Jane Tolmach Collection Robert F. Kennedy, 1966 - 1969
Record Group
Scope and Contents
The majority of items in this small collection (1 box) center on Kennedy's campaign in California (SEE ALSO external articles and photos about this event). Of particular interest, is a telegram from Kennedy to Tolmach dated March 16, 1968, announcing his decision to run for president. Two particulary "cool" items are: (1) a flyer advertising Kennedy and California governor, Pat Browns', co-appearances in Oxnard on October 12, 1966 and (2) an invitation to dinner with Kennedy at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, March 22, 1969. Also, of interest is an invitation from William JANSS (of Ventura County) and Pierre Salinger to a get-together with Kennedy (no date). SEE ALSO, Record Groups 6, Political Memorabilia and 11, Special Collections.
Scope and Contents
See the archivist for the complete (detailed) finding guide (in Word).
Dates
- 1966 - 1969
Conditions Governing Access
See archivist for access.
Conditions Governing Use
Normal copyright restrictions apply. Please review the Fair Use defense. See https://fairuse.stanford.edu/overview/faqs/copyright-protection.
Please contact the archivist for formal citation.
Please contact the archivist for formal citation.
Biographical / Historical
According to Wikipedia [edited], "Robert Francis Kennedy (November 20, 1925 – June 6, 1968), also referred to by his initials RFK or by the nickname Bobby, was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 64th United States Attorney General from January 1961 to September 1964, and as a U.S. Senator from New York from January 1965 until his assassination in June 1968.
Kennedy was born into a wealthy, political family in Brookline, Massachusetts. After serving in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1944 to 1946, Kennedy returned to his studies at Harvard University, and later received his law degree from the University of Virginia. He began his career as a correspondent for The Boston Post and as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, but later resigned to manage his brother John's successful campaign for the U.S. Senate in 1952. The following year, he worked as an assistant counsel to the Senate committee chaired by Senator Joseph McCarthy. He gained national attention as the chief counsel of the Senate Labor Rackets Committee from 1957 to 1959, where he publicly challenged Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa over the union's corrupt practices. Kennedy resigned from the committee to conduct his brother's successful campaign in the 1960 presidential election. He was appointed United States Attorney General at the age of 36. He served as his brother's closest advisor until his 1963 assassination.
His tenure is best known for its advocacy for the civil rights movement, the fight against organized crime and the Mafia, and involvement in U.S. foreign policy related to Cuba. He authored his account of the Cuban Missile Crisis in a book titled Thirteen Days. As attorney general, he authorized the FBI to wiretap Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference on a limited basis. After his brother's assassination, he remained in office in the Johnson Administration for several months. He left to run for the United States Senate from New York in 1964. In office, Kennedy opposed U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War and raised awareness of poverty... and formed working relationships with Martin Luther King Jr., Cesar Chavez, and Walter Reuther.
In 1968, Kennedy became a leading candidate for the Democratic nomination for the presidency by appealing to poor, African American, Hispanic, Catholic, and young voters. His main challenger in the race was Senator Eugene McCarthy. Shortly after winning the California primary around midnight on June 5, 1968, Kennedy was mortally wounded when shot with a pistol by Sirhan Sirhan, a 24-year-old Palestinian, allegedly in retaliation for his support of Israel following the 1967 Six-Day War. Kennedy died the following morning."
Kennedy was born into a wealthy, political family in Brookline, Massachusetts. After serving in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1944 to 1946, Kennedy returned to his studies at Harvard University, and later received his law degree from the University of Virginia. He began his career as a correspondent for The Boston Post and as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, but later resigned to manage his brother John's successful campaign for the U.S. Senate in 1952. The following year, he worked as an assistant counsel to the Senate committee chaired by Senator Joseph McCarthy. He gained national attention as the chief counsel of the Senate Labor Rackets Committee from 1957 to 1959, where he publicly challenged Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa over the union's corrupt practices. Kennedy resigned from the committee to conduct his brother's successful campaign in the 1960 presidential election. He was appointed United States Attorney General at the age of 36. He served as his brother's closest advisor until his 1963 assassination.
His tenure is best known for its advocacy for the civil rights movement, the fight against organized crime and the Mafia, and involvement in U.S. foreign policy related to Cuba. He authored his account of the Cuban Missile Crisis in a book titled Thirteen Days. As attorney general, he authorized the FBI to wiretap Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference on a limited basis. After his brother's assassination, he remained in office in the Johnson Administration for several months. He left to run for the United States Senate from New York in 1964. In office, Kennedy opposed U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War and raised awareness of poverty... and formed working relationships with Martin Luther King Jr., Cesar Chavez, and Walter Reuther.
In 1968, Kennedy became a leading candidate for the Democratic nomination for the presidency by appealing to poor, African American, Hispanic, Catholic, and young voters. His main challenger in the race was Senator Eugene McCarthy. Shortly after winning the California primary around midnight on June 5, 1968, Kennedy was mortally wounded when shot with a pistol by Sirhan Sirhan, a 24-year-old Palestinian, allegedly in retaliation for his support of Israel following the 1967 Six-Day War. Kennedy died the following morning."
Biographical / Historical
Jane Tolmach was a Democratic National Convention Delegate in 1968 and joined forces with Cesar Chavez to campaign for Kennedy in the argicultural communities of Los Angeles. In fact, Jane hosted a campaign brunch in Onxard for Robert Kennedy, a few days before he was assassinated. The archives has original photographs of this event, but viewing is only available by appointment and discretion of the archivist.
SEE ALSO, https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/2018/06/05/photos-document-robert-kennedys-campaign-stop-ventura-county/654132002/
SEE ALSO, https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/2018/06/05/photos-document-robert-kennedys-campaign-stop-ventura-county/654132002/
Biographical / Historical
TO THE ARCHIVIST: Jane Tolmach was a Democratic National Convention Delegate in 1968 and joined forces with Cesar Chavez to campaign for Kennedy in the argicultural communities of Los Angeles. In fact, Jane hosted a campaign brunch in Onxard for Robert Kennedy, just days before he was assassinated. WE HAVE THOSE TWO ORIGINAL PHOTOS IN SPECIAL COLLECTIONS. Possible date of photos: May 28, 1968.
Extent
From the Collection: 100 Linear Feet (Document cases, record storage boxes, oversize boxes.)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The Kennedy materials consist of two series, one consisting of general (a variety of) documentation concerning Robert Kennedy (one box) and the other, consisting of articles only (one box). See Scope and Content). The items are arranged in chronological order.
Repository Details
Part of the CSUCI Archives and Special Collections Repository