Robert F. Kennedy's entry into the U.S. Senate race in New York in 1964 marked a significant turn in his political career, coming just months after his brother, President John F. Kennedy, was assassinated. Despite having served as U.S. Attorney General, Kennedy faced a unique challenge: he was not a resident of New York. This led to accusations of being a "carpetbagger" from Massachusetts, a label his Republican opponent, incumbent Kenneth Keating,
frequently used. Kennedy's campaign had to navigate these criticisms while also dealing with the complex political landscape of the state.
The Decision to Run and Initial Opposition
After President Kennedy's assassination in November 1963, Robert Kennedy remained as Attorney General under President Lyndon B. Johnson for several months. However, the relationship between Johnson and Kennedy was strained, leading Kennedy to seek a new political path. In August 1964, he decided to run for the U.S. Senate in New York and resigned from the Cabinet on September 3, 1964. The decision to run in New York was partly influenced by the fact that his younger brother, Ted Kennedy, was seeking re-election in Massachusetts, making a Senate bid from his native state impossible for Robert.
Kennedy's candidacy was not universally welcomed within the Democratic Party in New York. Many reform Democrats initially resisted his bid. However, he garnered crucial support from influential figures like Robert F. Wagner, Jr., and party bosses such as Charles A. Buckley of The Bronx and Peter J. Crotty of Buffalo. This backing proved instrumental in helping Kennedy secure the nomination at the party convention, despite the internal divisions.
Addressing the 'Carpetbagger' Accusation
The "carpetbagger" accusation was a central theme of the campaign. Kenneth Keating, the Republican incumbent, repeatedly highlighted that Kennedy did not reside in New York and was not registered to vote there. Kennedy was, in fact, a legal resident of Massachusetts and, under New York law at the time, was not eligible to vote in the election he was contesting. This presented a significant public relations challenge for his campaign.
Kennedy directly addressed these criticisms in a televised town meeting. He famously responded,
