Fred Dutton Frederick Gary " Fred " Dutton ( June 16 , 1923 – June 27 , 2005 ) was a lawyer and Democratic Party power broker who served as campaign manager and Chief of Staff for California Governor Pat Brown , Special Assistant to U . S . President John F . Kennedy , and went on to manage Robert F . Kennedy ' s campaign for the Presidency . Between 1960 and 1972 Dutton played a role in every Democrat ’ s quest for the White House . Dutton entertained both politicians and journalists and could be considered as one of the country ’ s original “ spin doctors . ” He had a long career as a lobbyist for American oil companies and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , leading to him being referred to as both " Fred of Arabia " and " Dutton of Arabia . " Early life and education . Born in Julesburg , Colorado to his mother Lucy Dutton and father Fredrick Dutton ( known as " doc " ) , Fred ' s mother , father and little brother , Edward moved to San Mateo , California , where he attended San Mateo High School and met his first wife , June Klingborg Dutton . The Duttons had three children together between 1950 and 1960 ( Christopher , Lisa , and Eve ) . Dutton graduated from University of California , Berkeley in 1946 and from Stanford Law School in 1949 . Dutton had two stints of military service in both World War II and the Korean war . Dutton was a prisoner of war and was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star . Political career . Following his position as assistant counsel with Southern Counties Gas Co . , from 1952 to 1956 , Dutton became chief assistant attorney general of California , in 1957 and 1958 . He was executive secretary to Governor Pat Brown in 1959 and 1960 . Governor Brown appointed Dutton to the Regents of the University of California in 1962 , where he served until 1978 . Dutton was the deputy national chairman of Citizens for Kennedy - Johnson in 1960 . Following the election , he was brought into the White House as a Special Assistant to President Kennedy in 1961 , serving as secretary of the cabinet and special assistant for intergovernmental and interdepartmental relations . He was appointed Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Relations , from 1961 to 1964 . He was also a political adviser and campaign aide to Robert F . Kennedy . Dutton travelled with Kennedy during much of his 1968 presidential campaign . He was at the Ambassador Hotel when Kennedy was shot and rode in the ambulance with him . In an interview after he became a lobbyist , he said , “ After Bobby was shot , the lights went out for me . ” Dutton was credited with originating the idea for Earth Day . His early memo was later acknowledged to be inspiration for Gaylord Nelson who would lead the effort to create Earth Day . . Legal and lobbying career . After the Robert Kennedy assassination in 1968 , Dutton returned to his private law practice in Washington , DC . Dutton was credited with helping his client Mobil Oil develop its “ advertorial ” marketing strategy . Dutton later married attorney Nancy Hogan Dutton and they had two children together ( Stacy & Christina ) . Together the Duttons formed the Dutton and Dutton law practice ; this firm went on to be appointed chief U . S . attorney for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , earning Mr . Dutton the often quoted moniker " Dutton of Arabia " . Dutton & Dutton continued work for Saudi Arabia following Fred ' s death . Frederick Dutton died on June 27 , 2005 , aged 82 , of undisclosed causes .