The evening of July 18, 1969 was a night that would change Ted Kennedy forever. Worse, it would take the life of young Mary Jo Kopechne. In an incident now simply known as “Chappaquiddick,” it appeared that another member of the Kennedy family had fallen to “The Curse.” But maybe that isn’t exactly what happened…. and maybe the official story isn’t exactly what happened, either. Author DONALD JEFFRIES joins S.T. Patrick to discuss that night and the aftermath thereof. Who were Mary Jo Kopechne and the Boiler Room Girls? Why were Ted Kennedy and his associates – all but one were married men – holding the party? Why did Ted and Mary Jo leave – and what happened next? How did Ted’s story differ from that of friends Joe Gargan and Paul Markham? How did Mary Jo really die? And was Ted Kennedy framed? Donald Jeffries answers those questions… and much more.
Donald Jeffries is the author of Hidden History and Survival of the Richest. He can be found at his blog, Keeping It Unreal.
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Great episode.
Unlike Mr. Jeffries, I have no difficulty believing that Ted Kennedy was a sociopath. I think being a sociopath is almost a requirement for holding elective office. The qualities of having a sociable personality and total lack of remorse are essential to a successful political career. Bill Clinton is an excellent example. I remember reading an article in the LA Times by a criminal profiler who pointed out the overlap in personality traits between serial killers, politicians and business executives. Think Ted Bundy, who many thought had a promising future in politics. Ted as a sociopath is perfectly consistent with the TV address he made on the subject.
If this was a successful set-up of Ted Kennedy, why would E. Howard Hunt have to go to Chappaquiddick in 1971 to get dirt on Kennedy? Wouldn’t it have been easier to find a bimbo for Kennedy to get pregnant, have an abortion and cause a scene? If I recall correctly, the “frame-up” scenario was proposed by Robert Cutler of “Umbrella Man fired a paralyzing dart at JFK” fame.
I think Teddy brought this on himself by having a “me-too” moment that got out of control. He might have convinced Gargan to take the blame but then Gargan had second thoughts or they realized it wouldn’t work.
As in the JFK case, the Kennedys interfered with the investigation. Why would they remain in public life but always expose themselves to extortion?
Most people at or near the top of dominance hierarchies are not sociopaths, whether they be businessmen or politicians, that claim is well supported by psychologists. Though saying they are sociopaths is often propagated by people with very modest lives, it makes them feel better.
We can sit and speculate he was an actor his whole life when campaigning for various causes but, at the same time, he didn’t need the salary or the hassle, including death threats and worse his whole life after his brother was slain in Dallas. Its a lot easier for politicians to get with the program than to go against the grain.
I would look into the JFK case a lot more, as it seems you have a strange impression of it.
One thing we do know is that the Chappaquiddick story doesn’t make sense (the official version). What looks worse? Saying you got out because you were steaming drunk after seeing police and then a girl tragically (possibly intoxicated) not knowing the area drives off a bridge and dies or, tragically losing control of a car and trying to save your friend, barely escaping with your life. The former would make him very selfish. You have to think about how the PR plays out, in this case, it wasn’t well thought out.
In my view, a girl tragically has lost her life, but, I don’t believe it’s all that complicated or elaborate.
Great podcast, thank you very much for sharing this.