--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When a reporter asked Bobby Kennedy what…" description: "\"“When a reporter asked Bobby Kennedy what he would do if Hoffa were acquitted, Bobby Kennedy, who said he had “never considered that possibility” with ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/charles-brandt-2101_bobby-kennedy_when-a-reporter-asked-bobby-kennedy-what_507565.jpg" --- # When a reporter asked Bobby Kennedy what he would do if… ![“When a reporter asked Bobby Kennedy what he would do if Hoffa were acquitted, Bobby Kennedy, who said he had “never considered that possibility” with such an “air-tight case,” remarked, “I’ll jump off the Capitol.” In” quote by Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/charles-brandt-2101_bobby-kennedy_when-a-reporter-asked-bobby-kennedy-what_507565.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/charles-brandt-2101_bobby-kennedy_when-a-reporter-asked-bobby-kennedy-what_507565.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/charles-brandt-2101_bobby-kennedy_when-a-reporter-asked-bobby-kennedy-what_507565.jpg) > ““When a reporter asked Bobby Kennedy what he would do if Hoffa were acquitted, Bobby Kennedy, who said he had “never considered that possibility” with such an “air-tight case,” remarked, “I’ll jump off the Capitol.” In”” [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Bobby Kennedy jokes about drastic retaliation if a powerful figure is freed, highlighting his frustration. **In simple terms:** He threatens extreme action over a legal outcome. Key Takeaway Consider the weight of words in tense situations. Themes politics humor frustration Mood satirical serious Type historical political When to use this quote - court rulings - political negotiations - media interviews Key Concepts law power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What does this reveal about coping with power? - How can humor influence public perception? A Different Perspective Humor may downplay serious consequences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acquitted Bobby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquitted-bobby-4310239/) [Asked Bobby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked-bobby-4310240/) [Bobby kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bobby-kennedy/) [Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kennedy/) [Kennedy Hoffa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kennedy-hoffa-4310238/) [Kennedy Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kennedy-said-1224538/) ## Related quotes > [“I went to work for the union around the time all this was going on, right after Jimmy got the president’s job. After the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/i-went-to-work-for-the-union-around-the-time-all-this-was-going-on/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“Later that same year John F. Kennedy was elected president by a thin margin. The first thing he did was appoint his brother attorney…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/later-that-same-year-john-f-kennedy-was-elected-president-by-a-thin/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“Bobby Kennedy chose the members of the squad himself. He gave the squad a very limited job to do and gave the squad a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/bobby-kennedy-chose-the-members-of-the-squad-himself-he-gave-the/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“Bobby Kennedy gave Cheasty a job with the committee at a salary of $5,000 a year. The FBI planted microphones and set up cameras.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/bobby-kennedy-gave-cheasty-a-job-with-the-committee-at-a-salary-of-5/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“When asked by Bobby Kennedy where he’d gotten $20,000 in cash to invest in a business venture, Hoffa replied, “From individuals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/when-asked-by-bobby-kennedy-where-he-d-gotten-20-000-in-cash-to/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“The jury hung at eleven to one. Promptly a new jury was impaneled. During the second trial a member of the jury came forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/the-jury-hung-at-eleven-to-one-promptly-a-new-jury-was-impaneled/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“Sheridan wrote in his 1972 book, The Fall and Rise of Jimmy Hoffa: “He went about this by arranging for one of Beck’s own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/sheridan-wrote-in-his-1972-book-the-fall-and-rise-of-jimmy-hoffa-he/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“On the other hand, in his book, The Enemy Within, Bobby Kennedy wrote about his experiences and observations as chief counsel for the McClellan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/on-the-other-hand-in-his-book-the-enemy-within-bobby-kennedy-wrote/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [I asked Bobby Dylan, I asked the Beatles, I asked Timothy Leary, but he couldn't help me either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-who/i-asked-bobby-dylan-i-asked-the-beatles-i-asked-timothy-leary-but-he/) [The Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-who/) > [President-elect John F.Kennedy said to Robert McNamara that there's no school for presidents, or, for that matter, for secretaries of defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-strock/president-elect-john-f-kennedy-said-to-robert-mcnamara-that-there-s/) [James M Strock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-strock/) > [In what might be a motto of those who sought the presidency and lost, Ted Kennedy once said, "Frankly, I don't mind not being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/in-what-might-be-a-motto-of-those-who-sought-the-presidency-and-lost/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [Do you think that I like to have to fight the leaders in my own party over this or that? Of course not. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/do-you-think-that-i-like-to-have-to-fight-the-leaders-in-my-own-party/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) > [President Kennedy said that those who make peaceful revolution impossible make violent revolution inevitable. I would say that the converse is true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-novogratz/president-kennedy-said-that-those-who-make-peaceful-revolution/) [Jacqueline Novogratz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-novogratz/) > [He's not just the most powerful man in labor," Robert Kennedy had said in the wake of Hoffa's announcement; "he's the most powerful man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-hoffa/he-s-not-just-the-most-powerful-man-in-labor-robert-kennedy-had-said/) [Jimmy Hoffa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-hoffa/) > [“The 1930s, Kennedy said, 'taught us a clear lesson; aggressive conduct, if allowed to go unchecked and unchallenged, ultimately leads to war.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-1930s-kennedy-said-taught-us-a-clear-lesson-aggressive-conduct-if/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) ## More by Charles Brandt > [“You fat fuck,” I said and jumped up and decked him. I broke his jaw, and they expelled me permanently on the spot. Naturally,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/you-fat-fuck-i-said-and-jumped-up-and-decked-him-i-broke-his-jaw-and/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“Hoffa and Brennan formed a trucking company called Test Fleet. The “brains” and his partner put that company in their wives’ maiden names. Test…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/hoffa-and-brennan-formed-a-trucking-company-called-test-fleet-the/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“People in those days didn’t display affection like they do today. I’m still learning how to be affectionate to my grandchildren. I don’t ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/people-in-those-days-didn-t-display-affection-like-they-do-today-i-m/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“Whispers was one of these short Italian guys in his early thirties that you’d see all around South Philly, just trying to get by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/whispers-was-one-of-these-short-italian-guys-in-his-early-thirties/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“And under the contract, management couldn’t fire a Teamster unless they had certain grounds. They had none. Stealing was grounds only if they could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/and-under-the-contract-management-couldn-t-fire-a-teamster-unless/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“But back then we had to amuse ourselves, and fighting seemed to be all we had. Looking back, it was good for us. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/but-back-then-we-had-to-amuse-ourselves-and-fighting-seemed-to-be-all/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“Mary liked to arrange picnics with the kids, and we’d take them to the Willow Grove Amusement Park. I wasn’t always running. When they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/mary-liked-to-arrange-picnics-with-the-kids-and-we-d-take-them-to-the/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“And on the other side of the ledger, unions like the Teamsters often employed their own muscle, their own reigns of terror, including bombings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/and-on-the-other-side-of-the-ledger-unions-like-the-teamsters-often/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“Only in the movies or comic books do people say they want you to go and hit somebody. All they ever say is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/only-in-the-movies-or-comic-books-do-people-say-they-want-you-to-go/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“As I learned the ropes I learned that for many good and sound reasons the bosses and the captains sent a guy to whack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/as-i-learned-the-ropes-i-learned-that-for-many-good-and-sound-reasons/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“Russell had taken me with him to Cuba just when Castro was starting to kick everybody out and confiscate their casinos and racetracks and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/russell-had-taken-me-with-him-to-cuba-just-when-castro-was-starting/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“You didn’t know who to trust, but you kept taking cabbies aside and persuading them to sign a card. For some reason there were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/you-didn-t-know-who-to-trust-but-you-kept-taking-cabbies-aside-and/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“Russ quit smoking on a bet with Jimmy Blue Eyes,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/russ-quit-smoking-on-a-bet-with-jimmy-blue-eyes/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“they wanted the guy left right there on the sidewalk as a message to those who needed to know the guy did not get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/they-wanted-the-guy-left-right-there-on-the-sidewalk-as-a-message-to/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“Carlos Marcello and the war orphans did cross my mind during the drive, and I sat the whole way facing the driver. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/carlos-marcello-and-the-war-orphans-did-cross-my-mind-during-the/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) [Explore all 185 Charles Brandt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) ## More Bobby kennedy quotes > [My first presidential primary vote was for Bobby Kennedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-gunton/my-first-presidential-primary-vote-was-for-bobby-kennedy/) [Bob Gunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-gunton/) > [You cultural sodomite. You were an aide to Bobby Kennedy, which explains your connection to Hasselhoff. I guess you like to hang around guys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-ross/you-cultural-sodomite-you-were-an-aide-to-bobby-kennedy-which/) [Jeff Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-ross/) > [“Later that same year John F. Kennedy was elected president by a thin margin. The first thing he did was appoint his brother attorney…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/later-that-same-year-john-f-kennedy-was-elected-president-by-a-thin/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“Bobby Kennedy chose the members of the squad himself. He gave the squad a very limited job to do and gave the squad a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/bobby-kennedy-chose-the-members-of-the-squad-himself-he-gave-the/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [I came at age in the '60s, and initially my hopes and dreams were invested in politics and the movements of the time -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-talbot/i-came-at-age-in-the-60s-and-initially-my-hopes-and-dreams-were/) [David Talbot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-talbot/) > [I think that for many of us, the years of the Civil Rights movements - Martin Luther King, Bobby Kennedy running for president in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-think-that-for-many-of-us-the-years-of-the-civil-rights-movements/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [I just find Bobby Kennedy's short campaign for president so inspiring because his rhetoric identified what America can be like if we care about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ryan/i-just-find-bobby-kennedy-s-short-campaign-for-president-so-inspiring/) [Tim Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ryan/) > [Bobby Kennedy's conduct toward Lyndon Johnson was childish and despicable. As the years went on, he displayed nasty, self-pitying, and messianic qualities that would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mallon/bobby-kennedy-s-conduct-toward-lyndon-johnson-was-childish-and/) [Thomas Mallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mallon/) > [We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-all-remember-bobby-kennedy-was-assassinated-in-june-in-california/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We don't really know who killed Martin Luther King. We don't really know who killed Bobby Kennedy. We don't really know who killed John…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-mckinney/we-don-t-really-know-who-killed-martin-luther-king-we-don-t-really/) [Cynthia McKinney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-mckinney/) > [“Bobby Kennedy gave Cheasty a job with the committee at a salary of $5,000 a year. The FBI planted microphones and set up cameras.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/bobby-kennedy-gave-cheasty-a-job-with-the-committee-at-a-salary-of-5/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [ I was next to Bobby \[Kennedy\] when he was shot. It was hideous. Part of me wanted to crawl away. I couldn't... I still… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-benson/i-was-next-to-bobby-kennedy-when-he-was-shot-it-was-hideous-part-of/) [Harry Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-benson/) > [When people ask what were the qualities of Bobby Kennedy that they most admired, it was first that he was tough. Second, he told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilio-estevez/when-people-ask-what-were-the-qualities-of-bobby-kennedy-that-they/) [Emilio Estevez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilio-estevez/) > [I had my serious side - I idolized Bobby Kennedy; he was my role model. But so was Jerry Lewis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ritter/i-had-my-serious-side-i-idolized-bobby-kennedy-he-was-my-role-model/) [John Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ritter/) > [“At one point Hoffa told Bobby Kennedy regarding the tapes, “To the best of my recollection, I must recall on my memory, I cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/at-one-point-hoffa-told-bobby-kennedy-regarding-the-tapes-to-the-best/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) [Browse all 59 Bobby kennedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bobby-kennedy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When a reporter asked Bobby Kennedy what he would do if Hoffa were acquitted, Bobby Kennedy, who said he had “never considered that possibility” with such an “air-tight case,” remarked, “I’ll jump off the Capitol.” In”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Brandt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/when-a-reporter-asked-bobby-kennedy-what-he-would-do-if-hoffa-were/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bobby kennedy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/when-a-reporter-asked-bobby-kennedy-what-he-would-do-if-hoffa-were/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/charles-brandt-2101_bobby-kennedy_when-a-reporter-asked-bobby-kennedy-what_507565.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/charles-brandt-2101_bobby-kennedy_when-a-reporter-asked-bobby-kennedy-what_507565.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/charles-brandt-2101_bobby-kennedy_when-a-reporter-asked-bobby-kennedy-what_507565.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When a reporter asked Bobby Kennedy what he would do if Hoffa were acquitted, Bobby Kennedy, who said he had…” — Charles Brandt", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Charles Brandt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“When a reporter asked Bobby Kennedy...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/when-a-reporter-asked-bobby-kennedy-what-he-would-do-if-hoffa-were/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/when-a-reporter-asked-bobby-kennedy-what-he-would-do-if-hoffa-were/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```