RFK Campaign To Air Q&A Program

Oct. 26, 1964 - Aides of Robert F. Kennedy said today they were out to overcome what they consider a false image of him as a “tough guy prosecuting attorney.”

This aim, they said, is as important as attacking Kennedy's Republican opponent for the Senate, Senator Kenneth Keating.

The Kennedy camp has decided to use television commercials extensively in the belief that TV has become a crucial tool. His aides assert that by the use of TV, they have begun to break through and are winning progressive and Jewish voters.

The former Attorney General’s campaign workers are trying through semi‐documentary commercials to show the candidate as an energetic, articulate, idealistic young man who has some of the qualities of President Kennedy.

They hope these “spots” will destroy the image of the candidate as a strong‐arm man for his brother’s campaigns and that of a ruthless man interested in power for its own sake.

The commercials have a question‐and‐answer format. Many were taped during a session several weeks ago between Kennedy and a group of Columbia University students who attended a meeting sponsored by the Columbia‐Barnard Democratic Club.

The belief was that Kennedy is at his best with young people and in answering questions.

In the commercials, Kennedy strikes the same note that he has emphasized in his stumping: “You don’t have to accept the status quo.”

His aides say they like TV because they do not have to deal with a middle man—the press.

Today, Kennedy visited Reform Democrats at the Lexington Democratic Club on East 85th St., where he was greeted with a wild, screaming ovation from several thousand persons. He ridiculed the contention that Keating was brave in not endorsing Senator Goldwater’s candidacy.

“That’s bravery?” Mr. Kennedy asked. “How would you like to be associated with someone who’s going to lose New York state by three million votes?”

Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s