Chapters 17-18: The Politics of Justice; Justice and Poverty Summary and Analysis

As Attorney General, Robert had high ideals and expectations. His goal was to make the Justice Department completely non-partisan and to fight corruption and law violations irregardless of party affiliation. What he discovered as he grew in this position was that the reality of government in America is compromise and deal-making. In order to achieve certain judicial appointments, he and his brother often had to compromise, making "deals" with Southern Democrats and Republicans in order to get important legislation passed. The appointments of federal judges, therefore, were certainly not as successful in terms of civil rights as he had wished.

In prosecutions, Kennedy had to make some difficult and painful decisions, indicting Democrats who had been loyal supporters of the Kennedys. Thus, he prosecuted Judge...