Description
Book SynopsisFor most of his life, Robert Kennedy stood in the shadow cast by his older brother, John; only after President Kennedy's assassination did the public gain a complete sense of Robert (\u0022Bobby,\u0022 we called him) as a committed advocate for social justice and a savvy politician in his own right. In this comprehensive biography, James W. Hilty offers a detailed and nuanced account of how Robert was transformed from a seemingly unpromising youngster, unlikely to match the accomplishments of his older brothers, to the forceful man who ran \u0022the family business,\u0022 orchestrating the Kennedy quest for political power.
Trade Review"John and Robert Kennedy's close personal and working relationship was unique in the annals of American public service. James W. Hilty, focusing on Robert as 'brother protector,' has written a thorough, thoughtful account based on scrupulous research and a historian's search for the truth." -Edwin Guthman, former press secretary to RFK and co-editor of Robert Kennedy in His Own Words: The Unpublished Recollections of the Kennedy Years "James Hilty offers an important new study of RFK as lifelong defender and promoter of his brother, President John Kennedy. This fascinating, perceptive biography reveals a man struggling in his brother's shadow as he strives to confirm his own individuality as campaign manager, attorney general, and younger brother/confidant." -Library Journal "Robert Kennedy: Brother Protector is a splendid book. Hilty tells familiar stories with original interpretations, lacing his discussion with lucid tales of RFK's conflicts with Roy Cohn, Martin Luther King, Lyndon B. Johnson, and George Wallace. He challenges the myths and lore of the Kennedy past, from alleged voter fraud in Illinois to RFK's rumored affair with Marilyn Monroe... The book will give pause to Kennedy admirers and detractors alike, for it is the most intelligently analyzed account of RFK to date." -The Journal of American History "A thousand and one Kennedy books are out there, one for every day of John F. Kennedy's mythical reign. But this one, written by a historian, actually provides a useful service. One of its main themes-am I truly my brother's keeper?-is timeless. And the other-exploring the obligations of the U.S. attorney general-is current." -The Baltimore Sun "Hilty offers an interesting take on a much-written-about chapter in U.S. history." -Publishers Weekly "The book's greatest strength is its straightforward, thorough examination of the major controversies surrounding John and Robert Kennedy." -The American Historical Review "...a highly recommended book." -The Historian
Table of ContentsCONTENTS Preface Introduction: Am I My Brother's Keeper? Chapter 1. The Seventh Kennedy Chapter 2. Farewells and Foreboding Chapter 3. "Yes, Dad. Yes, Dad." Chapter 4. Joe McCarthy and the Enemies Within Chapter 5. Investigating Racketeers Chapter 6. Winning Jack the Nomination Chapter 7. Electing Jack President Chapter 8. Justice in the New Frontier Chapter 9. Hoover and Bawdy Tales Chapter 10. Kennedy Aura and Kennedy Promises Chapter 11. The Cauldron of Civil Rights Chapter 12. Toward a Moral Commitment on Civil Rights Chapter 13. The Kennedys and King Chapter 14. "Number One and One-Half" Chapter 15. Missiles of October Chapter 16. Lest Darkness Come Upon You Epilogue: There Has to Be a Morning After Notes Bibliographic Essay Chronology Photograph Credits Index
