Robert F. Kennedy's speech at Ball State University

Robert F. Kennedy's speech at Ball State University was given on April 4, 1968, in Muncie, Indiana.

On March 16, 1968, Robert F. Kennedy declared his candidacy for president of the United States. On March 28, he flew into Weir Cook Airport in Indianapolis to file as a presidential candidate in the Indiana primary.

On April 4, Kennedy made his first campaign speech in Indiana at University of Notre Dame, entitled "Feeding America's Hungry." Kennedy then went on to Muncie, Indiana. The landing strip at Delaware County Regional Airport was too small for his campaign's plane, so he had to take a smaller aircraft to Muncie while most of his staff and the accompanying press continued to Indianapolis.

Kennedy stepped off of his chartered Convair at 5:40 PM on April 4, about a half an hour behind schedule. He quickly embarked on a red convertible with his wife, Ethel, driving two miles to Ball State University.

The Ball State appearance had been arranged by Earl Conn, an assistant professor at the university's journalism department. He was aided by campaign staffer Bill Foley and a local attorney and former 10th District coordinator for John F. Kennedy's presidential campaign, Marshall Hanley. In preparation for the speech Foley had considered using both Emens Auditorium and the men's gym as a venue. Foley was reluctant to use the gym because he was worried it couldn't be adequately filled. Only when he was assured the that the second level could be curtained off, did he agree to make use of it.

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