If RFK was seeking the Democratic nomination today,

[raccoon]

And he was in the Ambassador Hotel, surely an armed Sirhan wouldn’t be able to get so close to him? Surely the people there would be wanded and all that, as when you go to a rock concert?

[Midwestern Democrat]

1. I've been to several campaign rallies/events - they don't have metal detectors - I believe the

security is more stringent once the candidate has secured the nomination - I had to go through some type of security checkpoint to attend a John Kerry rally after he became the nominee in 2004 (but I can't recall if it involved a metal detector), but I've never seen a metal detector at any campaign rally/event for a candidate who wasn't yet the nominee.

[jaysunb]

2. Totally different times

His brother was assassinated in an open top car.

Lots of things have changed since those days.

[StarfishSaver]

6. Reagan was shot walking to his car in front of an unscreened crowd ...

Different times - and each incident prompted a change in security protocols.

[SCantiGOP]

3. OP is correct

The brother of a co-worker was a Secret Service Agent. At that time ten years ago he was on one of the advance teams for VP Biden. When he was going somewhere they would come into town three days before and check out everything. Every employee working wherever he might be, basically going over every step he would take. Running drills where they would take turns being the “assassin” and evaluating how they would look for an opportunity for a suicide attack or sniper attack.
So yes, I don’t think anyone would now be taken through a hotel kitchen like RFK was. Sirhan just happened to be in he right spot at the right time and changed history.

Hard to imagine how US history would have developed with Bobby instead of the Nixon years.

[Sneederbunk]

4. Next you are going to tell me things could have been different for Lincoln.

[StarfishSaver]

5. Presidential candidates didn't have Secret Service protection then.

They do now - and most candidates have protection at the point in the race when RFK was that horrible night.

Times are very different now than they were then.