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Mary Jo Kopechne, 28 years old and a respected political operative, was found dead in the overturned car of Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., in a tidal pond near Chappaquiddick Island on this day in history, July 19, 1969.
Known as the “Chappaquiddick incident,” the drowning death of Kopechne and the chain of events before and after the tragedy became a national scandal for the young senator from Massachusetts — and “derailed Ted Kennedy’s presidential ambitions for good,” noted the History Channel.
What actually happened that night is unclear, for a multitude of reasons.
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, JULY 18, 1976, NADIA COMENICI SCORES PERFECT 10 AT SUMMER OLYMPICS
What is known is that Kennedy left a party late on the evening of July 18 with Kopechne, drove his car off Dike Bridge on Chappaquiddick Island, escaped from his car — and returned to his hotel.
He did not report the incident until later in the morning of July 19, after his car (and Kopechne’s body) had been discovered.
In a 12-minute long televised speech that the gave on July 25, Kennedy attempted to explain what had happened earlier that week.
This map details the locations and times of the events of the night of July 18, 1969. (Getty Images)
Kennedy claimed that he attempted to free Kopechne from the car multiple times before giving up due to exhaustion — and that he did not call the police as he was mildly concussed and in a state of shock.
The senator said the gathering was “a cook-out I had encouraged and help sponsor for a devoted group of [Robert] Kennedy campaign secretaries.”
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, MAY 19, 1994, JACQUELINE KENNEDY ONASSIS, WORLDWIDE STYLE ICON, PASSES AWAY IN NYC
“Mary Jo was one of the most devoted members of the staff of Sen. Robert Kennedy. She worked for him for four years and was broken up over his death,” said Ted Kennedy.
“Because she was such a gentle, kind and idealistic person, all of us tried to help her feel that she still had a home with the Kennedy family.”
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