DBWI: RFK has passed away

I just saw the news - former President Robert F. Kennedy passed away today at the age of 93. This feels like the end of an era, given how much a fixture he had been in American political life for decades and the fact that he stayed so active until the very end.

So... yeah? Any thoughts on his life? Any retrospective thoughts on all of his accomplishments and controversies?
 
The general sentiment about RFK is that he was a much better person than a President, and I certainly agree. What his charity has done post-presidency in uplifting inner city kids is truly admirable and the anti-drug element saved thousands of lives in the 1980s, at a time when much of the national efforts were focused on incarceration. It became especially important to him after Robert Jr. died.

But even his presidency is now starting to see its proponents. While he has come to be defined by a rough second term due to inflation and his patient response to the Iran hostage crisis being seen as weak at the time, he successfully negotiated an armistice in Vietnam in his first term and was diplomatically involved in the 1990s reunification process. Had the Soviets not invaded Afghanistan, it's highly likely detente would have continued and so would have the international mission to Mars. He also promoted civil rights for the disabled and signed legislation on energy and the environment, even though most of his domestic agenda would stall in Congress.

Rest in peace to a good man.
 
Top