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The Death of Robert F. Kennedy: What's the Shocking Truth Behind the Assassination?
On June 5, 1968, Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated at the Ambaver Hotel in Los Angeles, California, and was pronounced dead the next day. Kennedy was a U.S. Senator and a candidate in the 1968 Democratic presidential primary. The day before the assassination, he had won the California and South Dakota primaries and addressed supporters in the Embassy Ballroom of the Ambaway Hotel. After leaving the podium, Kennedy was shot multiple times by the Assassin Sihanouk as he passed through the kitchen corridor of the hotel and died of his injuries. The incident not only sparked national mourning but also raised questions about the safety of politicians.
Event background
Robert Kennedy was born in 1925. He visited Palestine in 1948 and reported on the situation there. As the political environment changed in the 1980s and thereafter, Kennedy's life and career repeatedly reflected social unrest and changes. In 1960, when his brother John Kennedy was elected President of the United States, Robert was appointed Attorney General, where he worked closely with him, especially during the Cuban Missile Crisis. All this immersed him in America's most tumultuous political period, as social movements, the civil rights movement, and opposition to the Vietnam War grew stronger over time.
Assassination
In the 1968 California primary, Kennedy won 46% of the vote to Eugene McCarthy's 42%. Kennedy's victory gave him a seat on the political stage as anger over war and social unrest grew. However, as his fame grew, so did the shadow of assassination.
At the end of his speech, Kennedy said, "Thank you, and see you in Chicago." What he never expected was that these would be his last words.
The moment of assassination
After his speech, Kennedy planned to thank supporters, but as reporters gathered around him, security changed his route, causing him to pass through the kitchen hallway. Soon, the assassin Xihan Xihan came from the darkness and fatally attacked his tendency to shake hands with others. At this moment, the chaos and fear spread to the entire audience. Kennedy fell to the ground. People around him also struggled to stop the assassin in panic, but they could not save his life.
Impact and consequences of the incident
The assassination immediately triggered a national media frenzy, and Kennedy's wife Ethel rushed to the hospital and knelt beside him after learning the news. After a long period of first aid, Kennedy's injuries still showed no improvement, and he was finally pronounced dead in the early morning of June 6.
Kennedy's last words were: "Don't lift me up." This sentence became a symbol of his unyielding life, and also made people in later generations more emotional about the ideals he insisted on.
Investigation into the assassination
Xihan Xihan was arrested after the incident and was immediately tried. He told the court that he was motivated by anger over Kennedy's support of Israel's policies. Although the court ultimately found him guilty of murder, the public still has many questions about the motives behind the case. Meanwhile, conspiracy theories abound about whether there is a deeper political dimension to the incident.
The development of conspiracy theories
Since then, many conspiracy theorists have focused on the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the incident, believing that the assassination may involve a higher-level plan. However, the evidence is insufficient and these theories have not gained widespread credibility.
As a symbol of people's political beliefs, Kennedy's experience triggered countless people's reflections on political violence and its consequences.
Kennedy’s funeral and aftermath
Kennedy's funeral sparked nationwide tributes, with thousands lining up outside St. Patrick's Cathedral to pay their respects to the political leader. As he was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery, many old friends and supporters expressed their condolences and respects, allowing this one-time political hope to receive the recognition he deserved as his career ended.
The death of Robert F. Kennedy was not only a sad event, but also the end of an era. His story deserves our deep thought. Why, in a democratic country, after facing such a tragedy, how can we ensure future political security and harmony?
