Kennedy Memoir Talks of Chappaquiddick, J.F.K. and Other Presidents

He owned up to his mistakes. If there's anyone here who hasn't made any, let me know.
{And yes, I know this was horrific-he spent the rest of his life thinking about it}

Kennedy Memoir Talks of Chappaquiddick, J.F.K. and Other Presidents
By Carl Hulse


In a memoir being published posthumously, Senator Edward M. Kennedy talks remorsefully about the car accident that claimed the life of Mary Jo Kopechne – a turn of events many consider a chief reason that he was never able to mount a successful bid for the presidency.

Writing in his book “True Compass,” which is scheduled to be published on Sept. 14, Mr. Kennedy, who died a week ago, described his actions in the 1969 accident as “inexcusable” and said that at the time he was afraid, overwhelmed “and made terrible decisions.”

Mr. Kennedy said he had to live with the guilt of his actions for four decades but that Ms. Kopechne’s family had to endure worse. “Atonement is a process that never ends,” he writes.

In the 532-page book, a copy of which was obtained by The New York Times, Mr. Kennedy also said he has always accepted the official findings of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, an event that he said left family members fearing for the emotional health of his brother, Robert F. Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy that he often thought of one brother’s deep grief over the loss of another and said it “veered close to being a tragedy within a tragedy.”

Senator Kennedy said he had a full briefing by Earl Warren, the chief justice, on the commission’s investigation into the Nov. 22, 1963, shooting in Dallas. He pronounced himself convinced that the Warren Commission got it right and said he was “satisfied then, and satisfied now.”

Mr. Kennedy’s book provides unique details about life in America’s famous political family and covers the remarkable career that was celebrated last week in a series of memorials before his burial near his two brothers in Arlington National Cemetery. It provides his personal account of being stricken by the brain cancer that took his life and his decision to battle the disease as aggressively as he could. And he talks openly and regretfully about “self-destructive drinking,” especially after his brother Robert’s death.

more...

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/02/kennedy-memoir-talks-of-chappaquiddick-jfk-and-other-presidents/

...he has the same voice as his dad.

It will sound like Teddy himself is reading it.

Christians should be willing to recognize.

the Warren Commission got it right.

the warren commission report is chock full of errors and impossible/implausible scenarios, put forth as 'facts'. Any decent salesman can see through the techniques used to push it through as 'fact'....know they are being manipulated.

Scientists (and the logically trained) even moreso.....know something *stinks* to high heaven about the JFK assasination 'report'.

I'm not sure why Edward Kennedy wanted to "put it to bed" like this. This country can't ever 'be right' until we *flesh out* what REALLY happened on that dark day in late November 1963.

no one has been able to prove it was a conspiracy and name those who were involved.

"I'm not sure why Edward Kennedy wanted to "put it to bed" like this."

He believed the Warren Commission report was factual and accurate as stated in the OP:

"He pronounced himself convinced that the Warren Commission got it right and said he was “satisfied then, and satisfied now.”"

Gotta be.

This is a book I am going to read as soon as it comes out. I had heard that Sen. Kennedy was going to write a memoir a while ago--I can't remember now, but it seems a couple of years--and hoped it would be true and honest. It appears to be that. There are so many opinions, experiences, that I want to know Kennedy's telling of, and I hope it will be filled with that witty humor and literary influence that I already miss.

I know that Ted Sorensen, speechwriter for Pres. Kennedy, recently wrote a memoir, and described the day of Kennedy's assassination, which Sorensen had never talked about before, but I have not read that. I will read this. The references to Bobby being shattered was well-known; many people have commented on how grief-stricken Bobby was, forever after. Bobby became famous around Washington for going, late at night, alone, to Pres. Kennedy's grave at Arlington Cemetary. I am also glad to know that Ted Kennedy cared about Mary Jo Kopechne, and lived a kind of prayer of a redeemed-life, with true sorrow, after that. People have always speculated as to how much of Kennedy's great works were to make up for that tragedy and horrible behavior after. I would also love to read about the 1980 campaign against Carter; my family supported Kennedy. The wonderful marriage to Vicki for all those years, and the sad, failed marriage to Joan before that. Also, any stories about the great Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and other family members. Lots of memories over the years, to read about, and I plan to buy it right away.

as soon as it comes out.