A Look Back at Robert Kennedy's Eulogy of Martin Luther King Jr

As a campaign junkie, I find myself fascinating by the political races. I enjoy watching and listening to stump speeches, political commercials, political pundits and hearing how the 'spin doctors' try to spin various happenings. Still, it is frustrating to feel that often times we get politicians who use the 'finger to the wind' method and simply regurgitate what they feel the majority of the public wants to hear.

I teach a public speaking class and every semester, if time allows, I show a videotape of some of the greatest political speeches in U.S. history. My all time favorite is a speech delivered by Robert Kennedy. The speech is a wonderful example of a work of rhetoric that was not carefully crafted, nor was it given to sway voters. That is one of the things that makes the speech so great.

The year was 1968 and Kennedy had decided to get into the presidential race. His late start in the primaries meant he needed to make up ground. Kennedy was actually scheduled to give a campaign speech in inner city Indianapolis on April 4, 1968. While flying to Indianapolis, word reached Kennedy that Martin Luther King Jr. had been shot. When the plane landed, he was told that King had died. Members of his staff, as well as local police urged him, to cancel the event, for fear of violence. Kennedy refused.

Upon reaching his destination, Kennedy encountered a jovial crowd. He quietly asked the organizers if the crowd knew about the assassination and was told they did not. Kennedy was now speaking, not as a politician but rather as an individual. He asked for the signs to be lowered, the signs that are endorsing his candidacy. Kennedy than came right out and told the crowd that King 'was shot and killed tonight in Memphis, Tennessee'.