Death at Chappaquiddick

by Richard L. Tedrow, Thomas Tedrow

much deception, too much double talk and cover up. -- Joseph Kopechne, Women's News Service This then is the real horror of the case. Mary Jo in the bottom of that upside-down car, wedged in, clawing, clutching and straining for air and for life in the total blackness at the bottom of Poucha Pond with water creeping higher and higher. Completely terrified, she waited for help from Senator Kennedy - who was on the phone seeking help not for Mary Jo, but for Senator Kennedy. From Death at Chappaquiddick On July 19, 1969, Senator Edward Kennedy drove off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island, leading to the death of his young female companion and, the authors contend, an extensive cover up to protect Kennedy's political ambitions. The Tedrow recreates the unexplained events of that fateful night, examine the self-admitted panic of a U. S. senator, and point by point puncture Kennedy's sieve-like account of the tragedy. The authors' exhaustive investigation produces solid answers to curious questions. Most damning of all, they present evidence that Kennedy fled the scene in panic, then spent hours telephoning cronies seeking political protection while a helpless Mary Jo Kapechne slowly suffocated in a pocket of air inside the submerged auto. Richard L. Tedrow served for 17 years as Chief Commissioner of the U. S. Court of Military Appeal and is the author of the standard reference for U. S. military court martials. Thomas Tedrow is a freelance writer in Houston, Texas.

Genres: Politics, American History, True Crime, History, Crime

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 31, 1980

Reviews

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had this subject on my to read list before Ted Kennedy died. Chappaquiddick happened when I was young, but as the book mentions each year this tragedy is brought up in the media. It’s now 40 years past the death of Mary Jo Kopechne and it’s questionable if the truth has really come to light. This book was written about 10 years past her death, but it gave a good insight into the proceedings and investigation of her “drowning”. Truthfully, I think there is more to this story than what the official record shows and I believe the ethics and politics of the Kennedy family is once again questioned. Maybe now that Ted is gone, someone will tell the real story?

[Mark Singer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading this book thirty years ago and getting very angry. Left-right, GOP or Democrat, doesn't matter. If you are wealthy and powerful, you can avoid prosecution. It's that simple. If nothing else, the Chappaquiddick incident prevented Edward Kennedy from getting elected as President.

[Gilles Achache · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book, all the detail is there that you need......I have always felt intrinsically suspicious of this incident......Kennedy got himself out of the car, but not Mary.....I think the recent biog of Mary Jo......omitting this incident, supposedly......well, you just can't.

[William Fricke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sticky Note Factor: 0

I have always been curious about the story of Chappaquiddick ever since I heard about it as a young person. My father always had a distaste for Teddy Kennedy and mentioned the accident every time he was on television. And now I know why.

Even as I read the details and court cases presented here, I wanted somehow for Mary Jo to make it out alive or Teddy Kennedy to save her or call someone to save her. Even in the final chapter as they diagram how Mary Jo clung to the back seat holding her head in air pocket gasping for breath for nearly 3 or more hours, I wanted someone to save her. The whole story makes me sick to my stomach. I have no idea how Teddy Kennedy could live with himself or even orchestrate the whole cover-up.

While the story Kennedy tells and the story of the 2018 film coincide, I can't really believe it 100%. From the facts the Tedrows offer in this book, even though they are biased against Kennedy, I tend to believe more happened than has been disclosed. Regardless, the one important fact remains, Teddy Kennedy left Mary Jo in a car for 9 hours to slowly suffocate, while he tried to figure out how to save his political career.

And because his brother was The President of the United States and his family had money, he was able to get away with vehicular manslaughter, driving recklessly, and driving while under the influence. Could he have gotten off the hook if called the police immediately? Yes. Would Mary Jo still be alive if he worried about her instead of himself? Yes.

I now know why my father always came back to Chappaquiddick when the subject of Teddy Kennedy came up. An incident like this shows a person's true character.

Now, if any other truths came out, we may be able to change our view but since Ted Kennedy has passed away, we will never know.

[Adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been on my reading list for years. What a wild story. I’ve always been fascinated by the Kennedy’s but this story just made me mad. Total cover up and lies by Ted Kennedy and those around him. The corruptive power of politics and wealth amazes and sickens me. “Do we all operate under a system of equal justice under the law? Or is there one system for the average citizen and another for the high and mighty?” We are still asking this same question 50 years later.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had little respect for Ted Kennedy before reading this book. After finishing, I have even less respect. It's a good thing that he never became POTUS because it's scary to think what he would have done in a moment of REAL crisis.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I guess this tragedy doesn't much matter anymore since all parties involved are dead but it just amazes me the corruptive power of politics. It's even more evident today given our current political environment.

[JW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overall coverage of the scandal, told with dry humorous prose.

[Nicole Norton Mueller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ugh. Nothing like reading a book about an event that happened over 50 years ago... and realizing that not as much has changed in the legal system as you were hoping.

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent.