Fifty-five years in the past right now, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy whistle-stopped his means throughout Nebraska throughout his marketing campaign for the Democratic nomination for president.
The daylong tour aboard an eastbound prepare included 10 stops throughout Nebraska earlier than Kennedy arrived in Omaha. Communities on the itinerary had been Kimball, Sidney, Ogallala, North Platte, Lexington, Kearney, Grand Island, Columbus, Schuyler and Fremont.
He rolled out of Cheyenne, Wyoming, heading east into Nebraska in a seven-car Union Pacific Railroad prepare festooned with “Kennedy for President” banners.
On his journey to share his imaginative and prescient of the nation’s future with Nebraskans, Kennedy obtained guests within the commentary automotive who hopped aboard for a cease or two, or he roamed the prepare to hunt them out. They had been native mayors, Democratic officers, volunteers and others with connections. They introduced items — a basketball, kolaches and flowers — as tokens of loyalty and symbols of native satisfaction.
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Ethel Kennedy was a shock addition to the entourage. Clad in a coral-colored coat, she joined her husband on the platform, typically leaning over the railing to the touch palms within the crowd.
The preliminary cease was Kimball, simply 20 miles into Nebraska from Wyoming. Scenes and speeches that will be repeated at every group through the subsequent 14 hours unfolded there first.
Robert Kennedy’s whistle-stop stump speech repeated two themes: small cities and household farms have to be preserved, and the battle in Vietnam have to be returned to the Vietnamese if it can’t be settled shortly.
Kennedy, a bona fide New Englander — he pronounced “Nebraska” as “Nebrasker” — appeared comfy and Nebraskans turned out by the 1000’s not solely to expertise firsthand the Kennedy mystique but additionally to take the measure of a person who was daring sufficient to wish to be president.
Whether or not whistle-stopping throughout rural Nebraska or rallying Black voters in North Omaha, the charismatic brother of slain President John F. Kennedy attracted huge crowds all over the place he went.
A Kennedy speechwriter later stated the tour was probably the most profitable day of the senator’s 82-day marketing campaign — reduce quick by his assassination in June after he gained the California major — as a result of he started to consider he may win.
Images: Robert F. Kennedy’s whistle-stop tour by way of Nebraska
Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, a candidate within the major election for president, addresses a Lexington crowd throughout his rail journey throughout Nebraska on April 27, 1968. The ladies behind Kennedy are his spouse, Ethel Kennedy (in orange), and Marylin Fowler of Bertrand, Nebraska (in yellow).
Robert F. Kennedy shakes palms throughout a cease at North Platte, Nebraska throughout his marketing campaign for the Democratic nomination for president on April 27, 1968. Mary Ann Strasheim, left, is reaching for her mom and youngsters, who had been being pushed within the crowd.
Mary Ann Strasheim, left, factors out her household to Robert F. Kennedy throughout a cease at North Platte, Nebraska, throughout his marketing campaign for the Democratic nomination for president on April 27, 1968.
Robert F. Kennedy’s prepare leaves North Platte, Nebraska throughout his marketing campaign for the Democratic nomination for president on April 27, 1968.
Robert F. Kennedy seems out on the crowd throughout a cease at North Platte, Nebraska throughout his marketing campaign for the Democratic nomination for president on April 27, 1968.
Robert F. Kennedy’s prepare pulls into North Platte, Nebraska, throughout his marketing campaign for the Democratic nomination for president in 1968.
Robert F. Kennedy and his spouse, Ethel, throughout his whistle-stop marketing campaign look aboard a Union Pacific Railroad prepare in Sidney, Nebraska, on Saturday, April 27, 1968. Kennedy was campaigning within the Democratic major election.
Robert F. Kennedy and his spouse, Ethel, throughout his whistle-stop marketing campaign look aboard a Union Pacific Railroad prepare in Sidney, Nebraska, on Saturday, April 27, 1968. Kennedy was campaigning within the Democratic major election.
Robert F. Kennedy’s seven-car Union Pacific Railroad prepare pulls into Sidney, Nebraska, throughout his whistle-stop marketing campaign tour throughout the state April 27, 1968. He was campaigning in Nebraska’s Democratic presidential major election.
Robert F. Kennedy and his spouse, Ethel, throughout his whistle-stop marketing campaign look aboard a Union Pacific Railroad prepare in Sidney, Nebraska, on Saturday, April 27, 1968. Kennedy was campaigning within the Democratic major election.
Robert F. Kennedy waves goodbye from his railcar throughout a whistle-stop marketing campaign look aboard a Union Pacific Railroad prepare in Sidney, Nebraska, on Saturday, April 27, 1968. Kennedy was campaigning within the Democratic major election.
Robert F. Kennedy and his spouse, Ethel, throughout his whistle-stop marketing campaign look aboard a Union Pacific Railroad prepare in Sidney, Nebraska, on Saturday, April 27, 1968.
In Fremont, dozens of spectators climbed the ladders of parked, close by railroad field automobiles to catch a glimpse of Kennedy at his final cease earlier than Omaha.
Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, a candidate within the Nebraska presidential major election, waves to the gang gathered at North Platte, Nebraska, throughout his whistle-stop tour throughout Nebraska on April 27, 1968.
Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, a candidate within the Nebraska presidential major election, addresses a crowd gathered at Lexington, Nebraska, throughout his whistle-stop tour throughout Nebraska on April 27, 1968. His spouse, Ethel, stands at proper.
Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, a candidate within the Nebraska presidential major election, addresses a crowd gathered at North Platte, Nebraska, throughout his whistle-stop tour throughout Nebraska on April 27, 1968. Behind him are Mary Ann Hanson (now Strasheim) of North Platte, left, Ethel Kennedy and Irene Bystrom of North Platte.
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