Bobby Kennedy

A Raging Spirit

Chris Matthews

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Year: 2017
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• eBook ISBN:
  9781501111884
• Subtopic: Political Biographies
• Index: Politics & International Relations

In Chris Matthews’s New York Times bestselling portrait of Robert F. Kennedy, “Readers witness the evolution of Kennedy’s soul. Through tragedy after tragedy we find the man humanized” (Associated Press).

With his bestselling biography Jack Kennedy, Chris Matthews profiled of one of America’s most beloved Presidents and the patriotic spirit that defined him. Now, with Bobby Kennedy, Matthews provides “insight into [Bobby’s] spirit and what drove him to greatness” (New York Journal of Books) in his gripping, in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at one of the great figures of the American twentieth century.

Overlooked by his father, and overshadowed by his war-hero brother, Bobby Kennedy was a perpetual underdog. When he had the chance to become a naval officer like his older brother, Bobby turned it down, choosing instead to join the Navy as a common sailor. It was a life-changing experience that led him to connect with voters from all walks of life: young and old, Black and white, rich and poor. They were the people who turned out for him in his 1968 campaign. RFK would prove himself to be the rarest of politicians—both a pragmatist who knew how to get the job done and an unwavering idealist who could inspire millions.

Drawing on extensive research and interviews, Matthews pulls back the curtain on the private world of Robert Francis Kennedy. Matthew illuminates the important moments of his life: from his early years and his start in politics, to his crucial role as attorney general in his brother’s administration and, finally, his tragic run for president. This definitive book brings Bobby Kennedy to life like never before.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Dedication
• Epigraph
• Prologue
• Chapter One Altar Boy
• Chapter Two Ambassador’s Son
• Chapter Three Honor thy Father
• Chapter Four Rites of Passage
• Chapter Five Commitment
• Chapter Six Brother
• Chapter Seven The Kennedy Party
• Chapter Eight Clan
• Chapter Nine Hail Mary
• Chapter Ten Irish Cop
• Chapter Eleven Enforcer
• Chapter Twelve The Enemy Within
• Chapter Thirteen Victory
• Chapter Fourteen Freedom Fighter
• Chapter Fifteen General
• Chapter Sixteen Two Great Men
• Chapter Seventeen Civil Rights
• Chapter Eighteen Relic
• Chapter Nineteen Brave Heart
• Chapter Twenty Affirmation
• Chapter Twenty-One The Movement
• Chapter Twenty-Two Vigil
• Chapter Twenty-Three Defiance
• Chapter Twenty-Four Sacrifice
• Chapter Twenty-Five Salute
• Acknowledgments
• About the Author
• Notes
• Bibliography
• Index
• Copyright