Bobby Kennedy

After President Kennedy died, his brother Bobby was devastated. Trying to help him deal with the grief, Jackie Kennedy told her brother-in-law to read the books of Edith Hamilton.

 Taking Jackie's advice, Bobby read The Greek Way. Then he began to study Greek poets, memorizing passages which gave him comfort. He once said his favorite poet was Aeschylus, who wrote (in the Oresteia) that man must live by a “law” which includes pain and suffering.

Reading the Greek poets helped Bobby to change his political philosophy. Doing the right thing, even when it isn't popular, became the theme of his most famous speeches.

On March 16, 1968 - about two weeks before President Johnson stunned the country when he said, “I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President” - Robert Kennedy announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination. A few weeks later, while in Indianapolis, Bobby learned that his friend, Martin Luther King, Jr., had been assassinated. In one of his most memorable speeches, he gave the shocking news to the gathered crowd.

Two months later, Bobby won the California Democratic primary. His wife, Ethel, was with him as he addressed supporters at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. After his speech, RFK was guided off the podium to meet with the waiting press corps.

Talking with Andrew West, of KRKD in Los Angeles, Bobby suddenly stopped answering a question. Listening to the live interview, one can hear the confusion of a developing, urgent situation. Robert Francis Kennedy had been fatally shot.

In this story about Bobby Kennedy, step back in time to 1968, a turbulent year in American history. Meet the Senator from New York and hear several of his most famous speeches. Watch a video of his acceptance speech, given just before he was assassinated.

Examine photographic evidence, including bullet holes in Bobby's clothing. Learn whether the coroner believed that Sirhan Sirhan fired the fatal shot.

Review the FBI report. Uncover why all lawyers at Sirhan's trial believed the accused was not faking when he remembered nothing about the shooting. And ... discover why facts about the fatal shot are still disputed today.