It's the little-known story of a past politician typically celebrated for his legacy of liberal ideals. Bobby Kennedy is generally remembered as a champion of the poor, pro civil-rights, and anti-war but few recall the staunch conservatism which marked his political infancy. That evolution is the subject of New York Times best-selling author Larry Tye's new book, ‘Bobby Kennedy: The Making of a Liberal Icon.’
Tye described the beginning of Bobby Kennedy's career, and his relationship with Joe McCarthy. Kennedy, he explained, attended McCarthy's funeral anonymously, which showed Tye two sides to Kennedy: the guy who was incredibly loyal to his friend, Joe McCarthy, and the guy who was smart enough and political enough to go anonymously. Jim asked if Bobby had an epiphany, and what converted him. Tye said that it occurred in November 1963, when Hoover called him and told him that his brother, President Kennedy was killed. During that time, he was the nation's mourner in chief.
Tye described Congressman Joe Kennedy as "the closest thing that we have seen in the last 50 years in that family, to a Bobby Kennedy." Tye said that it is a great thing to be.
