Just a few miles from the homestead where his family’s dynasty in American politics began, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. officially launched his campaign for the presidency on April 19, becoming the first Kennedy since 1979 to make a bid for the White House and the third to challenge a sitting president.
“I come here to announce my candidacy for the Democratic nomination for the president of the United States,” Kennedy said, with cheers erupting in response from the crowd that gathered at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel.
With his wife actress Cheryl Hines by his side, flanked by a row of American flags, Kennedy spoke to an audience of more than 1,000 attendees.
The crowd chanted “Bobby” and “RFK,” and stood to applaud several times, and listened intently as Kennedy spoke about the history of his family in American politics after escaping British oppression and potato famine back in their native country of Ireland.
Kennedy talked briefly, but fondly about his personal relationship with current President Joe Biden, saying his challenge to the incumbent is a matter of differences about issues like censorship and public health.
Unlike the political luminaries in his family, Kennedy is not known as much for his politics as he is for his advocacy for vaccine safety, which drew significant attention with the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines.
His views on vaccine safety were part of his 2021 New York Times bestselling book “The Real Anthony Fauci.” He is also the founder of the non-profit activist group Children’s Health Defense.
Kennedy is looking to follow in the footsteps of his uncle the late John F. Kennedy who was elected in 1960 and served as President until his assassination in 1963. Kennedy’s father Robert F. Kennedy was campaigning for president against incumbent Lyndon Johnson when he was assassinated in 1968.
Richard Nixon ended up being the president-elect. Ted Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s uncle and a popular U.S. Senator who represented Massachusetts for 47 years until his death in 2009, made an unsuccessful bid for the Presidency, with sights set on unseating Jimmy Carter.
All three brothers grew up in a small house in Brookline, Massachusetts, which today is a registered landmark and known as the birthplace of John F. Kennedy.
Outside of vaccines, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is every bit a Democrat, with staunch support of LGBT causes and abbortion.
Kennedy, named one of New York Times “Heroes of the Planet,” is also highly celebrated among climate change theorists, environmentalists, as well as human rights advocates for his efforts against carbon emissions, negotiating better homeland treaties for indigenous Americans, and protecting threatened watersheds.