The American Political History

The American Political History
Emilio Estevez reveals unfortunate political history in his film “Bobby.” With other actors, Emilio Estevez identifies a famous hotel as the most appropriate venue to act the film. Jose is a character who initiates the film. Jose gives a clear picture of conflicts and biases in the assignment of duties in the Ambassador Hotel. Without his consent, Jose is assigned to a double shift. He is disappointed and decides to resign. Jose’s friend is angered by Edward’s decision. Edward is their boss in the Ambassador Hotel. When he realizes that Miguel, a friend to Jose is in anger, Edward tells Miguel that he was angered when Dr. King was killed. Edward insists that Miguel should concentrate in performing his duties. Edward gives another statement that shows racism and hate. The introduction of the film gives a clear picture of how the society is divided and how complicated the situation is. Historically, the film reveals the state of the society at the time when Robert F. Kennedy is assassinated.
The presidential primary election in California is one of the historical information in the film “Bobby.” Ambassador Hotel is one of the famous hotels in Los Angeles. The hotel hosts Robert F. Kennedy’s presidential bid campaign headquarters. Robert F. Kennedy is the senator for New York. He is in a tough competition with Eugene McCarthy who is a Senator for Minnesota. Robert F. Kennedy and Eugene McCarthy oppose each other strongly on how to deal with the war in Vietnam.

At the time, The United States of America is in serious war trouble (Moldea 17 ). How to deal with the war dominates the campaigns. Robert F. Kennedy is seen as the person to help The United States of America. People working in the campaign are in trouble as well as the people working in the Ambassador Hotel. There is a sign of discrimination among white people, black people, and Mexicans. Many people are against the war because they believe their country cannot win.
The majority of the people believe that Robert F. Kennedy is the only person who can revive the country. Kennedy wins the vote, and people’s hope for a better country almost becomes real. Robert F. Kennedy makes his victory speech at the Ambassador Hotel. After his victory speech on June 4, 1968, Robert F. Kennedy is shot dead while at the kitchen of Ambassador Hotel. Hopes that people had for better America becomes a nightmare. All people working in the Ambassador Hotel have their lives completely changed. Mass demonstration and protests dominate the country. Among the people who are shot, only Robert F. Kennedy died while the others survived. Therefore, Mr. Estevez uses the film to give the history of the Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination after he won the democratic presidential primary and minutes after his victory speech.
In the film, different characters play different roles to represent the history. Anthony Hopkins is a character in the film “Bobby” who is acting as a doorman. Anthony represents John Casey who was working at the Ambassador Hotel as a doorman at the time when Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated. After that fateful day, John Casey faces tough live experiences and his live changes to the worst. Estevez uses the film to show how racism and discrimination of people based on class and race are common. This is clearly evident when Freddy Rodriguez verbally wrangles over class and race with the chef who is a black in the Ambassador Hotel. Also, Christian Slater who is the boss to the chef is sacked because of racism. Before his job termination, Christian Slater claims that the staff in the Ambassador Hotel will not get a chance to vote as most of the staffs are illegal and therefore cannot vote thus denying them time off. Robert F. Kennedy’s campaign workers are seen busy making calls and discussing the primary election. They have hopes that Robert F Kennedy will win the Democratic primary election. Characters in the “Booby” film plays, the role of the history of people within the Ambassador Hotel during the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy.
Estevez, the director of the film “Bobby” only focuses on specific historical events but not all what was really happening in the American culture. Using the characters in the film, Estevez gives a negative picture of the American culture. The culture seen in the film include racism, immigration, the breakup of families, drugs, Vietnam War, and alienation. However, there are several events in the film “Bobby” which accurately show what really happened. The history that Estevez tries to show in the film is about the assassination of the Democratic presidential candidate and the Senator Robert F. Kennedy (Heymann 11). He covers the scene and the events exactly how it happened.
The venue used by Emilio Estevez gives a picture and a resemblance of Ambassador Hotel. The chronology of events that occur in the film leads to the assassination of a character. The same chronology of events occurs some hours before the assassination of Senator and a presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy. This brings the history of the famous Ambassador Hotel that hosts headquarter for Robert F. Kennedy’s campaign in 1968 (Heymann 16). In the film, many people are seen within the Hotel, the campaign staff, supporters, and hotel staff too. This is a historical accuracy as the day when Robert F. Kennedy wins the Democratic presidential primary election; many people gather at The Ambassador Hotel waiting for Kennedy’s victory speech.
“Bobby” film shows congested hotel, Characters of the film are performing their daily duties. Supporters gather outside the hotel to follow the outcome of the election. There is a winning character and celebrations begin. This is also a real history as when Senator Robert F. Kennedy announces his candidacy; he gets many supporters who believe in his promises. They gather in large numbers whenever the Senator is expected to visit. The presidential primary election is to be conducted. Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s supporters gather outside the Ambassador Hotel after he wins the primary election. Robert F. Kennedy is expected at the Ambassador Hotel where his campaign headquarters is located. People are waiting for his speech. After his speech, Robert F. Kennedy decides to use a shortcut to reach the press waiting for him outside the Hotel. He chooses to use the kitchen path. There are many people struggling to shake hands with the senator in a pantry that is crowded. Among the crowd, there are kitchen staff and other people who are not employees of the hotel. While Robert F. Kennedy is shaking hands with the people, he is shot by a 24 year old Palestinian by the name Sirhan Sirhan (David Kobzantsev). Sirhan Sirhan fires with a smile on his face. Robert F. Kennedy lies on the floor. Many other people are injured, and the assassin is arrested (Moldea 24). The film “Bobby” scene matches the scene of Kennedy’s assassination and hence historical accuracy.
In 1968, Robert F. Kennedy was not willing to run for the presidency. He is a leader of actions, and he is concerned about good life the people of America should have. Every time he speaks Robert F. Kennedy talks of good healthcare, education, freedom, poverty, democracy, civil rights, and peace. Due to his visionary leadership, Robert F. Kennedy is approached by American people who want him take the presidency. The platform that Robert F. Kennedy is using is about the war in Vietnam that he says should end, and make the world the better place for all people. He is also unique in his personal style. He moves the crowd with his creative ideas, hard work, and morality. His vision is spread to all people, old and young, across all races wealthy and poor. Robert F. Kennedy’s gave the audience much hopes and dreams. Even after his death, his legacy inspires many people who believe in compassion and creativity of human beings (Willis 31).
When Robert F .Kennedy is announced dead, his supporters’ hopes in Robert F. Kennedy’s leadership in America are shattered. The film “Bobby” characters try to show the state of the supporters when the senator is killed. The characters and participants of the film show their disbelief of what has happened and hence a historical accuracy. Everybody runs for his life, and a commotion is experienced during the fateful event. Also, the film represents 16 hours before Robert F. Kennedy is assassinated. All Kennedy’s last movements and whatever is happening at the Ambassador Hotel before he is shot dead is well captured by Estevez with his characters and thus a historical accuracy.
In the film “Bobby,” Ambassador Hotel plays a major historical role. The hair salon, back offices, kitchen, hallways, and ballrooms connect the film characters to one another. Anthony Hopkins, who is acting as John Casey, a retired doorman gives an accurate history of what was on the ground. John Casey likes playing chess, and therefore he engages his friend Nelson in the play. Anthony Hopkins tries to perform all that John Casey would do while serving in the Ambassador Hotel as a doorman and hence accurate character. Freddy Rodriguez, who is acting as Jose, is a kitchen staff who without his consent, is assigned to a double shift. He has a ticket to watch baseball but decides to give the ticket to Laurence Fishburne, who is a chef to show racial harmony. This is a clear indication of racism in the 1960’s and hence accurate characters in their historical role.
The film “Bobby” is a historical document that can be used to enhance historical understanding (Willis 41). It will help generations understand where America has come from. It is a document that will show the opportunities lost when visionary leaders were assassinated. The document will give people to pursue the dreams that Robert F. Kennedy had for the American people. The historical document will show people many other assassinations of other visionary leaders like Martin Luther King who was killed two months before Kennedy. Therefore I recommend the film “Bobby” as a historical document.
Works Cited
Heymann, C D. Rfk: A Candid Biography of Robert F. Kennedy. Dutton, 1998.
Moldea, Dan E. The Killing of Robert F. Kennedy: An Investigation of Motive, Means, and Opportunity. W.W. Norton, 1995.
Willis, Clint. Kennedys: Stories of Life and Death from an American Family. Thunder’s Mouth P, 2001.