Yeah, that’s a provocative title. But follow me back to 1968, the last time we had an unpopular war, and a major Democratic candidate seeking to end it. His name was Robert F. Kennedy, he was the biggest threat to the preferred pro-war candidate, Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, and as we all know, the day he won the California primary was the last day of his life:
With its 174 delegates as the prize, California was a very strategic ballot box for any one of the nominees to walk away with, and, best for RFK, it was believed to be a “Kennedy state”. Taking a California victory into the Democratic Convention in Chicago would be powerful. […]
With the ballot boxes having closed at sunset, and the California networks updating returns throughout the evening, nearly 2,000 campaign workers crowded the Embassy Ballroom, of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles; the mood was festive and the hopes high. As the evening progressed, and the monitors showed RFK’s numbers taking the lead, his supporters on site went wild and started chanting for him. They wanted a speech. […]
… With wife Ethel and his entourage, the senator moved to the ballroom where, upon entering, was greeted by frantic applause. Red-white-and-blue ribbons decorated the wall behind the speaker’s podium and balloons colored the ceiling overhead, flashbulbs popped, and music from an orchestra sent the sea of heads before the stage bobbing in rhythm. Raising his arms for attention, a smiling “Bobby,” as his fans called him, thanked the room for their great support and, adding a bit of humor, thanked pitcher Don Drysdale for winning his sixth straight shut-out that afternoon.
Then the speech turned serious. Kennedy addressed the fact that the nation needed to overcome racial divisions and other social evils (the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King had taken place exactly two months ago to the day), as well as an end to the unpopular war in Vietnam. Concluding his speech with a victory sign and the words, “…now on to Chicago, and let’s win there!” the house once again broke loose. “We want Bobby! We want Bobby!” sang the house. Grinning, he turned towards the side door that would take him through a food preparation area, a short cut to where the press was waiting in the Colonial Room beyond. It was now 12:15 a.m., June 5. […]
If Senator Kennedy spotted the small, swarthy young man approach him at all, he would have figured he was just one of the many hotel personnel who wanted to shake his hand or beg an autograph. But as this comer neared, he leveled a gun in Kennedy’s direction and opened fire.
Kennedy would die in a Los Angeles hospital approximately 25 hours later, at 2:00 AM on June 6, 1968.
