Robert Kennedy Remembered (1968) Online

I just obtained this movie via making a donation to the Robert Kennedy Memorial Fund. My wife and I watched it this evening, and we were so touched that we immediately watched it again. Although it is only 30 minutes in length, director Charles Googenheim captures the essence of the man. Particularly striking are the scenes that show RFK interacting with crowds while campaigning. Younger viewers who have known only pre-packaged presidential campaigns that are driven primarily by carefully orchestrated photo ops will be shocked by the unbounded, joyous and spontaneous nature of RFK's interaction with the crowds that flocked to see, hear and touch him. The movie--and the man who is the subject of the movie--are both true gems.

I must state at the outset that Robert F. Kennedy fascinated me when I was growing up, his run for the Democratic nomination in 1968 was something I followed as it unfolded and I remember watching this when it was broadcast. I've recently seen it again and my review will contain mild spoilers:

This short is composed principally of archival footage of Robert F. Kennedy and the Kennedy family, with shots of the train which carried his body from California, Kennedy family footage and some from his funeral. With narration by Richard Burton, it's a brief glimpse at RFK: the man, the politician and the larger than life symbol he was already starting to become. The familiar iconic appearance at the 1964 Democratic convention, where he paid tribute to his older brother, is present, as is footage of his climbing of Mt. Kennedy, which was named after his brother, as well as other notable moments of his life which were caught on film. There are still photos shown as well. Given that Guggenheim reportedly had a four week window to complete the project, the results are particularly remarkable. The film is beautifully done, well paced and poignant.

Available on DVD, put out by the producer's company and well worth the time and effort to get if the subject interests you. Most highly recommended.

I've watched this documentary on my local PBS station more than once, and each time I've watched, I've cried almost all the way through, but especially near the end, beginning at the time when RFK flew into Indianapolis to speak before the crowds, arriving almost immediately after Dr Martin Luther King was reported as being assassinated. He gave a GREAT speech—unrehearsed—from his heart! I loved those three men, and I really liked Robert Kennedy. RFK was VERY special.

All three were "good" men, SPECIAL men; but for some reason, Robert Kennedy's death got to me a little more than the others; perhaps because by that time it was just too, too, much! A THIRD senseless death of yet another good man; or perhaps because he was so genuinely sincere and had such compassion for the downtrodden, the underdogs, and the "unlovely" (white and black); and was positioned to make a real difference. Sad...even to this day, so many years later.

In spite of the length of time since those terrible murders, the pain of those times past has not diminished.