"THERE IS JUST A CHANCE RFK COULD HAVE..."

RFK DEFEATS McCARTHY IN CALIFORNIA PRIMARY

Los Angeles, California (JFK+50) On June 4, 1968, Senator Robert F. Kennedy (D-New York) won the Democratic California Primary by defeating Senator Eugene J. McCarthy (D-Minnesota) by four percentage points.  The final totals were...RFK 46% EJM 42%.

The California vote gave Senator Kennedy four primary wins and a three to one advantage over Senator McCarthy in head-to-head contests.

As of June 4, 1968, RFK had accumulated 393 delegates to 258 for EJM.  Vice-President Hubert H. Humphrey, however, still held the lead at 561 delegates.

Historians and politicians of the day disagree as to whether or not the Vice-President's lead could have been overcome.  Arthur L. Cyr wrote in 2008, however, that...

"there is just a chance that RFK could have secured the nomination" or that "Humphrey could have picked him for Vice-President."  

SOURCE

"RFK in 1968:  a hard struggle against long odds," by Arthur L. Cyr, The Seattle Times, 2008. 

 

 

RFK Campaigning in Los Angeles

Photo by Sam Walnum (1968)

JFK Library Image 

ROBERT KENNEDY WINS CALIFORNIA PRIMARY

"NOW IT'S ON TO CHICAGO"

Los Angeles (JFK+50) On June 4, 1968, Senator Robert F. Kennedy* of New York won the Democratic Primary in California defeating Senator Eugene J. McCarthy** of Minnesota 46% to 42%.  On the same day, RFK also won the South Dakota primary 50% to 22%.

The California and South Dakota victories gave RFK four primary victories.  The others were in Indiana (42% to 27%) and Nebraska (52% to 31%).  Eugene McCarthy upset RFK, however, in Oregon by a margin of 6%.

Just after midnight, the Senator arrived in the Embassy Ballroom at the Ambassador Hotel here in Los Angeles to speak to his supporters and the nation.

Senator Kennedy said...

"I think we can end the divisions within the United States.  What I think is quite clear is that we can work together.  We are a great country, a selfless and a compassionate country.  Now it's on to Chicago, and let's win there."

JFK+50 NOTE:

Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey did not enter the primaries but sought support in the non-primary states where party leaders controlled delegate votes.  At the time of RFK's death, the delegate vote totals were...

Humphrey 561, RFK 392, McCarthy 258.

Mr. Humphrey won the nomination in Chicago on the first ballot, but went on to be defeated in the general election by Richard M. Nixon.

*Robert F. Kennedy (1925-1968) was born in Brookline, Massachusetts and graduated from Harvard and the University of Virginia School of Law.  RFK was manager of JFK's 1952 Senate and 1960 Presidential campaigns.  He served as Attorney General from 1961 to 1964 and as US Senator 1965-1968.

**Eugene J. McCarthy (1916-2005) was born in Watkins, MN & graduated from St. John's University and the University of Minnesota.  He taught in public schools 1935-40 & was professor at St. John's 1940-43.  EJM served in the House of Representatives (1949-1959) and in the Senate (1959-1971).  

SOURCE

"Robert Kennedy, Shot, Killed in Los Angeles", June 16, 1968, www.newsweek.com/

Senator Robert Francis Kennedy

(D) New York

SENATOR KENNEDY HAS BEEN SHOT. IS THAT POSSIBLE?

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 1971

RFK SHOT 48 YEARS AGO AFTER WINNING CALIFORNIA PRIMARY 

Los Angeles, California (JFK+50) New York Senator Robert Francis Kennedy*, after having won the Democratic California Primary, was shot in the kitchen pantry at the Ambassador Hotel here in Los Angeles forty-eight years ago today, June 5, 1968.

RFK was the projected winner over Senator Eugene J. McCarthy** of Minnesota.  The final tabulation of votes gave him a 46 to 42 percentage victory.   President Lyndon B. Johnson had announced his decision in late March not to seek another term.

Senator Kennedy had just spoken to supporters in the hotel's ballroom and left the stage entering the kitchen pantry.  The speech concluded at 12:15 a.m. Pacific, 3:15 a.m. Eastern time.

As the Senator walked through the pantry shaking hands with some of the hotel employees, shots rang out.  One bullet struck the Senator just behind the right ear and entered the brain.  While other bystanders were also hit by bullets, Mr. Kennedy was the only one who would lose his life.

A reporter, speaking into his audio tape recorder, shouted "Senator Kennedy has been shot!  Is that possible?" 

The assassin, identified as Sirhan Sirhan, was restrained by Kennedy aides and bystanders and was taken into custody by officers of the Los Angeles Police Department.***

Senator Robert Francis Kennedy died on June 6, 1968 at the age of 42.

*Robert F. Kennedy (1925-1968) was born in Brookline, Massachusetts and graduated from Harvard and the University of Virginia School of Law. 
RFK was manager of JFK's 1952 Senate and 1960 Presidential campaigns.  He served as Attorney General from 1961 to 1964 and as US Senator 1965-1968.

**Eugene J. McCarthy (1916-2005) was born in Watkins, Minnesota and graduated from St. John's University and the University of Minnesota.  He was a professor at St. John's 1940-43.  EJM served in the House of Representatives 1949-1959 and in the Senate 1959-1971.  

***Shane O'Sullivan's "Who Killed Bobby? The Unsolved Murder of Robert F. Kennedy," 2008, argues that many disturbing questions about RFK's death remain unanswered. 

While Sirhan's pistol held 8 bullets, for example, tests from the only audio recording available made during the shooting suggests that at least 10 shots were fired.

O'Sullivan writes...

"This new audio evidence seems to vindicate key eyewitnesses like Kennedy aides Paul Schrade and Frank Burns (and others who)...for forty years...have all insisted that Sirhan never got close enough to fire the fatal shot (that hit RFK behind the right ear) described in the autopsy."

SOURCES

"RFK in 1968: a hard struggle against long odds," by Arthur L. Cyr, The Seattle Times, May 28, 2008.

"Who Killed Bobby? The Unsolved Murder of Robert F. Kennedy," by Shane O'Sullivan, Union Square Press, New York, 2008.

Senator Robert F. Kennedy

(D) New York

McCARTHY SHOCKS LBJ

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 1886

LBJ'S NEW HAMPSHIRE SHOWING SPELLS TROUBLE

Concord, New Hampshire (JFK+50) Forty-eight years ago today, March 12, 1968, Senator Eugene McCarthy* of Minnesota shocked President Lyndon B. Johnson, and the Nation, by his close second place finish in the Democratic Primary here in New Hampshire.

While the President won the primary with 48% of the vote, Senator McCarthy's vote came in only 6 percentage points behind.  This close election result for an incumbent POTUS indicated displeasure within the party with LBJ's policies in the war in Vietnam.

The Minnesota senator tapped into large numbers of American youth who opposed the war. Many of the Senator's male volunteers wore long hair and sported beards, but had been encouraged to "GET CLEAN FOR GENE!"

Another shocking event was to come on the last day of the month as President Johnson announced that he "would not run for another term as....president." After LBJ dropped out, Senator Robert F. Kennedy of New York announced his candidacy.

Senator Kennedy defeated Senator McCarthy in the California Democratic Primary on June 4, 1968 and was hopeful for winning the nomination at the Chicago convention.  That, of course, never happened because RFK was shot following his victory speech in Los Angeles.

*Eugene Joseph McCarthy (1916-2005) was born in Watkins, MN & graduated from St. John's University in 1935.  He earned his Master's degree in 1939. EJM worked as a civilian assistant in military intelligence during WWII.

McCarthy served in the US House of Representatives 1949-1959 & the US Senate 1959-1971.  Upset with the presidency of Jimmy Carter, EJM endorsed Ronald Reagan in 1980.  He died of complications of Parkinson's disease.

Senator Eugene McCarthy

Minnesota (D)

RFK SHOT IN LOS ANGELES

ROBERT F. KENNEDY SHOT 46 YEARS AGO 

Los Angeles, California (JFK+50) New York Senator Robert Francis Kennedy*, after having won the Democratic California Primary, was shot in the kitchen pantry at the Ambassador Hotel here in Los Angeles 46 years ago today, June 5, 1968.

The Senator had just spoken to supporters in the hotel's ballroom and left the stage entering the hotel's kitchen pantry.  The speech concluded at 12:15 a.m. Pacific, 3:15 a.m. Eastern time.

RFK defeated Senator Eugene J. McCarthy** of Minnesota by 4 percentage points.  

The final result was RFK 46% EJM 42%.

The alleged assassin, identified as Sirhan Sirhan, was restrained by Kennedy aides and bystanders.  He was shortly taken into custody by officers of the Los Angeles Police Department.***

RFK died on June 6, 1968.  The Senator was 42 years old.

Senator Robert F. Kennedy

(D) New York

*Robert F. Kennedy (1925-1968) was born in Brookline, Massachusetts and graduated from Harvard and the University of Virginia School of Law. 

RFK was manager of JFK's 1952 Senate and 1960 Presidential campaigns.  He served as Attorney General from 1961 to 1964 and as US Senator 1965-1968.

Senator Eugene McCarthy

(D) Minnesota

**Eugene J. McCarthy (1916-2005) was born in Watkins, Minnesota and graduated from St. John's University and the University of Minnesota.  He taught in public schools 1935-40  and was professor at St. John's 1940-43.

McCarthy served in the House of Representatives 1949-1959 and in the Senate 1959-1971.  He died of complications of Parkinson's disease in Georgetown.

The victory gave RFK a total of four primary wins and a 3 to 1 advantage over McCarthy in head to head contests.

At the time, however, both presidential candidates were trailing Vice-President Hubert H. Humphrey in delegate strength.  The tally stood at...

HHH 561
RFK   393  
EM     258

Kennedy historians Theodore H. White and Arthur M. Schlesinger believed that RFK's victory in California would have given him the momentum to overcome Humphrey's lead at the Chicago convention.

Tom Wicker, Richard Reeves and Larry O'Brien, however, argued that Humphrey's lead most likely would have held.

The road to California began in New Hampshire with Eugene McCarthy's strong showing against President Lyndon B. Johnson on March 12, 1968.

While LBJ won the 1st Democratic Primary of 1968, he did so by only 8 percentage points.  The narrow result indicated political problems for the incumbent within in own party.

Just four days later, Senator Kennedy announced his presidential candidacy.

LBJ, seeing the handwriting on the wall, announced this shocking decision on the evening of March 31, 1968...

"I will not seek and will not accept the nomination of my party for another term as your president."

President Johnson's decision resulted in a divided Democratic Party with labor union and party leaders behind Vice President Hubert Humphrey and students, anti-war activists and minorities divided between McCarthy and Kennedy.

Conservative Southern Democrats formed another coalition.

Arthur L. Syr pointed out in 2008 that the fact Gene McCarthy defeated RFK in the Oregon Primary "is overlooked in most contemporary media recountings of those days," but he goes on to add...

"And yet there is just a chance that RFK could have secured the nomination" or even if he didn't "Humphrey could have picked him for VP."

***Shane O'Sullivan's "Who Killed Bobby? The Unsolved Murder of Robert F. Kennedy," 2008, argues that many disturbing questions about RFK's death remain unanswered. 

While Sirhan's pistol held 8 bullets, for example, audio tests from the only audio recording available made during the shooting suggests that at least 10 shots were fired.

O'Sullivan writes...

"This new audio evidence seems to vindicate key eyewitnesses like Kennedy aides Paul Schrade and Frank Burns (and others who)...for forty years...have all insisted that Sirhan never got close enough to fire the fatal shot (that hit RFK behind the right ear) described in the autopsy."

SOURCES

"RFK in 1968: a hard struggle against long odds," by Arthur L. Cyr, The Seattle Times, May 28, 2008.

"Who Killed Bobby? The Unsolved Murder of Robert F. Kennedy," by Shane O'Sullivan, Union Square Press, New York, 2008.

EUGENE McCARTHY'S NEW HAMPSHIRE SHOCKER

LBJ GETS WAKE UP CALL IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

Manchester, New Hampshire (JFK+50) Senator Eugene McCarthy of Minnesota won 42% of the vote 46 years ago today. March 12, 1968, in the Democratic Presidential Primary here in New Hampshire.

While McCarthy finished in second place behind President Lyndon B. Johnson, who won 48% of the vote, the result was a shocker because incumbent presidents running for re-election normally win their party's primaries with ease.

McCarthy entered the race in January hoping to tap in to the large numbers of American youth who opposed the administration's policies in Vietnam.

Many of McCarthy's volunteers who had long hair and beards were encouraged to...

 "GET CLEAN FOR GENE."

*McCarthy started with only $400 but by March 31, 1968, LBJ announced he would not run for another term and then Robert Kennedy soon entered the race.

Senator Eugene McCarthy

FIRST LADY ARRIVED IN INDIA  52 YEARS AGO

New Delhi, India (JFK+50) Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy arrived 52 years ago today, March 12, 1962, in New Delhi on the first day of her goodwill tour.

Mrs. John F. Kennedy was accompanied by her younger sister, Lee Radziwill, and John Kenneth Galbraith, US ambassador to India.

Mrs. Kennedy was welcomed by Prime Minister Nehru and his daughter, Indira Gandhi.

In India, Mrs. Kennedy was hailed as "Amriki Rani" or Queen of America.

Jacqueline Kennedy

Taj Mahal, Agra, India 3/15/1962

Photo by Cecil Stoughton

JFK Library, Boston

FDR GAVE FIRST FIRESIDE CHAT 81 YEARS AGO

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke into a radio microphone at the White House this evening at 10 p.m. 81 years ago, March 12, 1933, to begin his first "Fireside Chat".

NBC Microphone 

Used for the Fireside Chats

National Museum of American History

Washington, D.C.

The topic of the evening broadcast was "On the Bank Crisis".

FDR, in a clear confident voice, told the nation about why so many banks had failed and what he is doing to fix the problems.

In his 13 minute & 42 second talk, FDR said:

"I hope you can see, my friends, from this essential recital of what your government is doing that there is nothing complex, nothing radical in the process."

By 1933, 9000 U.S. banks had closed down permanently. 

FDR's 31 radio talks between 1933 and 1944 did much to give Americans confidence in their President and the federal government.

You can listen to the audio recordings of the Fireside Chats at the Museum of Broadcast Communication www.museum.tv/

FDR Delivers a Fireside Chat

BOBBY KENNEDY SHOT AFTER WINNING CALIFORNIA PRIMARY 45 YEARS AGO

June 4-5, 2013

BOBBY KENNEDY SHOT AFTER WINNING CALIFORNIA PRIMARY 45 YEARS AGO 

Los Angeles, California (JFK+50) SENATOR ROBERT F. KENNEDY* of New York won the crucial 1968 Democratic California Primary held on June 4, 1968,  but after giving a victory speech at the Ambassador Hotel here in Los Angeles was shot by Sirhan Sirhan.

RFK defeated SENATOR EUGENE J. McCARTHY** of Minnesota by 4 percentage points.  The final result was RFK 46% to EJM 42%.

Senator Kennedy's speech ended at 12:15 Pacific time on the morning of June 5th.  

After RFK left the podium, he exited through the hotel kitchen where the shooting occurred.  The alleged assassin was immediately taken into custody.

RFK died on June 6, 1968.  The Senator was 42 years old.

*Robert F. Kennedy (1925-1968) was born in Brookline, Massachusetts and graduated from Harvard and the University of Virginia School of Law. 

RFK was manager of JFK's 1952 Senate and 1960 Presidential campaigns.  He served as Attorney General from 1961 to 1964 and as US Senator 1965-1968.

**Eugene J. McCarthy (1916-2005) was born in Watkins, Minnesota and graduated from St. John's University and the University of Minnesota.  He taught in public schools 1935-40  and was professor at St. John's 1940-43.

McCarthy served in the House of Representatives 1949-1959 and in the Senate 1959-1971.  He died of complications of Parkinson's disease in Georgetown.

The victory gave RFK a total of 4 primary wins and a 3 to 1 advantage over McCarthy in head to head contests.

At the time, however, both presidential candidates were trailing VICE-PRESIDENT HUBERT H. HUMPHREY in delegate strength....

HHH 561,  RFK 393,  EM 258.

Kennedy historians Theodore H. White and Arthur M. Schlesinger believed that RFK's victory in California would have given him the momentum to overcome Humphrey's lead at the Chicago convention.

Tom Wicker, Richard Reeves and Larry O'Brien, however, argued that Humphrey's lead most likely would have held.

The road to California began in NEW HAMPSHIRE with Eugene McCarthy's strong showing against PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON on March 12, 1968.

While LBJ won the 1st Democratic Primary of 1968, he did so by only 8 percentage points.  The narrow result indicated political problems for the incumbent within in own party.

Just 4 days later, Senator Kennedy announced his presidential candidacy.

LBJ, seeing the handwriting on the wall, announced this shocking decision on the evening of March 31, 1968...

"I will not seek and will not accept the nomination of my party for another term as your president."

President Johnson's decision resulted in a divided Democratic Party with labor union and party leaders behind Vice President Hubert Humphrey and students, anti-war activists and minorities divided between McCarthy and Kennedy.

Conservative Southern Democrats also formed another coalition.

Arthur L. Syr pointed out in 2008 that the fact Gene McCarthy defeated RFK in the OREGON PRIMARY "is overlooked in most contemporary media recountings of those days," but he goes on to add...

"And yet there is just a chance that RFK could have secured the nomination" or even if he didn't "Humphrey could have picked him for VP."

JFK+50 NOTE

I agree that the odds against RFK winning the nomination in 1968 were great and, while respecting the opinions of Teddy White and Arthur Schlesinger, tend to support the view that Humphrey would have won the nomination even had RFK not been killed.

I disagree, however, that Humphrey would have picked RFK for VP.  It seems unlikely because HHH was LBJ's VP and the feud between RFK and LBJ would have nixed that possibility.


SOURCE

"RFK in 1968: a hard struggle against long odds," by Arthur L. Cyr, The Seattle Times, May 28, 2008.