Inside RFK’s Legacy: Journalist Anthony Lewis Reflects on Power, Justice & Hope

Video Description

In this powerful interview, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Anthony Lewis reflects on the life, character, and legacy of Robert F. Kennedy. Speaking with rare clarity and depth, Lewis revisits RFK’s transformation from a tough, combative political operator to a national figure who came to embody justice, empathy, and moral courage. Lewis recounts RFK’s complicated early years with McCarthy, his critical role during the Cuban Missile Crisis, his tense clashes with J. Edgar Hoover, and his evolving relationship with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He also explores RFK’s moral awakening during the civil-rights movement and the profound impact of Kennedy’s 1966 “Ripple of Hope” speech in South Africa. From intimate personal insights to sweeping reflections on history, this conversation reveals a side of Robert Kennedy that is often overlooked: a man shaped by tragedy, driven by conscience, and determined to give people “the sense of possibility.” 00:00 – Introduction 01:12 – Meeting John F. Kennedy for the First Time 02:25 – Early Impressions of Robert Kennedy 03:50 – JFK vs. RFK: Contrasting Styles 05:30 – RFK’s Unexpected Appointment as Attorney General 08:00 – Building a Top-Tier Justice Department 10:40 – The Bay of Pigs and RFK’s Transformation 12:20 – RFK’s Expanding Role in Foreign Policy 13:15 – The Cuban Missile Crisis: RFK’s Defining Moment 14:35 – The Kennedy–Johnson Rift 16:20 – Civil Rights Tensions and MLK 18:20 – RFK’s Evolving Understanding of the Movement 20:05 – The June 11, 1963 Civil Rights Speech 22:05 – RFK Reflects on Public Perception of the “Kennedy Brothers” 24:50 – Confronting Militancy within the Civil Rights Movement 26:35 – RFK vs. J. Edgar Hoover 29:30 – Personal Struggles After JFK’s Assassination 32:50 – The 1964 Convention and National Emotion 35:05 – Conducting RFK’s Oral History Interviews 38:35 – RFK’s Moral Confidence After Becoming a Senator 41:05 – Preparing for the 1966 South Africa Trip 43:20 – “Ripples of Hope”: RFK’s Most Iconic Speech 46:15 – Why the Speech Resonated Across South Africa 48:40 – The Power of Hope and Resistance 50:35 – RFK’s 1968 Campaign and Cross-Racial Appeal 52:45 – The Lost Promise of RFK If you enjoy deep historical storytelling, subscribe to Life Stories for more interviews with the people who witnessed history up close.