What did JFK say about Martin Luther King?
(The following text is taken from a news release version of Robert F. Kennedy's statement.) Listen to this speech. I have bad news for you, for all of our fellow citizens, and people who love peace all over the world, and that is that Martin Luther King was shot and killed tonight.
How did Kennedy announce the assassination of Martin Luther King?
Kennedy began his speech by announcing that King had been killed. He was the first to publicly inform the audience of King's assassination, causing members of the audience to scream and wail in disbelief. Several of Kennedy's aides were worried that the delivery of this information would result in a riot.
What is the structure of JFK’s speech?
As for the composition of the speech, Kennedy structures his statement around two issues. In the first part, he acknowledges the hatred and anger of black Americans regarding the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. In the second part, he advises America to remain united and deal with the tragic event together, following King’s example.
Where did Martin Luther King give his famous speech?
It is also recounted in the prologue of his book, Politics Lost. The Landmark for Peace Memorial, installed in 1995 in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park near the site where the speech took place in Indianapolis, includes sculptures of King and Kennedy.
See more
What was the message of Robert Kennedy's speech?
Kennedy then delivered one of his best-remembered remarks: "What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence or lawlessness, but is love and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice towards ...
Where did Robert F Kennedy give his speech about Martin Luther King?
ROBERT KENNEDY'S CITY CLUB OF CLEVELAND SPEECH, 1968. On April 5, 1968, one day after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Senator Robert F. Kennedy delivered a speech entitled "On the Mindless Menace of Violence" at the CITY CLUB OF CLEVELAND.
What did Kennedy do to help Martin Luther King?
After hearing of King's sentence, Senator Kennedy and his brother, Robert, called Georgia governor, Ernest Vandiver, and petitioned King's release. Senator Kennedy called Coretta Scott King, MLK's wife, to offer his help. Meanwhile, Robert Kennedy called the judge and was able to convince him to release King.
What did RFK say about MLK?
-- I have some very sad news for all of you, and, I think, sad news for all of our fellow citizens, and people who love peace all over the world; and that is that Martin Luther King was shot and was killed tonight in Memphis, Tennessee.
What did Robert F Kennedy stand for?
His tenure is known for advocating for the civil rights movement, the fight against organized crime and the Mafia, and involvement in U.S. foreign policy related to Cuba. He authored his account of the Cuban Missile Crisis in a book titled Thirteen Days.
What was the relationship between John F Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr?
“They were friends, and didn't even know that they were friends,” said U.S. Representative John Lewis, who worked with them both… King would probably not have endorsed Kennedy in 1968 — he never endorsed anyone — but would have made it clear Kennedy was his choice.
How did Robert Kennedy impact the civil rights movement?
Robert Kennedy saw voting as the key to racial justice and collaborated with President Kennedy when he proposed the most far-reaching civil rights statute since Reconstruction, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which was passed after President Kennedy was slain on November 22, 1963.
Was Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King friends?
for most of their public lives, Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. were hardly allies, let alone friends. The dividing line was too thick, one the heir of Irish-American royalty, the other the agitator for civil rights in the Deep South.
What is a theme in Robert F Kennedy's statement on the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr?
Robert F. Kennedy shows his sympathy and shares his advice in this speech. He shows how instead of us all show hatred towards one another, we should all come together and do great things for this country.
How did Kennedy feel about civil rights?
Kennedy defined the civil rights crisis as moral, as well as constitutional and legal. He announced that major civil rights legislation would be submitted to the Congress to guarantee equal access to public facilities, to end segregation in education, and to provide federal protection of the right to vote.
Was MLK assassinated?
April 4, 1968, Memphis, TNMartin Luther King Jr. / Assassinated
When did MLK give his mountaintop speech?
Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered this speech in support of the striking sanitation workers at Mason Temple in Memphis, TN on April 3, 1968 — the day before he was assassinated.
Who wrote Ripple of Hope speech?
Day of Affirmation AddressRobert Kennedy delivering his speech in Jameson Hall. To the right is the chair left empty to signify Ian Robertson's absenceDateJune 6, 1966VenueJameson Hall, University of Cape TownLocationCape Town, South AfricaAlso known as"Ripple of Hope" Speech2 more rows
Where was Robert Kennedy shot?
June 6, 1968, PIH Health Good Samaritan Hospital, Los Angeles, CARobert F. Kennedy / Assassinated
What were Bobby Kennedy's last words?
"Is everybody OK?" Kennedy asked. Romero said yes. "Everything will be OK," the senator replied shortly before losing consciousness.
Who gave the speech after Martin Luther King Jr.?
Problems playing this file? See media help. On April 4, 1968, United States Senator Robert F. Kennedy of New York delivered an improvised speech several hours after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Kennedy, who was campaigning to earn the Democratic Party 's presidential nomination, made his remarks while in Indianapolis, Indiana, ...
Who said the Kennedy speech was the greatest speech of all time?
Former U.S. Congressman and media host Joe Scarborough said that it was Kennedy's greatest speech and was what prompted Scarborough to enter public service. Journalist Joe Klein has called it "politics in its grandest form and highest purpose" and said that it "marked the end of an era" before American political life was taken over by consultants and pollsters. It is also recounted in the prologue of his book, Politics Lost.
What was the first public announcement of the assassination of Martin Luther King?
Speech on the Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Kennedy began his speech by announcing that King had been killed. He was the first to publicly inform the audience of King's assassination , causing members of the audience to scream and wail in disbelief. Several of Kennedy's aides were worried that the delivery of this information would result ...
What did one African American student ask Kennedy?
The student asked, "Your speech implies that you are placing a great deal of faith in white America.
Who was the press secretary for the Kennedy rally?
Both Frank Mankiewicz , Kennedy's press secretary, and speechwriter Adam Walinsky drafted notes immediately before the rally for Kennedy's use, but Kennedy refused Walinsky's notes, instead using some that he had likely written on the ride over; Mankiewicz arrived after Kennedy had already begun to speak.
Who said "even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own?
Quoting the ancient Greek playwright Aeschylus , with whom he had become acquainted through his brother's widow, Jacqueline Kennedy , Kennedy said, "Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God.".
Did Kennedy know that Martin Luther King Jr. was shot?
Before boarding a plane to fly to Indianapolis, Kennedy learned that Martin Luther King Jr. had been shot. On the plane, Kennedy told a reporter "You know, it grieves me. . . that I just told that kid this and then walk out and find that some white man has just shot their spiritual leader.". Kennedy did not learn that King was dead ...
Overview
Summary of Indianapolis speech
Kennedy began his speech by announcing that King had been killed. He was the first to publicly inform the audience of King's assassination, causing members of the audience to scream and wail in disbelief. Several of Kennedy's aides were worried that the delivery of this information would result in a riot. Once the audience quieted down, Kennedy spoke of the threat of disillusion and divisiveness at King's death and reminded the audience of King's efforts to "replace that viol…
Earlier that day
During his speeches at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend and at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, Kennedy focused on domestic issues, the Vietnam War, and racism. At Notre Dame's Stepan Center, a crowd of approximately 5,000 heard Kennedy speak on poverty in America and the need for better-paying jobs. When asked about draft laws, Kennedy called them "unjust and inequitable" and argued to end college deferments on the basis that they discriminat…
Aftermath
Despite the fact the crowd which Kennedy spoke to in Indianapolis was only estimated to be 2,500 people, the speech was credited with boosting his image in the state of Indiana. Indianapolis remained calm that night, which is believed to have been in part because of the speech. In stark contrast to Indianapolis, riots erupted in more than one hundred U.S. cities including Chicago, New Yor…
Legacy
The speech itself has been listed as one of the greatest in American history, ranked 17th by communications scholars in a survey of 20th century American speeches. Former U.S. Congressman and media host Joe Scarborough said that it was Kennedy's greatest speech and was what prompted Scarborough to enter public service. Journalist Joe Klein has called it "politics in its grandest form and highest purpose" and said that it "marked the end of an era" before Ame…
Film
A Ripple of Hope, a documentary on the speech and the events surrounding it, was produced by Covenant Productions at Anderson University and released in 2008. It includes interviews with associates of Kennedy and members of the audience.
The speech was performed verbatim by Linus Roache in the 2002 film RFK.
Works cited
• Murphy, John M. (June 5, 2009). ""A time of shame and sorrow": Robert F. Kennedy and the American jeremiad". Quarterly Journal of Speech. 76 (4): 401–414. doi:10.1080/00335639009383933.
External links
• Text, Audio, Video Excerpt of Speech