Bobby Kennedy: A Raging Spirit

It’s doubtful that more than a handful of writers and historians have the depth of experience, the credibility, or the personal relationships that Chis Matthews brings to this delightful book. He takes us behind the curtain of the Kennedy years, with a special emphasis in this case on Robert Kennedy, to a place where few could obtain access, now fifty years after the fact.Every author has a perspective and Matthews is no exception. Nonetheless he gives a refreshingly complete and balanced narrative that in many ways reflects the Kennedy’s themselves. They had a perspective, too, but were remarkably pragmatic, clever, and determined in putting their often idealized perspective into practice.Bobby in particular, Matthews tells us, was an idealist naturally aligned with the disadvantaged, yet with a competitive, sometimes ruthless, drive born of both his own burden as the third son of an aspiring Irish Catholic family and the relentless drive passed down by his domineering and competitive father.While I am younger than Matthews, it is hard to convey to those who were not alive at the time the sheer scale and influence of the Kennedy clan during the late 50s and most of the 60s. While Jack, in particular, is revered in retrospect, the family, as Matthews chronicles, was not universally embraced across the nation or the political spectrum.They, however, worked with what they had and pushed the nation forward in areas like civil rights and checking the growing influence of the Soviets without pushing the country to the breaking point. They had an uncanny ability to understand what the country wanted to do but couldn’t bring itself, for a myriad of reasons, to accomplish. They received, processed, and amplified all that was best about America and Americans. And then they got it done. From civil rights to putting a man on the moon, they thought big and accomplished a good deal of what they set out to do.While you read the book Matthews reminds us just how broad and complicated is the political agenda of our country. Once you appreciate the dimensions of the challenge it is no surprise that our government barely works in the best of circumstances. The Kennedy’s, however, proved that it can work, and it is that optimism for which we are most indebted to their memory. The process of governance is loud and messy and mistakes are inevitable, but the battle can be won with grit and determination and the guiding hands of noble ideals and pragmatism (i.e., compromise!)Which, in the end, is what makes this book both sad and inspiring. It is, indeed, sad to realize how little progress we’ve made in areas like civil rights and the promotion of world peace. The Kennedy’s certainly broke down barriers for Irish Catholics, but many barriers remain intact and many more have been erected since that time. The whole contemporary debate about immigration is a good example. The debate, such as it is (not much of a Socratic debate, actually), being so remarkably anachronistic but nonetheless contemporary. How far we’ve come and yet how little we’ve accomplished.I don’t watch much television, so I have to admit I have never viewed Hardball. I wouldn’t know Chris Matthews if he showed up at my door. I have to thank him, however, for this delightful tour and stimulating reflection. He certainly made me think and that is the greatest gift any author can give us through his or her prose.Yes, I remember exactly where I was the day President Kennedy was shot. I was sitting in Mrs. Sanderson’s fourth grade class and when the principal came into our class and privately told Mrs. Sanderson of the news, she immediately broke down sobbing. Indeed, that nation sobbed in the most literal sense.The Kennedy’s, however, cannot be understood as a single man. They were a clan in every facet of the concept and Bobby Kennedy played an important and very influential role. Lacking the natural charisma of Jack, he was both the idealist and the guy who made things happen, his strong will to take on injustice, particularly when his brother or his heritage was called into question by it, was both his greatest strength and greatest political weakness. I honestly don’t remember where I was the day he was shot, but with Matthew’s help, I certainly feel I have a much better gauge of the man.More than anything else, I think the Kennedy’s proved that politicians can have it all. You can stand by your principles and still get things done. Success and progress, Matthews, through the example of the Kennedy’s, reminds us, are not achieved through stagnation or backing up. Our current politicians would be well served to take this entertaining and informative stroll through a time in political history that was so much different, yet so remarkably the same.

I received this book on 11/1/17 and finished it on 11/2/17. I wept at the poignancy of Matthews Prologue. This is a well-researchedbiography that is written by an author with the ability to interpret the past with empathy, not sympathy....what our country lostand what we gained, although not always in a positive light, but in an honest one. I smiled, pondered, remembered and wept.Thank you, Mr. Matthews, for giving us such a beautiful gift. As you researched this over many years, did you also weep?

I've read previous biographies on Robert Kennedy and enjoyed them and also found this latest effort by Chris Matthews to be a great read as well. I also liked that the author gave his personal opinions as to his whereabouts during this historic period of time as well. Robert Kennedy possessed a sincere desire to help his fellow human beings who were much less fortunate than he was. Kennedy could have had a life of ease but his conscience led him into a direction of service to others in America. He possessed the role of the "heavy" in leading the way to his brother Jack's Massachusetts senatorial victory over Henry Cabot Lodge and then later in Jack's drive for the presidency.I feel author Chris Matthews does a great job in illustrating the antagonistic relationship Robert Kennedy had with Lyndon Johnson, J. Edgar Hoover, and Jimmy Hoffa. Devastating would not be too strong a word RFK felt with the death of his brother, the President and the vulnerability he felt at this loss. He had a sincere desire to help his fellow man and he did what he could in the time he had left in this world. Well done oh good and faithful servant.This is a very readable biography that Chris Matthews has put together on Robert Kennedy. Even if you've read previous bios of RFK this is one that would be a worthy addition to your library.

I've read just about every non-conspiracy theory book about Bobby that has been written. I managed to finish this one in a week. Let me just say, it is not the best of the RFK books. I was disappointed because more than 2/3 of the book was about Jack's presidency. Only the last ~80 pages cover the post-assassination period. I learned absolutely nothing new. If you want the definitive biography, you should read Arthur Schlessinger's book, all 1000 pages of it. If you want a better book that tells you about the person Bobby was outside of his brother's shadow, then I highly recommend John Bohrer's book, The Revolution of Robert Kennedy: from Power to Protest After JFK. If you haven't read any Bobby Kennedy book, this isn't the worst place to start, but I'd recommend Larry Tye's, Bobby Kennedy, the Making of a Liberal Icon instead.

Having read a number of books on Robert Kennedy I bought this hoping for additional information - The author had previously written about President John F Kennedy and a majority of this book covered John Kennedy's rise to power with a cameo role by Robert Kennedy - the only time he devoted to Robert Kennedy was the last couple of chapters after Kennedy was assassinated - I feel I should return the book under the Trades Description Act - If you, like me, want to read about Robert Kennedy's life avoid this book -

This hardback has been very well cared for and has surpassed my expectations, as the cost was very low. Very impressed.

Like Chris Matthews, I remain entranced by the legacy of Bobby Kennedy, even more so than JFK, with all its might have beens and the tragedy of his rush toward death in his presidential campaign in that annus horribilis 1968. Matthews, whom I admire greatly, tries to get to RFK’s essence, plumbing some of his own Irish Catholic background to hold up a mirror to Bobby. Although I enjoyed it, and admired the effort, I felt it fell short and is more a memoir of his thoughts and feelings about RFK, which persist to this day, as do mine. There are some fascinating closeups of RFK, such as his position in the family and his distance to JFK in part due to age before taking over his elder brother’s campaign and political interests. Of course some of his finest hours, including the Cuban Missile Crisis and his impromptu speech in the Indianapolis ghetto the night Dr. King died, are there in terrific detail, as is the portrait of the disadvantaged and their love for RFK. Breaks your hear all over again. Worth a look to understand RFK once and for all.

I'm only part way though this book but am a huge fan of Chris Matthews and as I had hoped, a beautifully written and affectionate look back at Bobby Kennedy. Had he become President, we'd all be living in a different world now. A great, great book, and a must for Kennedy aficianados.

Excellent! Could hardly put it down and it absolutely enlightened me on the immense loss his death meant to the government and to the morality of the American political world.