Thanks for your remembrance of Adam. My fellow RFK staffer Bill Arnone told me of Adam’s passing a few days ago. I spent a good part of 1970 on his campaign for NY attorney general. He was a brilliant but brutal boss. He grew to idealize “toughness” in place of RFKs much more nuanced perspectives. His bitterness cost him most of his friends. It is truly sad that such a creative and intelligent mind was lost to anger and resentment.
1970 was a wild year. I worked for Adam, took over the New York Moratorium from Verne Newton through the Bryant Park insanity and helped Karen Burstein in her failed bid for our old congressional district. It was a year long string of disappointments. 1971 wasn’t much better and began my transition to capitalism.
Joe: I have even a few years on you, and shared your enthusiasm for the Kennedys back when we were both young (and certainly better looking). But a lot of water has flowed over the dam since then and I was struck by your reference to the "unfathomable, parental stolidity of Eisenhower". Where is Ike now that we need him? He left the guts of FDR's New Deal and Truman's Soviet containment policies in place (even though Harry couldn't stand him). He looks pretty good compared to most of those who have followed him. Compared to the current incumbent and his predecessor/ successor? he looks both stolid and fathomable. Hilariously, he even sounds articulate compared to either of them.
If you will pardon my harsh tone, I have a negative view of the three Kennedy brothers: JFK accomplished little as President, beyond further enmeshing us into Vietnam. RFK, in collaboration with JFK, brought us shockingly close to total nuclear war, though their questionable management in the 1962 crisis has been effectively spun as rescuing us from catastrophe. RFK had a clear authoritarian streak, reflecting his work as attorney general. Teddy became a very effective congressman, but his quixotic decision to run against Carter arguably gave Reagan his victory.
Unlike me, you knew the Kennedys and their associates, so you're certainly better informed, but I don't think any of these comments is entirely without merit. Perhaps the divergence of viewpoint reflects that you grew up in the urban NE, while I grew up in a small city in the south. US sectionalism was far more prominent back then.
I became sadly disillusioned with Adam Walinsky long before you did. In the 1970’s he became a vocal supporter of Anita Bryant’s anti-homosexual crusade. I didn’t know that he endorsed Trump in 2016, but given his previous embrace of the Dark Side, I’m not really surprised.
Joe, I was teleported by your column today back to the start of my career, working for Ted Kennedy. Days at Hickory Hill, wanting to blend in but feeling very much an interloper, in awe of the place. And getting to know RFK’s children who all did seem to share the Kennedy public service gene, but appeared to strive to find the comfortable grace that their father had. I worked for EMK during those years just before the presidential campaign when he was uncomfortable in his own skin, through the time when he was transformed into the Lion of the Senate. It was an amazing thing to watch.
And I knew RFK, Jr. well enough to know something wasn’t screwed on correctly, but not enough to understand what was really driving him. Like so many of us, especially his family, I find the whole thing now infuriating, and sad.
Finally, I also knew Greg well, although we haven’t spoken in years. I did not know he had passed away. He was a very good man and deserved your tribute. Thanks for that.
Thank you, Joe, for memorializing our mutual pal, Greg Schneiders, as you have. You lost the leader of the What Me Worry Caucus, and I — as determined co-chair of the Chicken Little Caucus (together with Bo Cutter and the late, great Tim Kraft), have lost the most wonderful sparring partner—and closest possible friend. Gone in an instant, but with us both in spirit. May his memory be a blessing.
Robert Kennedy had a sincerity to him, that is just missing in most politicians. Have watched his Indianapolis speech more than any other political speech. He is the only candidate that have ever volunteered for.
In the best sense, neither he nor his brother Jack were politicians. They were leaders with a clear view of where they intended to go. It was real enough, that people could not get enough of them.
Kennedy was deescalating from Vietnam at the time of his death, we really do not know what would have happened had he lived.
If Robert had lived, would he have gotten the nomination, that was still very much up in the air. Another unknown that can never be solved.
They both had approval polls above 50 percent, something no other President or candidate has achieved since.
Thanks for your remembrance of Adam. My fellow RFK staffer Bill Arnone told me of Adam’s passing a few days ago. I spent a good part of 1970 on his campaign for NY attorney general. He was a brilliant but brutal boss. He grew to idealize “toughness” in place of RFKs much more nuanced perspectives. His bitterness cost him most of his friends. It is truly sad that such a creative and intelligent mind was lost to anger and resentment.
I didn't know you worked on that campaign, Rich! Hope you're well.
1970 was a wild year. I worked for Adam, took over the New York Moratorium from Verne Newton through the Bryant Park insanity and helped Karen Burstein in her failed bid for our old congressional district. It was a year long string of disappointments. 1971 wasn’t much better and began my transition to capitalism.
Joe: I have even a few years on you, and shared your enthusiasm for the Kennedys back when we were both young (and certainly better looking). But a lot of water has flowed over the dam since then and I was struck by your reference to the "unfathomable, parental stolidity of Eisenhower". Where is Ike now that we need him? He left the guts of FDR's New Deal and Truman's Soviet containment policies in place (even though Harry couldn't stand him). He looks pretty good compared to most of those who have followed him. Compared to the current incumbent and his predecessor/ successor? he looks both stolid and fathomable. Hilariously, he even sounds articulate compared to either of them.
Washington Post headline today: How Does a Parasitic Worm Get Into the Brain?
Better question: How Does a Parasitic Worm Get Onto the Ballots?
If you will pardon my harsh tone, I have a negative view of the three Kennedy brothers: JFK accomplished little as President, beyond further enmeshing us into Vietnam. RFK, in collaboration with JFK, brought us shockingly close to total nuclear war, though their questionable management in the 1962 crisis has been effectively spun as rescuing us from catastrophe. RFK had a clear authoritarian streak, reflecting his work as attorney general. Teddy became a very effective congressman, but his quixotic decision to run against Carter arguably gave Reagan his victory.
Unlike me, you knew the Kennedys and their associates, so you're certainly better informed, but I don't think any of these comments is entirely without merit. Perhaps the divergence of viewpoint reflects that you grew up in the urban NE, while I grew up in a small city in the south. US sectionalism was far more prominent back then.
I became sadly disillusioned with Adam Walinsky long before you did. In the 1970’s he became a vocal supporter of Anita Bryant’s anti-homosexual crusade. I didn’t know that he endorsed Trump in 2016, but given his previous embrace of the Dark Side, I’m not really surprised.
Joe, I was teleported by your column today back to the start of my career, working for Ted Kennedy. Days at Hickory Hill, wanting to blend in but feeling very much an interloper, in awe of the place. And getting to know RFK’s children who all did seem to share the Kennedy public service gene, but appeared to strive to find the comfortable grace that their father had. I worked for EMK during those years just before the presidential campaign when he was uncomfortable in his own skin, through the time when he was transformed into the Lion of the Senate. It was an amazing thing to watch.
And I knew RFK, Jr. well enough to know something wasn’t screwed on correctly, but not enough to understand what was really driving him. Like so many of us, especially his family, I find the whole thing now infuriating, and sad.
Finally, I also knew Greg well, although we haven’t spoken in years. I did not know he had passed away. He was a very good man and deserved your tribute. Thanks for that.
Thank you, Joe, for memorializing our mutual pal, Greg Schneiders, as you have. You lost the leader of the What Me Worry Caucus, and I — as determined co-chair of the Chicken Little Caucus (together with Bo Cutter and the late, great Tim Kraft), have lost the most wonderful sparring partner—and closest possible friend. Gone in an instant, but with us both in spirit. May his memory be a blessing.
Robert Kennedy had a sincerity to him, that is just missing in most politicians. Have watched his Indianapolis speech more than any other political speech. He is the only candidate that have ever volunteered for.
In the best sense, neither he nor his brother Jack were politicians. They were leaders with a clear view of where they intended to go. It was real enough, that people could not get enough of them.
Kennedy was deescalating from Vietnam at the time of his death, we really do not know what would have happened had he lived.
If Robert had lived, would he have gotten the nomination, that was still very much up in the air. Another unknown that can never be solved.
They both had approval polls above 50 percent, something no other President or candidate has achieved since.