Late in 1967, he began seeking out Bobby Kennedy. Lowenstein grew weary of the Vietnam War quite early, and as such, was among the first figures to begin looking at an alternative to President Johnson. Even his burial place is in the shadow of history. Though he served a single term in Congress, it pales in comparison to his impact on civil rights, candidate recruitment, student marches and his inspiration of young people in the cause for peace. “Well,” Rivers replied, “there’s been a lot of intermarriage down there.” The two laughed and began referring to each other as “cousin.’įor those familiar with the events of 1960s and the direction of the nation immediately after, Allard Lowenstein could easily be a microcosm. Chairman, I have relatives who are constituents of yours,” pointing out that some are named Rivers. He was 51.' Allard Lowenstein A Microcosm of 1968 And Beyond Historic Tidbit: One day early in his Congressional term, Lowenstein encountered Mendel Rivers, the hawkish segregationist old-time South Carolinian who chaired the House Armed Services Committee. Five bullets hit him and, despite a blood transfusion and surgery, he could not be saved. In 1980, as he was working in his Rockefeller Center office, Dennis Sweeney, who had attended, walked into the office in jeans, had a brief conversation with Lowenstein and opened fire, seven times. Tragically, Lowenstein would meet the same fate. Lowenstein was not convinced that Sirhan Sirhan had acted alone in murdering Kennedy and for years, publicly sought unsuccessfully to have the case reopened.

Alfred lowenstein