Documentaries, Media, Film, and Historical Memory in Building the Mythology and Legacy of Robert F. Kennedy

Abstract

Robert F. Kennedy was his brother’s successful campaign manager, Attorney General at the height of the Civil Rights movement, a U.S. Senator, and presidential candidate in one of the most tumultuous times in American history. His celebrity was a catalyst for intense opinions about him, consequently, Kennedy was both loved and loathed. The crafting of his image through savvy media management while Robert Kennedy was alive was enhanced and magnified after his death. How did this mythology, particularly in film, flourish?

This thesis examines a few examples in how the Robert Kennedy story morphed into legend -- whether it was his efforts as a champion of equality and justice within the Black community, or his guiding hand in the Cuban Missile crisis, with a focus on uncovering the historical truth, brings light to the “how.” There will also be an analysis of the number of documentaries and retrospectives beginning the night of Robert Kennedy’s death.

While it’s been proved that the Kennedy family were conscious of press relations to improve their image, they were a visually attractive and dynamic family that invited media attention. The celebrity aspect of Robert Kennedy was a combination of his own fame, plus a living extension of possibilities lost with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The candid film of Robert Kennedy as Attorney General, as well as his physical adventures, travels around the world, and visits to the poor and destitute, which were all filmed mostly at the behest of his team, greatly contributed to his image and iconography. There was an enormous number of documentaries and film portrayals of Kennedy that enhanced his image. Into this mix is the human factor of losing a political leader in such a violent and tragic way that left those who were critical of Kennedy mostly silent in the aftermath.

Popular biographies and the large number of films that featured Robert Kennedy either focus on his memory or portray him in dramaturgical terms which only heightened his iconic status. This paper shows how extensively film was used to augment his image, and after his assassination it was Robert Kennedy’s family, colleagues, friends, and admirers who boosted his accomplishments to mythological levels because there was no real measurement other than “what might have been.”