Robert Kennedy (World War III-1956)

Robert F. Kennedy--(1925-2005)

Democratic U.S. Senator from Massachusetts (1962-1998).

Democratic Presidential nominee (1980 Election), defeated by Vice-President Howard Baker.

Career
Considered one of the preeminent Democrats throughout the 60s and 70s, "Bobby" (as he was known) was part of the "progressive" Democrats that took over the party after the defeat of President George Wallace.

He was Albert Gore Sr.'s vice-presidential nominee in 1976 and was often credited for garnering what support the elderly Gore did take away from popular president Ronald Reagan.

In 1980, Kennedy ran for the Presidential nomination himself and defeated several rivals easily. Unfortunately, he faced both a popular Presidency in the Reagan/Baker Administration and a booming economy.

Attempts by Kennedy to run on civil rights helped his campaign with many, but also cost him support in the South.

Ultimately, Baker won by 2.9 million votes and 19 electoral college votes.

Kennedy continued to speak out and helped pass the 1986 Civil Rights Bill and the 1988 Education Bill.

He retired from the US Senate in 1998 and died of pancreatic cancer in June of 2005 at the age of seventy-nine.