The Gospel According to RFK: Why It Matters Now

by Robert F. Kennedy, Norman MacAfee (Editor)

As he campaigned for the presidency in 1968, Robert Kennedy outlined what seems today a redemptive vision for America. Tirelessly, before the kinds of vast crowds reserved for rock stars, RFK articulated with passionate eloquence the disasters of a misguided war, the pain of the dispossessed, and the way out of war and poverty. And then, 81 days into the campaign, he was assassinated. Now, in The Gospel According to RFK , writer Norman MacAfee has brought together for the first time the best of Kennedy's presidential campaign speeches and contributes lively and engaging commentary that makes them fresh, relevant, and especially timely.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Politics, American History, Social Justice

176 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2004

About the author

Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy, also called RFK, was the United States Attorney General from 1961 to 1964 and a US Senator from New York from 1965 until his assassination in 1968. He was one of US President John F. Kennedy's younger brothers, and also one of his most trusted advisors and worked closely with the president during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He also made a significant contribution to the African-American Civil Rights Movement.

After his brother's assassination in late 1963, Kennedy continued as Attorney General under President Johnson for nine months. He resigned in September 1964 and was elected to the United States Senate from New York that November. He broke with Johnson over the Vietnam War, among other issues.

After Eugene McCarthy nearly defeated Johnson in the New Hampshire Primary in early 1968, Kennedy announced his own campaign for president, seeking the nomination of the Democratic Party. Kennedy defeated McCarthy in the critical California primary but was shot shortly after midnight on June 5, 1968, dying on June 6. On June 9, President Johnson declared an official day of national mourning in response to the public grief following Kennedy's death.

His son is Robert F. Kennedy Jr..

Reviews

[Maciek · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is a collection of speeches made my Robert F. Kennedy throughout his career on a variety of subjects. It is important to differentiate between the controversial persona of Kennedy and his politics from an assessment of a book about him. As a compilation, the book provides a wide array of speeches, some more liberal and some more conservative in nature, than the others. If MacAfee’s goal was to assess a politician based on campaign speeches exclusively, it would amount to judging Barack Obama only by his campaign speeches: all in all a questionable endeavor. It is a well-known proposition that speeches rarely, if ever, portray what a politician really thinks and, to a bigger extent, what his conduct is after the assumption of office.

[Chuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading his speeches makes you weep at what we lost the day he was murdered.

[Dagueneau Jewell]

woohoo books my AP Gov teacher gave me (1/3)

[Tate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Legitimately my favorite work of nonfiction. This books shows through RFK's speeches the ideals and mentality of a man who sought peace and prosperity not only for America, but for all of humanity, a man who left this world too soon.

[Raymond Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you want a cheaper alternative to the collected speeches and writings of RFK, then you should consider buying this book. However, I couldn't possibly recommend this otherwise. While it was great to be able to read the speeches, the "editor" of this book is a rabid anti-GWB leftist who would rather believe in conspiracy theories (judicial coup of the US government) and draw questionable parallels rather than follow the beliefs of RFK. The author is much more interested, seemingly, in using RFK's writing to support their opposition to George Bush rather than actually examining the political ramifications of Kennedy's message.

[Dennis Kocik · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the man who would have been the finest President America ever had since Lincoln. This book takes some of his speeches and places them in the context of his time. These are taken from his 1968 Presidential campaign that ended tragically and senselessly in June 1968. A must read, as the sub title says: Why it Matters Now. RFK's was the voice of reason and hope in a wilderness of a lost America. Cannot recommend this book highly enough.

[Claire Baxter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The collections of speeches is great and still relevant. I agree with other reviewers though that the introductions are a bit unnecessarily biased. While for the most part I agree with him, I thought their clear bias meant that they lacked credibility. I ended up reading the start of them just to get the situational context and then skipping over the rest.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collection of speaches interesting, but the editorials were a bit too one sided.

[Heath · Rating 2 out of 5]

RFK's words are, as always, inspiring and wonderful. MacAfee's commentary, however, added little in terms of insight, thought, or links to the present as the book's title suggests.

[Neil Jacobson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still relevant, thoughtful and inspiring. With a twinge of sadness for what might have been.

[Gavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The speeches here do RFK justice. 2004 is almost another generation away for when this came out, but 1968 was 55 years ago until tomorrow.

I can think of only two presidential candidates since that seemed to be as inspiring, one in 1976, the other in 1988.

It's unfortunate that we allow the overlords to dictate our path. As usual, I won't be voting for the mainstream candidates because they don't have vision. Despite the controversy I'll be working for RFK Jr.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short comparison book that contrasts the views of Robert Kennedy with those faced in the era of President George W. Bush by presenting text from popular speeches delivered by Kennedy. It’s a great read for anyone interested in American political history.

[Troy James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice collection of speeches and snippets of his work. Dated commentary from the editor, some issues tired or resolved--some still prevalent. I would have preferred less of the editors' political commentary.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read for getting very upset about RFK’s assassination, though it could’ve done without the early 2000s politics references that haven’t aged well