For most of his life, Robert Kennedy stood in the shadow cast by his older brother, John; only after President Kennedy's assassination did the public gain a complete sense of Robert (Bobby, we called him) as a committed advocate for social justice and a savvy politician in his own right. In this comprehensive biography, James W. Hilty offers a detailed and nuanced account of how Robert was transformed from a seemingly unpromising youngster, unlikely to match the accomplishments of his older brother, to the forceful man who ran the family business, orchestrating the Kennedy quest for political...

Having learned the value of education, self-improvement, and perseverance from his of Russian- Jewish immigrant parents, Marvin Wachman was always a good student. But his skill on the tennis court won him a university scholarship and social access (along with notable opponents such as Bobby Riggs). As a newly minted PhD, Wachman served in World War II as a combat platoon sergeant. He was drawn to teaching, first in the Army, then at Colgate University, by his desire for work of lasting value. He proved a man of vision and administrative ability, qualities that suited him to lead two great...