NCJ Number
48854
Date Published
1971
Length
502 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY EXAMINES THE DECISIONMAKING STYLE OF ROBERT F. KENNEDY IN HIS ADMINISTRATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, AND ESPECIALLY THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI), 1961-1964.
Abstract
KENNEDY'S DECISIONMAKING PROCESS IS CONSIDERED IN TERMS OF HIS IMPACT ON THE QUALITY OF JUSTICE IN AMERICA DURING THE STUDY PERIOD. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT KENNEDY'S STRENGTHS WERE HIS QUEST FOR EXCELLENCE AND HIS ABILITY TO USE THE BEST IDEAS PROVIDED HIM. HOWEVER, IT IS NOTED THAT AN EXPERIMENT IN REDUCING JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IMPLEMENTED DURING HIS ADMINISTRATION WAS A FAILURE. A COMPARISON OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE STYLES OF KENNEDY AND J. EDGAR HOOVER IS ILLUSTRATED THROUGH EXAMINATIONS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE POSTURES ON PRIVACY, BUREAUCRACY, ORGANIZED CRIME, AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. THIS BOOK NOTES THAT KENNEDY DEALT WITH THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY BY DISREGARDING ITS OPERATING RULES. THE CHAPTER ON FEDERALISM CONTAINS TRANSCRIPTS OF CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN KENNEDY AND GOVERNOR ROSS BARNETT (MISSISSIPPI) CONCERNING CIVIL RIGHTS CONFLICTS THAT ILLUSTRATE KENNEDY'S PROBLEMS AND FAILURES IN DEALING WITH THE SOUTH. KENNEDY'S ROLE IN JUDICIAL SELECTION IS VIEWED IN RELATION TO POLITICAL INFLUENCE. HIS ASSOCIATION WITH THE SOLICITOR GENERAL AND HIS ATTITUDES TOWARD REAPPORTIONMENT ARE ALSO TREATED. KENNEDY'S CHARISMA, ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS, AND ATTITUDES TOWARD CIVIL LIBERTIES, AND HIS FAMILY'S EFFECT ON HIM ARE ALSO HIGHLIGHTED. KENNEDY'S CHARISMATIC AUTHORITY SYSTEM, WHILE EFFECTIVE, HAD THE DISADVANTAGE OF NOT LEAVING TIME TO ORDER PRIORITIES; E.G., LAWYERS IMPROVED WIRETAP LEGISLATION, WITHOUT CONSIDERING WHETHER THE EFFORT WAS WORTHWHILE. LETTERS BETWEEN KENNEDY AND A MEMBER OF CONGRESS AND OTHER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE APPENDED, AS WELL AS INFORMATION ON ANTITRUST DIVISION INVESTIGATIONS. BIBLIOGRAPHIC NOTES ARE INCLUDED. (JSP)