Senatorial Privilege: The Chappaquiddick Cover-Up

Rating:
Summary: An important overview of the case
Review: As far as the murky facts surrounding Ted Kennedy's 1969 accident at Chappaquidick are concerned, Leo Damore's book Senatorial Priviledge is probably the best collection of what few things can definitely be said to be true. While the book will disappoint those looking for a definite, unimpeachable case against Ted Kennedy, it does do a good job of laying out the bare facts of the case and, for all but the most partisan of readers, it will be hard to avoid the conclusion that Ted Kennedy managed to cheat justice. While the portrait of Kennedy that emerges will not satisfy those looking for a cold-blooded murderer in the Senatorial cloakroom, it's still a disturbing portrait of an irresponsible, immature man who -- for whatever reason -- has been allowed to grow into an adult without learning how to take responsibility for his actions, no matter what the consequences. If the book does have any truly serious flaw, it is that once again Chappaquidick's true victim, Mary Jo Kopechne, is reduced to a cipher, almost an after thought. Beyond the fact that she died in Kennedy's car, very little is revealed about who Kopechne was or who she might have been had she lived. Despite the book's honorable intentions (most of which it achieves), Mary Jo Kopechne's tragedy is once again allowed to be overshadowed by the Kennedys' crimes.

Rating:
Summary: A haunting and enduring tragedy
Review: I bought this book in July of 2000, after watching an extraordinary 2-hour installment about the story on A&E's "Investigative Reports" (also available on videotape). The author here, Leo Damore, was also part of the television program. Just as the video holds up to repeated viewing, so have I found I've returned more than once to the book. Called 'the most famous traffic fatality in American politics,' it certainly remains that.

'Profile in Courage' this is not. I was 15 the summer of this accident and then had only a teenager's curiosity about it. One more 'Kennedy tragedy,' but this one proves to be one that could have and should have been avoided. I distinctly remember the carried-on-all-networks 'statement' the senator gave days late, stage-managed to nth. And not very believable. What I hadn't remembered was that even without Chappaquiddick, it was hardly a slow news week; it was the same weekend we'd first landed on the moon. According to the book, the latest mishap of the Kennedy family's pushed the moon story to the bottom of page one of "The Boston Globe." I remember the cute neck brace too, which apparently didn't go on for one or two days after the accident, and after many sources in the book had noticed no incapacity in the senator. It would be a pleasure to say 'No one today could get away with the circumvention and manipulation of law enforcement and investigation that was at work here. But don't expect to hear it from someone who sat through nine 1995 months of the Simpson criminal proceedings. If Robert Blake walks too, good luck un-convincing me that the rich and famous get away with it every time.

Damore relies heavily on the recollections of Joseph A. Gargan, a Kennedy insider, and one of the first people the senator confessed the accident to. After nearly two decades Gargan was ready to talk. I find him credible, but it's a messy story and no one comes up smelling like a hero. If nothing else, "Senatorial Privilege" is a study of how much of yourself you can trade away to get close to power and celebrity. Gargan is no enviable figure looking back from late middle-age, and having played sycophantic clean-up man for so much of it.

But I couldn't put this book down, which I bought used, and I recommend it. (From the cellophane over the dust jacket, it was clearly once a library hardcover edition, but it was in fully satisfactory condition.) It's one of the best non-fiction works I've read in recent years. Mary Jo Kopechne would be 63 this year.

Rating:
Summary: A haunting and enduring tragedy
Review: I bought this book in July of 2000, after watching an extraordinary 2-hour installment about the story on A&E's "Investigative Reports" (also available on videotape). The author here, Leo Damore, was also part of the television program. Just as the video holds up to repeated viewing, so have I found I've returned more than once to the book. Called 'the most famous traffic fatality in American politics,' it certainly remains that.

'Profile in Courage' this is not. I was 15 the summer of this accident and then had only a teenager's curiosity about it. One more 'Kennedy tragedy,' but this one proves to be one that could have and should have been avoided. I distinctly remember the carried-on-all-networks 'statement' the senator gave days late, stage-managed to nth. And not very believable. What I hadn't remembered was that even without Chappaquiddick, it was hardly a slow news week; it was the same weekend we'd first landed on the moon. According to the book, the latest mishap of the Kennedy family's pushed the moon story to the bottom of page one of "The Boston Globe." I remember the cute neck brace too, which apparently didn't go on for one or two days after the accident, and after many sources in the book had noticed no incapacity in the senator. It would be a pleasure to say 'No one today could get away with the circumvention and manipulation of law enforcement and investigation that was at work here. But don't expect to hear it from someone who sat through nine 1995 months of the Simpson criminal proceedings. If Robert Blake walks too, good luck un-convincing me that the rich and famous get away with it every time.

Damore relies heavily on the recollections of Joseph A. Gargan, a Kennedy insider, and one of the first people the senator confessed the accident to. After nearly two decades Gargan was ready to talk. I find him credible, but it's a messy story and no one comes up smelling like a hero. If nothing else, "Senatorial Privilege" is a study of how much of yourself you can trade away to get close to power and celebrity. Gargan is no enviable figure looking back from late middle-age, and having played sycophantic clean-up man for so much of it.

But I couldn't put this book down, which I bought used, and I recommend it. (From the cellophane over the dust jacket, it was clearly once a library hardcover edition, but it was in fully satisfactory condition.) It's one of the best non-fiction works I've read in recent years. Mary Jo Kopechne would be 63 this year.

Rating:
Summary: Nothing new here
Review: I was very disappointed with this book. Let's start with what most know about the Chappaquiddick incident before they read this book: Ted Kennedy was at a regatta near Chappy; he probably had too much to drink; he went to a party with former employees of his brother Bobby; he left with Mary Jo Kopechne; he drove off a bridge; he survived; she died; he delayed reporting the accident; he wasn't forthcoming about what happened; the police and the prosecutors were ineffective; Ted Kennedy's national political aspirations ended. After struggling through approximately four hundred pages of sometimes repetitive reading, that's all I still know. If you want to read a book this long to come away with very little insight into what caused the accident, you've come to the right place.

Rating:
Summary: IMPORTANT OVERVIEW AND REMINDER
Review: Teddy Kennedy went to a party attended by Mary Jo Kopechne. He got sloshed as usual. He drove off a bridge in bad weather thereby inadvertently causing the death of Ms. Kopechne. Sounds like a good case for involuntary manslaughter - that is, unless you are a Kennedy. This book, while providing nothing new, offers a great overview of the Chappaquiddick tragedy. Those desiring truthful books about the Kennedy scourge should definitely add this one to your burgeoning collection. Intelligent, logical readers will be incredulous that Kennedy escaped prosecution. He delayed reporting the accident for hours - went to his hotel, cleaned up a bit, chatted with confidants about how to handle the matter and THEN called the authorities. It is astounding that, even as Mary Jo Kopechne sat drowning in his car, Kennedy would be bent on protecting his political hide. What is even more disturbing is the number of reviews trying to pan this book as "Kennedy bashing". A few reviews, out of misguided devotion to this errant family, simply absolve Teddy of all guilt. After all, it was JUST a drunk driving accident - one that deprived a family of their daughter forever. But since Teddy was involved, it never happened...right?

Rating:
Summary: Another Kennedy Escape from Justice
Review: There is no Kennedy bashing in this book, just the truth. How can a reporter rely too heavily on witnesses? The facts are plain. He did it, she was alive in the car as was proven in court even though the judge (the best one Kennedy money can buy) would not allow ANY testimony stating the fact she was.

Only a great catch of the prosecution to the use of the word "froth" would make this possible. He lied about it, tried to cover it up, tried to get someone else to take the blame for it.. The Kennedy family bought the silence of the Kopechne family for a mere $100,000 and immediately went into the ignore it and it will go away phase.

This book is a must read for America to see how the Kennedy family manipulates the truth and the facts to wiggle out of the responibilty for their CONTINUING list of transgressions. Leo Damore presents it all in a consice edition that will outrage any normal law abiding citizen. It is sickening to read how Teddy is instantly more concerned about saving his political career than the life of the girl (the one without the panties) trapped inside his car.... and he got away with it. again.

Rating:
Summary: Senatorial Privilege
Review: You can breeze through this book in under an hour -- I just did. While it makes for a suspenseful, albeit entertaining, account of what happened that infamous night, Damore relies too heavily on witnesses' accounts and police remarks (often little more than Kennedy bashing). By now, most of us can accept the facts: that EMK drank way too much and drove off a bridge, subsequently leading to tragedy. DUI accidents happen every day, chillingly often to average people. The fact that this happened to one of the greatest Senators in the history of the United States only reaffirms this. ...