# Dr. Robert Kennedy — Short Fiction character guide

> Dr. Robert Kennedy in Short Fiction by Poul Anderson.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Kennedy, Dr. Kennedy, Robert

**First appearance:** 0000-star-ship

## Snapshot

A discreet New York physician whose powerful clients and beautiful, suddenly smitten wives make him the quiet center of an impossible pattern.

## Who they are

Kennedy practices medicine behind the polished doors of Sentiment, Inc., seeing only a select few patients and research subjects, his connections reaching into finance, politics, and labor. Investigator Fraser comes to him because every wealthy man who has inexplicably won a desirable woman turns out to be Kennedy's client. The doctor's calm, guarded reception and the watchful men in his waiting room make him less a healer than a gatekeeper to something Fraser cannot yet name.

## In the story

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_44_se/chapters/vi)

Referred to as Nat Hawkins; participates in the debate, questioning the Empire's morality and advocating for freedom.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_44_se/chapters/iii)

Not present in this chapter.

### [Sentiment, Inc.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_44_se/chapters/sentiment-inc)

The antagonist who uses a machine to control minds, revealing his plan to manipulate global politics and his threat to Fraser.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_44_se/chapters/i)

Psychiatrist running Sentiment, Inc., conducting brain wave experiments on subjects like Judy Sanders.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_44_se/chapters/ii)

Psychiatrist who uses hypnosis on clients; Fraser suspects him of manipulating Judy.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_44_se/chapters/iii)

Reveals his possession of a mind-control machine and his plan to use it to influence world leaders and communism.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_44_se/chapters/iv)

The psychologist who uses his machine to control people; is outmaneuvered by Fraser and later destroys his machine and commits suicide.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_44_se/characters/robert_kennedy
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_44_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_44_se/characters