I was 15 years old in 1968, and Robert Kennedy was running for President, and his campaign came through my hometown of Gary, Indiana. The Indiana Primary was coming up and I rode my bike about 5 miles to 10th street where his car was supposed to drive by.
Sure enough, Bobby Kennedy and Ethel (who was pregnant with her last child, Roary, at the time) came around the corner onto 10th street. I cannot even begin to tell you how much unbelievable charisma Bobby Kennedy had. People surrounded the car. He was smiling and shaking hands. Ethel was just trying to shield her eyes from the sun which was directly in her face.
Kennedy had this raw, positive, power that just made people cheer when they were around him. Everyone was just thrilled to meet him.
Kennedy had finished shaking hands with us and the car started inching away, speeding up along 10th street. People were literally chasing after his car, and the last thing I saw him do was that famous habit of his of taking his right hand and sweeping his hair out of his face.
There was a media car behind Kennedy, filming his every move. There was no security at all around him. How times have changed.
All these years later I wish someone in the Kennedy inner circle would have convinced him not to run for President. Perhaps he would still be with us today.
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