Mary Jo Kopechne
She would’ve turned 69 on July 26. She probably would’ve been married, had children, and maybe even grandchildren. But because of Senator Ted Kennedy’s actions 40 years ago today, Mary Jo Kopechne’s life and potential were extinguished along with what little integrity Kennedy had left.
Kennedy, most likely drunk, had left a party with Kopechne on Chappaquiddick Island, Massachussetts just after 11 p.m. on July 18, 1969 and proceeded to drive his 1967 Oldsmobile Delmont 88 off a bridge. The car ended upside down underwater and Kennedy managed to swim free. His passenger was not so fortunate.
It was here where Kennedy’s true nature came about. He claimed he called out for Kopechne several times and rested for fifteen minutes until deciding to walk back to the party. On his walk back to the party, he passed several houses with telephones but he did not summon help.
He eventually fell asleep in a hotel room and later woke up but did not immediately contact the police, but instead had a casual conversation with someone about sailing. It was not until after the dead body of Kopechne had been discovered that Kennedy went to a police station.
Now over the years, some in the media have referred to the Chappaquiddick incident as a “Kennedy tragedy” because it ruined any hopes for Kennedy to become President. Why wasn’t the incident called a “Kopechne tragedy?” She lost her life.
The Boston Globe actually had to the nerve to say Kennedy’s actions as a legislator “would have brought comfort to [Kopechne] in her old age” had she lived.
Many people have forgotten that this horrible tragedy occurred many years after, but it is important to remember the Chappaquiddick incident as an example of how some politicians can lack integrity in their actions and will do just about anything to stay in power.
For more information: Watch this video by the Boston Globe detailing the Chappaquiddick incident. Also see the headlines below.
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Comments
ANYBODY ELSE WOULD STILL BE IN JAIL!!!!!!
The real story is a bit more complicated than what is presented here.
Really Carol? Maybe you can shed some light on a case that is 40 yrs old, maybe you have access to something that nobody else knows, please enlighten us, because what Sean just reported are the facts as they are know.
Herb,
I think Carol means that Mary Jo might have been preggers and Kennedy may have intentionally killed her.
I would buy the first part, but I doubt the second.
W.C. Varones.....I don't doubt the second!
Teddy Kennedy is a murderer guilty of negligent homicide (at least), obstruction of justice, suborning perjury, conspiracy to obstruct, conspiracy to suborn, and perjury. He is also, based on numerous reported numerous, a serial rapist. Based on his exceptionally cool response to damning allegations of illegality and immorality, largely flat emotional affect, very average intelligence, combined with his proven criminal behavior, especially towards women, he is, in all likelihood, a narcissistic sexual sociopath. Just the right kind of fellow to be a Lion of today's national democratic party. Legislatively, legally, morally, and ethically, this man is a disease on the body politic. I will have a good bottle of wine and toast this scum's direct descent to the 7th circle of Hell on the day of his richly deserved, hopefully agonizing, and infuriatingly overdue death.
If Only Ted Kennedy drove a Volkswagen, He'd be President today.
It floats.
The way our body is built, we'd be surprised if it didn't. The sheet of flat steel that goes underneath every Volkswagen keeps out water, as well as dirt and salt and other nasty things that can eat away at the underside of a car. So it's watertight at the bottom. And everybody knows it's easier to shut the door on a Volkswagen after you've rolled down the window a little.
That proves it's practically airtight on top. If it was a boat, we could call it the Water Bug. But it's not a boat, it's a car.
And, like Mary Jo Kopechne, it's only 99 and 44/100 percent pure. So it won't stay afloat forever. Just long enough. Poor Teddy. If he'd been smart enough to buy a Volkswagen, he never would have gotten into hot water.
yeah right a millonair driving a volkswagon
Mary Jo said "Teddy, I think I'm pregnant..." Teddy said "We'll cross THAT bridge when we come to it!"
After hearing all the hype when it happened, I developed a theory. He took SOMEONE ELSE out for a little hanky panky. He had been drinking and missed the turn on the bridge. He and the lady went back to the party and then discovered that Mary Jo had been asleep in the back seat. Then he went back to the (submerged) car to try to rescue her but it was WAY too late.
Note: This is SPECULATION. I have NO inside knowledge. I believe it satisfies all of the known facts. He wouldn't have said this because he would have been admitting to attempted infidelity.
Chappaquidickx came at a good time for Kennedy
haters.
Bob Kennedy had been assassinated one year before and ,along the family tradition, it fell to Ted Kennedy to carry on the torch he had lit.
I'm just disgusted by what I've just read.I did a lot of research on the subject.
I was amazed by the conflicting stories I found. Most had it that Mary Jo was alone in
the car. One had it that they were arrested by
a local cop and that Kennedy,fearing the tabloids, let the car to Mary JO.
How can you boast to know what happened,call
Ted Kennedy a murderer without solid facts?
You even smear Mary Jo. Were you in the car?
It all stinks.
Let's see what the facts were:
(a) There was an accident.
(b) A person drowned.
(c) The car was driven by Senator Kennedy and he didn't report the accident for about 10 hours.
(d) The matter went to Court and a Judge held it to be an accident and not a murder.
Yes, Senator Kennedy should have reported the accident sooner but contrary to claims Mary Jo would have still been dead because it only takes 2 minutes for a person to die if they are unable to breathe.
It is shameful that the right wingers have so much hatred that they continue to distort the facts even 40 years after the event.
Teddy was DAMN glad Apollo 11 took the headlines off of his murder. How lucky his timing was.
Fair Dude: I'm not distorting any facts. Watch the video at the end of the article. He didn't report it that night because he was drunk.
"The Boston Globe actually had to the nerve to say Kennedy’s actions as a legislator “would have brought comfort to [Kopechne] in her old age” had she lived."
- Nerve, no. Dishonesty, yes!!!!!!!!
"He (the diver) swam around to the right side window and found her with her head cocked back and pressed up into the foot well with her hands gripping the edge of the rear seat. He thought that the position of her body indicated that she had found an air bubble in her struggle to stay alive."
Later: The diver, John Farrar, later testified at the inquest that Kopechne’s body was pressed up in the car in the spot where an air bubble would have formed. He interpreted this to mean that Kopechne had survived for a while after the initial accident in the air bubble, and concluded that “Had I received a call within five to ten minutes of the accident occurring, and was able, as I was the following morning, to be at the victim’s side within twenty-five minutes of receiving the call, in such event there is a strong possibility that she would have been alive on removal from the submerged car,”
Another comment nailed it - why did Teddy live? Because s*it floats. I love all the benevolent Teddy theories (especially the one where you have Ms. Kopechne asleep in the back seat, now that is humorous). Why didn't he get help? Because if he did it would expose him as the drunken, selfish criminal he was and still is. I'm embarrassed to be from the state of Massachusetts thanks to this clown. It will be between him and his maker in a short amount of time.
There was a pretty fair body of knowledge at www.ytedk.com (now, unfortunately, defunct), even evidence that poor Mary Jo may have had as much as two hours worth of air after the Olds hit the water.
Kennedy's a reprobate - and his actions that July night 40 years ago prove it.
Interesting that Ted claims in his statement -prepared with the help of (retired) Judge Robert G. Clark, Jr.- that he was NOT drunk. In that case he drove off the bridge on purpose! Or he was demanding/receiving oral sex from Mary Jo and lost control. Everything Ted does causes pain to others! His "ideas" are flawed (no child left behind, immigration issues, health care, etc.) and injurious to our entire population. He is NOT what the propagands tries to impose on the public. Take a closer look - he is a despicable fraud!
Ross is right! See Mary Wentworth's article in opednews dot com for a startling conclusion that actually fits the known facts.
She thinks Kennedy was with "Cricket" Keogh and didn't know Mary Jo was there -- why else was her purse found in the car and Mary Jo's back at the Lawrence Cottage?? Worth reading.
Well, actually, Teddy proved a very important fact: Oldsmobiles are excellent cars, but they are very poor boats.
I bet Teddy is partaking in a moment of silence today.
Just like his silence on the tragic day of this young woman's murder.
He walked back to his hotel and FELL ASLEEP? How is it possible that a sober person is able to FALL ASLEEP after knowingly driving a car into the water with his mistress trapped inside? This is the act of a drunken scumbag. If that had been anyone else, that person would have been charged with negligent vehicular homicide, and or leaving the scene/conduct after an accident resulting in death. By the way, in this scumbags press conference regarding this incident, he apologized to the constituents, NEVER ONCE DID HE APOLOGIZE TO THE KOPECHNE FAMILY. He seems to think, he is the victim.
If Kennedy was able to walk back to the motel why was he unable to open the car door after it submerged? If he wants to claim he could not open the door ,he could have broken the window out with a rock and saved her life
Ted Kennedy is a heartless jerk, who has had everything handed to him just because his family made money in the alcohol business. Why do people in MA keep voting for him?
No we have not forgotten this young lady's death. The Kennedy's all wish we had or would but it hate gonna happen. Poor Teddy! I can't wait for all of this "praise of him" is over, the guy did NOTHING but harm.
"I can't wait for all of this "praise of him" is over, the guy did NOTHING but harm." Gee, that's what I said when porcine, huckster, bigot Jerry Falwell expired.
P.S. There's no apostrophe in plurals; it's the "Kennedys," not the "Kennedy's."
If you conservatards like that story, be sure to check out the one where McCain caused a huge fire on a naval ship and spent the entire night getting f"*ç%d up in the officers lounge while ten guys died putting out the fire. Republicans at their BEST!!
All I can say is that they shot the wrong Kennedy a long time ago. This man was a reprobate.
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