, non-aggression in foreign policy, (including the ending the Vietnam War) and positive social change in America. Many in the political establishment thought America wasn’t ready for such changes.
Robert Kennedy disagreed.
Amidst the opening lines of his announcement speech were these:
“I run because I am convinced that this country is on a perilous course, and because I have such strong feelings about what must be done, feel obliged to do all I can…”
These powerful words passed to me, decades later when I expressed my concerns about the state of our city to an incumbent councilor who already had a large group of committed volunteers. She heard my passionately stated reasons for wanting to work on her campaign and soon after, asked me to personally accompany her as she went door to door in the municipal elections. She spoke of using her experience as a businesswoman to bring common sense to council, she listened to what the people at those doors had to say. Over time she had me introduce her and even handle some of the questions. After a couple weeks, I was working my side of the street while she worked the other. If anyone had questions, I was unsure of, I would run across the street to get her. As the weeks went on, I became moved by her commitment to the people of our city, and the open and honest way she communicated. I felt a connection with the example of Robert Kennedy at that point, that we in our small way, were “doing all we could” about the things we felt strongly about.
The legacy of Robert F. Kennedy’s was on my mind when I announced my own campaign for public school trustee in 2013. I used one of his own quotes to launch my campaign when I spoke of the importance of investing in the education and lives of our children, since, as Robert F. Kennedy once said, “Children have the greatest stake in the future and the least ties to the past.” I felt the emotion of being compelled, as the senator once did to “do all I can” to empower school principals to be true leaders in their school communities in light of the trend towards over burdening them with excessive bureaucratic responsibilities. I was deeply concerned about the perilous course of the system of public education in our community, the rising class size numbers being a key symptom of a larger issue of budgetary mismanagement.
Indeed, my idealism, as Warren Rogers so eloquently stated, was mobilized by Robert F. Kennedy.
This book was a powerful reminder of the ways that the love, support and encouragement of the ones we love can sustain us, and as was the case for Robert F. Kennedy. This man’s family was his enduring base of support and encouragement, both of which he would draw on as he threw himself into a mission of bringing about positive change to his beloved country and, in turn, the rest of the world.
I finished this book with an energizing feeling. I’d laughed, I’d been amazed, I’d learned many things about the life of this important historical figure.
I can’t imagine that anything more wonderful could come from a memoir.
They had hoped for it and talked about it and planned for it and here it was at last. They were through with bouncing from one rented house to another, a half dozen and more since they had taken up residence in Washington. Hickory Hill was now their base of operations, their headquarters, their safe haven, their own center of the universe…”
A family riding down the driveway of their new home, Hickory Hill, for the very first time. The exuberant shouts of excited children, and then the parents joining in. What a tender-hearted way to open this particular memoir, one that the author himself described as, “an affectionate portrait of Robert F. Kennedy.”
And as it turns out, Warren Rogers was in a unique position to write so fond a recollection of the man and his ever-expanding family. He was covering Washington for LOOK magazine and met the Kennedy’s soon after settling into his assignment. He became a good friend and a frequent visitor at Hickory Hill.
And although it may have been tempting for Rogers to write a more expansive telling of the life of this incredible man by including details of his public life and accomplishments, he chose to focus on the private Robert Kennedy, the husband, father and friend. There are, as the author put it, only scattered references to Kennedy’s public life. The book is so much stronger for it.
The life of Robert F. Kennedy, rich with experiences, so fast-moving, so adventurous, so daring was steeped in the love of his high-energy, passionate family. They were such an enthralling clan, so much so that when Rogers occasionally alluded to the historical milestones, they seemed concomitant by comparison.
The stories contained in this book are so extraordinary, so vividly told that I often found myself setting the book aside, trying to imagine the scenes he described. Here are just a few that stood out for me.
One was a tennis match story concerning the “super-charged” Ethel, Robert Kennedy’s amazingly energetic wife:
“One tennis partner, an Ivy League champion while at Yale, recalled that he planned to ‘take it easy with her’ because he estimated, as they lined up for singles that she was about seven months pregnant.
‘But then she started whizzing these balls back over the net at me, and I was suddenly in danger of physical harm…there was nothing for me to do but slam everything right back at her in self-defense.’”
As I read Roger’s telling of this scene, I suddenly saw an image of my own mother in the late stages of pregnancy with my youngest brother. It was late summer, and she was tanned, lean and very strong for a woman who stood just over five feet tall, and, now in pregnancy, surpassing the 100-pound mark.
My childhood home was situated on a large acreage and as a result, there was much grass to mow. My father did finally acquire a riding mower, but that was after I moved away from home. But in my time, we had three mowers, one for me, my younger brother Jason, and a “spare” just in case one broke down.
One day, my brother and I laid out the plans for a competition, setting the imaginary borders of a cutting area assigned to each of us, we were then going to compete to see who could cut their section faster. My mother overheard our plans and suggested she join in the challenge. We all agreed to the area she would cut, then fired up the engines and all three took off. I can still see the image of my mom, looking like her usual athletic self, except for the compact bulge of her tummy, cutting her section with agility and speed. It was an amazing sight to see. She gave us a good run for our money, easily explainable for my six-year-old brother, but I was nine, and didn’t relish the prospect of the story going around about being beaten in competition by my pregnant mother.
I did win, but by a much smaller margin than I later told my school friends.
But inside, my nine-year-old self was proud of the focus and determination of my mother. He possessed a strength I would notice in a few other women who I crossed paths in life. This was but one of the many ways my mother inspired me.
I immediately recognized that same brand of strength in Ethel Kennedy when I read this scene.
Another one concerned a Sunday gathering planned for Robert’s brother, the newly inaugurated President John F. Kennedy. The guests were a mix of old school chums, Navy pals, Washington staffers and even movie stars, one of which was actress Kim Novak, who joined in the high jinx of the party, jauntily steering her horse through the snowdrifts of the Kennedy’s front lawn. Others were attempting to mount their horses, (with varying degrees of success) and still others, donning suit, tie and overcoat, careening down the snow-covered slopes on toboggans.
It was then that the thirty-fifth President of the United States, dressed in his office attire of suit and overcoat, alighted from his car, surveying the general merriment, then deciding to make a memorable entrance of his own:
“He stood on one of the toboggans, looking quite dignified as it rocketed down the hill. Then he disappeared into some snow-covered bushes, later emerging, as the other guests remembered, brushing his overcoat and smiling.”
These were the scenes that told of the atmosphere of lively vigor of the Kennedy clan at Hickory Hill, a place where at one time a person could witness a swimming pool party of Kennedy children with sixty or more inner city kids. Or another time, a motley crew football match of children, dogs, football stars, clog wearing women, a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who’d just thrown off his suit jacket, pipe smoking academics, newspaper men and off duty U.S marshals and Secret Service agents.
These were the range of never-ending activities that one could expect when they came to visit the home of the 64th Attorney General of the United States, later as United States Senator from New York and still later, presidential candidate.
Singer Harry Belafonte said of Robert Kennedy, “Unlike most guys with his power, he was a great father.” As I read this book, I began to appreciate what was behind this statement. He strengthened his marriage and the unity of his family by giving his love, so freely and with such passion, and they in turn, did the same for him.
Rogers accomplished this, not by way of outright telling, but by showing how this family lived together.
There was the story of how RFK’s initial fear of horses was overcome by the urging and encouragement of his daughter Kathleen and her best memories of riding with her dad as he became more and more confident on horseback. His son Joe who, so much like his father, was a reckless but awkward teenager and how father and son uniquely understood each other. The love of football he shared with his son David, the way this wonderful father encouraged his son Bobby’s love of reptiles and birds of prey. There were many other tales of the heartwarming individual connections between father and each of his children, something that one might not expect from a family that would eventually include eleven children. The foundation of this family’s life was the enduring love between Bobby and Ethel.
Rogers writes, in the preface that, “This book is for those whose idealism was mobilized by Robert Kennedy,” this was certainly true for me. The great man died fifteen days before my first birthday, and as a result, my thoughts of him and his legacy come from books, documentaries and movies.
But despite not being a firsthand witness of the great events of his time, I’ve always been inspired by the man who encouraged his brother to make civil rights a priority for his administration, a man who spoke from his heart as he connected with the crowd in Indianapolis the same day Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated and perhaps most of all the man who, in my opinion, launched the most inspiring presidential campaign in the history of modern America.
I read this heartwarming account of the life of Robert F. Kennedy, I was reminded of the questions I’ve asked myself so many times over the years, questions such as: “Couldn’t something pass from the legacy of this man’s life to me?” Or, “Could not the learning of his great service to others summon a greater understanding and appreciation of the importance of service in my own life?”
It turns out that the answers to both of these questions are, “yes.”
When Robert F. Kennedy announced his candidacy for president, he did so amidst solid opposition from his own party, if he were to win, he said, it would be through the people. One of the reasons the political establishment opposed his candidacy was that his campaign was about achieving racial and economic justice, non-aggression in foreign policy, (including the ending the Vietnam War) and positive social change in America. Many in the political establishment thought America wasn’t ready for such changes.
Robert Kennedy disagreed.
Amidst the opening lines of his announcement speech were these:
“I run because I am convinced that this country is on a perilous course, and because I have such strong feelings about what must be done, feel obliged to do all I can…”
These powerful words passed to me, decades later when I expressed my concerns about the state of our city to an incumbent councilor who already had a large group of committed volunteers. She heard my passionately stated reasons for wanting to work on her campaign and soon after, asked me to personally accompany her as she went door to door in the municipal elections. She spoke of using her experience as a businesswoman to bring common sense to council, she listened to what the people at those doors had to say. Over time she had me introduce her and even handle some of the questions. After a couple weeks, I was working my side of the street while she worked the other. If anyone had questions, I was unsure of, I would run across the street to get her. As the weeks went on, I became moved by her commitment to the people of our city, and the open and honest way she communicated. I felt a connection with the example of Robert Kennedy at that point, that we in our small way, were “doing all we could” about the things we felt strongly about.
The legacy of Robert F. Kennedy’s was on my mind when I announced my own campaign for public school trustee in 2013. I used one of his own quotes to launch my campaign when I spoke of the importance of investing in the education and lives of our children, since, as Robert F. Kennedy once said, “Children have the greatest stake in the future and the least ties to the past.” I felt the emotion of being compelled, as the senator once did to “do all I can” to empower school principals to be true leaders in their school communities in light of the trend towards over burdening them with excessive bureaucratic responsibilities. I was deeply concerned about the perilous course of the system of public education in our community, the rising class size numbers being a key symptom of a larger issue of budgetary mismanagement.
Indeed, my idealism, as Warren Rogers so eloquently stated, was mobilized by Robert F. Kennedy.
This book was a powerful reminder of the ways that the love, support and encouragement of the ones we love can sustain us, and as was the case for Robert F. Kennedy. This man’s family was his enduring base of support and encouragement, both of which he would draw on as he threw himself into a mission of bringing about positive change to his beloved country and, in turn, the rest of the world.
I finished this book with an energizing feeling. I’d laughed, I’d been amazed, I’d learned many things about the life of this important historical figure.
I can’t imagine that anything more wonderful could come from a memoir.
May 25, 2019
Saw this book on the shelf and I wanted to read it as it was a more intimate view of the famous Robert Kennedy. It is a personal memoir from the author of his personal reflections of the Bobby & Ethel with this children and home life.
March 28, 2018
Engaging book on the personal life of Robert Kennedy, a sketch, a glimpse of his personal life with family and friends.
May 10, 2022
Not as popular and well known as the other books on RFK which encouraged me to pick this one up. Offers a more personable and humane side to him. It was pretty short but I enjoyed it.
3.75.
3.75.
November 24, 2022
"When I Think of Bobby: A Personal Memoir of the Kennedy Years " takes a different angle at the mysterious figure known as Bobby Kennedy, that of the Personal. Despite this, however, it thankfully doesn't go lucid - indeed, it takes the angle that he likely didn't have a relationship with Marilyn Monroe. Instead, it is a view of his home life, his relationship with his friends, and that of his children. Here, we see a man who whilst incredibly busy with his career, did try to take time to be with his children, a man who may be abrasive, but could be a decent host (the Hickory Hill parties were a highlight) and a man who could be a demon on the field and usually relaxed in a violent way.
Perhaps the only criticism I have of the book is that it feels quite breezy and fast-paced. Then again, the man's life was taken too soon.
Perhaps the only criticism I have of the book is that it feels quite breezy and fast-paced. Then again, the man's life was taken too soon.
March 3, 2023
The book starts out slowly. Then it does get interesting. It is filled with stories that I have not heard elsewhere.
January 11, 2026
Great memoir, we lost a wonderful person that day.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews