DBWI: Ted Kennedy survives Chappaquiddick

Tragedy struck the Kennedy family again in July 18, 1969 when Senator Edward M. Kennedy, 37, of Massachusetts was killed in an accident on Chappaquiddick Island when his car drove off the side of Dyke Bridge and overturned into a pond. State police recovered his Oldsmobile Delmont 88 with the bodies of Kennedy and his passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne inside the car. An autopsy revealed that Kennedy was drinking alcohol before driving.

Senator Kennedy was survived by his wife, Joan, and his children, Kara Anne, Edward Jr., and Patrick.

What would have happened if Ted Kennedy survived the accident in Chappaquiddick? Would he have been elected President if he lived?
 
Yes he would have won the 1972 Democratic nomination and defeated Nixon in a close elction, he would done better than McGovern anyway.
 
I guess that depends on whether or not Mary Jo survives as well.

If he rescued her from the sinking car, people might think him a hero, much like they thought his brother heroic for dragging a fellow sailor ashore with his teeth after the wreck of PT 109.
 
Didn't he have a girlfriend in the car? If they had to be rescued and his infidelity was blared all over the media, wouldn't that have affected his electability - or am I back projecting current attitudes? Certainly JFK managed to get away with just about everything under the sun...

Edit: Ah, Merry Prankster posted before I did. Hmmm... Good point
 
Didn't he have a girlfriend in the car? If they had to be rescued and his infidelity was blared all over the media, wouldn't that have affected his electability - or am I back projecting current attitudes? Certainly JFK managed to get away with just about everything under the sun...

Good point. Someone's going to ask why a younger woman was in the car with Ted.
 
Good point. Someone's going to ask why a younger woman was in the car with Ted.

Meh, if he heroically saves her it's not going to matter and anyone who brings it up is going to look like a major-league asshole. Herors are bulletproof for a while. Of course if she dies - well, I guess you could spin it as a tragedy, but it wouldn't look good.
 
Actually, it might be worse if she lives - you can't interview a dead woman. I remember they portrayed the incident as "he was driving her home after a late-night staff meeting" story, and I suppose it would hold up long enough for the '72 campaign, but I smell memoirs!

If Kennedy lives while Kopechne still dies (and if the "staff meeting" story either is true or holds up) (sorry, he's been dead for decades and I'm judging him by his brothers), Kennedy probably gets a pass in memory of his tragic family story. He might well get the Democratic nomination in '72, but Nixon is going to be tough to beat. Maybe in '76...
 
Why nobody speaks out the obvious. That Ted was murdered like his brothers. THEY never would let any Kennedey_brother alive.

OOC: If Ted Kennedey had died in this lake, you can believe, that a major conspiration-theorie would exist.
 
You know, National Lampoon might still be around. It was the faux Volkswagen ad (You know, 'If Teddy were driving a Volkswagen, he'd be President now') that did them in. Firstly, they were sued so hard by Volkswagen that they were in dire financial straights, and then the sheer disrespect and tackiness drove people away from the magazine in droves, so it went under.
 
If Kennedy lives while Kopechne still dies (and if the "staff meeting" story either is true or holds up) (sorry, he's been dead for decades and I'm judging him by his brothers), Kennedy probably gets a pass in memory of his tragic family story. He might well get the Democratic nomination in '72, but Nixon is going to be tough to beat. Maybe in '76...
I doubt they'll give him a pass- Ted Kennedy will be blamed for her death, and possibly even be accused of drunk driving (not to slander the dead, but Teddy was known to enjoy a few...) I think you're giving his opponents too much credit- even if there's no evidence of wrongdoing, it will hurt him.
 
You know, National Lampoon might still be around. It was the faux Volkswagen ad (You know, 'If Teddy were driving a Volkswagen, he'd be President now') that did them in. Firstly, they were sued so hard by Volkswagen that they were in dire financial straights, and then the sheer disrespect and tackiness drove people away from the magazine in droves, so it went under.

Oh, wow, I forgot about that! Can you imagine how much better Animal House would have been if John Hughes had been able to get funding from National Lampoon?
 
Why nobody speaks out the obvious. That Ted was murdered like his brothers. THEY never would let any Kennedey_brother alive.

OOC: If Ted Kennedey had died in this lake, you can believe, that a major conspiration-theorie would exist.

All too true, the powers that be hate the Kennedys.
 
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