Hello.
Robert F. Kennedy's statement was almost certainly made on June 1, 1968.
RFK was running for President and was campaigning in California in
anticipation of the June 4, 1968 California primary.
On June 1, 1968, RFK was in San Francisco for a debate with Senator
Eugene J. McCarthy. The debate was televised from the San Francisco
studio of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC).
From a web page on Televised Presidential Debates:
'June 1, 1968 Primary election debate between Robert Kennedy and
Eugene McCarthy. Sponsored by ABC as part of "Issues and Answers
Program."'
http://fly.hiwaay.net/~jmcmulle/450lec6debates.htm
From another web page on campaign debates:
"1968 Robert Kennedy v. Eugene McCarthy, California primary.
June 1, San Francisco."
http://www.uni.edu/palczews/debates.htm
The debate was also reported on page 1 of the New York Times, June 2,
1968, in the article:
"Kennedy Disputes M'Carthy on War in TV Discussion" by RW Apple Jr
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/nytimes/results.html?st=advanced&QryTxt=&x=0&y=0&By=&Title=kennedy+disputes&datetype=6&frommonth=06&fromday=02&fromyear=1968&tomonth=06&today=02&toyear=1968&restrict=articles&sortby=REVERSE_CHRON
The clincher here, though, is that the New York Times reported that
RFK visited Fisherman's Wharf before the debate which took place in
the evening.
"SAN FRANCISCO - June 1 ...
... Today, except for a stroll on Fisherman's Wharf, he took a rare
day of rest in preparation for the joint television appearance with
Senator Eugene J. McCarthy."
source:
John Herbers, Kennedy Taking Campaign Risks, The New York Times, June 2, 1968.
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/nytimes/results.html?st=advanced&QryTxt=&x=0&y=0&By=&Title=kennedy+campaign+risks&datetype=6&frommonth=06&fromday=02&fromyear=1968&tomonth=06&today=02&toyear=1968&restrict=articles&sortby=REVERSE_CHRON
Thus, we have a situation in which RFK was running for President, was
in San Francisco, and went to Fisherman's Wharf on June 1, 1968. As
such, the quote is completely consistent with that date.
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search strategy:
"robert kennedy" "San francisco" 1968
new york times historical archive:
kennedy, "san francisco", "fisherman's wharf"
I hope this helps. |