Christopher J. Matthews

Chris Matthews's Bobby Kennedy: A Raging Spirit is a compelling and bittersweet tribute to RFK, but in a larger sense expresses a heartfelt longing for that type of person and politician: someone who truly cared for the oppressed and disadvantaged, and strived to lift them up. A leader with empathy. A leader to believe in.

Matthews chronicles the transformation from Bobby's early pursuit of "villains" (going after the perceived Communist threat as counsel on Joseph McCarthy's Subcommittee on show more Investigations, and his activity investigating labor corruption and organized crime) to later seeking to make a difference for those he saw as life's victims: the African Americans subjected to segregation and discrimination, the poor, the hungry.

The book also explores the remarkably strong bond between RFK and JFK, Bobby's tireless efforts and expert organizational skills that helped elect his brother president, and the overwhelming grief that consumed him after the assssination of President Kennedy. Matthews also weaves in the long-standing friction between Bobby and Lyndon Johnson, which culminated in RFK's decision to seek the 1968 Democratic nomination, opposing sitting president LBJ and the Vietnam War.

The author peppers the narrative with personal reminiscences which illuminate how he became interested in politics and how, like millions of young Americans in the 1960's, RFK inspired him; however, the periodic shift to first person narrative does tend to interrupt the flow somewhat.

Matthews clearly relishes the rough-and-tumble world of politics, and the book provides some intriguing stories of backroom dealing, double-dealing, demands, and dirty tricks. But as political biographies go, this one is on the light side. Major issues such as the Bay of Pigs, the Cuban missile crisis, and Vietnam are sketched superficially, though the civil rights movement is more thoroughly discussed. And the book seems to end too abruptly. Matthews addresses the assassination of RFK swiftly with barely any denouement, much less any epilogue. But then perhaps this approach is a statement of the suddenness of Bobby's life cut short, the void it created, with it left to us to reflect and provide our own summary appreciation. show less

In my reading of Presidential biographies, I tend to gravitate towards the larger tomes. I want to get a broad picture of the zeitgeist of the day, and I figure that in a smaller biography, those details would be the first to be edited out. This time, however, I broke pattern and went with a book that was barely over 400 pages. Mr. Matthews didn't fail me. He paints a full picture of John Kennedy and the times he lived in. Based mostly on interviews with Kennedy's friends and co-workers, Mr. show more Matthews tells the story of the rich boy who struggled with ill health and grew up in the shadow of his older brother. Service in World War II helped shape him, and after the war he turned his attention to politics, creating his own style of campaigning. As I read the book, I got a better understanding of Kennedy's charisma and appeal. Growing up in the wake of the Kennedy assassination, I sometimes wondered if his legacy in our culture was simply the response to his untimely death. This book shows that John Kennedy did indeed help shape American culture, even as he wrestled with the events of the day.
--J. show less

I have read a great deal on John Kennedy for two reasons. One being he was one of the most interesting figures of the 20th century. Two because there is so much written about him. Chris Matthews well known for his reverence of the man pretty much devotes the entire book to reinforce this. So we see a picture of the man painted in this perspective. Bare mention is made of the darker side of his nature but then again there is a lot out there available on that side. The tragedy of losing such a show more captivating figure in our political history leaves us with the search for what would or could have been. How would he have played out the Viet Nam conflict at that time? Matthew's like us all is left hanging as by 1963 Kennedy did not seem sure. The one thing that struck me most about his presidency related here was the rapid fire major crisis's that dropped into his lap. Overall well worth spending time with this book reliving the John Kennedy legacy. show less

I really enjoyed this book; Chris Matthews really put together a well-written, well-researched biography of Bobby Kennedy and how he really came to be the Kennedy we all know and love.

What was most interesting, I think, was to see how much RFK changed from his younger years and through adulthood as he met people, heard their stories, and experienced things himself. I have to admit that the younger RFK was not so appealing to me. I read this book in the car to my dad as he drove us back home show more from vacation, and we reflected on how changeable he was - he was willing to come back and listen, to change, and then stand up for what was right and be the catalyst for change. He grew into the inspiring man that I've always thought of when I think of RFK.

There were a handful of points in the book that I struggled to keep a steady voice - parts that really left me wanting to cry and parts that were just so inspiring yet tragic I couldn't help but get choked up. Even the way the book ended was so incredibly powerful, yet so, so incredibly sad - as if I felt the nation's loss just as it had in the past. When I got to the end of the book, my dad responded, "That's it?" And I said, 'Yeah, that's it. It's over." And he was a bit teary-eyed and I think disappointed that there wasn't more to read.

And I think that's the most devastating reality, that there wasn't more to his story because we'd reached the end of RFK's timeline - but what a powerful story to tell, especially in these times, and one that can reach from the past and inspire a generation of the future to do better. show less