The Busboy | History Lessons

On June 5, 1968, Senator Robert F. Kennedy won California’s Democratic primary in his bid to become President of the United States. That night, Senator Kennedy delivered his victory speech at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, where 17-year-old Juan Romero was working as a hotel busboy. Juan came to StoryCorps to remember the tragic historical event that followed and how it impacted his life.
Directed by
Richard O’Connor
Executive Producers
Dave Isay
Rachel Hartman
Producer
Savannah Winchester
Senior Audio Producer
Jasmyn Morris
Audio Produced by
Jud Esty-Kendall
Supervising Sound Recordist
Jud Esty-Kendall
Audio Mixed By
Jarrett Floyd
Animation by
Ace & Son Moving Picture Co., LLC
Design
Ward Jenkins
Animators
Alex Fyock
Taisiya Zaretskaya
Natalie Greene
Art Production
Ruyin Tsai
Original Music
Joshua Abrams
Music Performed by
Joshua Abrams
Hamid Drake
Marquis Hill
Emmett Kelly
Adam Thornburg
Music Mixed by
Joshua Abrams
Neil Strauch
Outro Music by
“The Temperature of the Air on the Bow of the Kaleetan” by Chris Zabriskie
From the Album Undercover Vampire Policeman
Published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track
Special Thanks
Juan Romero
In Partnership with
American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress
NPR
POV
Funding Provided by
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
A private corporation funded by the American people.
Copyright © StoryCorps 2023. All Rights Reserved.
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More stories from StoryCorps: storycorps.org/
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[@FooMaster15]

Damn, imagine blaming Juan and not the actual murderer. People are so cruel.

[@AgnesOfWonderland]

It wasn't his fault, he wasn't the one to shoot those bullets. They blamed the wrong person for what happened that day.

[@NJA2k8]

It was easy to blame minorities for anything in the 60s.

[@m3rrys0ngstr3ss]

Juan passed away a few years back - I hope he knew at the end that anyone who would blame him wasn't worth it. What a loving thing to do, to give Bobby his rosary - the Kennedys were always open about being Catholic, so Juan must have known it would be a comfort to him.

[@MintChocoFusion]

For someone to blame him for something that didn't rely on his inclusion, RFK could have shaken a child's hand in that moment, that person just wanted to be mean because they could. RIP to both.

[@loner1878]

Even pre social media people found ways to be a holes.

[@TheInstigator1026]

A touching moment for him to place his rosary beads, around his wrist. He seems like a very unselfish young man.

[@christiannataylor2735]

You gave him an act of kindness and genuine human connection in his final moments, and that's very important and admirable. You healed his heart just a little bit before he passed. You couldn't do anything and I'm sure that it would've happened anyway, but at least he had a kind soul with him.

[@PogieJoe]

What a gut-wrenching story

[@derkaiser420]

How could you blame him for Kennedy getting shot? He was just trying to be friendly. People are cruel.

[@apollo6795]

Sad Juan didn't deserve any hate

[@user-zs9ux1ru8u]

It was not your fault. You deserve to have that weight lifted from your shoulders.

[@joinjulieonlineenglish]

Thank you StoryCorps for providing these amazing tales. They are so impactful as well as educational. My students love them!

[@tomandaj1]

A good man doing a good deed. The rosary was exactly what Kennedy needed at that moment. You honor him sir. God Bless you

[@pinktokyo]

It wasn't your fault

[@halleyangel1706]

It wasn't his fault for what happened, nor do I feel Kennedy wanted him to carry the weight of that on his shoulders. Because his last words were concerned for others above himself. I hope he doesn't carry that any more.

[@alexdm4868]

this is an incredible story - one of your best

[@bass2481]

You are important no matter what . Our lives go through so many turns and handshakes and deaths and no one can ever walk a mile in our shoes. God bless you. Rest in Peace RFK

[@supermangarritano6636]

Full video ! Yes!❤ and oh my god that’s heart breaking I am so sorry.

[@llynhunter]

Amazing story and an amazing piece of animation. Thank you for this.

[@operasinger2126]

Thanks, Juan. RIP.

[@eastercat]

It sucks just how terrible people are. Just seeking anyone to blame and just slinging hurtful words, not caring just how hard they can stick.

[@alarcon99]

He was a baby when this happened

[@petergabriel9261]

Wow you’re posting again!

[@yeetusdeletus8565]

2:05 Bro really thought the assassin forgot how to aim?

[@albertdietrich-ramirez5925]

Why would anyone blame Juan? Even holding Sen. Bobby Kennedy's hand wouldn't save his life. Anyone who blamed Juan for not holding on to the slain senator longer ought to be ashamed of himself or herself? What Juan actually did was to comfort Sen. Bobby Kennedy to the best of his ability until the moment the Senator breathed his last on that terrible June day of 1968.

[@kimberlybrock783]

certainly was not his fault.

[@robinjohnson5014]

It is terrible how he was blamed for trying to helpful