One of our primary takeaways from Dawn Porter’s inspired, must-see four-part documentary series on Bobby Kennedy, is that we, as a country, need to collectively rethink the qualities we look for in our elected officials. Bobby Kennedy for President, which had its world premiere last week at the Tribeca Film Festival and is now available for viewing on Netflix, makes the case for why Bobby would have made one heck of a president. The series commemorates the 50th anniversary of his historic run.

Bobby Kennedy for President screened in the Tribeca Film Festival’s TV section and comes ten years after the festival hosted the world premiere of a film about his brother’s campaign and time in office, Robert Drew’s A President to Remember: In the Company of John F. Kennedy. In the latter film, the filmmaker’s aim was to remind people what American presidential leadership used to look like. His argument for returning to earlier times was perhaps not persuasive enough. Here’s hoping Dawn Porter’s project can move the needle.

Presenting a loving, yet fair portrait of the younger Kennedy, Dawn’s skillfully constructed docu-series reaches back years prior to Bobby’s official bid for the 1968 Democratic presidential nomination. We learn that Bobby, as JFK described him, was a “cop at heart”, and was committed to finding justice. Early in his career, he made some questionable decisions, like working for Joe McCarthy and authorizing the FBI to wiretap Martin Luther King, Jr., but among the many things you come to understand, is that Kennedy learned from his mistakes. He listened to opposing views, acknowledged when he was wrong, and stood up for what he believed in. He was also someone who sought to build bridges and wasn’t afraid to confront atrocities (such as racism) head on.

Also of note concerning the series, is the filmmaker’s use of narration. Rather than employ an outsider, Bobby’s story is told by the people who knew him, news reports from the day, and Bobby himself. The film is all the more personal and impactful as a result.

During the Q&A following the world premiere at Tribeca, Dawn Porter was joined by Ambassador William vanden Heuvel, Kerry Kennedy, Juan Romero, and CNN’s Joan Walsh, who served as moderator. Kerry, who can be seen in the film and is about to publish a new book about her father, Ripples of Hope: Kerry Kennedy in Conversation with Heads of State, Business Leaders, Influencers, and Activists about Her Father’s Impact on Their Lives, gave the film a glowing endorsement. Her only change was to edit out commentary from one of her father’s critics, former congressman Neil Gallagher. “Let’s cut him out completely”, she jokingly remarked.

Ambassador William vanden Heuvel, who was Bobby’s special assistant and is featured prominently in the film, held hands with Kerry Kennedy for a time on stage. He shared a few personal anecdotes that didn’t make it into the film. Namely, he discussed Bobby’s efforts to create a new school system in Prince Edward County, Virginia after the community chose to comply with Brown v. Board of Education by shutting down all its schools. He also talked about how Bobby was one of the only public figures who stood by Muhammad Ali when he was stripped of his heavyweight title for refusing to go into the army. Bobby admired Ali’s sacrifice for principle. The Ambassador added that it was an example of Bobby “being able to lead the world from a very different point of view.”

Juan Romero, who was working in the hotel on the night Bobby was assassinated and was with him when he was shot, is also a key figure in the series. After the screening, he elaborated on how much Bobby meant to him and what an honor it was to meet him in person.

Kerry also spoke about the numerous people who tell her that her father inspired them, from Bill O’Reilly and Marco Rubio, to Joe Biden and Barack Obama. She attributes this to the way he challenged and called for us to be our best selves. She also added that her father’s vision for the country was peace, justice and compassion for those that suffer. “Imagine that,” she closed. That’s exactly what we should be imagining when we head to the polls.

Bobby Kennedy for President is essential viewing, especially given the current climate in the country and the fact that we are in an election year. We implore you to seek it out on Netflix. If you need more encouragement, check out the trailer below.