Childhood and Education Journey of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in Timeline
Discover the defining moments in the early life of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.. From birth to education, explore key events.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an American politician, environmental lawyer, author, and member of the Kennedy family, is the son of Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy. He currently serves as the 26th United States Secretary of Health and Human Services. RFK Jr. is also known for his anti-vaccine activism and promotion of conspiracy theories.
January 17, 1954: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Born
On January 17, 1954, Robert Francis Kennedy Jr., also known as RFK Jr., was born. He is a member of the Kennedy family, son of Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of John F. Kennedy.
1963: Assassination of John F. Kennedy
In 1963, when Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was nine years old, his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, was assassinated.
1965: First Climb of Mount Kennedy
In 1965, Robert F. Kennedy Sr., father of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., became the first person to climb Mount Kennedy.
1968: Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy
In 1968, when Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was 14, his father was assassinated while running for president. Robert learned of his father's shooting while at Georgetown Preparatory School.
June 1972: Graduated from Palfrey Street School
In June 1972, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. graduated from the Palfrey Street School, a day school in a Boston suburb.
1975: First Descent of the Apurimac River
In 1975, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. organized and led a "first-descent" whitewater expedition to the Apurimac River in Peru.
1976: Work on Sargent Shriver's presidential campaign
In 1976, Kennedy worked on his uncle Sargent Shriver's presidential campaign in Massachusetts.
1976: Partner at Utopian
In 1976, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. became a partner and guide at a whitewater company, Utopian, based in West Forks, Maine.
1976: Graduated from Harvard University
In 1976, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts in American history and literature.
1979: First Descent of the Atrato River
In 1979, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. organized and led a "first-descent" whitewater expedition to the Atrato River in Colombia.
1980: Work on Ted Kennedy's presidential campaign
In 1980, Kennedy was on the national staff and a state coordinator for his uncle Ted Kennedy's presidential campaign.
June 1981: Anti-Nuclear Rally at the Hollywood Bowl
In June 1981, Kennedy spoke at an anti-nuclear rally at the Hollywood Bowl with musicians Stephen Stills, Bonnie Raitt, and Jackson Browne.
1981: End of Partnership at Utopian
In 1981, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s partnership at a whitewater company Utopian, based in West Forks, Maine, ended.
April 3, 1982: Marriage to Emily Ruth Black
On April 3, 1982, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. married Emily Ruth Black, whom he met at the University of Virginia School of Law.
1982: Earned Juris Doctor Degree
In 1982, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.
1982: First Descent of the Caroni River
In 1982, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. organized and led a "first-descent" whitewater expedition to the Caroni River in Venezuela.
September 16, 1983: Charged with Heroin Possession
On September 16, 1983, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was charged with heroin possession in Rapid City, South Dakota.
February 1984: Pleaded Guilty to Heroin Possession
In February 1984, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pleaded guilty to a single felony charge of possession of heroin. He was sentenced to two years of probation and community service. After his arrest, he entered a drug treatment center.
1986: Adjunct Professor at Pace University School of Law
In 1986, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. became an adjunct professor of environmental law at Pace University School of Law.
1986: Hudson River Fisherman's Association renamed Riverkeeper
In 1986, the Hudson River Fisherman's Association was renamed Riverkeeper.
1987: Earned Master of Laws from Pace University
In 1987, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. earned a Master of Laws degree from Pace University.
1987: Founded Pace's Environmental Litigation Clinic
In 1987, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. founded Pace University's Environmental Litigation Clinic.
1987: Founded Environmental Litigation Clinic at Pace University
In 1987, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. founded the Environmental Litigation Clinic at Pace University School of Law.
1987: Authored NY Examination for Apprentice Falconers
In 1987, while on Governor Mario Cuomo's New York State Falconry Advising Committee, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. authored New York State's examination to qualify apprentice falconers. Later that year, he wrote the New York State Apprentice Falconer's Manual.
1988: President of NYS Falconry Association
In 1988, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. became the president of the New York State Falconry Association.
1991: End of term at NYS Falconry Association
In 1991, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s term as president of the New York State Falconry Association ended.
1992: Separation from Emily Ruth Black
In 1992, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Emily Ruth Black separated.
1993: Early Descent of the Great Whale River
In 1993, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made an early descent of the Great Whale River in northern Quebec, Canada.
April 15, 1994: Marriage to Mary Kathleen Richardson
On April 15, 1994, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. married architect and designer Mary Kathleen Richardson on a research vessel on the Hudson River.
1994: Divorce from Emily Ruth Black
In 1994, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Emily Ruth Black divorced.
1995: Conviction of William Wegner
In 1995, William Wegner was convicted of tax fraud, perjury, and conspiracy to violate wildlife protection laws.
1996: Met with Fidel Castro About Nuclear Power Plant
In 1996, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. met with Cuban president Fidel Castro to persuade him to halt his plans to construct a nuclear power plant at Juraguá. Castro reminisced about Kennedy's father and uncle during the meeting.
2000: Cassidy's patient requires transplant
In 2000, Bill Cassidy's hepatitis B patient required a liver transplant costing $250,000, with ongoing medical bills of $50,000 per year. Cassidy lamented that a $50 vaccine could have prevented the illness.
2000: Endorsement of Al Gore's presidential campaign
In 2000, Kennedy endorsed and campaigned for Vice President Al Gore during his presidential campaign and openly opposed Ralph Nader's Green Party presidential campaign.
2001: Past Consumption of Unusual Meats
Before 2001, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had consumed dog, horse, and guinea pig meat.
2001: Journal Entries
In 2001, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recorded sexual encounters with 37 different women in his personal journal.
2001: Thimerosal Removed from Childhood Vaccines
In 2001, thimerosal was removed from all other childhood vaccines (under 6 years old), except for some versions of flu and hepatitis vaccines in the U.S.
2004: Endorsement of John Kerry and Allegations of Election Fraud
In 2004, Kennedy endorsed John Kerry for president, citing Kerry's environmental record. After Kerry's loss to George W. Bush, Kennedy wrote an article for Rolling Stone alleging fraudulent results and a stolen election, based on discrepancies in exit polling and voter disenfranchisement.
2004: Publication of Saint Francis of Assisi: A Life of Joy
In 2004, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. published a biography, "Saint Francis of Assisi: A Life of Joy."
2005: Description as Devout Catholic
In 2005, journalist Michael Paulson described Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as "a deeply devout Catholic who attends daily Mass".
2007: Endorsement of Hillary Clinton in 2008 Democratic primaries
In late 2007, Kennedy and his sisters Kerry and Kathleen endorsed Hillary Clinton in the 2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries.
2008: Campaigning for Obama and EPA Administrator Consideration
Following the Democratic Convention in 2008, Kennedy campaigned for Obama across the country. The Obama administration considered Kennedy for administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency but ultimately decided against it due to his controversial statements and past arrest.
May 12, 2010: Filing for divorce from Mary Kathleen Richardson
On May 12, 2010, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. filed for divorce from Mary Kathleen Richardson.
2010: Charred Animal Carcass Image
In 2010, an image was captured of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. holding a charred animal carcass, which later surfaced in a Vanity Fair story in July 2024.
May 16, 2012: Death of Mary Kathleen Richardson
On May 16, 2012, Mary Kathleen Richardson, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s then estranged wife, was found dead in a building on the grounds of her home in Bedford, New York. The Westchester County Medical Examiner ruled the death a suicide due to asphyxiation from hanging.
2012: Whale Head Incident
In 2012, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. allegedly used a chainsaw to sever the head of a dead beached whale in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, and transported it on top of their minivan, as recounted by his daughter Kathleen in a Town & Country magazine profile.
2012: Relationship with Cheryl Hines begins
In 2012, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. began dating actress Cheryl Hines.
January 11, 2013: Interview at Winspear Opera House
On January 11, 2013, Charlie Rose interviewed Kennedy and his sister Rory at the Winspear Opera House in Dallas, where RFK Jr. shared his father's belief that Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone in JFK's assassination and criticized the Warren Commission report.
February 2013: Arrest During Keystone XL Pipeline Protest
In February 2013, Kennedy and his son, Conor, were arrested for blocking a thoroughfare in front of the White House while protesting the Keystone XL Pipeline.
2013: Fracking Ban in New York State
In 2013, as a member of Governor Andrew Cuomo's fracking commission, Kennedy helped engineer a ban on fracking in New York State.
August 2, 2014: Marriage to Cheryl Hines
On August 2, 2014, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. married actress Cheryl Hines at the Kennedy Compound.
October 2014: Incident with Dead Bear in Central Park
In October 2014, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. placed a dead six-month-old bear in Central Park after it was hit by a car, initially planning to skin it for meat, then abandoned the carcass but deliberately positioned it to appear hit by a cyclist. This resulted in local news coverage and a necropsy.
2015: Visit to Mount Kennedy and Alsek River
In 2015, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited Mount Kennedy with two of his sons and ran the Alsek River, a whitewater river fed by the Alsek Glacier.
August 2016: Dakota Access Pipeline Protest
In August 2016, Kennedy and Waterkeepers participated in protests to block the extension of the Dakota Access pipeline across the Sioux Indian Standing Rock Reservation's water supply.
December 2017: Meeting with Sirhan Sirhan
In December 2017, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility to meet with Sirhan Sirhan, and subsequently voiced his support for reinvestigating the assassination of his father based on eyewitness testimony and autopsy findings.
2017: TV series optioned for "Framed"
In 2017, the rights to Kennedy's book "Framed: Why Michael Skakel Spent over a Decade in Prison for a Murder He Didn't Commit" were optioned by FX Productions to develop a multi-part television series.
2018: Vacation of Skakel's Conviction
In 2018, Michael Skakel's conviction for the murder of Martha Moxley was vacated.
2018: Admiration for Pope John XXIII
In a 2018 interview with Vatican News, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressed his admiration for Pope John XXIII, known for modernizing the church, stating that "the Church should be an instrument of justice and kindness around the world."
2019: Carbon Emission baseline before closure of Indian Point
In 2019, Before the closure of the Indian Point nuclear power plant, carbon emission levels served as a baseline for comparison.
2020: Decision Not to Seek New Trial for Skakel
In 2020, prosecutors decided not to seek a new trial for Michael Skakel in the Martha Moxley murder case.
2022: Increased Carbon Emissions After Indian Point Closure
In 2022, after the closure of the Indian Point nuclear power plant, carbon emissions from electricity generation in New York state increased by 37% compared to 2019.
March 3, 2023: Announced Consideration of Presidential Run
On March 3, 2023, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated in a speech in New Hampshire that he was considering a run for president in 2024, mentioning his wife's approval as a major hurdle cleared.
June 2023: Instagram account reinstated
In June 2023, Kennedy's Instagram account was reinstated.
November 2023: Petition for Release of JFK Assassination Documents
In November 2023, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. launched a petition on his presidential campaign website, urging the Biden administration to release the remaining documents related to the JFK assassination.
July 2024: Allegations of Sexual Misconduct with Eliza Cooney
In July 2024, Vanity Fair reported that in the late 1990s, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. allegedly engaged in sexual misconduct with Eliza Cooney, a part-time babysitter for his children, including groping and inappropriate touching.
July 2024: Image of Charred Animal Carcass Surfaces
In July 2024, an image of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. holding a charred animal carcass captured in 2010, surfaced in a Vanity Fair story, which alleged that the carcass belonged to a dog and that Kennedy ate it. Kennedy denied eating dog meat, stating it was a goat, though it was later identified as lamb.
August 2024: Admission of Placing Dead Bear in Central Park
In August 2024, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. released a video acknowledging that in October 2014 he placed a dead six-month-old bear in Central Park, after initially intending to skin it for meat, and then abandoned the carcass after being concerned about spoilage, but deliberately positioned it to appear hit by a cyclist.
September 2024: Investigation into Whale Head Incident
In September 2024, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement announced that it was investigating a 2012 incident in which Robert F. Kennedy Jr. allegedly used a chainsaw to sever the head of a dead beached whale and transported it on top of their minivan.
2024: Presidential Campaign and Endorsement
In 2024, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. initially ran as a Democrat and later as an independent in the United States presidential election. He eventually withdrew and endorsed Republican nominee Donald Trump.
2024: Considering Presidential Run
In March 3, 2023, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated in a speech in New Hampshire that he was considering a run for president in 2024.
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