"ATONEMENT IS A PROCESS THAT NEVER ENDS"

TED KENNEDY DRIVES OFF DIKE BRIDGE, FEMALE COMPANION DROWNS

Chappaquiddick Island, Massachusetts (JFK+50) On July 18, 1969, a 28 year old woman named Mary Jo Kopechne* climbed into a 1967 Oldsmobile Delmont 88 with Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-Massachusetts).  

Although the Senator claimed the accident occurred "shortly after" he left a party at 11:15 p.m., Martha's Vineyard Deputy Sheriff Christopher Look later testified that he saw the couple in Ted's car near Dike Road about 4o minutes after midnight on July 19.

While the time frame is muddled, the result is not.  The Senator drove his car off the Dike Bridge and into Pouche Pond.  The Olds came to rest upside down and while Teddy was able to escape, Ms Kopechne was not.

Senator Kennedy said he made seven or eight unsuccessful attempts to rescue her.  A scuba diver discovered Mary Jo's body inside the submerged vehicle at 8:45 a.m.  John Farrar would testify that he found the body pressed up in the car where an air bubble had formed.  It was estimated that she lived as long as two hours before her air ran out.

As for Ted, he would later write...

"That night has remained with me and (will) haunt me for the rest of my life."

Lorraine Boissoneault writes in Smithsonian Magazine...

"The details (of Chappaquiddick) at the time were, as they are now, sparse."

Reasons for this phenomenon include Ted's waiting ten hours before reporting the accident to authorities, talk of a cover-up and the Kennedy press team downplaying the incident. 

Despite their best efforts, however,  the 'incident' ended Ted Kennedy's presidential aspirations.  With that far from certain at the time, Senator Kennedy said in a televised address to the people of Massachusetts...

"Atonement is a process that never ends.  Maybe its a New England thing, or an Irish thing, or a Catholic thing.  Maybe all of those things.  But it's as it should be."

*Mary Jo Kopechne (1940-1969) was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania & graduated from Caldwell College for Women in 1962.  MJK served as a secretary for Senator George Smathers, a close friend of JFK, & as a speechwriter for RFK's presidential campaign in 1968.

SOURCES

"The Kennedys, All the Gossip Unfit to Print," by Darwin Porter and Danforth Prince, Blood Moon Productions, Ltd., 2011.

"True Compass, A Memoir," by Edward M. Kennedy, Twelve, New York City, 2009.  

"Why the True Story of 'Chappaquiddick' Is Impossible to Tell," by Lorraine Boissoneault, Smithsonian Magazine, April 2, 2018, www.smithsonianmag.com/

   

 

Dike Bridge at Chappaquiddick

Photo by Arwcheck

2008

 

"WHERE'S THE BRIDGE?"

TRAGEDY AT THE DYKE BRIDGE

Edgartown, Massachusetts (JFK+50) On the night of July 18, 1969, Senator Edward M. Kennedy's dreams of becoming President of the United States ended at the moment his car went off the Dyke Bridge.
 
While Ted managed to escape, 28 year old Mary Jo Kopechne*, a Kennedy campaign worker, died.  The Senator said that he made seven or eight attempts to save Mary Jo, but then gave up and swam to Edgartown where he returned to his hotel room.   Ted arrived at police headquarters at 10:00 a.m. the next morning.

Senator Kennedy had been host to a reunion party on Chappaquiddick Island for women who had worked in RFK's 1968 presidential campaign.  Ted and Mary Jo left the party at 11:15 p.m.  The Senator made a wrong turn onto an unlit dirt road that led to the bridge and his car went off the bridge into the water.** 

Marilyn Schairer says, 

"Martha's Vineyard is known for being a beautiful vacation spot, but some travel to Chappaquiddick to stare off the side of the Dyke Bridge and wonder just what happened that fateful night."

She quotes one local resident who says that the first thing visitors ask is...

"Where's the bridge?" 


*Mary Jo Kopechne (1940-1969) was born in Wiles-Barre, PA and graduated from Caldwell College for Women in 1962.  She taught for a year at the Mission of St. Jude in Montgomery, AL. In 1964, she joined Senator Robert Kennedy's secretarial staff and contributed to his 1968 presidential candidacy announcement.  At the time of her death, MJK lived in Georgetown.

 **In 1969, there were no guard rails on the Dyke Bridge. A new memorial plaque has been placed on the bridge.  It reads "In remembrance Mary Jo Kopechne 7/26/1940 - 7/18/1969."

SOURCES

"Chappaquiddick:  No Profile in Kennedy Courage," by Susan Donaldson James, August 26, 2009, www.abcnews.go.com/

"Fifty Years Later, The Kennedy Accident Still Lures People to Chappaquiddick," by Marilyn Schairer, July 16, 2019, WGBH, www.wgbh.org/

Dyke Bridge at Chappaquiddick

Photo by Arwcheek (2008)

CHAPPAQUIDDICK

CHAPPAQUIDDICK TRAGEDY 45 YEARS AGO 

Chappaquiddick Island, Massachusetts (JFK+50) Massachusetts Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy drove off the Dike Bridge 45 years ago this evening, July 18, 1969.

The Senator's Oldsmobile submerged into the water and while Ted managed to escape his 28 year old passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne*, drowned.

Ms. Kopechne had been a campaign worker for Senator Robert F. Kennedy.

Dike Bridge at Chappaquiddick

Photo by Arwcheek (2008)

In his Memoir, Senator Kennedy writes...

"When I finally did stumble off into the darkness after my futile efforts to rescue Mary Jo, my mind was a jumble of mutually conflicting thoughts.  I believed that the young woman was dead, and the thought buckled me with grief and horror.  At the same time, I'd managed to convince myself that she surely must have escaped, given that I had not seen her in the car.  Perhaps I had misperceived while I was in the dark water.  Perhaps I could wish it all away."

Senator Kennedy continued...

"But I could not wish it all away.  I had suffered many losses in my life.  I had lost all of my brothers and my sister Kathleen.  My father had been lost to me in many respects because of his...stroke.  And now this horrible accident.  But again, the difference this time was that I myself was responsible.  I was driving.  Yes, it was an accident.  But that doesn't erase the fact that I had caused an innocent woman's death.

Atonement is a process that never ends.  I believe that.  Maybe it's a New England thing, or an Irish thing, or a Catholic thing.  Maybe all of those things.  But it's as it should be."

SOURCE

"True Compass, A Memoir," by Edward M. Kennedy, Twelve, New York City. 2009.

*Mary Jo Kopechne (1940-1969) was born in Wilkes-Barre, PA. and graduated from Caldwell College for Women in 1962.  She taught a year at the Mission of St. Jude in Alabama and worked as a secretary for Senator George Smathers.

MJK joined RFK's secretarial staff in 1964 and worked as a speechwriter for RFK in the  1968 presidential campaign.  At the time of her death, she lived in Georgetown.

 "I'M SORRY" #1 HIT 

New York City (JFK+50) 15 year old  Brenda Lee's recording "I'm Sorry" reached the #1 slot on the pop charts 54 years ago today, July 18, 1960.

Miss Lee, 4'9" tall and weighing 90 pounds, was born in Atlanta, Georgia.

Brenda Lee went on to earn twenty-seven more top 40 hits in the 1960s, more than any other solo entertainer of the decade.

In the late 1980s, we were having dinner at a buffet restaurant in Dollywood. As we were going down the buffet line, standing next to me was Brenda Lee who had a singing engagement at the park.  

Brenda Lee and Peter Denton

Peter Denton Photo

April 8, 1962

TRUMAN SIGNS SUCCESSION ACT INTO LAW

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Harry S Truman signed into law 67 years ago today, July 18, 1947,  the Presidential Succession Act for which he had lobbied since taking over for the late Franklin D. Roosevelt on April 12, 1945.

The act would reinstate the order of President succession which had first been established by Congress in 1792, but it moved the Speaker of the House to the next in line for the Presidency behind the Vice-President with the President of the Senate following.

FDR NOMINATED FOR THIRD TERM

Chicago, Illinois (JFK+50) Franklin D. Roosevelt was nominated here in Chicago 74 years ago this evening, July 18, 1940, by the delegates of the Democratic National Convention for an unprecedented third term as President of the United States.

While there was currently no law prohibiting a United States president from serving more than two terms, there was no precedent for doing so.

After 2 terms, George Washington retired to Mount Vernon & no subsequent President has broken that example or tradition.

By the 22nd Amendment (1947), no President may serve more than 2 terms of office.  Congressman John F. Kennedy voted for the proposal to restrict Presidents to 2 terms. 

 In 1962, President Kennedy was asked if he would still support the restriction.  His answer was...

 "YES, TWO TERMS ARE ENOUGH!"


ATTACK ON FORT WAGNER

Charleston, South Carolina (JFK+50)  The 54th Massachusetts Regiment, made up of African-American soldiers commanded by white officers, failed in a valiant effort 151 years ago this evening, July 18, 1863, to take Confederate Fort Wagner.

The fort, located on Morris Island, was a Confederate earth work 600 feet wide and 30 feet high.

The 54th was led by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw who is from a family of prominent Boston abolitionists.

The attack began at 7:45 p.m. with Shaw's regiment marching down the beach.

The 54th suffered 1500 casualties including Colonel Shaw who was killed with 222 for the Confederates.

The story of the 54th Massachusetts is presented in the Academy Award winning 1990 film "Glory" starring Mathew Broderick, Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman. 

"The Old Flag Never 

Touches the Ground"

by Rick Reeves (2004)

JFK WANTS INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH

July 18, 1961


JFK WANTS INSTITUTE  OF CHILD HEALTH


Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy asked Congress today to pass a bill authorizing the creation of a National Institute of Child Health & Human Development.


The agency would be a part of the US Public Health Services.


The President also requested the bill be put on a "fast track" for quick passage.


JFK hopes that the success experienced by the Public Health Service in other areas will be applied to issues relating especially to children.


JFK said the law will:


"enable the Children's Bureau to carry out more efficiently its responsibility to guarantee the welfare of children."*


*Today the agency is known as the Eunice Kennedy Shriver (JFK's sister) National Institute of Child Health & Human Development.

July 18, 1962


JFK HONORS X-15 TEST PILOTS 



Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy honored 4 test pilots of the experimental X-15 rocket today at the White House.


The pilots, flying the X-15 yesterday, reached an altitude of 60 miles & flew at 3800 mph.

                           X15 In Flight
                           NASA Photo


July 18, 1960


SINGER BRENDA LEE HAS #1 POP HIT "I'M SORRY"


15 year old singer Brenda Lee's recording "I'm Sorry" reached the #1 slot on the pop charts today.


Miss Lee, 15 years old, is 4'9" tall & weighs all of 90 pounds.


She was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1944.*


*Brenda Lee went on to earn 27 more top 40 hits in the 1960s, more than any other solo entertainer of the decade.


In the late 1980s, we were having dinner at a buffet restaurant in Dollywood.  As we were going down the buffet line, standing next to me was Brenda Lee who had a singing engagement at the park.  

                  Brenda Lee & Peter Denton
                         Peter Denton Photo
                               April 8, 1962


July 18, 1969


TED KENNEDY DRIVES OFF BRIDGE AT CHAPPAQUIDDICK


Edgartown, Massachusetts (JFK+50) Massachusetts Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy drove off the Dike Bridge this evening & his Oldsmobile submerged into the water.


The Senator was able to escape but his passenger, 28 year old Mary Jo Kopechne, a Kennedy campaign worker, drowned.


The incident happened just after 11 p.m. Eastern time.*


*On July 25, Senator Kennedy pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident.  He received a 2 month suspended sentence & had his driver's license suspended for one year.  Ted said that his repeated efforts to save Mary Jo failed.

            Dike Bridge at Chappaquiddick
                 Photo by Arwcheek (2008)


July 18, 1947


TRUMAN SIGNS SUCCESSION ACT INTO LAW


Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Harry S Truman signed into law today the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 for which he has lobbied since taking over for the late Franklin D. Roosevelt on April 12, 1945.


The act will reinstate the order of President succession which had 1st been established by Congress in 1792, but it moves the Speaker of the House to next in line for the Presidency behind the Vice-President with the President of the Senate following.


The Presidential cabinet, in order of departmental creation (except Secretary of Defense), follows.

July 18, 1940


FDR NOMINATED FOR THIRD TERM


Chicago, Illinois (JFK+50) Franklin D. Roosevelt was nominated here  this evening by the delegates of the Democratic National Convention for an unprecedented 3rd term as President of the United States.


While there is currently no law prohibiting a US President from serving more than 2 terms, there is no precedent for doing so.


After 2 terms, George Washington retired to Mount Vernon & no subsequent President has broken that example or tradition.*


*By the 22nd Amendment (1947), no President may serve more than 2 terms of office.  JFK voted for the proposal to restrict Presidents to 2 terms. 


 In 1962, President Kennedy was asked would he still support the restriction.  His answer was "YES, TWO TERMS ARE ENOUGH!"




July 18, 1863


54TH MASSACHUSETTS STOPPED IN VALIANT EFFORT TO TAKE FORT WAGNER, SC


Charleston, South Carolina (JFK+50)  The 54th Massachusetts Regiment, made up of African-American soldiers commanded by white officers, failed in a valiant effort today to take Confederate Fort Wagner.


Fort Wagner, on Morris Island, is a Confederate earth work 600 feet wide & 30 feet high.


The 54th was led by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw who is from a family of prominent Boston abolitionists.


The attack began at 7:45 p.m. with Shaw's regiment marching down the beach.


The 54th suffered 1500 casualties including Colonel Shaw who was killed with 222 for the Confederates.*


*The story of the 54th Massachusetts is presented in the Academy Award winning 1990 film "Glory" starring Mathew Broderick, Denzel Washington & Morgan Freeman. 

                   "The Old Flag Never 
                   Touches the Ground"
                  by Rick Reeves (2004)




July 18, 1855


DAUGHTER BORN TO BOSTON KENNEDYS


Boston, Massachusetts (JFK+50) Patrick Kennedy & Bridget (Murphy) Kennedy announce today the birth of their 3rd daughter & 4th child.


The baby girl is named Margaret.


She was born at the family's home on Eutaw Street in East Boston.