Changes

==The death of Mary Jo Kopechne==

==The death of Mary Jo Kopechne==

[[File:Mary-jo-kopechne.jpg|thumb|200px|right|File photo of Mary Jo Kopechne <br>''Photo courtesy Spartacus Educational (UK) from their [http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/JFKkopechne.htm biography] of Miss Kopechne'']]

[[File:Mary-jo-kopechne.jpg|thumb|200px|right|File photo of Mary Jo Kopechne <br>''Photo courtesy Spartacus Educational (UK) from their [http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/JFKkopechne.htm biography] of Miss Kopechne'']]

It is most famous as the location of an event known as the "Chappaquiddick incident," or simply "Chappaquiddick."  The narrow bridge connecting Chappaquiddick Island to Martha's Vineyard was the location of the death of a young woman, [[Mary Jo Kopechne]], in a car driven by Senator [[Ted Kennedy]] on July 19, 1969.  This became one of the most famous political events of the late 20th century and likely prevented Ted Kennedy, the brother of [[President John F. Kennedy]], from ever becoming president himself. <ref>[http://newsbusters.org/blogs/nb-staff/2009/07/16/flashback-john-john-was-no-sun-god-chappaquiddick-was-kopechne-tragedy NewsBusters; Flashback: John John Was No 'Sun God,' Chappaquiddick Was a Kopechne Tragedy]</ref>

It is most famous as the location of an event known as the "Chappaquiddick incident," or simply "Chappaquiddick."  The narrow bridge connecting Chappaquiddick Island to Martha's Vineyard was the location of the death of a young woman, [[Mary Jo Kopechne]], in a car driven by Senator [[Ted Kennedy]] on July 19, 1969.  This became one of the most famous political events of the late 20th century and likely prevented Ted Kennedy, the brother of [[President John F. Kennedy]], from ever becoming president himself.<ref>[http://newsbusters.org/blogs/nb-staff/2009/07/16/flashback-john-john-was-no-sun-god-chappaquiddick-was-kopechne-tragedy NewsBusters; Flashback: John John Was No 'Sun God,' Chappaquiddick Was a Kopechne Tragedy]</ref>

==Kennedy's statement to police==

==Kennedy's statement to police==

This was the statement given by Ted Kennedy to Police Chief Dominick Arena the morning after the accident:   

This was the statement given by Ted Kennedy to Police Chief Dominick Arena the morning after the accident:   

:"On July 18, 1969, at approximately 11:15 PM in Chappaquiddick, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, I was driving my car on Main Street on my way to get the ferry back to Edgartown. I was unfamiliar with the road and turned right onto Dike Road, instead of bearing hard left on Main Street. After proceeding for approximately one-half mile on Dike Road I descended a hill and came upon a narrow bridge. The car went off the side of the bridge. There was one passenger with me, one Miss Mary ________ [Kennedy did not know how to spell the woman's last name], a former secretary of my brother Sen. [[Robert Kennedy]]. The car turned over and sank into the water and landed with the roof resting on the bottom. I attempted to open the door and the window of the car but have no recollection of how I got out of the car. I came to the surface and then repeatedly dove down to the car in an attempt to see if the passenger was still in the car. I was unsuccessful in the attempt. I was exhausted and in a state of shock. I recall walking back to where my friends were eating. There was a car parked in front of the cottage and I climbed into the back seat. I then asked for someone to bring me back to Edgartown. I remember walking around for a period of time and then going back to my hotel room. When I fully realized what had happened this morning, I immediately contacted the police. <ref>http://www.ytedk.com/chapter6.htm</ref>

:"On July 18, 1969, at approximately 11:15 PM in Chappaquiddick, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, I was driving my car on Main Street on my way to get the ferry back to Edgartown. I was unfamiliar with the road and turned right onto Dike Road, instead of bearing hard left on Main Street. After proceeding for approximately one-half mile on Dike Road I descended a hill and came upon a narrow bridge. The car went off the side of the bridge. There was one passenger with me, one Miss Mary ________ [Kennedy did not know how to spell the woman's last name], a former secretary of my brother Sen. [[Robert Kennedy]]. The car turned over and sank into the water and landed with the roof resting on the bottom. I attempted to open the door and the window of the car but have no recollection of how I got out of the car. I came to the surface and then repeatedly dove down to the car in an attempt to see if the passenger was still in the car. I was unsuccessful in the attempt. I was exhausted and in a state of shock. I recall walking back to where my friends were eating. There was a car parked in front of the cottage and I climbed into the back seat. I then asked for someone to bring me back to Edgartown. I remember walking around for a period of time and then going back to my hotel room. When I fully realized what had happened this morning, I immediately contacted the police.<ref>http://www.ytedk.com/chapter6.htm</ref>

==New York Times alleges coverup==

==New York Times alleges coverup==

==Edward M. Kennedy's account==

==Edward M. Kennedy's account==

[[File:Kopechne.jpg|thumb|500px|right|]]

[[File:Kopechne.jpg|thumb|500px|right]]

According to Kennedy, he made a wrong turn onto an unlit dirt road that led to Dike Bridge, a wooden bridge angled obliquely to the road with no guardrail, and drove over its side.  The car plunged into tide-swept Poucha Pond (at that location a channel) and came to rest upside down underwater.  Kennedy later recalled that he was able to swim free of the vehicle, but Kopechne was not.  Kennedy claimed at the inquest that he called Kopechne's name several times from the shore, then tried to swim down to reach her seven or eight times, then rested on the bank for several minutes before returning on foot to Lawrence Cottage, where the party attended by Kopechne and other "[[Boiler room|Boiler Room]] Girls" had occurred.   

According to Kennedy, he made a wrong turn onto an unlit dirt road that led to Dike Bridge, a wooden bridge angled obliquely to the road with no guardrail, and drove over its side.  The car plunged into tide-swept Poucha Pond (at that location a channel) and came to rest upside down underwater.  Kennedy later recalled that he was able to swim free of the vehicle, but Kopechne was not.  Kennedy claimed at the inquest that he called Kopechne's name several times from the shore, then tried to swim down to reach her seven or eight times, then rested on the bank for several minutes before returning on foot to Lawrence Cottage, where the party attended by Kopechne and other "[[Boiler room|Boiler Room]] Girls" had occurred.   

<references/>

<references/>

==External Links==

==External links==

*[http://patriotpost.us/news/kopechne.asp Mary Jo Kopechne], The Patriot Post

*[http://patriotpost.us/news/kopechne.asp Mary Jo Kopechne], The Patriot Post