Bobby Kennedy to publish new book about growing up in a famous family

SANDUSKY — Robert F. "Bobby" Kennedy Jr. is about to publish a new book about growing up in his famous family, and he said it won't lack opinions and inside information about the Kennedys.Kennedy has written or edited 10 books and sold quite a few. His new one, "American Values: Lessons I Learned from My Family," out May 15, would seem to have a good chance of returning him to the bestseller lists.His publisher, HarperCollins, apparently thinks so. Kennedy, 64, told the Register his publisher asked him for a book on his family 10 years ago and that he's been toiling on it for years."They told me, 'hurry up,'" Kennedy said. "It's written around the long and conflicting relationship that my family had with the CIA," Kennedy said. It also discusses the military-industrial complex, he said."I grew up in a milieu where the CIA was literally a quarter mile from our house," Kennedy said. "Our house was filled with Cubans who were part of the Bay of Pigs operation. It's not a dull history," promises Kennedy, who said the book will have plenty of information that can't be found anywhere else.The publisher's blurb offers this description of the book:"Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the third of eleven children born to Bobby Kennedy and Ethel Skakel Kennedy, reflects on what it meant to grow up in his extraordinary home as part of America's unofficial royal family. He takes us deep into his past, into the boisterous RFK household of his childhood—and speaks passionately of the role models who shaped him, including his father and his Uncle Jack."With emotion and striking detail, Robert recalls both the private joys and very public pain of his childhood—the overwhelming devastation of Jack Kennedy's assassination, then, just five years later, his own father's tragic death when Robert was just fourteen. After years of struggling, Robert eventually found his calling as a fierce and passionate environmental activist."Kennedy spoke to the Register about "American Values" when he visited the Register newsroom to campaign for Dennis Kucinich, a Democratic candidate for governor, by taping a half-hour segment of "Between the Lines Live" with Kucinich. The interview is available for demand viewing at sanduskyregister.com/btl.Before the taping began, Kennedy remarked how he enjoyed being at a newspaper in a vintage building. The Register is published in what was originally the Sandusky Star Journal building, constructed in 1921."This is wonderful. It's like going back in time," Kennedy said.Kennedy said he'll be busy with a book tour to promote his new title.It's not known if he'll make it to Sandusky, but the Register extended the invitation."After the Today Show, I'm going to fly out here. This market is going to be mine," Kennedy joked. Kennedy is an environmental activist who has used his famous name to crusade against water pollution and call attention to other environmental issues. The Register asked Kennedy if he had decided years ago to use his fame for positive change."I feel lucky to be doing what I'm doing," he said. "Everybody likes to feel like they've been useful in their lives. I've been given that gift."According to the Greek Stoic philosopher, Sisyphus, who according to myth was forced to roll a boulder up a hill over and over again, was ultimately a happy man because struggle gives order to the universe, Kennedy said.Keeping a family-owned newspaper such as the Sandusky Register going also is an important struggle, Kennedy said.Reach reporter Tom Jackson at jackson@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @jacksontom.