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Robert F. Kennedy and the 1968 Indiana Primary
 
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Robert F. Kennedy and the 1968 Indiana Primary [Hardcover]

Ray E. Boomhower (Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)

Price: $21.95 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
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Book Description

February 27, 2008

On April 4, 1968, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., arrived in Indiana to campaign for the Indiana Democratic presidential primary. As Kennedy prepared to fly from an appearance in Muncie to Indianapolis, he learned that civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., had been shot outside his hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. Before his plane landed in Indianapolis, Kennedy heard the news that King had died. Despite warnings from Indianapolis police that they could not guarantee his safety, and brushing off concerns from his own staff, Kennedy decided to proceed with plans to address an outdoor rally to be held in the heart of the city's African American community. On that cold and windy evening, Kennedy broke the news of King's death in an impassioned, extemporaneous speech on the need for compassion in the face of violence. It has proven to be one of the great speeches in American political history.

Marking the 40th anniversary of Kennedy's Indianapolis speech, this book explains what brought the politician to Indiana that day, and explores the characters and events of the 1968 Indiana Democratic presidential primary in which Kennedy, who was an underdog, had a decisive victory.

(2009)

Frequently Bought Together

Customers buy this book with Kennedy vs. Carter: The 1980 Battle for the Democratic Party's Soul $28.22

Robert F. Kennedy and the 1968 Indiana Primary + Kennedy vs. Carter: The 1980 Battle for the Democratic Party's Soul


Editorial Reviews

Review

"The book is a valuable contribution to RFK scholarship and sheds new light on the inner workings of one of Kennedy's most important political endeavors." --Presidential Studies Quarterly

"Boomhower offers a compelling look at a brief few weeks in 1968 when Hoosiers found themselves at the center of a dynamic struggle over a Presidential nomination and the future direction of our nation. Along the way, he gives readers insight into the tensions, tragedy and emotions of a singular moment—Senator Robert Kennedy's remarks in Indianapolis just hours after Dr. Martin Luther King had been shot—and provides a deeper understanding of one of the more significant events in our nation's long, contentious civil rights journey." —Evan Bayh, former U.S. Senator

(Evan Bayh, former U.S. Senator 2008)

"A first-rate book: well-researched, balanced, weaving a compelling narrative of an inspiring American and an idealistic time." —Lee H. Hamilton, former U.S. Representative and author of How Congress Works and Why You Should Care

(Lee H. Hamilton, former U.S. Representative and author of How Congress Works and Why You Should Care 2008)

"You do not have to be from Indiana to read this book. Insights on politics and electioneering in the United States abound." —William Doherty, H-Net Reviews

(William Doherty H-Net Reviews )

"Well-written and handsomely packaged in the style of Kennedy's campaign flyers, Robert F. Kennedy and the 1968 Indiana Primary will likely stand as the definitive historical account of that contest.... this book is a solid scholarly contribution to the continued debate over the significance of Kennedy's presidential candidacy..." —Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, Winter 2008

(Register of the Kentucky Historical Society )

"This book is a must-read for anyone interested in presidential politics." —Indiana Magazine of History

(Indiana Magazine of History )

"Boomhower's book provides a good account of the Indiana primary, an account that is at its best as history. It makes very good use of archival materials, blending primary and secondary sources into a compelling narrative. The narrative itself is rich with detail and deepens our understanding of several key aspects of the campaign." —Rhetoric and Public Affairs

(Rhetoric and Public Affairs )

"Boomhower's account of the 1968 Indiana primary is a highly readable monograph that contextualizes the campaign quite well.... The book is a valuable contribution to RFK scholarship and sheds new light on the inner workings of one of Kennedy's most important political endeavors." —Presidential Studies Quarterly

(Presidential Studies Quarterly )

From the Publisher

"Boomhower offers a compelling look at a brief few weeks in 1968 when Hoosiers found themselves at the center of a dynamic struggle over a Presidential nomination and the future direction of our nation. Along the way, he gives readers insight into the tensions, tragedy and emotions of a singular moment--Senator Robert Kennedy's remarks in Indianapolis just hours after Dr. Martin Luther King had been shot--and provides a deeper understanding of one of the more significant events in our nation's long, contentious civil rights journey." --U.S. Senator Evan Bayh

"A first-rate book: well-researched, balanced, weaving a compelling narrative of an inspiring American and an idealistic time." --Lee H. Hamilton, former U.S. Representative and author of How Congress Works and Why You Should Care


Product Details

  • Hardcover: 192 pages
  • Publisher: Indiana University Press (February 27, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0253350891
  • ISBN-13: 978-0253350893
  • Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #332,247 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ray E. Boomhower is senior editor of the Indiana Historical Society's quarterly popular history magazine Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History. Boomhower has been with the Society since 1987, beginning work for the statewide, nonprofit organization as its public relations coordinator.

A native of Mishawaka, Indiana, Boomhower graduated from Indiana University in 1982 with degrees in journalism and political science. He received his master's degree in U.S. history from Indiana University, Indianapolis, in 1995. Before joining the Society staff, he worked in public relations for the Indiana State Museum and as a reporter for two Indiana daily newspapers, the Rensselaer Republican and the Anderson Herald.

In 1999 Boomhower received the Hoosier Historian award from the Indiana Historical Society. His book on Robert F. Kennedy and the 1968 Indiana Democratic presidential primary won the 2009 Best Books of Indiana competition in the nonfiction category sponsored by the Indiana Center for the Book, and his other works have been finalists in the annual Benjamin Franklin Awards from the Independent Book Publishers Association. In 2010 he was named as the winner of the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award in the regional category.

 

Customer Reviews

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Average Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Account of RFK Race in the Hoosier State, January 27, 2009
This review is from: Robert F. Kennedy and the 1968 Indiana Primary (Hardcover)
I am a voracious reader of insightful books involving, or in part containing, Robert Kennedy's '68 run for the Democratic nomination. This book is a first-rate addition to the few great ones out there. Previously unknown stories of this Hoosier primary from first-hand sources, wonderfully well-researched accounts of how decisions were made and the campaign trasnspired, all brought together in a smooth style that doesn't get in the way of the story.

You'll find stories and accounts about this particular primary that are not found elsewhere. The book deservers its place among the other great books that cover the '68 campaign of Bobby Kennedy.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating look at the Primary process, August 14, 2008
By 
Scott Blake (Mountain View, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Robert F. Kennedy and the 1968 Indiana Primary (Hardcover)
What makes this book especially interesting is how it describes the details and the process of a candidate and his staff focusing on one state's Presidential Primary election. Boomhower has written an excellent book, one I would recommend to anyone interested in political history and the intricacies of each state's Primary election. During the 2008 election, with each candidate trying harder to bash the other than to promote their own views and goals, this book is a look back at a truly different time in American history.
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7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Indiana May Make the Difference Again, March 25, 2008
This review is from: Robert F. Kennedy and the 1968 Indiana Primary (Hardcover)
The Washington Post on March 25, 2008 reported that the Indiana May primary between Obama and Clinton may make the difference for the Democratic nomination. Forty years ago this was also the case. Every political reporter, blogger and junkie needs to read this book. Indiana politics are quirky, but there are similarities between 1968 and 2008, especially over the race issue. Obama is Bobby Kennedy. Hillary is trying to figure out if she is Gene McCarty or the machine candidate represented by Gov. Roger Branigin.
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