If Bobby Kennedy hadn’t been fatally shot that day, he would have won the Presidential election of 1968, without a doubt. Not only was he hugely charismatic, but he had that rare ability to unite people from opposite ends of the voting spectrum. He had the support of liberals, because he pledged to end the Vietnam war; he had the support of the blue-collar working class, and he had the support of the black community. No Democratic candidate since has been able to unite America in quite the same way. It was extraordinary.

I was a graduate student at the University of California in 1968, and followed him on his campaign trail. I saw him address a right-wing union rally full of rednecks in Indiana, and drive through a ghetto in Oakland, California, where black supporters literally tried to tear his clothes off. At first I felt that the way he won over different sections of the electorate was morally dubious. But I soon realised it was essential. He knew about tough politics. He would have been ruthless in fighting his battles.

Bobby Kennedy was very, very liberal and if he had survived, there would have been a profound change of course in American politics. First of all, he would have ended the Vietnam war, which would have saved thousands of lives. At home, he would have built up the Medicaid health care system, and encouraged social spending. He would have continued to support the civil rights movement. The entire history of the United States would have been very different.

Instead, Nixon won and a new era of Republicanism was ushered in. There has been a slow dismantling of the social safety net in the United States ever since. Both Nixon and Reagan were inclined to get entangled in disputes abroad; Nixon would have kept the Vietnam war going forever, if he could.
The assassination of Bobby Kennedy was a terrific loss to the United States and to the world.

Explore Film

• Film Reviews

• DVD

• Oscars

• Bollywood

Editor's choice

• The top 10 fan versus band scuffles
• Mamma Mia! The first review
• Times critics' 20 best films for kids