RFK: His Life and Death by the Editors of American Heritage (1968) — with 64 pages of pictures

Within my first days back in the States this summer, I simply couldn’t help but check out some Little Free Libraries in the neighborhood. This book on RFK jumped out at me, and for good reasons.

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A Few Reasons I Was Drawn to RFK: His Life and Death

First, I’ve recently been reading up on the Kennedy assassinations—both in Mark Kurlansky’s 1968: The Year That Rocked the World and Stephen King’s time-travel novel, 11/22/63. Although I’m a child of the ’80s, I continue to be fascinated by the 1960s and I’m happy to read anything that falls into my lap.

Second, Robert F. Kennedy was murdered by Sirhan Sirhan on June 6, 1968—making this very weekend the 58th anniversary of his death. Not an important anniversary itself, but memories of this sad event are in the air.

Third, I guess, is that RFK’s own son continues to make waves politically in his MAHA movement, which my wife especially keeps watching. I like Bobby for caring more about his country than he does about peace with his family at Thanksgiving—and, of course, his animal exploits are always fun to watch.

Quick Summary of the Book

Because this book was written in 1968, mere months after RFK’s assassination, there is very little information about the crime itself beyond the fact that the shooter, Sirhan Sirhan, was arrested and charged. I guess I’ll need to wait for Bill O’Reilly to write an RFK-focused book and tell more about the aftermath.

Much of this little volume describes Robert’s family background and his slow growth towards popularity in the shadows of his brothers, Joe and John. Joe’s death in WWII passed the mantle of political responsibility onto John, and Robert was right there to help his older brother earn not only his seat as senator, but also the Presidency. When JFK was assassinated on November 22, 1963, Robert mourned like the rest of the country, yet he also knew the mantle had been passed on to him.

Throughout these earlier chapters, I learned more about RFK’s personality that I had ever known before—his ruthlessness, his being a “sore loser”, his role in JFK’s elections, his time serving as his brother’s Attorney General (though he had very little practical experience), and his infatuation with organized crime, particularly the Teamsters and Jimmy Hoffa. Some of these events are now familiar as American lore, but never having lived through the 1960s, I know them only in passing and as trivia. It was helpful for me to read through it this way.

Also because this book was written in 1968, I felt that it recounts the events leading up to RFK’s death with details that have been otherwise lost to time. The editors of American Heritage who compiled this volume wrote as if Kennedy’s campaign for the ’68 Presidency were recent news, and it was. Months ago, actually! They even close with an eye-witness report about the assassination—not well written, but insightful nevertheless.

An Interesting Style of Book

I like to think of this book as an early documentary page-turner. It feels that way, a $0.95 Dell publication that probably enjoyed a single printing and then was lost to history. Most people ignore it, like they would an old weekly-news magazine from the 1970s. That’s fine, because at least one copy still survives, and I read it, enjoyed it, and learned a great deal from it. Some things are worth checking out.

And let me just take a moment to point out that this is what my site is all about—reviewing books that I want to read, not necessarily what’s popular or what’s going to get the most clicks. So if you like what you see here, feel free to subscribe to my weekly e-mail list.

Of particular interest to me in this book was another angle of JFK’s life and legacy. Rather than focusing on John as the main event, Robert takes the lead—it’s his role in the elections we see, and it’s his sorrow at his brother’s demise we feel. And when he breaks free from his gloom and bears the responsibility of leadership in his brother’s stead, it’s his excitement and apprehension we experience.

This book ends the the weekend of RFK’s death, so one thing that now intrigues me is that fourth brother, Edward. I know that Ted Kennedy also served as Senator—and that he had some skeletons in his closet (not to mention his trunk)—but did he take on the mantle as well? Did he ever run for President? Did he sorrow in the same way as RFK? What drove him politically? What kind of man was he?

Again, I was born in the ’80s and only began caring moderately about politics during the Clinton years. Inquiring minds want to know.

Conclusion

This might be a random, hard-to-find book for you, but I’m glad I stumbled upon a copy. It offered me a solid, short-and-sweet explanation of RFK’s family and political past, right up to the point of his accepting the Democratic Nomination for Presidency—and then tragedy.

As I explore more of the 1960s in my reading, I think a deeper dive into the Kennedy Dynasty would be informative. From JFK to RFK to Jackie O. to JFK Jr. and Ted and Bobby (and even “Sweet Caroline”!), there are so many interesting threads to follow. I’m sure these Irish Catholics could keep me entertained all summer, if I let them.

We’ll have to see what other goodies those Little Free Libraries have to offer and hope they’ve got something to scratch the Kennedy itch.

©2026 E.T.

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