December 16: Fifty-two years ago in 1960, JFK Appointed Brother RFK as Attorney General.
In November 1959, Robert Kennedy became manager of his brother’s presidential campaign. Following the Kennedy victory, the President-elect tapped his brother, on December 16, 1960, to be Attorney General.
John F. Kennedy‘s choice of Robert Kennedy as Attorney General was controversial, with The New York Times and The New Republic calling him inexperienced and unqualified.
As Attorney General, Robert Kennedy exposed the racketeer control of labor unions. His work on behalf of civil rights led to passage of the Kennedy administration’s civil rights bill in July of 1964 and to protections regarding the black American’s right to vote. Kennedy also set his sights on antitrust prosecution and reducing the growth of crime.
Nine months after President Kennedy was tragically assassinated, Robert Kennedy stepped down from his post as Attorney General to run for a seat in the U.S. Senate, representing New York.
In 1968, Robert himself also fell victim to an assassin.
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