Main content

The Chappaquiddick Incident

The car accident involving US Senator Edward Kennedy which left a young woman dead. The accident on Chappaquiddick Island in July 1969 ruined his hopes of becoming president.

In July 1969, United States Senator Edward Kennedy was involved in a car accident on Chappaquiddick Island in which a young woman named Mary Jo Kopechne died. Around 10 hours elapsed before the politician reported the incident to police. In 2014 Paul Schuster spoke to retired police chief Jim Arena who investigated the accident.

(Photo: US Senator Edward Kennedy. Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

Available now

9 minutes

Last on

Wed 24 Jul 201912:50GMT
BBC World Service News Internet

More episodes

Previous

LGBT 'cooperative' marriages in China

Next

When Tunisia led on women's rights

See all episodes from Witness History

Broadcasts

  • Wed 24 Jul 201907:50GMT
    BBC World Service
  • Wed 24 Jul 201912:50GMT
    BBC World Service News Internet

Podcast