Kennedy, Robert F. (1925–1968)

DURING PRESIDENT John F. Kennedy's (JFK) administration from 1961 to 1963 the fight against crime, especially organized crime and its associated white-collar crime, was waged by Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy (RFK), the president's brother. The Kennedy brothers waged a crusade against organized crime once they realized the extent of the power it wielded. The result was the Organized Crime Bill of 1962.

Although the president's father, Joseph P. Kennedy, reputedly had mob connections in his business dealings and the president shared a mistress with a well-known mobster, and enjoyed social relations with some mob-related people, RFK had long been a foe of the rampant corruption in unions, bribery of law officials, and the ever increasing hold of organized crime on the United States. He thought ...