Robert F Kennedy Home Movie 1968

Robert Kennedy
Czech Village Dedication
Wilber Nebraska May 12 1968

Film taken about 3 weeks before his assignation on June 5 1968. This was taken by a Wilkie family member with an 8mm Kodak camera.. Film is of Robert Kennedy in small town in Wilber Nebraska where he dedicated a Senior Housing named the Czech Village.


This is what is on the 50 ft of 8mm film as explained to me from my dad Paddy Joe Wilkie who traveled to Wilber Nebraska that day with his daughter and son in-law from Beatrice, Nebraska.

The film is a dedication of senior housing at a Czech Village building. You will see a huge banner displaying the the name KENNEDY. The crowd shows a band, local men wearing red vests, probably Kiwanis or other organization.
The motorcade has Robert Kennedy in front seat and behind him is astrounaut, John Glenn and other officials. You see Robert shaking hands with the crowd of people who have surrounded him. This is a great shot of RFK, so young, his hair blowing in the wind.
Next shot is of the stage and astronaut John Glenn in front of the microphones. RFK and Glenn are both at mikes and then an official (in red vest jacket) presents RFK with some items. One looks like a red Nebraska Cornhusker jersey. The crowd seems to bow their hands as in prayer. Kennedy begins his speech, speaking and turning pages. A photographer seated during speech, stands up with one of those old cameras and takes RFK picture. When speech ends Kennedy is surrounded by John Glen, officials and locals and he is signing autographs for them. He begins to exit stage surrounded by people waving pieces of paper they are holding up for his signature.

This is a home movie that was transferred for our family to VHS and then DVD. The film is silent, in color, but now looks black and white with aging..