Political Cortex: Brain Food for the Body Politic

When Robert, Bob to those who knew him, arrived in Hollywood and appeared at the office of the production company that would be presumably giving the test he was told that it was without funds.  In fact, the man with whom he spoke prevailed upon Bob to loan him money.

More adversity confronted Bob his first night in Hollywood.  While staying at the Hollywood YMCA, he discovered the shock of having all of his clothes stolen.

Bob Kendall proved then as he proved so many times in his life that when confronted by adversity it was adversity that would be the ultimate loser.  

He got a job working at McDonnells, a Hollywood drive in restaurant popular with the film community.  Christian Hofeld was a prominent film agent who was served a hamburger and coffee by Bob.

Something instantly clicked.  Hofeld believed that Bob would be perfect for the role of Hassan in the film "Song of Scheherazade" that Universal was casting.

The film's stars Jean Pierre Aumont and Yvonne De Carlo as well as almost all of the other roles had by then been cast.  Universal, however, could not seem to find the right young actor to play Hassan.  

The next thing Bob knew he was being whisked off by Hofeld to Universal.  Director Walter Reisch interviewed Bob briefly and then promptly congratulated him on getting the part.

Adversity lost to "Robert the Resolute" as he received a significant role in one of the top film grossers in the history of Universal.  This came six short weeks after the horrible double frustration of discovering that the screen test was a hoax and having his clothes stolen his first night in Hollywood.

The Universal hierarchy liked Bob so well in that first role that he was back before the cameras for another major film, appearing with actor and popular crooner Tony Martin along with being cast for a second time with Yvonne De Carlo.

Another highlight of Bob's acting career came when he played opposite superstar Natalie Wood on the popular Ford Television Theater.  Wearing a turban, Bob played the role of an Arab prince who was Natalie's prom date.  Franchot Tone and Laraine Day played Natalie's proud parents.

Idealism was the electrical spark that generated Bob's life.  It was therefore anything but a surprise when, after entering the teaching ranks in Los Angeles, he eagerly volunteered to work in the African American community of Watts.

When Bob believed that students in minority areas were being shortchanged he wrote a bestselling novel, "White Teacher in a Black School", that was a thinly disguised account of his experiences at two minority area schools in the L.A. system.  

The prominent African American organization CORE (Congress On Racial Equality) was so moved to action based on Kendall's revelations about the system's shortcomings and its impact on students that it held a widely publicized demonstration, marching around the Los Angeles Board of Education's office in downtown Los Angeles.

Bob's versatility moved from acting to teaching to writing as well as book agenting.  His stellar effort resulted in the sale of my Middle East historical work, "Struggle for the Holy Land."  

In addition to his bestseller "White Teacher in a Black School" he became a prominent film magazine writer for Hollywood Studio Magazine and other publications, interviewing such major film personalities as Gloria Swanson, Alice Faye, Alfred Hitchcock, Mervyn LeRoy, and Cantinflas, to name but a few.

Everyone who knew Bob became captivated by his travel stories.  Having a zest for people, it was only natural for him to hold a lifelong passion for travel that took him on two trips around the world and numerous others  both foreign and domestic.  In the fall of 2007 he visited Beijing and Shanghai.  One year earlier he celebrated Christmas in Buenos Aires during one of his spirited trips.

Bob was a true citizen of the world.  This core ingredient made travel his premier zest of life, the opportunity to make friends wherever he went.

He loved the new challenge several years ago of writing about political events in America and throughout the world.  Beginning with the forerunner of this site, Political Strategy, Bob wrote with his usual boundless energy.  His ever churning brain spun forward as he tackled the leading problems of the day.

This site and his eagerness to contribute to world peace and human understanding prompted him to talk about the subjects that would eventually be presented in print, fashioning and refining the thought that would be sent out on the worldwide web.  He contributed a highly ambitious output of 458 articles for Political Strategy and Political Cortex.

Within an hour before his death Bob paced excitedly and talked about his next article, which would be about the need for the United States to recognize the limitations of power and withdraw from Iraq and Afghanistan, continuing costly conflicts occurring while more Americans fell into despairing economic tragedy amid increasing homelessness.

Political Cortex is a site with a large and steady international readership.  Bob contributed mightily toward this trend with his penetrating study of global issues with an accent on peace and global understanding that was appreciated by his readers.

Bob's generous spirit will continue to illuminate Political Cortex.