you were 12 years old, and you were a volunteer with the bobby kennedy campaign. (bender) the presidential campaign in '68. (paulson) in california? mm-hmm. (paulson) and you were with rosemary clooney as well? well, she was-- i met her that night, and she was performing that night as artists-- she was one of those who had campaigned for robert kennedy. a lot of artists went out on the campaign trail for candidates, and i was with her that night. and actually, at the moment that senator kennedy was shot, i remember that it was the last time i've seen her, which was 32 years ago. she was supposed to sing at the overflow room downstairs, and the senator was supposed to exit one side of the stage where-- to see rosemary clooney, and at the last minute-- you can hear it on the tape. someone says, "this way, senator." and he goes the other way. what happened that night was obviously, for a kid-- i remember seeing people in shock, and i--you know, when you're 12, you've never seen that. i didn't understand why adults were crying, and people were doubled over and, you kn

integrated, going to hear bobby kennedy in one of their speeches and being completely taken with him and totally devastated when he was assassinated here in los angeles so the kennedys were huge, and another person i talked about in the book who was the local leader in birmingham who really brought about race consciousness in birmingham, founded the early, had to leave and go to cincinnati and he has never really got him his due compared to the great national leaders for all that he did and he was also a great hero. >> the leedy right over here. >> hello, my name is edwards. i grew up -- a lot of my friends say it's not the real south but i grew up in -- i pretty much grew up in the all white community most of my life i move to northern florida and actually once i moved out here you talk about letting go and not harboring resentment. what would be some of the things you could encourage the younger kids today to hold onto and remember to help him transfer their anchor to let it go and move past it and not use it as a crutch and excuse. >> mauney parents and in some ways going up in se

one day bobby kennedy comes home. the he wanted his sons to be president. bobby kennedy comes home and says i want to become a catholic priest instead of running for office. his father reportedly said that is great. we never had a poke in the family before. it would be nice to have one. that was my dad as well. whatever you did you were going to be the best and never complained because every day you woke up in america you were already better off than everybody else in the world. you had the privilege and blessing to live in the greatest country in the history of the world. i learned american exceptional is in from my parents. here is the important thing about their experience. they came to the americans. i have a whole chapter about assimilation. some say it is not politically correct to impose american values on those that are coming here. that is nonsense. if somebody chooses to come here i think it is okay to expect them to embrace american values. what makes america so great. [applause] what makes america so great is they can trace the lineage to plymou

. >> and there was this take on then-senator bobby kennedy from new york. >> a lot of people say i sound's not true. bugs bunny sounds like me. >> david frye was 77. still making us smile all these years later. >> when we come back, the "challenger" astronaut now making history twice, all because of something that happened when he was just 9. wow. it's really coming together. yep. this way, everyone will know about all our great discounts. safe driver, online, homeowner's -- more discounts than ever before. and they still get great service. ♪ ow! [ disco music plays ] ♪ whoa, yeah is it just me, or is it getting funky in here, huh? get your groove on, y'all! catch you on the flip side! i'd tell him the sign's not finished, but it would just break his funky little heart. more discounts, more ways to save. now, that's progressive. call or click today. i can't breathe... so i can't sleep... and the next day i pay for it. i tried decongestants... i tossed & turned... i even vaporized! and then i fought back: with new drug-free breathe right advanced. these nasal strips instantly opened my no

the one that bobby kennedy once occupied and i was taken seriously by the president as a result but after that fund raising was done mostly through the mail. >> i imagine there are many members of congress who envy that situation because one hears all the time that they're spending 60% of their time in fund raising, not being the legislators they want to be. in the book freedom at risk which we are going to have copies available to move on and signed by the author you talk about the interests of bureaucracy. he made mention of that today. recommended that citizens be allowed to sue the federal government for damages. >> yes. isn't that reasonable? >> is that constitutional? >> it is not constitutional. most people who work in bureaucracies and some agencies are intelligent people doing their job. there is a tendency to become so focused on their particular portfolio that they often can't understand the consequences on other parts of society. to start with decent people, good people. they are also human people. they are not amused to human nature. people will miss use their power. they rec

i remember very well going to hear, after the university of alabama integrated, going to hear bobby kennedy in one affairs speech is indeed completely taken with him and been totally devastated when he was assassinated here in los angeles. so the kennedys were huge. another one -- another person i talk about in the book who was the local leader in birmingham, who really brought about consciousness in birmingham, founded the early groups, had to leave to go to cincinnati because he was so much under threat. i think and never really got through compared to the great national leaders for all that he did. andy was a family friend and also a great hero. >> the lady right over here. >> hello, my name is lanier edwards. i like you. i grew up in florida, which a lot of friends from alabama sayeth not the real south. but i grew up in -- i pretty much grew up in an all-white community most of my life. but i never really experienced a lot of racism until i moved to northern florida, the school of florida and then. and actually once i moved out here -- you talked about letting go and not harboring the

i hired a respectable headquarters, the one of bobby kennedy once occupied, and i was taken seriously by the presidential result but after that the fundraising was done as i say mostly through the mail. >> i imagine you probably run into many members of congress that and be that situation because one hears from them all the time that they are spending 30, 40, 50, 60% of their time in fund-raising. not being the kind of legislator that they want to be. in the book, "freedom at risk" which we are going to have copies available to be bought and signed by the author, you talk about the intrusive bureaucracy and ufr did make mention of that today. you recommend that citizens be allowed to sue the federal government for damages. >> yes. isn't that reasonable? >> is that constitutional? >> is not constitutional. antonelli, most people who work in the bureaucracies and certain agencies are good people, intelligent people doing their job. they have a tendency to become so specifically focused on their particular portfolio that they often can understand the consequences of what they think they

bobby kennedy said that the trip had made a very, very major impression on his brother. foreign policy advisor walt rustau called it a formative experience. it convinced kennedy that the european empires were doomed and the new nations would become cold war battlegrounds to win them, the united states would have to offer a better doctrine of political and social revolution than the communists. at the conclusion of the asian trip, kennedy wrote in bobby's diary, "the reason for the spread of communism is the failure of those who believe in democracy to explain this theory in terms intelligible to the ordinary man and to make its ameliorating effect on his life apparent." a failure that some might argue is being repeated today by americans in iraq. finally, anyone reading kennedy's inaugural for the first time would be struck by the concern for the wretched of the earth. and the insistence that the fellow countrymen had a duty to alleviate their suffering. now, kennedy confronted wrefrped poverty for the first time while campaigning in the west virginia primary in the sprin

i hired a respectable headquarters, the one of bobby kennedy once occupied, and i was taken seriouslyby the presidential result but after that the fundraising was done as i say mostly through the mail. >> i imagine you probably run into many members of congress that and be that situation because one hears from them all the time that they are spending 30, 40, 50, 60% of their time in fund-raising. not being the kind of legislator that they want to be. in the book, "freedom at risk" which we are going to have copies available to be bought and signed by the author, you talk about the intrusive bureaucracy and ufr did make mention of that today. you recommend that citizens be allowed to sue the federal government for damages. >> yes. isn't that reasonable? >> is that constitutional? >> is not constitutional. antonelli, most people who work in the bureaucracies and certain agencies are good people, intelligent people doing their job. they have a tendency to become so specifically focused on their particular portfolio that they often can understand the consequences of what they think they o

monday, i remember growing up in new york city when martin luther king was shot and killed and bobby kennedy shot a couple months later. that memory is emblazenned upon my memory. and with what happened in arizona this past weekend, that's the same kind of experience that a lot of children are having. >> yes. >> depending upon their age. it is enormous. michelle obama, for example, wrote a letter to the nation yesterday on the white house blog about the impact of the shootings, particularly the tragedy involving the 9-year- old girl, christina green, and the impact it could have on kids who watch the news, who watch repeated images in a 24/7 cable news cycle. first of all, the actual shootings, then of course the funerals, memorial services, et cetera. this is a teachable moment as we say, when it comes to kids and media. >> what should parents do? number one, should you shield them from the news? >> i think it's an age issue. so for example, we have a 6- year-old, jesse. jesse's too young to really appreciate this for the most part, and he doesn't really focus on this and we've not really t

comes home and bobby kennedy, you know comes home one day and says that, i decided i wanted to become a catholic priest instead of running for office. his father reportedly said that's great. we've never had a pope in the family before. it would be nice having one. [laughter] that was my dad as well. what ever you did, you were going to be the best and you were never going to complete because every day that he woke up in america you were already better off than everybody else in the world. you had the privilege and the blessing to live in the greatest country in the history of the world. i'm going to talk about american exceptional those amana weigel but i learned from my parents. here's the important thing about their experience. they came here to be americans. what do i mean? i have a whole chapter about assimilation. some people say it's not politically correct to impose american values on those who are coming here. that's nonsense. i mean excuse me if somebody chooses to come here i think it's okay to expect them to want to embrace american values. what makes america so great. [ap

guest: in my lifetime, i have seen too many people i have admired starting with ronald reagan and bobby kennedy and john f. kennedy shot for political motivation to deny there is a connection between violent rhetoric and violent action. it does not always happen. but i come back to the sheriff. he said the rhetoric was so red hot that he was not surprised at this, because they all get death threats. that is what hit has come to. it is imperative on both sides to say cool the jets. guest: it is fine to say that. i have been saying that. other people have said that before. there have been assassinations throughout american history. the one that you cite are like hinckley. there is no evidence that public discourse was the thing that drove him. what drives people in overwhelming cases to assassinate political leaders is not discourse. it is a twisted, sick mind. they do not a political discourse to give them the green light to do it. and to try and take that kind of ing and tconvert it is really a way to try and go after pitical opponents. it is such a political view of the world appear. line're a

and then he spent like an hour and a half telling tales about his brother, the president and bobby kennedy and their involvement with the civil rights era and with martin luther king. and it was a fascinating insight into the kennedy family. i was senator kennedy's most public and visible person and he never let me forget it. and oftentimes did so publicly. he -- he always -- when i got too big for my britches he always thought they got size, especially in public. there's so many things. i mean, the thing with taylor branch is one of them. the legislation that helped on the communications with, watching them negotiate no child left behind but john boehner, judd gregg and george miller. the meetings for president bush in the white house. the campaigning needed for al gore and john kerry for some of the things that come to mind. >> hi, my name is andy card from yale university. ever a question regarding the communication and things you did. yesterday was her up on capitol hill were very impressed with how point of a lot of the alleys where and how very almost practiced their responses for wh

and then he spent like an hour and a half telling tales about his brother, the president and bobby kennedy and their involvement with the civil rights era and with martin luther king. and it was a fascinating insight into the kennedy family. i was senator kennedy's most public and visible person and he never let me forget it. and oftentimes did so publicly. he -- he always -- when i got too big for my britches he always thought they got size, especially in public. there's so many things. i mean, the thing with taylor branch is one of them. the legislation that helped on the communications with, watching them negotiate no child left behind but john boehner, judd gregg and george miller. the meetings for president bush in the white house. the campaigning needed for al gore and john kerry for some of the things that come to mind. >> hi, my name is andy card from yale university. ever a question regarding the communication and things you did. yesterday was her up on capitol hill were very impressed with how point of a lot of the alleys where and how very almost practiced their responses for wh

one day bobby kennedy come some. in of jocund.-- dad, i want to c priest instead of running for office to his father reportedly said that is great. we have never had a pulp and the family. well, that was my dad as well. whenever you did, you were going to be the best comedy were never going to complain. you were already better off and everybody else. you had the privilege and blessing to live in the greatest country in the history of the world. i am going to talk about american exceptional as some, but i learned it from my parents. here is the important thing. they came here to be americans. at the whole chapter of assimilation. some people say it is not politically correct to impose values of those coming year. ll that's nonsense. excuse me. if somebody chooses to come here it is a "in depth" expect him to want to embrace american values. what makes america some great. what makes america so great is there are people here that can trace their lineage of the lead back to plymouth rock. the contrast that lineage back t

the courage to find that sense of not being alone is what makes a life of a friend killed worth, bobby kennedyng, what it could be. finally, i think he would be saying to us, remember that your adversaries, even your harshest enemies, are ones to be won over. remember, their fellow human beings caught in a pattern, system, and culture. there are not lost souls ever to be found. they will be part of your community if you treat them in a way that invites them. the faith and politics institute has carried members of congress through alabama and walked through the history of the civil rights movement in birmingham, montgomery, selma, with john lewis leading us. we had about 30 members of congress over the years. the first time we went, george wallace was still alive. it was the last year of his life. he was in pretty rough shape. the congressional delegation went to see him. i remember john lewis, earl hilliard, the african-american congressman from that area, they walked right in and were as comfortable as could be. i remember a couple of our white, midwestern, liberal members, standing at the ed

the justice department in washington, they're going to be celebrating the 50th anniversary of bobby kennedyeing sworn in as the u.s. attorney general. as you may remember, kennedy ran a famous war against the mafia. and it's clear from these new arrests that war lives on. as you're about to see, the mafia of today is very different from the one kennedy confronted. just a quick glance at the alleged mobsters in this latest roundup, with their sweat pants and ill-fitting jeans, their cheap sneakers and big pot bellies, tell you we have come a long way from the days of the dapper don, john gotti. today's mob looks less like the flashy made men of "goodfellas," than it does "donnie brasco," which featured small-time hustlers. look at the ages of the top suspects in the fbi's own press release. 83, 76, 73, 74, 69 and 61. last time the feds engineered one of these big mob takedowns, some of the suspects were literally using walkers. one of the major reasons for the decay of the once-mighty mafia is the death of omerta, the code of silence. snitches like sammie "the bull" gravano, helped bring dow

and then he spent like an hour and a half telling tales about his brother, the president and bobby kennedynvolvement with the civil rights era and with martin luther king. and it was a fascinating insight into the kennedy family. i was senator kennedy's most public and visible person and he never let me forget it. and oftentimes did so publicly. he -- he always -- when i got too big for my britches he always thought they got size, especially in public. there's so many things. i mean, the thing with taylor branch is one of them. the legislation that helped on the communications with, watching them negotiate no child left behind but john boehner, judd gregg and george miller. the meetings for president bush in the white house. the campaigning needed for al gore and john kerry for some of the things that come to mind. >> hi, my name is andy card from yale university. ever a question regarding the communication and things you did. yesterday was her up on capitol hill were very impressed with how point of a lot of the alleys where and how very almost practiced their responses for what they said

guest: in my lifetime, i have seen too many people i have admired starting with ronald reagan and bobby kennedy and john f. kennedy shot for political motivation to deny there is a connection between violent rhetoric and violent action. it does not always happen. but i come back to the sheriff. he said the rhetoric was so red hot that he was not surprised at this, because they all get death threats. that is what hit has come to. it is imperative on both sides to say cool the jets. guest: it is fine to say that. i have been saying that. other people have said that before. there have been assassinations throughout american history. the one that you cite are like hinckley. there is no evidence that public discourse was the thing that drove him. what drives people in overwhelming cases to assassinate political leaders is not discourse. it is a twisted, sick mind. they do not a political discourse to give them the green light to do it. and to try and take that kind of thing and to convert it is really a way to try and go after political opponents. it is such a political view of the world appear. lin

guest: in my lifetime, i have seen too many people i have admired starting with ronald reagan and bobby kennedy and john f. kennedy shot for political motivation to deny there is a connection between violent rhetoric and violent action. it does not always happen. but i come back to the sheriff. he said the rhetoric was so red hot that he was not surprised at this, because they all get death threats. that is what hit has come to. it is imperative on both sides to say cool the jets. guest: it is fine to say that. i have been saying that. other people have said that before. there have been assassinations throughout american history. the one that you cite are like hinckley. there is no evidence that public discourse was the thing that drove him. what drives people in overwhelming cases to assassinate political leaders is not discourse. it is a twisted, sick mind. they do not a political discourse to give them the green light to do it. and to try and take that kind of thing and to convert it is really a way to try and go after political opponents. it is such a political view of the world appear. lin

peace corps legal services, the special olympics and most of all his life wonderful children, bobby, maria, kennedywill miss him but we know he is found in greater joy reunited with a lot of his life, his extraordinary life. i would also like to support my and and an uncle who work hard at everything was a lubber today and all those who work to make the new frontier everything my father dreamed they could be. i want to salute my aunt vicki and especially of my cousins for being here to share this special day of remembering and renewal. today we mark not just the anniversary of my father's inauguration, but the endurance of an ideal. all my life people have told me that my father changed their life and that they changed america. they tell me they decided to run for office to join the peace corps for the civil rights movement to serve their community because for the firt time someone asked them to and made them feel that they get something special to give back to this country that had given us so much.it an american and enriched american ideals of itself. it inspired a generation that transformed thi

kennedy, and he never got to know another uncle, bobby, either. he does know only too well what it's like to be part of a political family marked by assassin's bullets. when you heard that a congresswoman had been shot, an attempt had been made on her life, the first political assassination attempt in more than a generation, what went through your mind? as a kennedy? >> my colleagues, our hearts went out to her and we also realize this is the ultimate culmination we knew was brewing in terms of an atmosphere. granted, it was the act of a lone gunman who was delusional, but still, we've lived in an environment that sanctioned pretty heated rhetoric that's really bordering on irresponsible in how much it condones violence. and the dehumanization of our political leaders. >> reporter: in the debate over whether heated political rhetoric led to the tragedy in tucson, kennedy doesn't mince his words. he says the tone in the country right now is dangerous and destructive. >> it steals from democracy. when you have my colleagues decide not to run for re-

king or bobby or john kennedy what it could be. finally, i think he would be saying to us, remember, that your adversaries, even your harsh as enemies, are ones to be won over. remember, they are fellow human beings caught in a system and a pattern and a culture. they're not lost souls never to be found. they are to be your community in a way -- if you treat them in a way that invites them. the faith and politics institute has carried members to alabama and walked through the history of the civil-rights movement in birmingham, montgomery, and some elma with john lewis leading us. we have carried 120 members of congress over the years. the first time we went, george wallace was still alive. and he was -- it was the last year of his life. he was in his house. she was in rough shape. the congressional delegation went to see him. -- he was in rough shape. john lewis and earl hilliard walked right in and were comfortable as could be. i remember a couple of our white, midwestern and liberal members standing at the edge of the door not kn

come close to the greatest gifts that eunice and sarge and president kennedy, my dear friend kennedy and bobbyf your family gave to our family. ambassador smith continues to do this today. the greatest gift to us are you, the children, grandchildren, the nieces and nephews of these remarkable remarkable people. today in particular i point out bobby, marie, tim, anthony, it is important is that you understand how deeply determined to your parents were to make the world a better place. as we mark these occasions, we may come to realize that the 1960 pause for a time not unlike our own today. -- we may come to realize that the 1960's were a time not unlike our own today. the society was divided. people were angry. our future was very uncertain. as we seek common ground these days and a path forward in another difficult age, as those who are entering or preparing to enter public life and looking for role models to imitate a, you need look no further than the individual we honor this evening, sargent shriver. we look to his brazen optimism and his senate confidence. he led a life of love and humor,

contributions do not come close to the greatest gift that eunice and sarge and president kennedy, my dear friend teddy, and bobbyf the family gave to our country. the greatest gift to us our youth, the children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews of these remarkable people. today in particular i point out ria and bobby and tim and mark and anthony. it is important that each of you know how deeply proud your parents were and are of your determined effort to make this world a better and safer place. as we mark these occasions, we may come to realize that the 1960's were a time not unlike or on today. today our politics and politics then as today or angry. our society was divided, as we know, and the future was very uncertain indeed. as we seek common ground in these days and the path forward in another get difficult age, as those who are entering are preparing to enter public life and are looking for role models to imitate, you need look no further than the individual we honor this evening, sargent shriver. look to his brazen optimism, look to the life he lived full of love, humor, and hope and determination. and l

kennedy was assassinated less than three years after his inauguration, in november 1963. his brother bobbypolitical violence so traumatic that the country has never fully recovered. it's an episode eerily relevant today in the wake of the assassination attempt against gabrielle giffords less than two weeks ago. >> the congresswoman was targeted. no matter what the reason how would you describe the atmosphere, the political atmosphere today in the country? >> well, i think that was done by one individual. and i think that that could happen. it's happened, as we all know, in the past. and i don't think we should blame a whole group of people for it. i think probably it calls our attention to our country and are we doing the best we can for everybody? and that if we cross the aisles as my brothers did, and try and see another person's point of view, i think it can be done. >> reporter: you were talking about your brothers, and they were partisan. how did they deal with that in their political lives? >> i think they honestly felt that people had their own -- they march to their own drummer and

bobbie, a trustee, says there trying to send this to the pan. some grow cried please, mr. kennedy. day number seven. many girls faced allegations. i made a sign. attention torres, i am not a yankee. i am from georgia. the guard ticket. a souvenir. less selling and writing. sang songs. by the time i get out i will know how minority feels. actually, one of the seven white coral was eventually arrested. i had company. teefourteen, usual break, exercise and ballet. a little read and write. so many 17. not much peace. have not slept well. meeting on what to do with cigarettes, no rationing. taking to sleeping in the shower. sleep most of the day. jailers getting worse. drug taken out this morning. jane got package. letters may be rationed. long day. dinner, long evening. danced. learning taught shock. lights out early. ten more were arrested. [applauding] >> oh, yes. >> lived in durham, north carolina. she was a teacher and fiction writer and has remained active in lesbian and women's anti-war in just a struggles. [applauding] >> so isn't this beautiful? >> yes. >> i am going to turn 70

view do not come close to the greatest gifts that eunice and sergeant and president kennedy, my tear friend teddy and bobby you, the children, the grandchildren, nieces and nephews of these remarkable, remarkable people. today in particular we point out maria and bobby and tim and mark and anthony. it's important that each of you know, as i'm sure you do, how deeply, deeply proud your parents were and are of your determines efforted to make this world a better and safer place. as we mark these occasions, we may come to real realize that te 1960s were a time not unlike our own today. today our politics, politics then as today was angry. our society was divided as we know. and our future was very uncertain indeed. therefore, as we seek common ground in these days and a path forward in another yet difficult age, as those who are entering or preparing to entering a public life, and are looking for role models to imitate, you need look no further than the individual we honor this evening, sergeant shriver. look to his brave and optimism, and sunny confidence, the life that he lived full of love and humor, and h

bobby was the worst. he illegally bugged more people and started it than anyone. he was a bastard." and when did he say that, and how often did he talk about the kennedys like this? guest: well, nixon always claimed that he wasn't very concerned with the kennedys, but kennedy's name came up in conversation probably more than any other president that we discussed, of his predecessors and his successors. i think that nixon was fundamentally a good man and that he could not stand to see people in positions of power abusing that power and treating people who were in service positions with disrespect. that really grated on him because nixon, we have to remember, came from nothing. he came from poverty, and he just, through the sheer force of will and brilliance -- intellectual brilliance and drive -- climbed his way to the pinnacle of power in american politics. and he never gave up that -- the fact, though, that he was brought up to be a good person, and he could not understand the kind of arrogance displayed by the kennedys in those types of situations. c-span: when did you decide to do this book? guest: i decided to do it several months after nixon passe