A piece I wrote in 1998 is referenced in a new book that is getting a lot of attention this week, the 40th anniversary of the death of Robert Kennedy.
Thurston Clarke's "The Last Campaign: Robert F. Kennedy and 82 Days That Inspired America" notes by name the piece I wrote about Hugh McDonald, a press aide for the campaign. McDonald's life more or less ran off the rails in the 10 years following Kennedy's assassination. McDonald was present in the Ambassador Hotel pantry moments after the shooting, and was up close to the horror of that event. As were dozens of others, but something snapped inside Hugh.
Some witnesses said he seemed frighteningly dazed the rest of the night and the following day. In the years to follow, Hugh held then lost several top jobs in journalism and media relations. He died alone in 1978 mysteriously, officially of a heart condition, following several suicide attempts in previous years. Many of his former colleagues believe he was successful in taking his own life. That part of the story is unclear. What attracted me to the story is that Hugh is from my hometown of Jackson, Michigan.
The excerpt from Clarke's book referencing Hugh McDonald is here. Clarke sources my article in the book's notes section.
A photo of a distraught McDonald following Kennedy's death can be found in the new book by Life Magazine photographer Bill Eppridge, "A Time It Was: Bobby Kennedy in the Sixties." Read an excerpt and see photos in Vanity Fair here. I interviewed Eppridge for my piece 10 years ago, and the guy is personable and full of dazzling stories. His blog is here. Audio of Eppridge's appearance today on WNYC is here, (though lazy host Leonard Lopate is not prepared: "So, were you there when Kennedy was shot?").
Eppridge covered the RFK '68 campaign moment by moment, and his latest book of photographs is a lush collection of powerful images. His blog is here. His book mentions Hugh, but errs in saying Hugh died the year following the assassination. And that he died of an "overdose," though that was never proven.
And though I have not seen it yet, photographer Harry Benson's new book on RFK also likely includes scenes moments after the shooting in which Hugh can be seen. I saw several images from the RFK '68 campaign, including some from the shooting scene, in a Benson exhibit a few months ago here in Washington, D.C. at the Smithsonian American Art Museum/National Portrait Gallery. Giant black and white prints of Ethel Kennedy waving her arms. Very odd to look at. [Plus this article in the London Times suggests Benson is telling the news media he was the only photographer in the area, when in fact several were present, in addition to Eppridge.]
Other recent RFK '68 links that are worthy:
- Very good video recap here from NBC of the RFK '68 campaign.
- Here is L.A Times anniversary coverage, including a good piece on Juan Romero, the busboy who held Kennedy's head, as Kennedy lay sprawled moments after being hit. And here is a terrific video report on a man with a similar story as Hugh's, in that being present at the assassination "ruined his life." But this guy found it again.
- Very nice multimedia piece by the Baltimore Sun on Eppridge, with plenty of RFK photos. Make sure your sound is on.
- ABC News has photos from Eppridge's book here.
- Equally moving video by Washington Post's David Broder on covering the campaign, Kennedy's legacy. Not to be missed.
- Here is a good piece on the campaign and its sad end by Pete Hamill in New York Magazine. Here is Hamill on NPR talking about the assassination and about RFK.
- A Secret Service agent recalls the death of Kennedy as well as the train tride from New York to Washington, D.C., including some bizarre details of the trip I had not known.
- Here is a Slate piece on RFK and 1968 rival Eugene McCarthy.
- And the cops caught the right guy. Who admitted his crime.
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