The 1968 assassination of robert kennedy robbed anti-war americans of their leading candidate. finally brought about an end to the vietnam war. left richard nixon as the democratic presidential candidate. caused the democrats to cancel their national convention.

The 1968 assassination of Robert Kennedy robbed anti-war Americans of their leading candidate.

Robert Kennedy, a candidate who expressed a strong opposition to the Vietnam War, won the primary ballots in Indiana and Nebraska but lost in Oregon. On June 4, 1968, he scored the biggest victory in his career toward the Democratic nomination by winning the primary ballots in South Dakota and California. After midnight, Kennedy gave a gratitude speech to his constituents at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.

As he headed down a crowded corridor to the hotel kitchens, Sirhan Bishara Sirhan, a 24-year-old man from Los Angeles and of Palestinian descent, appeared firing a 22-caliber revolver at the crowd that filled the corridor. Several people were injured, including Senator Kennedy, who was shot at point-blank range.

Robert Kennedy died early in the morning of June 6, 1968 at age 42.