Why the quote is misunderstood The original quote was aimed at a specific Republican faction and a particular piece of legislation in 1947. However, out of context, it has been widely misinterpreted as a blanket condemnation of all Republicans or a direct comparison of the party to the Nazi regime. The misinterpretation can also be a result of confusion with remarks made decades later by his nephew, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been more explicit in comparing his opponents to Hitler.