Robert+F.+Kennedy+Assassinated

=Robert F. Kennedy Assassinated=

**Overview**
Robert F. Kennedy, the Brother of John F. Kennedy, sadly met the same fate as his brother did. RFK was assassinated on June 5th 1968, less than five years after his brother. After winning the primary election, RFK was looking to become the democratic presidential nominee for the upcoming election. On the night that was possibly the happiest of his life, he went out to celebrate his victory. He arrived at the Colonial Ballroom a little after midnight, where he was going to give an address to his followers on his victory. But before RFK ever got to the podium, he was gunned down by Sirhan B. Sirhan. He opened fire with a .22 caliber pistol and struck Kennedy many times including an eventually fatal one in the head.

==**Main Point**== RFK was a well-known, well-respected man. His policies helped him win the primary election, and could have led to a possible presidential term. However there was one policy of his that did not sit well with one extremist individual, Sirhan B. Sirhan. SBS was a Palestinian immigrant who was born in Jerusalem. He was very proud of his country and was willing to do whatever it took to defend it. When SBS learned that the rising political star RFK supported Israel in his planned foreign policy, he had to do something. Israel was the biggest enemy of Palestine and could not allow a man like RFK to support them. Over time, SBS watched RFK gain more and more power, causing him to feel the desire to harm RFK. This was clearly shown by a journal entry found in his home after his arrest. **"My determination to eliminate RFK is becoming more and more of an unshakable obsession. RFK must die. RFK must be killed. Robert F. Kennedy must be assassinated...Robert F. Kennedy must be assassinated before 5 June 68."** When SBS found his opportunity to take down the Kennedy he took. He knew that Kennedy was going to make the speech at the Colonial Ballroom, so he snuck in and waited for his chance. While RFK was shaking hands of his followers, Sirhan jumped from his hiding spot, rushed to the back-side of Kennedy and fire three shots into him. Two shots went into his back and the other into his head. RFK's bodyguards quickly attacked and disarmed Sirhan. After Sirhan has been restrained, bodyguard Bill Barry rushed over to the fallen Kennedy and later told reporters**,"I knew immediately it was a .22, a small caliber, so I hoped it wouldn't be so bad, but then I saw the hole in the Senator's head, and I knew".** Kennedy was then immediately rushed to the hospital, where he showed signs of life, but after extensive amounts of surgery over the next twelve hours he showed no improvements and remained in critical condition. Kennedy's life ended on June 6th.

**Conclusion/ Historical Significance**
The live of another Kennedy, along with another great politician, and brother, had been stolen away from America again. America wept, but America grew stronger. New an stricter rules were put in place by the Secret Service for the protection of presidents and presidential nominees. Sirhan B. Sirhan was convicted of the Murder of Robert F. Kennedy and sentenced to death. However California had recently taken away Capitol punishment, or the death penalty, and was sentenced to life in prison. To this day he is still serving his term in prison.

References (2009-10.1.2.G)
"Robert F. Kennedy: Biography." //Spartacus Educational - Home Page//. Web. 24 Nov. 2009. .

"The Robert F. Kennedy Assassination." //TCP - Homepages//. Web. 23 Nov. 2009. .