RFK Jr supports his family’s backing of MLK Jr wiretapping
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Defends Wiretapping of Martin Luther King Jr.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. passionately defends his father’s and uncle’s decision to wiretap the late Martin Luther King Jr., asserting that there was a compelling justification for monitoring him during that time.
Political Reasons and Hoover’s Suspicions
Kennedy argues that his uncle, former President John F. Kennedy, and his attorney general Robert F. Kennedy had no choice but to authorize the wiretapping due to political considerations. He believes that this action would either confirm or debunk then-FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover’s claim that King had communist ties.
“At that time, there were valid reasons for their actions,” Kennedy Jr. explained to Politico. “Hoover was determined to dismantle Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement. He informed them that King’s right-hand man was a communist. My father granted Hoover permission to wiretap them in order to substantiate or refute his suspicions about King. Politically, it was a necessary move.”
Revelations and Career Risks
The wiretapping, which began in 1962 after Hoover labeled King a national security threat, continued until 1965. While it did not uncover any evidence of King’s communist affiliations, it did expose his extramarital affairs, which were later exploited to blackmail him.
Kennedy Jr. asserts that had his father not been assassinated, he would have likely dismissed Hoover during his second term. He emphasizes that the trio were not only staking the success of the civil rights movement but also their own careers on Hoover’s suspicions.
“They were risking everything—the civil rights movement and their own futures. They were well aware that Hoover was determined to destroy King,” Kennedy Jr. revealed.
Private Notification and Controversial Stances
Kennedy Jr. also suggests that his uncle may have privately informed King about the wiretapping.
It is worth noting that Kennedy Jr.’s support for his relatives comes amidst his presidential campaign. However, this stance marks a departure from his previous portrayal as a defender of American civil liberties. The independent candidate has courted controversy due to his opposition to vaccinations and his belief that his uncle’s assassination was orchestrated by the CIA, rather than being the work of Lee Harvey Oswald. He has also expressed doubts about Sirhan Sirhan’s role in his father’s murder.
Kennedy Jr. made the decision to run as an independent candidate after leaving the Democratic ticket. In current hypothetical matchups, he trails both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.
Why did J. Edgar Hoover believe that Martin Luther King Jr.’s civil rights movement was a front for communist activities?
Ed in a recent interview. ”The Cold War was at its height, and the fear of communist influence and infiltration was rampant. Hoover, who had considerable power and influence, believed that King’s civil rights movement was a front for communist activities. My father and uncle could not ignore these suspicions, as it would have had significant political consequences.”
Kennedy Jr. further adds that Hoover’s suspicions were not unfounded. He points out that King did have associations with individuals who were known to have communist ties. Additionally, there were reports of King receiving financial support from organizations with alleged communist connections. While Kennedy Jr. acknowledges that these associations did not necessarily imply King’s own allegiance to communism, he argues that it was necessary to investigate and gather evidence to either confirm or dispel the allegations.
The tension between the Kennedys and Hoover is well-documented. Kennedy Jr. highlights that his father and uncle had a strained relationship with Hoover, who fiercely opposed the civil rights movement. “Hoover had a vested interest in discrediting King and the civil rights movement as a whole,” Kennedy Jr. asserts. “Wiretapping was a means to that end.”
Kennedy Jr. also emphasizes that the wiretapping of King was not done with malicious intent or a desire to undermine the civil rights movement. “My uncle and father were committed to the advancement of civil rights,” he states. ”But they also had to balance that commitment with their duty to national security. They believed that investigating King’s alleged communist ties was a necessary step in protecting the nation.”
The controversial decision to wiretap King raises ethical and legal questions. Critics argue that it infringed upon King’s right to privacy and violated the law. Kennedy Jr. acknowledges these concerns but contends that the circumstances of the time justified the actions taken. “The threat of communism was real, and my father and uncle had to make difficult decisions in the best interest of the country,” he explains.
In conclusion, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defends his father and uncle’s decision to authorize the wiretapping of Martin Luther King Jr. He argues that the political climate and Hoover’s suspicions of communist ties demanded an investigation. Kennedy Jr. maintains that the wiretapping was not done with ill-intent towards the civil rights movement but rather a necessary step in protecting national security. While this controversial action raises ethical and legal concerns, Kennedy Jr. contends that the circumstances of the time justify these measures.
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