The Lost, Lingering Legacy of Robert F. Kennedy

[freshwest]

38. JFK, MLK, Jr.. then RFK. I'd begun working for the Democratic Party. Wasn't old enough to vote, but

doing phone calls, sending out fliers, walking the city and registering those who could vote. Then saw him on the air and thought we had a man who would finish the work we'd started on.

I'd worked the same way for LBJ before, and for liberal and minority candidates. But when RFK was gunned down, I was not able to leave my room at home for a few days. I still cry about him and MLK.

Evers was the first public person whose death hit me very hard, then the JFK and MLK, Jr. Bobby's death felt like the end, too much, too many, too fast.

Then came the 1986 DNC in Chicago. I cried watching the violence against my generation but later worked for HHH when it was all said and done. Nixon was dishonest and a demogague. Then he got elected and I was physically ill, same as Reagan. When Bush was selected, I was just angry all the time.

But after Bobby's death came Kent State and I went a lot further in my actions. Soon after that the Pentagon Papers were read by Mike Gravel into the Congressional record to protect them. I still cry when I watch him crying as he read it. And he's the one I caucused for in 2008 because of his opposition to wars. And his heart hadn't changed and neither has mine.

I met Daniel Ellsberg and he signed my copy of the Pentagon Papers. Then I went with the SWP to D.C. to hear Kerry and others, I even found a video of where I was. But Bobby was the one that broke my heart.

Yes, that's all about the emotions there. and the crushing of what might have been, but wasn't.