THE POSSIBILITY

1969-73 BOB V THE MOB

RFK was no stranger to confrontation when it came to organised crime and the corrupt exploitation of workers. Union boss Jimmy Hoffa of the all-powerful Brotherhood of Teamsters had clashed with him in hearings years before, and the Mafia bosses were also his enemies. RFK’S passion for integrity and transparency in politics and the institutions in which people placed their trust was heartfelt, and there can be little doubt that his commitment for justice would have spilled over into his presidency. RFK’S war on corruption would have continued, but this time with added presidential power.

1969 NO MORE ’NAM

The pivotal issue overseas would have been the Vietnam War. His view of America’s place in the world was one of democratic role model, and the war had fractured the nation. By early 1968 there were around 485,000 US troops in Vietnam, and 20,000 had been killed. RFK wanted a peaceful settlement and the troops brought home. Under the new President Kennedy all of this would have been possible, thousands of lives saved, and America’s reputation for civilised common sense established.

1969 – PRESENT RIGHTS FOR ALL

No Robert Kennedy presidency would have been complete without an overhaul of the rights of all citizens, regardless of the colour of their skin or background. RFK’S belief in justice for all was unwavering, but he would need every ounce of his personal grit and determination to battle with an uncompromising and unforgiving system that was afraid of political and social change. It would have been a bumpy road, and some form of compromise would have been the result, but by setting things in motion the legacy of an RFK presidency may well have been a very different, more integrated and more inclusive society.