which of these men served as president kennedy's attorney general

by Nola Kirlin 9 min read

Robert F. Kennedy
Succeeded byCharles Goodell
64th United States Attorney General
In office January 21, 1961 – September 3, 1964
PresidentJohn F. Kennedy Lyndon B. Johnson
29 more rows

Who was the Attorney General under John F Kennedy?

 · What man served as president Kennedys attorney general? John F. Kennedy's Attorney General was his little brother, Robert F. Kennedy.

Who was the Attorney General in the 1950s?

Attorney General. Robert F. Kennedy; Postmaster General. J. Edward Day; John A. Gronouski Special Counsel to the President. Theodore Sorensen; Deputy Special Counsel to the President. Myer Feldman; Special Assistant Counsel to the President. Richard Goodwin; Lee C. White; Special Assistant to the President. McGeorge Bundy -- National Security Advisor; Frederick G. Dutton

Who were John F Kennedy's advisers?

 · Robert Francis Kennedy. Sixty-Fourth Attorney General 1961-1964. Robert Francis Kennedy was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on November 20, 1925. He served with the United States Naval Reserve from 1944 to 1946. He earned a B.A. degree from Harvard University in 1948, was a correspondent on The Boston Post, and in 1951 graduated from the University of …

What was John F Kennedy's first job as a lawyer?

President Kennedy's appointment of his 35-year-old brother Robert Francis Kennedy as the attorney general of the United States was controversial. According to many, Robert Kennedy, the youngest attorney general since 1814, lacked experience in practicing law.

Who served with JFK?

John F. KennedyVice PresidentLyndon B. JohnsonPreceded byDwight D. EisenhowerSucceeded byLyndon B. JohnsonUnited States Senator from Massachusetts34 more rows

Who was the attorney general of the U.S. in 1962 63?

President Kennedy's appointment of his 35-year-old brother Robert Francis Kennedy as the attorney general of the United States was controversial.

Who were Kennedy's top advisors?

Officials of the Kennedy AdministrationDean Rusk -- Secretary of State.C. Douglas Dillon -- Secretary of the Treasury.Robert S. McNamara -- Secretary of Defense.Stewart L. Udall -- Secretary of the Interior.Orville L. Freeman -- Secretary of Agriculture.Arthur J. Goldberg -- Secretary of Labor.William W. ... Luther H.More items...

Who was President Kennedy's attorney general and his most trusted advisor?

As U.S. Attorney General from 1961 to 1964, Robert F. Kennedy served as one of the most trusted advisors to his brother, President John F. Kennedy, on matters of civil rights.

Who was the 1960s Attorney General?

Ramsey ClarkClark in 196866th United States Attorney GeneralIn office November 28, 1966 – January 20, 1969 Acting: November 28, 1966 – March 10, 1967PresidentLyndon B. Johnson28 more rows

Who was the first U.S. Attorney General?

Edmund Jennings RandolphThe Judiciary Act of 1789 established the Office of the Attorney General. On September 26, 1789, Edmund Jennings Randolph was appointed the first Attorney General of the United States by President George Washington.

Who was JFK's staff?

Kenneth O'DonnellKenny O'DonnellIn office January 20, 1961 – November 22, 1963PresidentJohn F. KennedyPreceded byThomas Stephens (Appointments Secretary) Wilton Persons (Chief of Staff)Succeeded byW. Marvin Watson18 more rows

Who were Kennedy's advisors during the Cuban missile crisis?

Kennedy, National Security Advisor McGeorge Bundy, and Army General Maxwell Taylor, including others, to gather in the Cabinet Room of the White House.

What was Kennedy's group of advisors?

The focus of this lesson will be on six important members of Kennedy's security team: Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, National Security Advisor McGeorge Bundy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Chairman of the Policy Planning Commission Walt Rostow, Undersecretary of State George Ball, and Director of the Central ...

Who was the attorney general under George Washington?

Randolph had handled much of President Washington's personal legal work, and Washington appointed him as the first Attorney General of the United States in 1789 and then as Secretary of State in 1794. After leaving government service, Randolph represented Aaron Burr during Burr's 1807 trial for treason.

Who was the attorney general under Nixon?

John Newton Mitchell (September 15, 1913 – November 9, 1988) was the 67th Attorney General of the United States under President Richard Nixon and chairman of Nixon's 1968 and 1972 presidential campaigns.

When was Merrick Garland sworn?

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 15–7 to advance Garland's nomination to the Senate floor, and on March 10, the Senate confirmed Garland's nomination by a vote of 70–30. He was sworn in on March 11, 2021, by Assistant Attorney General for Administration Lee Lofthus.

Who is the attorney general USA?

Merrick GarlandUnited States / Attorney general

Who was the chief counsel of the Senate Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field?

From 1957 to 1960 Kennedy was chief counsel of the Senate Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field.

Where was Robert Kennedy born?

Artist: Robert Francis Kennedy was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on November 20, 1925. He served with the United States Naval Reserve from 1944 to 1946. He earned a B.A. degree from Harvard University in 1948, was a correspondent on The Boston Post, and in 1951 graduated from the University of Virginia Law School.

How old was Robert Kennedy when he became Attorney General?

President Kennedy's appointment of his 35-year-old brother Robert Francis Kennedy as the attorney general of the United States was controversial. According to many, Robert Kennedy, the youngest attorney general since 1814, lacked experience in practicing law. But he silenced the critics by assembling a skilled and dedicated staff, and by promoting innovative and aggressive programs to enforce civil rights, combat organized crime, improve legal access for the poor, and develop new approaches to juvenile delinquency. A display of film footage and personal items of Robert F. Kennedy provide a glimpse into the Attorney General's office. The centerpiece of the exhibit are documents and personal items of Robert Kennedy's placed atop a desk as they would have been on a September day in 1962. Among the items are the his glasses, pens and pencils, his original telephone, bookends, and drawings taped on the wall from his young children.

What did Robert Kennedy do for the Justice Department?

Robert Kennedy brought to the Justice Department a reputation as a relentless fighter against crime and corruption. As Chief Counsel for the U.S. Senate’s “Rackets” Committee he had direct experience of the influence of organized crime on America’s economy and government.

What was the name of the helmet that James Meredith wore?

White metal helmet with "US MARSHAL" written across front in black lettering. This helmet was worn by one of the U.S. Marshals sent to protect James Meredith as he became the first black student to register at the University of Mississippi on October 1, 1962. The dent in the helmet resulted from a blow by a lead pipe wielding rioter. Many of the U.S. Marshals sustained injuries in the rioting by those who sought to block Meredith's enrollment. Robert F. Kennedy kept this helmet on a table behind his desk in the Attorney General's office.

Why did the Kennedy helmet dent?

The dent in the helmet resulted from a blow by a lead pipe wielding rioter. Many of the U.S. Marshals sustained injuries in the rioting by those who sought to block Meredith's enrollment. Robert F. Kennedy kept this helmet on a table behind his desk in the Attorney General's office.

What is the centerpiece of the Robert Kennedy exhibit?

Kennedy provide a glimpse into the Attorney General's office. The centerpiece of the exhibit are documents and personal items of Robert Kennedy's placed atop a desk as they would have been on a September day in 1962.

What did Robert Kennedy do to the country?

Through speeches and writing, such as his book The Enemy Within, he alerted the country to the existence of a “private government of organized crime with an annual income of billions, resting on a base of human suffering and moral corrosion.” He established the first coordinated program involving all twenty-six federal law enforcement agencies to investigate organized crime, overcoming FBI indifference to the pursuit of racketeers. Robert Kennedy's anti-racketeering legislation, passed in 1961 and 1963, and the emphasis he placed on the investigation and prosecution of organized crime, led to dramatic increases in convictions.

What was Robert Kennedy's role in the Cuban missile crisis?

After the Bay of Pigs debacle, Robert Kennedy became an intimate adviser in intelligence matters and major international negotiations. His efforts during the Cuban missile crisis in October 1962 were crucial in shaping a peaceful outcome.

When did Robert Kennedy go to the Justice Department?

Robert Kennedy at the Justice Department, 1964. Bettmann/Getty Images

Who was Robert Kennedy?

Robert Kennedy was the attorney general of the United States in the administration of his older brother, President John F. Kennedy, and later served as a U.S. senator from New York. He became a candidate for the presidency in 1968, with opposition to the war in Vietnam as his central issue.

What college did Robert Kennedy go to?

As a teenager, Robert Kennedy attended Milton Academy, a prestigious prep school in a Boston suburb, and Harvard College. His education was interrupted when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy shortly after his oldest brother, Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., was killed in action in World War II. He was commissioned a lieutenant in the Navy, but saw no action.

Why did Robert Kennedy not deal with Frank Sinatra?

Robert Kennedy was also focused on organized crime figures, and at one point advised President Kennedy not to deal with Frank Sinatra because of the singer's friendships with mobsters. Such events became fodder for later conspiracy theories that the assassinations of the Kennedy brothers were connected to organized crime.

What school did Robert Kennedy attend?

Roosevelt in 1938, the Kennedy children were featured in news stories and even movie newsreels depicting their travels to London. As a teenager, Robert Kennedy attended Milton Academy, a prestigious prep school in a Boston suburb, and Harvard College. ...

Why was the Kennedy decision controversial?

The decision was naturally controversial, as it sparked charges of nepotism. But the new president felt strongly that he needed his brother, who had become his most trusted adviser, in the government. As attorney general of the U.S., Robert Kennedy continued his feud with Jimmy Hoffa.

What happened to Robert Kennedy's brother?

Following his brother's violent death in November 1963, Robert Kennedy went into a period of mourning and sadness. He was still the nation's attorney general, but his heart wasn't in the job, and he was not happy working with the new president, Lyndon B. Johnson .

Who was the 64th attorney general?

After John F. Kennedy was elected president in November 1960, he named his brother Robert Kennedy as America’s 64th attorney general. In this role, Kennedy continued to battle corruption in labor unions, as well as mobsters and organized crime. In 1964, Jimmy Hoffa was convicted of jury tampering and fraud.

What did Robert Kennedy do?

senator from New York from 1965 to 1968. A graduate of Harvard University and the University of Virginia School of Law, Kennedy was appointed attorney general after his brother John Kennedy was elected president in 1960. In this role, Robert Kennedy fought organized crime and worked for civil rights for African Americans. In the Senate, he was a committed advocate of the poor and racial minorities , and opposed escalation of the Vietnam War. On June 5, 1968, while in Los Angeles campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination, Kennedy was shot. He died early the next day at age 42.

What was Jimmy Hoffa convicted of?

In 1964, Jimmy Hoffa was convicted of jury tampering and fraud. As attorney general, Kennedy also supported the civil rights movement for African Americans.

How many children did Robert Kennedy have?

On June 17, 1950, Robert Kennedy married Ethel Skakel of Greenwich, Connecticut. The couple had 11 children: Kathleen, Joseph II, Robert Jr., David, Courtney, Michael, Kerry, Christopher, Max, Douglas and Rory, who was born six months after her father’s death. The family lived at an estate called Hickory Hill in McLean, Virginia.

Where was Robert Kennedy born?

Robert Francis Kennedy was born on November 20, 1925, in Brookline, Massachusetts, the seventh of nine children of Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., a wealthy financier, and Rose Kennedy, the daughter of a Boston politician. Kennedy spent his childhood between his family’s homes in New York; Hyannis Port, Massachusetts; Palm Beach, Florida; and London, ...

What was the last move of the Attorney General?

One of his last moves as Attorney General was the creation of an Office of Criminal Justice within the department to act as a watchdog on prosecutorial practices. He wanted to make sure, he said, that it was not a Department of Prosecution but a Department of Justice.

What did the Kennedy regime do to the racketeering?

It recognized the existence of a crime syndicate. It worked with other agencies in a coordinated drive against big crime. It started infiltrating the rackets as it had the Communist party.

Why did the Attorney General of Mississippi oppose the Federal Police Force?

agents or troops. He did so because he opposed the precedent of a Federal police force and believed that the states must be brought to take responsibility — with Federal power only as a last resort.

Who was the counsel for the Senate investigating committee that looked for, and found, corruption in the Teamsters Union?

Mr. Kennedy was counsel for the Senate investigating committee that looked for, and found, corruption in the teamsters union. He said then that Hoffa was a menace.

Did the Justice Department bring a voter suit in Mississippi?

In three years during the Eisenhower Administration the Justice Department had not brought a single voter suit in Mississippi under the 1957 Civil Rights Act.

How did the Attorney General Kennedy and the Civil Rights Movement relate?

The relationship between the Attorney General Kennedy and the civil rights movement was tested when King and several hundred protesters were threatened by an angry mob outside of a Montgomery church, where King was holding a mass meeting in support of the Freedom Rides.

What did Robert Kennedy do after he was assassinated?

After the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963, Robert Kennedy continued to serve as Attorney General under President Lyndon Johnson until September 1964. That November, he was elected to the U.S. Senate to represent New York. As a senator, Kennedy spoke out against America’s involvement in the Vietnam War. In March 1966, King applauded Kennedy’s statement against the war, invoking the legacy of his brother, the former president: “Your great brother carried us far in new directions with his concept of a world of diversity; your position advances us to the next step which requires us to reach the political maturity to recognize and relate to all elements produced by the contemporary colonial revolutions” (King, 2 March 1966). The following year, King delivered his most comprehensive speech on the war, “ Beyond Vietnam ,” to a crowd of over 3,000 people at Riverside Church in New York.

When was Robert Kennedy born?

Born on 20 November 1925 , Robert Kennedy was the seventh of nine children of Joseph Patrick and Rose Kennedy. Despite a mediocre academic performance in high school, Kennedy was admitted to Harvard University in 1944. He joined the Navy during World War II, but was discharged following an injury.

Who challenged Robert Kennedy?

Although the Kennedy administration was the first to give substantial attention to the southern freedom struggle, King continuously challenged Robert Kennedy and the Department of Justice to make a greater commitment to civil rights.

Who was the person who feared for the people inside the Montgomery protests?

As the mob grew more hostile, King feared for the people inside and phoned Kennedy, asking him to intervene. Kennedy assured King that federal marshals were on the way to Montgomery and proposed a cooling-off period for the Freedom Rides. James Farmer and Diane Nash rejected the idea of a halt to the demonstrations.

Who was in charge of the transition effort before Kennedy took office?

Before taking office at his inauguration, Kennedy went through a transition period. Kennedy placed Clark Clifford in charge of his transition effort.

What was the policy of Kennedy?

Like his predecessors, Kennedy adopted the policy of containment , which sought to stop the spread of Communism. President Eisenhower's New Look policy had emphasized the use of nuclear weapons to deter the threat of Soviet aggression. Fearful of the possibility of a global nuclear war, Kennedy implemented a new strategy known as flexible response. This strategy relied on conventional arms to achieve limited goals. As part of this policy, Kennedy expanded the United States special operations forces, elite military units that could fight unconventionally in various conflicts. Kennedy hoped that the flexible response strategy would allow the U.S. to counter Soviet influence without resorting to war. At the same time, he ordered a massive build-up of the nuclear arsenal to establish superiority over the Soviet Union.

Why did President Kennedy end the arms embargo?

President Kennedy ended the arms embargo that the Eisenhower and Truman administrations had enforced on Israel in favor of increased security ties , becoming the founder of the U.S.-Israeli military alliance. Describing the protection of Israel as a moral and national commitment, he was the first to introduce the concept of a 'special relationship' between the U.S. and Israel. In 1962, the Kennedy administration sold Israel a major weapon system, the Hawk antiaircraft missile. Historians differ as to whether Kennedy pursued security ties with Israel primarily to shore up support with Jewish-American voters, or because of his admiration of the Jewish state.

How did Kennedy help Latin America?

Kennedy sought to contain the threat of communism in Latin America by establishing the Alliance for Progress, which sent aid to some countries and sought greater human rights standards in the region. The Alliance for Progress drew from the Good Neighbor Policy in its peaceful engagement with Latin America, and from the Marshall Plan in its expansion of aid and economic relationships. Kennedy also emphasized close personal relations with Latin American leaders, frequently hosting them in the White House. The U.S. Information Agency was given an important role of reaching out to Latin Americans in Spanish, Portuguese, and French media. The goals of the Alliance for Progress included long-term permanent improvement in living conditions through the advancement of industrialization, the improvement of communications systems, the reduction of trade barriers, and an increase in the number and diversity of exports from Latin America. At a theoretical level, Kennedy's planners hoped to reverse the under-development of the region and its dependency on North America. Part of the administration's motivation was the fear that Castro's Cuba would introduce anti-American political and economic changes if development did not take place.

What was Kennedy's response to Khrushchev?

On a personal level, Kennedy needed to show resolve in reaction to Khrushchev, especially after the Vienna summit. To deal with the crisis, he formed an ad hoc body of key advisers, later known as EXCOMM, that met secretly between October 16 and October 28.

Which two presidents agreed on the continuation of the New Deal and the Cold War containment policy?

Not wanting to concede any state as "unwinnable," Nixon undertook a fifty-state strategy, while Kennedy focused the states with the most electoral votes. Ideologically, Kennedy and Nixon agreed on the continuation of the New Deal and the Cold War containment policy.

Who was the Cuban dictator who was forced out of office by the Cuban Revolution?

President Kennedy and Vice President Johnson take a leisurely stroll on the White House grounds. Fulgencio Batista, a Cuban dictator friendly towards the United States, had been forced out office in 1959 by the Cuban Revolution.

How many presidents have served as U.S. senators?

One, Andrew Jackson, served as a military governor (Florida, before it was a state). 17 presidents previously served as U.S. senators; only 3 immediately before election as president. Only one president, Andrew Johnson, served as a U.S. senator after his presidency. 15 presidents previously served as vice president.

How many terms did Grover Cleveland serve?

Grover Cleveland was elected to two nonconsecutive terms, and as such is considered the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Of the 45 different people who have or are currently serving as president: 32 presidents had previous military experience; 9 were generals in the US Army. 27 presidents were previously lawyers.

How many vice presidents were there before the election?

15 presidents previously served as vice president. All except Richard Nixon and Joe Biden were vice presidents immediately before becoming president; 9 of the 15 succeeded to the presidency because of the death or resignation of the elected president; 5 of those 9 were not later elected.

How many presidents taught at universities?

5 presidents taught at a university: James A. Garfield, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. 2 presidents served as party leaders of the House of Representatives, James A. Garfield and Gerald Ford. 1 president served as an ordained minister, serving as a pastor in the Disciples of Christ (Christian) Church, James A.

What is the most common job experience of a president?

presidents has been that of a lawyer. This sortable table enumerates all holders of that office, along with major elective or appointive offices or periods of military service prior to election to the presidency.

How many governors did John Tyler serve?

Additionally, after being president, John Tyler served in the Provisional Confederate Congress and was later elected to the Confederate House of Representatives, but he died before taking his seat. 17 presidents previously served as governors; 15 were state governors; 9 were governors immediately before election as president.

What was Hoover's role in the Treaty of Versailles?

Hoover's contributions toward the Treaty of Versailles preceded his appointment as United States Secretary of Commerce. Taylor, Grant and Eisenhower led U.S. forces to victory in the Mexican-American and American Civil War and World War II, respectively – each occupying the highest-ranking command post of their time.

Early Life

Washington Career

  • Kennedy joined the criminal division of the U.S. Department of Justice in 1951. In 1952, his older brother, Congressman John F. Kennedy, successfully ran for the U.S. Senate. Robert Kennedy then resigned from the Justice Department. He was hired as a staff attorney for the U.S. Senate committee run by Senator Joseph McCarthy. Kennedy worked for McCarthy's committeefor five …
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Kennedy vs. Jimmy Hoffa

  • At the Rackets Committee, Robert Kennedy focused on investigations of the Teamsters Union, which represented the nation's truck drivers. The union's president, Dave Beck, was widely assumed to be corrupt. When Beck was replaced by Jimmy Hoffa, who was rumored to be deeply associated with organized crime, Robert Kennedy began to target Hoffa. Hoffa had grown up po…
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Attorney General

  • When John F. Kennedy ran for president in 1960, his brother Robert served as his campaign manager. After Kennedy defeated Richard M. Nixon, he began to select his cabinet, and there was talk of picking Robert Kennedy to be the nation's attorney general. The decision was naturally controversial, as it sparked charges of nepotism. But the new preside...
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Senator from New York

  • Following his brother's violent death in November 1963, Robert Kennedy went into a period of mourning and sadness. He was still the nation's attorney general, but his heart wasn't in the job, and he was not happy working with the new president, Lyndon B. Johnson. In the summer of 1964, Kennedy began to seriously think of running for a U.S. Senate seat in New York. The Kennedy fa…
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The Anti-War Candidate

  • Another Democratic senator, Eugene McCarthy, had entered the race against President Johnson and nearly beat him in the New Hampshire primary. Kennedy sensed that challenging Johnson was not an impossible quest, and within a week he entered the race. Kennedy's campaign immediately took off. He began attracting large crowds at campaign stops in states holding pri…
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Death

  • After celebrating his victory in a Los Angeles hotel ballroom, Kennedy was shotat close range in the hotel's kitchen in the early hours of June 5, 1968. He was taken to a hospital, where he died of a head wound on June 6, 1968. After a funeral mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, Kennedy's body was taken to Washington, D.C., by train on Saturday, June 8, 1968. In a scene re…
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Sources

  1. Edelman, Peter. "Kennedy, Robert Francis." The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: The 1960s, edited by William L. O'Neill and Kenneth T. Jackson, vol. 1, Charles Scribner's S...
  2. "Robert Francis Kennedy." Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2nd ed., vol. 8, Gale, 2004, pp. 508-509.
  1. Edelman, Peter. "Kennedy, Robert Francis." The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: The 1960s, edited by William L. O'Neill and Kenneth T. Jackson, vol. 1, Charles Scribner's S...
  2. "Robert Francis Kennedy." Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2nd ed., vol. 8, Gale, 2004, pp. 508-509.
  3. Tye, Larry. Bobby Kennedy: the Making of a Liberal Icon. Random House, 2016.