On July 18, 1969, Senator Edward Kennedy drives off an unlit bridge on Chappaquiddick Island, plunging his car into a tidal pond and leaving 28-year-old Mary Jo Kopechne trapped inside, then waits nearly 10 hours before reporting the accident to police. The scandal—and the questions it raises about privilege, accountability, and Kennedy's character—effectively ends his presidential ambitions and remains a defining stain on the Kennedy legacy.
Word Count
1,565
Reading Time
8 min
Difficulty
intermediate
Genre
History
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