Today in History
TODAY IN HISTORY
Today in history is bringing me back to 1969. Some of you were not even born yet but I was 20 years old and remember hearing about what was called an “Incident on Chappaquiddick Island”. On July 18, 1969, Senator Edward (Ted) Kennedy was hosting a party with his cousin on Chappaquiddick Island near Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. One of the attendees was Mary Jo Kopechne who worked with the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s 1968 presidential campaign.
Robert Kennedy was Ted Kennedy’s older brother, and following his assassination in June 1968 Ted followed in Robert’s footsteps in the political arena. Ted Kennedy was married and elected majority whip in the U.S. Senate.
It was about 11:00 PM when Kennedy and Kopechne planned to drive to the ferry to head back to each of their own lodgings. But as Kennedy was driving, he missed the ramp to the wooden bridge and drove into Poucha Pond. He was able to get out of the sinking vehicle and despite Kennedy going back to the party to get a few friends to help him look for Kopechne, she was not found. He waited until the following day to even report the accident and he admitted he was the driver of the vehicle. There was a lot of speculation as to what really happened but Kennedy denied being involved with Kopechne. When they pulled his car from the water, Kopechne was not in it. What happened to her and why where they not able to find her body?
Six days later on July 25th, Ted Kennedy pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident and received a two-month suspended sentence plus had his license suspended for a year. Again there was speculation as if his influence had anything to do with his light sentence and not having more serious charges.
If you remember this day of the incident of Chappaquiddick Island, what are your thoughts? Was Ted Kennedy and Mary Jo Kopechne having an affair? Do you think it was a “planned” accident or was Kennedy really so distraught that he didn’t report the accident until the following day? When things like this happen with two people and one of them is never found, we may never know the truth.
I will pass on an official statement on this event.
However, I will note that there is a new HBO program that describes how a young man panicked when he found his (one night stand) date dead in her bed, after he awoke from a night of partying (and debauchery). He left the scene- and took the knife….
Fiction? Based on fact?
WOW, that must have been some one night stand Roy! I’ll have to check that out.
SO curious about what really happened!! I suspect they were having an affair. But who knows? Very interesting!
Back when this happened,there was a lot of speculation Jeanine. I too would like to know what happened to her, can’t imagine the unknowing. Thanks for stopping by.
That does leave me very curious! I think that his standing in society at the least had something to do with it not being looked into better.
I’m sure that’s the thought of many VJ. I reminds me of some of the other “incidents” that happened with others in high society. Thanks for stopping by!
Love History. Thank you for this great article.
I’ve always been interested in history also Beth but since starting my blog, I find it very interesting to search history and share it. Thanks for looking back in my history lesson.