by James Harvey

Created on: October 05, 2009   Last Updated: October 06, 2009

Robert Francis Kennedy-Attorney-General to his older brother, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 35th President of the United States and Presidential candidate for 1968, whom many felt would have unquestionably become president had he lived, manifested seemingly unbelievable poise, dignity and fortitude following one of the darkest days in American history.

In fact, November 22, 1963 wasn't the first time that Robert Kennedy had faced tragedy. He was no stranger to tragedy; he had experienced it several times. But it was his resilience and unassuming attitude that has endeared millions to the man. Robert Kennedy has become memorable for his character and class.

Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy was born on November 20, 1925 in Brookline, Massachusetts. He was the third son of Joseph Patrick and Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald Kennedy. It seems that the Kennedy Family were constantly on the move. When he was nearly two years old, in September 1927, the family moved from Masschusetts to Riverdale, New York, then to Bronxville, New York two years later. He generally spent summers with his family in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts and Christmas and Easter holidays at the family winter home in Palm Beach, Florida.

He attended public schools in Riverdale Elementary School from kindergarten through second grade. Later he attended Bronxville School from the third to fifth grades then Riverdale County School, a private school for boys. In March 1938, when his father was U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, 12-year-old Bobby Kennedy attended the Gibb School for Boys in England, leaving just before the outbreak of the Second World War.

He further attended other private schools before finally finishing his secular schooling in March 1944. Inspired by his big brothers John and Joe Jr., Bobby enlisted in the U.S.Naval Reserve six weeks before his 18th birthday as a apprenctice seaman. Between March 1944 to January 1946 he received extensive naval training in the V-12 program; by December 1945 he received a grant to serve on the U.S.S. Joseph P. Kennedy until finally he received an honorable discharge on May 30, 1946.

By September of that year, Bobby entered Harvard College, having received credit for serving in the V-12 program. He played on the Varsity football team as an End and a Starter, in fact he even scored a touchdown in the first game of his senior year. But his stint was short-lived; he broke his leg while practicing. Nevertheless, he won his varsity letter when his coach sent him

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