RFK Had as Good a Chance as Any in 1968
No Democratic candidate since World War II had won California and New York and lost the nomination. By Readers Aug. 22, 2023 6:36 pm ET Sen. Robert F. Kennedy addresses campaign workers moments before being shot in Los Angeles, June 5, 1968. Photo: Dick Strobel/Associated Press In his review of Luke Nichter’s “The Year That Broke Politics” (Bookshelf, Aug. 17), Barton Swaim writes, “Robert F. Kennedy, had he lived, stood very little chance of winning the Democratic nomination and no chance at all of beating Nixon.” Mr. Swaim is confusing his opinion with factual certitude. His overstatement is incorrect on both counts. Robert Kennedy was killed on the day that he won the California primary. As his 1968 New York state campaign coordinator, I was closely informed about our prospects in the senator’s home state. I
Sen. Robert F. Kennedy addresses campaign workers moments before being shot in Los Angeles, June 5, 1968.
Photo: Dick Strobel/Associated Press
In his review of Luke Nichter’s “The Year That Broke Politics” (Bookshelf, Aug. 17), Barton Swaim writes, “Robert F. Kennedy, had he lived, stood very little chance of winning the Democratic nomination and no chance at all of beating Nixon.” Mr. Swaim is confusing his opinion with factual certitude. His overstatement is incorrect on both counts.
Robert Kennedy was killed on the day that he won the California primary. As his 1968 New York state campaign coordinator, I was closely informed about our prospects in the senator’s home state. In my opinion, based on internal polling and statewide canvassing, we were clearly going to win New York. No Democratic candidate since World War II had won California and New York and lost the nomination.
It isn’t possible to know who would have won the second Kennedy-Nixon contest at a time of national turmoil, but national momentum was on Kennedy’s side when he was assassinated on June 5, 1968.
Bartle Bull
Amenia, N.Y.
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