Robert Francis Kennedy Jr., born January 17, 1954, in Washington, D.C., is an American environmental lawyer, activist, author, and controversial political figure. As a scion of the Kennedy family, he is the son of U.S. Attorney General and Senator Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy. His life has been marked by a blend of public service, environmental advocacy, and polarizing stances on health and politics, making him a complex and divisive figure in contemporary America.
Kennedy grew up in a prominent political family, steeped in the legacy of public service and tragedy. After his father’s assassination in 1968, he was raised alongside his ten siblings by his mother, Ethel Kennedy. He attended Harvard University, earning a bachelor’s degree in American history and literature in 1976, and later obtained a law degree from the University of Virginia. His early career focused on environmental law, a passion that would define much of his professional life. In 1984, he began working with the Riverkeeper organization, advocating for the cleanup of the Hudson River. His efforts led to landmark legal victories against polluters, earning him recognition as a fierce defender of natural resources. In 1999, he founded the Waterkeeper Alliance, a global network of organizations dedicated to protecting waterways, which now spans over 300 groups across 40 countries.
As an environmentalist, Kennedy has been lauded for his tenacity in holding corporations accountable for pollution. He has successfully sued companies like General Electric and Monsanto, focusing on issues like toxic waste and pesticide use. His work has extended internationally, addressing deforestation in Latin America and indigenous land rights in Canada. He has also written extensively on environmental issues, including the 2005 book Crimes Against Nature, which critiques corporate and governmental collusion in environmental degradation. His advocacy earned him accolades, such as being named one of Time magazine’s “Heroes for the Planet” in 1999.
However, Kennedy’s public persona took a controversial turn with his outspoken skepticism of vaccines and medical institutions. In the early 2000s, he began questioning the safety of vaccines, particularly the use of mercury-based preservatives like thimerosal. He founded the Children’s Health Defense in 2011, an organization that promotes anti-vaccine narratives and misinformation, including false claims linking vaccines to autism. His stance has drawn sharp criticism from the scientific community, with experts debunking his claims as unsupported by evidence. Despite this, Kennedy has garnered a significant following among those distrustful of pharmaceutical companies and government health policies, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he opposed vaccine mandates and lockdowns.
Politically, Kennedy’s trajectory has been unconventional. Long associated with the Democratic Party, he announced a presidential candidacy for the 2024 election as a Democrat, challenging President Joe Biden. His platform emphasized health freedom, environmental protection, and criticism of corporate influence in government. However, feeling marginalized by the Democratic establishment, he switched to an independent candidacy in October 2023, with Nicole Shanahan as his running mate. His campaign resonated with a diverse coalition skeptical of institutional narratives but struggled with ballot access and funding. In August 2024, Kennedy withdrew his candidacy and endorsed Donald Trump, a move that shocked many given his liberal roots. He cited alignment with Trump on issues like censorship and foreign policy as reasons for the endorsement.
Kennedy is also an author and media figure. His books include The Real Anthony Fauci (2021), a critique of the U.S. pandemic response, and American Values (2018), a memoir reflecting on his family’s legacy. He hosts a podcast, RFK Jr. The Defender, discussing health, politics, and culture. Despite his achievements, Kennedy’s vaccine skepticism and political shifts have alienated some allies while galvanizing others. His personal life, including struggles with addiction in his youth and a high-profile marriage to actress Cheryl Hines, adds to his public intrigue.
At 71, Kennedy remains a polarizing figure—a champion of environmental causes, a lightning rod for health controversies, and a political wildcard whose influence reflects America’s deep divisions. His legacy, like that of his family, is one of impact and contradiction, shaped by a commitment to challenging powerful systems, for better or worse.
