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RFK
A Memoir
Jack Newfield
September 2003
ISBN: 1560255315
Robert Kennedy was one of the most complex, charismatic and controversial figures of our time. He occupies a remarkable and paradoxical place in the American imagination. On the right he has been lauded as "the greatest crime-fighter of the twentieth century" by novelist James Ellroy, idolized by Rudy Giuliani and memorialized by Attorney General John Ashcroft, who renamed the Justice Department after him. On the left, his admirers say he represented the last hope of revitalizing the liberal tradition. Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. said Kennedy was a "man of passionate conviction, carrying a message of change, and for the forlorn and dispossessed of America, a message of hope."
But who was Robert Kennedy? To acclaimed reporter Jack Newfield, who worked closely with him during his last years, RFK was a human being far different from the myths that surrounded his name. "Part of him was soldier, priest, radical, and football coach. But he was none of these. He was a politician. His enemies said he was consumed with selfish ambition, a ruthless opportunist exploiting his brother's legend. But he was too passionate and too vulnerable ever to be the cool and confident operator his brother was."
In this haunting and memorable portrait we see what kind of man died when Robert Kennedy was shot and what kind of leader America lost.
What readers are saying
"A masterpiece.... Whether this book is taken to be a biography, a political synopsis or a character analysis, it will not be taken lightly... By the end, the reader feels that he knew Robert Kennedy, not that he knew of him.... Unforgettable reading."
--Denver Post
"A deeply moving and affectionate tribute... the best book on Robert Kennedy to date."
--New York Times
"This is a brilliant and insightful book. Robert Kennedy inspired Newfield to write at the frontier of his talent. And this is the real lesson of Robert Kennedy's life. He inspired everyone to be the best they can be."
--Governor Mario Cuomo
"A masterpiece... Whether this book is taken to be a biography, a political synopsis or a character analysis, it will not be taken lightly.... By the end, the reader feels that he knew Robert Kennedy, not that he knew of him.... Unforgettable reading."
--Denver Post
About the Authors
Jack Newfield began his career in the 1960s as a columnist for the Village Voice. He did investigative reporting for the New York Daily News, New York Post, New York Sun, and The Nation magazine. Newfield was the author of ten books and collaborated on numerous documentaries. He died on December 21, 2004.
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