First published 1979
Arthur Schlesinger opens Robert Kennedy's world through previously unseen private papers, letters, and personal journals. The historian, who knew Kennedy personally, traces the attorney general's evolution from his brother's campaign manager to a political figure in his own right. Schlesinger examines Kennedy's role in the civil rights movement, his confrontations with organized crime, and his growing opposition to the Vietnam War. The book reveals Kennedy's private struggles with power, justice, and family loyalty during the turbulent 1960s. Drawing on intimate correspondence and journal entries, Schlesinger shows how Kennedy grappled with the gap between political pragmatism and moral conviction. The National Book Award winner captures Kennedy's transformation from a hard-edged political operative into a champion of the dispossessed, exploring both his public battles and private doubts during America's most divisive decade.
Genres: biography, history, 20th-century, political-science, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: moral-dilemma, political-intrigue
Period: 1960s
1184 pages · Paperback · Futura (UK)