Description:

Kennedy Edward 1932 - 2009 Incredible Edward Kennedy TLS regarding Chappaquiddick incident
Edward Kennedy TLS, 8" x 10.5", dated "November 6, 1974", and boldly signed by him as "Edward M Kennedy". Expected folds with a few handling marks, else near fine. Small pencil notes to upper margin.


A phenomenal letter composed by Edward Kennedy in 1974, five years prior to his only attempt to run for President, and written to the Editors of Time Magazine over their published report the week prior "on the Boston Globe series about the tragic motor vehicle accident at Chappaquiddick Island." An incident which had occurred 5 years prior and was perhaps arguably known as the most politically charged, tragic and factually manipulated incident of the decade. An incident which effected in but one brief evening, the blow which ended Edward Kennedy's chances for the Presidency and influenced his decision to not campaign in 1972 and 1976. The "documented and published" events themselves did not make sense, leading to full fledge scandal with more twists, turns and hypothesizes than even a best-selling fictional murder novel.

To fully grasp Kennedy's retort letter to TIME, one first needs to step back in time to 1969 and the proposed events of the incident on Chappaquiddick Island. The place was a reunion for an odd group of 6 married men and six unmarried woman, all under the age of 28, called the "Boiler Room girls", who were female members of Senator Robert Kennedy's 1968 presidential campaign staff. The short version is that at about 11:15pm, Mary Jo Kopechne had left the party with Ted Kennedy claiming she wished to go back to her hotel, (however Kopechne told no one that she was leaving with Kennedy, and left both her purse and hotel key at the party). Kennedy who had been driven to the party by his chauffer opted to personally drive Mary Jo home (sans chauffer) . And the two, with Kennedy behind the wheel, infamously drove off the bridge with the car plunging into the tide-swept pond and crashed upside down underwater. Kennedy recalled he was able to swim free of the vehicle, but Kopechne was not (and today is believed to have survived for several hours in an air bubble inside the car). At the inquest, Kennedy claimed that he called Kopechne's name several times from the shore and tried to swim down to reach her seven or eight times, and then returned back to the party house. According to Kennedy's testimony, he then returned to the waterway with two friends from the party to try to rescue Kopechne. Both of the other men also tried multiple times to dive into the water and rescue Kopechne. Kennedy testified that their efforts to rescue Kopechne failed, they drove with him to the ferry landing. Both men insisted multiple times that the crash had to be reported to the authorities. According to the testimoney of one of the men, Kennedy was sobbing and on the verge of becoming crazed. Kennedy went on to testify, "[I] had full intention of reporting it. And I mentioned to Gargan and Markham something like, 'You take care of the other girls; I will take care of the accident!'—that is what I said and I dove into the water." He then swam across the 500-foot (150 m) channel, back to Edgartown and returned to his hotel room, having not reported the incident that entire evening. At 8 a.m., Gargan and Markham joined Kennedy at his hotel where they had a "heated conversation." According to Kennedy's testimony, the two men asked why he had not reported the crash. Kennedy responded by telling them "about my own thoughts and feelings as I swam across that channel... that somehow when they arrived in the morning that they were going to say that Mary Jo was still alive."

Needless to say the subsequent events described by Kennedy and the other party guests, brought up inconsistencies with the facts, the testimonies, the evidence, and the probable reality. A media frenzy ensued ultimately launching more conjecture, rumor and different versions of the truth-- all of which fueled a belief in a high level "cover-up" with more twists and turns than can be imagined by a best-selling suspense author. Questions swirled around Kennedy's alcohol level, negligent driving, leaving the scene of a crash causing personal injury, not reporting the accident nor seeking help to save Kopechne, in addition to his questionable intent to privately drive Kopechne home, all of which rattled through the newspapers and gossip columns for months and years.

In this incredibly revealing TLS, written during TIME'S report on the Boston Globe series about this event, Edward Kennedy fully recounts his position, and bashes TIME for their depiction of the Chappaquiddick incident. His detailed letter which needs to be read in full to be fully appreciated is shown below:

"The Editors Washington, D.C

Time Magazine November 6, 1974

Time, Incorporated

Rockefeller Center

New York, New York 10020

Dear Sirs:

Your readers are entitled to some further comment by me of TIME'S report last week /on the Boston Globe series about the tragic motor vehicle accident at Chappaquiddick Island.

TIME stated that "the biggest obstacle in obtaining (more) details was the continued silence of most of the 10 men and women guests" at the 1969 cookout. Each of these innocent bystanders lost a close friend. Each fulfilled the responsibility of appearing voluntarily in court and testifying under oath to every question. Their testimony is public and has been reprinted in countless paperbacks for anyone to examine. If they now choose not to be interviewed by Globe reporters, I can understand their reasons. Since the accident, their telephone lines have been tapped, they have been offered huge sums of money for "exclusive" stories, and have been the victims of entrapment and blackmail by Watergate plumbers. Even members of supposedly reputable news organizations have deceived and tricked them. As a public figure, I have answered reporters' questions and I shall continue to do so. But TIME readers should be aware that these private citizens have met their legal and public responsibilities and are justifiably entitled to privacy for their families and careers without continual harassment and sensational stories.

While these people voluntarily testified under oath, the Globe hides behind an unnamed informant whose uncorroborated, ugly and unfair speculations TIME incredibly identifies as "findings". It does not take a "two-month examination" (TIME quote) of the facts and sworn testimony to clearly refute the groundless claim of an anonymous source that Mr. Joseph Gargan allegedly was to assume the blame for driving the car off the bridge. Ten men and women know that I left for Edgartown in my car with Mary Jo Kopechne while Mr. Gargan remained at the cottage. Several of these same people later saw and talked with Mr. Gargan after his rescue attempts and after driving me to the ferry landing.

TIME states that "the question of time is important" to establish the truth about that evening's tragedy. But a "most exhaustive . . . investigation" (TIME quote) of Sheriff Look's testimony is not required to reveal his fundamental contradictions and in-accuracies. The Globe gave only minimal attention to this, and Time none at all.

A "well-reasoned and well-researched" (TIME quote) review of the Arthur D. Little study of the physical factors of Dyke Road and bridge is not necessary to establish that negligent driving was not involved. The Globe treated that aspect of the report casually, and TIME not at all. The TIME statement that I "stuck . . . (to my ) . . . original story" suggests something sinister. This is grossly unfair. The facts, as I have related them many times, are harsh, complete and cold on their own. It is difficult enough for me to live every day of my life with these facts, with my personal remorse, regret and responsibility for the death of Mary Jo Kopechne, and with my inexcusable behavior, after the accident. I accept these with more pain than I can express.

TIME has said that "to this day the full truth is obscure".

I submit that the full truth has been told but that it has been

confused and obscured by the uncorroborated and groundless speculation of unnamed sources. This is almost as regretable to me as the sorrow I bear for the loss of a life and its lasting effect not only on my family but Upon the Kopnechne family.

Sincerely,

Edward M. Kennedy"

A spectacular letter with unbridled content. An exceptional revealing letter over an incident that permanently changed the lives of so many- and the political career path of Kennedy.

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