Abstract
"Robert Kennedy's role in American politics during the 1960s defies definition. He was a junior senator from New York, but he was also much more. The public perceived him as possessing the intangible qualities of his brother, the slain President. Throughout his tenure as an elected official, 1965-1968, Kennedy struggled to find his own voice in national affairs." "In His Own Right examines this crucial period of Robert Kennedy's political career. How did he make the transformation from being a political operator known for "ruthlessness" toward his opponents, to becoming, by 1968, a "tribune of the underclass"? Joseph A. Palermo chronciles RFK's extraordinary transformation from Cold Warrior to grass roots activist, from his strong opposition against the war in Vietnam to his support of the civil rights movement and his continued antagonism with Lyndon Johnson. He bases his analysis on never before seen documents and focuses on the crucial nexus between '60s social activism and Kennedy's role as national leader, which was a direct product of the social movements of the time."--Jacket.