18 Facts About Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was born on January 17, 1954, into the Kennedy family. His father, Robert F. Kennedy, served as U.S. Attorney General and a U.S. Senator, and his uncle John F. Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States.

Kennedy struggled with dyslexia growing up, a learning disorder that affects reading and language processing, but went on to graduate from Harvard and earn a law degree.

He earned a Bachelor's degree in American History and Literature from Harvard University, a Juris Doctor from Pace University School of Law, and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Environmental Law from Pace.

He began his environmental law career as an attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, where he worked on efforts to protect the Hudson River from pollution.

In 1999, Kennedy co-founded the Waterkeeper Alliance, a global network of grassroots groups focused on protecting waterways, and served as its president for more than two decades.

Kennedy stepped down as president of the Waterkeeper Alliance in November 2020 after more than 20 years in the role, though he remains associated with the organization's legacy.

He taught environmental law at Pace University School of Law starting in 1986 and later founded the school's Environmental Litigation Clinic in 1987.

Kennedy has authored and edited several books on environmental issues, including "The Riverkeepers" (1997) and "Crimes Against Nature" (2004).

He has long been an advocate for renewable energy, arguing that shifting away from fossil fuels is essential to fighting climate change.

Kennedy received the William O. Douglas Award from the Sierra Club and the Audubon Society's Environmental Hero Award for his environmental advocacy work.

Kennedy has faced repeated family tragedy: both his father and his uncle President Kennedy were assassinated, and his brother David died of a drug overdose in 1984.

His brother Michael Kennedy died in December 1997 after a skiing accident on Aspen Mountain, Colorado, where he struck a tree while playing football on skis; the cause of death was head and neck trauma, not a drug overdose.

In 2014, Kennedy married actress Cheryl Hines, known for her roles in "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "Suburgatory."

Kennedy is the father of six children from his marriages, including Conor Kennedy, who has also worked in environmental advocacy.

In 2018, Kennedy was part of the legal team representing groundskeeper Dewayne Johnson in a lawsuit against Monsanto over its Roundup weedkiller. The jury awarded $289 million, later reduced by a judge to roughly $78 million.

For years, Kennedy has been a prominent vaccine skeptic, a stance that drew sustained criticism from public health experts and scientists who say his claims about vaccine safety are not supported by evidence.

Kennedy ran for president in 2024, first as a Democrat and then as an independent, before ending his campaign and endorsing Donald Trump ahead of the general election.

In February 2025, the U.S. Senate confirmed Kennedy as Secretary of Health and Human Services, making him the 26th person to hold that cabinet post.

As HHS Secretary, Kennedy has promoted the "Make America Healthy Again" initiative, focused on chronic disease, food policy, and childhood health.

Outside of law and politics, Kennedy is an avid falconer, a sport involving the training of birds of prey, and has said the practice deepened his connection to nature.