Chappaquiddick
In July 1969, the body of Mary Jo Kopechne was found in an Oldsmobile that had gone off a bridge connecting Chappaquiddick Island to Martha's Vineyard on the coast of Maine. Kopechne was a campaign staffer for Robert F. Kennedy; the car belonged to Edward Kennedy. Controversy surrounding the incident—and Kennedy's role in and response to it—is often cited as the reason Kennedy has not ascended to the presidency.1
Fast Facts
- Ted Kennedy had been the driver
- He did not report the accident until 10 a.m. the next day
- Received two month jail sentence, which was suspended
- Kopechne's family did not press charges
Related Pages on Mahalo
Impaired Driving | Edward Kennedy | Mary Jo Kopechne | Massachusetts
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