Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., born Robert Francis Kennedy Jr., is an American environmental attorney, author, and activist. Known for his advocacy on environmental issues and his leadership in organizations like the Waterkeeper Alliance, Kennedy has spent decades fighting for clean water and environmental justice. As the son of Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy, he is a prominent figure in American political and social discourse. Kennedy has also authored several books, including Crimes Against Nature and American Values, which reflect his commitment to public service and environmental preservation. His work continues to inspire and influence efforts toward sustainable environmental policies and civic engagement.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s early life was shaped by his prominent family and the legacy of public service that influenced his career in advocacy.

• Born Robert Francis Kennedy Jr. on January 17, 1954, in Washington, D.C.
• Raised at the Kennedy Compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, and the family estate in McLean, Virginia.
• Experienced tragedy early in life with the assassination of his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, in 1963, and later his father’s assassination during his 1968 presidential campaign.
• Attended several preparatory schools, including Georgetown Preparatory School, and later earned a degree in American History and Literature from Harvard University.
• Pursued a law degree at the University of Virginia School of Law and earned a Master of Laws in Environmental Law from Pace University, solidifying his focus on environmental advocacy.
• Influenced by his family’s commitment to public service, he dedicated his career to fighting for justice and environmental protection, building on the Kennedy legacy.
• Began his work in environmental law by joining the Natural Resources Defense Council and later founding the Waterkeeper Alliance, an organization dedicated to protecting water resources worldwide.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s family relationships and personal experiences have been deeply intertwined with the storied Kennedy legacy, marked by triumphs, tragedies, and complex dynamics.

• Born to U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Skakel, Robert is the third of eleven children in one of America’s most prominent political families.
• He is the nephew of President John F. Kennedy and Senator Ted Kennedy.
• Robert endured immense personal loss early in life, losing his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, to assassination in 1963 when he was nine, and his father to the same fate in 1968 when he was 14. He was present at his father’s bedside when he passed away and later served as a pallbearer at his funeral.
• Married three times, Robert first wed Emily Ruth Black in 1982, with whom he had two children. The couple divorced in 1994. He then married Mary Kathleen Richardson later that year, with whom he had four children before their marriage ended in divorce. Richardson died by suicide in 2012.
• In 2014, Robert married actress Cheryl Hines, known for her role on Curb Your Enthusiasm. The couple resides in Los Angeles and Cape Cod, Massachusetts, balancing family life with Robert’s ongoing public career.
• Robert has six children: two from his marriage to Emily Ruth Black and four from his marriage to Mary Kathleen Richardson.
• His family has faced ongoing struggles, including the death of his niece, Saoirse Kennedy Hill, from a drug overdose in 2019. 
• Despite these challenges, the Kennedy legacy continues to shape his public and private life.