It’s hard to imagine, but Robert F. “Bobby” Kennedy would be 83 today, November 20, 2008. For many, he will always be the vibrant young man playing touch football with his family, serving as his brother’s U.S. Attorney General or running for president in 1968. But, for lots of Arizonans, the memories include a Kennedy vacation trip to Arizona and a campaign stop in Tucson.

_{Photo courtesy Bob Broder
Robert F. Kennedy worked the crowd during his visit to Tucson in 1968.}

In July 1967, Sen. Robert Kennedy and 41 of his closest family and friends, set out on a four-day raft trip down the Colorado River. Included in the group were Art Buchwald, George Plimpton and Andy Williams. There were also two dozen children in the party.

The group floated in rafts dubbed “Ship of Fools,” “SS Worm,” “The Omar Sharaft” and “The George Raft.” Near the beginning of their adventure, the family rescued a Chihuahua that had apparently been stranded on a cliff. The dog continued on down the river with the travelers, joining Freckles, the family’s cocker spaniel.

According to a published report on the trip, the senator surprised the veteran river boatmen by shooting some of the early big rapids on an air mattress. There were water balloon fights, rafters overboard and entertainment provided by Buchwald and Williams.

In March 1968, during his presidential campaign, RFK came to Tucson to speak at the UA. After a short speech to volunteers at the airport, he proceeded to the university where he addressed a crowd of 3,000 people in the auditorium, with 2,000 more listening outside.

_{Photo courtesy Gonzalo Martinez Jr.
Kennedy greets campaign workers at the airport in Tucson.}

The Star reported the candidate was “well-tanned and tired looking.” His voice was slightly hoarse from his rigorous campaign schedule and he used a bullhorn to be heard. Kennedy’s talk focused on the Vietnam war and the need to accept more responsibility for the less fortunate.

After speaking in Tucson, the Kennedy campaign was headed to Window Rock for the night. Then there would be a fund-raising dinner in Phoenix.

In less than three months, on June 6, 1968, following his win in the Democratic presidential primary, Kennedy was assassinated in Los Angeles.