From Boomers to Millennials: A Modern US History Podcast

Ep. 17A - The Kennedys as Boomer Icons, Part III: Young Bobby


Listen Later

Season 3 of our podcast begins with the next chapter of the Kennedy saga, as Rep. John F. Kennedy manages to knock off powerful incumbent Republican Senator Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. in the 1952 Massachusetts U.S. Senate race. The secret ingredient in that victory was  JFK's tenacious & combative younger brother, Robert F. Kennedy (often known as "RFK" or "Bobby"), who served as his campaign manager. RFK had grown up younger & shorter than his charismatic brothers Joe Junior  & Jack, and he had a bit of a chip on his shoulder. He started his political career as a staunch anti-Communist conservative, taking after his right-wing father. He even worked for infamous red-baiting Senator Joe McCarthy. But he still supported the Democrats, and after getting JFK into the Senate in 1952, he also served as the campaign manager for his presidential campaign in 1960. As a reward for his hard work, & to have a trusted confidant in the White House, JFK appointed RFK as his Attorney General. Bobby was known at the Justice Dept. for taking tough stances against organized crime at home & Communists abroad. However, after Jack's assassination in 1963, he moved far to the Left politically. He remade himself as a crusader against poverty & the Vietnam War, & he sought to defeat archrival Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1968 Democratic primary. However, his race was tragically cut short when he, too, was assassinated, leaving many Baby Boomers to dream about the America that might have been if Bobby Kennedy had survived to become president.

Support the show

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

From Boomers to Millennials: A Modern US History PodcastBy Logan Rogers

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

20 ratings


More shows like From Boomers to Millennials: A Modern US History Podcast

View all
My History Can Beat Up Your Politics by Bruce Carlson

My History Can Beat Up Your Politics

1,135 Listeners

The History of WWII Podcast by Ray Harris Jr

The History of WWII Podcast

3,957 Listeners

Lectures in History by C-SPAN

Lectures in History

721 Listeners

When Diplomacy Fails Podcast by Zack Twamley

When Diplomacy Fails Podcast

654 Listeners

Dan Snow's History Hit by History Hit

Dan Snow's History Hit

4,621 Listeners

The History of the Cold War Podcast by The History of the Cold War Podcast

The History of the Cold War Podcast

397 Listeners

This American President by This American President

This American President

742 Listeners

History That Doesn't Suck by Prof. Greg Jackson

History That Doesn't Suck

5,826 Listeners

American History Tellers by Wondery

American History Tellers

18,985 Listeners

American Revolution Podcast by Michael Troy

American Revolution Podcast

986 Listeners

American Elections: Wicked Game by Airship

American Elections: Wicked Game

3,186 Listeners

Key Battles of American History by Key Battles of American History

Key Battles of American History

903 Listeners

For the Ages: A History Podcast by The New York Historical

For the Ages: A History Podcast

378 Listeners

Nuremberg: The Trial of the Nazi War Criminals by BBC Radio 4

Nuremberg: The Trial of the Nazi War Criminals

217 Listeners

American History Hit by History Hit

American History Hit

1,408 Listeners