Robert F. Kennedy Speech Collection
Encyclopedia
The Robert F. Kennedy Speech Collection is a collection of Ball State University
's Digital Media Repository
containing a film, transcript, and complete audio recording of Robert F. Kennedy
's April 4, 1968 speech in Muncie, Indiana
. The collection also contains many photographs and a short research paper.
On March 16, 1968, Robert F. Kennedy
declared his candidacy for president of the United States
saying, “I do not run for the Presidency merely to oppose any man but to propose new polices.” On March 28, he flew into Weir Cook Airport in Indianapolis
to file as a presidential candidate in the Indiana
primary.
On April 4, Kennedy made his first stop on the Indiana campaign trail at the University of Notre Dame
, where a rally was held in support of his candidacy. Kennedy then continued on to Muncie, Indiana
where he spoke at Ball State University
.
In some ways, Robert F. Kennedy was following in his slain brother’s footsteps by visiting Muncie. John F. Kennedy
spoke in Muncie during his 1960 campaign for presidency. Robert F. Kennedy’s stop in Muncie was part of his campus tour; he was scheduled to spend five days in Indiana and his brother Edward Kennedy was to campaign in the state for six days as well. Plans called for the entire Kennedy family to visit Indiana before the May 7, primary.
Local attorney Marshall Hanley was instrumental in bringing Robert F. Kennedy to Muncie. Hanley was the 10th District coordinator for the Kennedy campaign, a position he held during John F. Kennedy
’s presidential campaign.
The Men’s Gym was selected as the location for Kennedy’s speech; however there was much concern over filling all the seats in the gym. Conversely, the Gym was filled to capacity, with an estimated 9,000 people filling all the seats and the entire playing court, after playing waiting hours for Kennedy’s appearance.
On stage Kennedy was accompanied by his wife, Robert Stewart, Mayor Paul Cooley, Mrs. ArmeNa Rahe, and Marshall Hanley. Kennedy spoke for 34 minutes and spent 21 minutes answering questions presented by the audience. Kennedy’s speech was devoted to domestic issues and to potential international issues that may arise after withdrawal from the Vietnam War
. He also spoke passionately about hunger and poverty
in America and the rest of the world.
One student African-American student raised a question to Kennedy that seems almost a premonition of the speech to come later that night after the horrific events of the day. The student asked, “Your speech implies that you are placing a great deal of faith in white America. Is that faith justified?” Kennedy answered, “Yes” and added that “faith in Black America is justified, too” although he said there “are extremists on both sides.”
It has been argued that although this speech has been largely overlooked and ignored, due to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., it was one of most powerful and heartfelt speeches Kennedy delivered.
From Muncie, the Kennedy entourage flew back to Indianapolis that night where Robert F. Kennedy delivered what many call his greatest speech
, announcing the Martin Luther King, Jr. assassination
to a predominantly African-American audience. Discarding the themes of his earlier speeches, Kennedy addressed the crowd for six minutes, speaking entirely about King’s death and its meaning for the nation and the world, ending by asking for prayers for King, his family, and “for our country.”
On May 7, 1968, Kennedy won Indiana’s Democratic primary with 42% of the vote compared to 31% for Indiana Governor Roger D. Branigin
and 27% for Eugene McCarthy
. Kennedy’s trip to Muncie had a positive impact on Delaware County
voters, as he received 40% of the votes cast in the county.
Ball State University
Ball State University is a state-run research university located in Muncie, Indiana. It is also known as Ball State or simply BSU.Located on the northwest side of the city, Ball State's campus spans and includes 106 buildings...
's Digital Media Repository
Digital Media Repository
Established in 2004, the Digital Media Repository is an innovation of Ball State University Libraries. The DMR is a publicly-accessible collection of more than 130,000 digital artifacts in sixty-four browsable and searchable collections...
containing a film, transcript, and complete audio recording of Robert F. Kennedy
Robert F. Kennedy
Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy , also referred to by his initials RFK, was an American politician, a Democratic senator from New York, and a noted civil rights activist. An icon of modern American liberalism and member of the Kennedy family, he was a younger brother of President John F...
's April 4, 1968 speech in Muncie, Indiana
Muncie, Indiana
Muncie is a city in Center Township, Delaware County in east central Indiana, best known as the home of Ball State University and the birthplace of the Ball Corporation. It is the principal city of the Muncie, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 118,769...
. The collection also contains many photographs and a short research paper.
On March 16, 1968, Robert F. Kennedy
Robert F. Kennedy
Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy , also referred to by his initials RFK, was an American politician, a Democratic senator from New York, and a noted civil rights activist. An icon of modern American liberalism and member of the Kennedy family, he was a younger brother of President John F...
declared his candidacy for president of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
saying, “I do not run for the Presidency merely to oppose any man but to propose new polices.” On March 28, he flew into Weir Cook Airport in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
to file as a presidential candidate in the Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
primary.
On April 4, Kennedy made his first stop on the Indiana campaign trail at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, where a rally was held in support of his candidacy. Kennedy then continued on to Muncie, Indiana
Muncie, Indiana
Muncie is a city in Center Township, Delaware County in east central Indiana, best known as the home of Ball State University and the birthplace of the Ball Corporation. It is the principal city of the Muncie, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 118,769...
where he spoke at Ball State University
Ball State University
Ball State University is a state-run research university located in Muncie, Indiana. It is also known as Ball State or simply BSU.Located on the northwest side of the city, Ball State's campus spans and includes 106 buildings...
.
In some ways, Robert F. Kennedy was following in his slain brother’s footsteps by visiting Muncie. John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
spoke in Muncie during his 1960 campaign for presidency. Robert F. Kennedy’s stop in Muncie was part of his campus tour; he was scheduled to spend five days in Indiana and his brother Edward Kennedy was to campaign in the state for six days as well. Plans called for the entire Kennedy family to visit Indiana before the May 7, primary.
Local attorney Marshall Hanley was instrumental in bringing Robert F. Kennedy to Muncie. Hanley was the 10th District coordinator for the Kennedy campaign, a position he held during John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
’s presidential campaign.
The Men’s Gym was selected as the location for Kennedy’s speech; however there was much concern over filling all the seats in the gym. Conversely, the Gym was filled to capacity, with an estimated 9,000 people filling all the seats and the entire playing court, after playing waiting hours for Kennedy’s appearance.
On stage Kennedy was accompanied by his wife, Robert Stewart, Mayor Paul Cooley, Mrs. ArmeNa Rahe, and Marshall Hanley. Kennedy spoke for 34 minutes and spent 21 minutes answering questions presented by the audience. Kennedy’s speech was devoted to domestic issues and to potential international issues that may arise after withdrawal from the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. He also spoke passionately about hunger and poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
in America and the rest of the world.
One student African-American student raised a question to Kennedy that seems almost a premonition of the speech to come later that night after the horrific events of the day. The student asked, “Your speech implies that you are placing a great deal of faith in white America. Is that faith justified?” Kennedy answered, “Yes” and added that “faith in Black America is justified, too” although he said there “are extremists on both sides.”
It has been argued that although this speech has been largely overlooked and ignored, due to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., it was one of most powerful and heartfelt speeches Kennedy delivered.
From Muncie, the Kennedy entourage flew back to Indianapolis that night where Robert F. Kennedy delivered what many call his greatest speech
Robert F. Kennedy's speech on the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.
A speech on the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. was given by New York Senator Robert F. Kennedy on April 4, 1968, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Kennedy was campaigning for the 1968 Democratic presidential nomination...
, announcing the Martin Luther King, Jr. assassination
Martin Luther King, Jr. assassination
Martin Luther King, Jr., a prominent American leader of the African-American civil rights movement and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, at the age of 39...
to a predominantly African-American audience. Discarding the themes of his earlier speeches, Kennedy addressed the crowd for six minutes, speaking entirely about King’s death and its meaning for the nation and the world, ending by asking for prayers for King, his family, and “for our country.”
On May 7, 1968, Kennedy won Indiana’s Democratic primary with 42% of the vote compared to 31% for Indiana Governor Roger D. Branigin
Roger D. Branigin
Roger Douglas Branigin was the 42nd Governor of the U.S. state of Indiana from January 11, 1965 to January 13, 1969...
and 27% for Eugene McCarthy
Eugene McCarthy
Eugene Joseph "Gene" McCarthy was an American politician, poet, and a long-time member of the United States Congress from Minnesota. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1949 to 1959 and the U.S. Senate from 1959 to 1971.In the 1968 presidential election, McCarthy was the first...
. Kennedy’s trip to Muncie had a positive impact on Delaware County
Delaware County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 118,769 people, 47,131 households, and 29,692 families residing in the county. The population density was 302 people per square mile . There were 51,032 housing units at an average density of 130 per square mile...
voters, as he received 40% of the votes cast in the county.
See also
- Robert F. KennedyRobert F. KennedyRobert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy , also referred to by his initials RFK, was an American politician, a Democratic senator from New York, and a noted civil rights activist. An icon of modern American liberalism and member of the Kennedy family, he was a younger brother of President John F...
- Digital Media RepositoryDigital Media RepositoryEstablished in 2004, the Digital Media Repository is an innovation of Ball State University Libraries. The DMR is a publicly-accessible collection of more than 130,000 digital artifacts in sixty-four browsable and searchable collections...
- Ball State UniversityBall State UniversityBall State University is a state-run research university located in Muncie, Indiana. It is also known as Ball State or simply BSU.Located on the northwest side of the city, Ball State's campus spans and includes 106 buildings...
- Alexander M. Bracken LibraryBracken LibraryThis article is about the library in Muncie, Indiana. For the library in Kingston, Ontario see Bracken Health Sciences Library.The Alexander M. Bracken Library is the main library on the campus of Ball State University...
External links
- Robert F. Kennedy Speech Collection http://libx.bsu.edu/collection.php?CISOROOT=/RFKen
- Ball State University http://www.bsu.edu
- Ball State University Libraries http://www.bsu.edu/library
- Ball State University Libraries' Digital Media Repository http://libx.bsu.edu
- Ball State University Libraries' Archives and Special Collections http://www.bsu.edu/libraries/archives/