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1968: Why was Kennedy's assassination a turning point in American history?
On June 5, 1968, former U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy was shot by Serhan Serhan at the Ambawi Hotel in Los Angeles and died the next day. Kennedy was a candidate in the Democratic presidential primary at the time and had just won the primaries in California and South Dakota the day before. While he was giving a victory speech to his supporters in the banquet hall of the Ambawi Hotel, he was suddenly assassinated. This incident not only plunged American society into shock and grief, but also triggered a widespread crisis of security and trust in politics, and further changed the protection policy for US presidential candidates.
Kennedy said in his final speech: "What we need is love, wisdom and compassion for one another."
Kennedy's Background and Political Career
Kennedy was born in Brookline, Massachusetts in 1925 and visited Palestine in 1948. In his manly role, he was appointed U.S. Attorney General by his brother John Kennedy in 1960 and became one of his important advisers. Kennedy is widely credited with coordinating the various parties involved in the Cuban Missile Crisis, ultimately leading to a successful resolution.
In 1964, Kennedy decided not to assist his brother's presidential campaign and instead began his own Senate campaign in New York. During this period, his support for civil rights and opposition to Vietnam War policies continued to increase his popularity within the Democratic Party.
Kennedy once said during his campaign: "We will support Israel and provide assistance if it is attacked."
Assassination incident
In the California primary on June 4, 1968, Kennedy unexpectedly won and became a strong candidate for the Democratic Party. Unfortunately, he was shot by Serhan at 12:02 am the night after the election at the Ambawi Hotel. At the time, Kennedy had only a small number of private security guards, as the government did not yet provide security for presidential candidates.
Serhan attacked from the side of the refrigerator and shot Kennedy and others, injuring six people and Kennedy also fell to the ground seriously injured. In this incident, Kennedy's strong attitude and his final words have become historical moments that are talked about by later generations.
Witnesses at the scene recalled Kennedy's final inquiry to his newest supporters: "Is everyone OK?" This also deeply moved many people.
Kennedy's death and social impact
About 25 hours later, Kennedy died in the hospital. His cremation ceremony attracted thousands of people to pay their respects and had a high social influence. The assassination prompted Congress to immediately strengthen its protection policies for presidential candidates, thus changing the security mechanism of American politics.
Kennedy's death was the last of four major murders in the 1960s, which included the assassinations of John Kennedy, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King. These events together create a picture that makes American society reflect deeply, stirring up people's anxiety and desire for security and peace.
Trial after the assassination and reflection on the future
After his arrest, Saierhan made a series of radical remarks and gave testimonies that sounded like palace dramas, and various conspiracy theories about the case emerged on the Internet. Although he was sentenced to life in prison, he was always rejected at every parole hearing. All of this makes us wonder how a society should respond when faced with such a tragedy. As many historians have said, Kennedy's Spring may not be the end, but may be an important turning point that will affect many future political operations.
This incident reminded people of their fear and vigilance against political violence, and these issues still have far-reaching significance for the government and society today.
So, after such a major historical turning point, how should American society move forward to build a safer and more harmonious society?
