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Mary Jo Kopechne


John Simkin

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http://www.ytedk.com/

The site above, although anti- Edward Kennedy, seems to provide a lot of information regarding the events of July 18th and 19th at Chppaquiddick MA.

I think this was simply a DUI case that ended in Mary Jo's death. It could be that a combination of events led to this incident... maybe even some help from a third party.

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Christopher ‘Huck’ Look appears to be a convincing witness. There seems to be no reason why he should lie about what he saw on the morning of the 19th July, 1969.

Therefore we have the situation where Edward Kennedy and Mary Jo Kopechne left the Lawrence Cottage at around 11.15 p.m. For some reason Kennedy returns to the cottage at 12.20 a.m. However, it is not to report the accident as at this stage the car has not yet had the accident on Dike Bridge.

Lieutenant George Killen, who investigated the case, was convinced that Kennedy had intended to have sex with Mary Jo in the car. He was drunk (evidence suppressed in court showed that Kennedy had consumed a great deal of alcohol that day). When Look approached Kennedy’s car, he feared he would be arrested. Therefore he sped off into the darkness. Afraid that Look would catch him up he gets out of the car and persuades Mary Jo to drive off (she herself has consumed a fair amount of alcohol. Kennedy then walks back to the cottage. When Mary Jo does not return Kennedy becomes convinced she has had an accident. Kennedy then goes back to his hotel leaving Markham and Gargan to search for Mary Jo. It is not until the next morning they discover what has happened. They then go to Kennedy’s hotel to tell him the news. This fits Killen idea that Kennedy did not know about the accident until the morning meeting with Markham and Gargan.

Killen’s theory fits all the established facts in the case. However, it does not explain Kennedy’s behaviour. Once he discovered that Mary Jo was dead, it would make far more sense to tell the truth. This story was more politically acceptable than the “leaving the scene of the accident” story. I therefore reject Killen’s theory.

I find Richard Sprague’s theory more convincing. Based on research carried out by Robert Cutler, Sprague argues that Kennedy was framed for Mary Jo’s murder.

To quote Sprague:

They ambushed Ted and Mary Jo after they left the cottage and knocked Ted out with blows to his head and body. They took the unconscious or semi-conscious Kennedy to Martha's Vineyard and deposited him in his hotel room. Another group took Mary Jo to the bridge in Ted's car, force fed her with a knock out potion of alcoholic beverage, placed her in the back seat, and caused the car to accelerate off the side of the bridge into the water. They broke the windows on one side of the car to insure the entry of water; then they watched the car until they were sure Mary Jo would not escape.

Mary Jo actually regained consciousness and pushed her way to the top of the car (which was actually the bottom of the car -- it had landed on its roof) and died from asphyxiation. The group with Teddy revived him early in the morning and let him know he had a problem. Possibly they told him that Mary Jo had been kidnapped. They told him his children would be killed if he told anyone what had happened and that he would hear from them. On Chappaquiddick, the other group made contact with Markham and Gargan, Ted's cousin and lawyer. They told both men that Mary Jo was at the bottom of the river and that Ted would have to make up a story about it, not revealing the existence of the group. One of the men resembled Ted and his voice sounded something like Ted's. Markham and Gargan were instructed to go the the Vineyard on the morning ferry, tell Ted where Mary Jo was, and come back to the island to wait for a phone call at a pay station near the ferry on the Chappaquiddick side.

The two men did as they were told and Ted found out what had happened to Mary Jo that morning. The three men returned to the pay phone and received their instructions to concoct a story about the "accident" and to report it to the police. The threat against Ted's children was repeated at that time.

http://www.ratical.org/ratville/JFK/ToA/ToAchp7.html

This theory fits the evidence available. However, I am not convinced that Kennedy would have gone along with it as a result of the threats made on his children. Although I am aware that several people with information on the Kennedy assassination have not come forward because of threats made against family members.

The problem with the research of people like Damore, Cutler and Sprague is that they have concentrated on investigating Edward Kennedy. I believe the answer is contained in an investigation of Mary Jo Kopechne. I will explain this in the next post.

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As I pointed out in an earlier post, I believe that previous investigators have made a serious mistake by ignoring Mary Jo Kopechne’s life in Washington.

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/JFKkopechne.htm

In the books on the case, the authors point out that Mary Jo had worked as a secretary for Robert Kennedy. This work began after the death of JFK. Before this she had worked for George Smathers of Florida. Smathers had been a long-term friend of JFK (they first started womanizing together in 1949). However, Smathers disagreed with JFK over his Cuban policy. He was one of those who believed that JFK should have ordered an invasion of Cuba in order to remove Fidel Castro.

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/JFKsmathers.htm

Kopechne’s room-mate in Washington was Nancy Carole Tyler, Bobby Baker’s secretary and mistress.

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/JFKbakerB.htm

Smathers and Baker were also close friends. In fact, they were business associates. They were both involved in vending machines. Smathers and Grant Stockdale (another close friend of JFK) formed a company called, Automatic Vending. With the help of Baker they providing vending machines to government institutions. However, in 1961 Automatic Vending was sued for improper actions in getting a contract at Aerodex. As a result Stockdale was forced to resign as ambassador to Ireland.

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/JFKstockdale.htm

Smathers and Stockdale were also involved in another vending machine company with Baker called Serve-U-Corporation. Others involved included LBJ’s close friend, Fred Black and mobsters, Ed Levenson, Benny Sigelbaum and Sam Giancana. Established in 1962, the company provided vending machines for companies working on federally granted programs.

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/JFKbakerF.htm

The contracts that Automatic Vending and Serve-U-Corporation got were part of a much larger project. Baker was a key figure in this. So also was LBJ and Suite 8F Group based in Houston, Texas. All these people were part of what Dwight Eisenhower called the Military Industrial Congressional Complex.

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/JFKgroup8F.htm

The CIA became involved in this project when John McCone was appointed as Director of the CIA in November, 1961. Several members of the Senate objected to his appointment, pointing out the large sums of money McCone had made from military spending in the 1940s and 1950s. By the 1960s he had invested most of his profits into the oil industry: Panama Pacific Tankers Company, a large oil-carrying fleet, and Standard Oil of California. McCone’s main support came from Democrats in the South and in California. As Storm Thurmond said that after studying McCone’s past he came to the conclusion that it “epitomizes what has made America great”. McCone’s post as Director of the CIA, was confirmed and the Senate did not even force him to sell his shares in the oil industry.

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/JFKmccone.htm

Members of the Suite 8F Group made their money by controlling the appointments of key posts in the administration and the chairmanship of the key Congressional committees. This enabled large government contracts to be placed with companies such as Brown & Root, General Dynamics, Bell Corporation, Kerr-McGee Oil Industries, Humble Oil, etc. All these companies were based in Texas. However, with the arrival of McCone, they were going to have to share their profits with California.

JFK became aware of this scandal during the 1963 investigation into the TFX scandal. In November, 1963, Fred Korth, JFK’s Navy Secretary, was forced to resign as a result of accusations of corruption following the award of a $7 billion contract for a fighter plane, the TFX, to General Dynamics, a company based in Texas. Korth was a member of the Suite 8F Group and had only got the job on the recommendation of LBJ. JFK was in a difficult situation. He knew how deep this scandal went. Korth was only one of the many people who had been placed in positions where they could place lucrative government projects.

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/JFKkorth.htm

The Kennedy brothers were also implicated in this scandal. Not that they were bribed with money. Baker had entrapped them with the provision of sexual services. This included several women linked to the KGB. For example, Ellen Rometsch, Maria Novotny and Suzy Chang. It is difficult to know if JFK intended to take on the Suite 8F Group. All we know is that JFK was assassinated days after Korth was forced to resign.

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/JFKrometsch.htm

Johnson could not afford to appoint another Texan in this key post of Navy Secretary. Instead he selected Paul Nitze, the husband of Phyllis Pratt, a Standard Oil heiress. As with John McCone, this project was seeing a merging taking place that involved the oil and armaments industries in Texas and California.

As secretaries of Bobby Baker and George Smathers, Nancy Carole Tyler and Mary Jo Kopechne were in a good position to know what was going on. Tyler was Baker’s long-term mistress and was initially not a problem. Mary Jo was in a different category. I suspect that Mary Jo knew there was a link between Bobby Baker’s activities and the assassination of JFK. Maybe she even told Robert Kennedy about this. However, he was not in a position to do anything about it. His main concern was preserving JFK’s good name. If he could do that, he would later become president. RFK kept Mary Jo quiet by appointing her as his secretary. Maybe he even told her about her long-term strategy.

Mary Jo was not the first person to discover that RFK was unwilling to take on the Military Industrial Congressional Complex in 1963.

On 26th November, 1963, Grant Stockdale (George Smathers and Bobby Baker’s business partner) flew to Washington and talked with Robert and Edward Kennedy. It is not known what Stockdale told the brothers. On his return Stockdale told several of his friends that "the world was closing in." On 1st December, he spoke to his attorney, William Frates who later recalled: "He started talking. It didn't make much sense. He said something about 'those guys' trying to get him. Then about the assassination."

Stockdale died on 2nd December, 1963 when he fell (or was pushed) from his office on the thirteenth story of the Dupont Building in Miami. Stockdale did not leave a suicide note but Smathers, claimed that he had become depressed as a result of the death of JFK.

In 1964 Baker’s secretary, Nancy Carole Tyler, was called before the Senate Rules Committee . She took the fifth amendment and refused to provide any information that would implicate Baker in any corrupt activities.

Tyler believed that Baker would leave his wife. When he refused, she became very angry and according to Baker, made scenes. This included threats to commit suicide. On 10th May, 1965, Robert O. Davis took Tyler out on a short plane trip. The plane crashed a few hundred yards from the hotel that Baker owned.

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/JFKtylerN.htm

Tyler’s death must have concerned Mary Jo. Robert Kennedy’s murder on 4th June, 1968, would have been even more traumatic. Had he been killed because he knew the real reason for JFK’s assassination. There was only one person to tell about these events. Edward Kennedy. Did he respond in the same way as his brother? Was he following the same strategy? Would all be revealed when he became president? Was Mary Jo willing to accept this strategy? What about the original conspirators? Were they happy that Mary Jo had information on the assassination of JFK? Were they in contact with Edward Kennedy? Richard E. Sprague believes that the conspirators were keeping him quiet by making threats against his children. Maybe that was what was happening.

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/JFKspragueE.htm

This is what I believe happened on 18th July, 1969. The conspirators realized that Mary Jo would, if left to her own devices, would eventually tell her story. At the same time they also feared that Kennedy would eventually abandon this “Camelot Myth” and tell his story. The conspirators could not kill Edward Kennedy as that would make the whole thing too suspicious. However, they could kill Mary Jo without too many people being aware of the links with the deaths of JFK, Grant Stockdale, Nancy Carole Tyler and Robert Kennedy. What was even better was to implicate Edward Kennedy in her death. This would ruin his chance of ever becoming president.

Therefore the conspirators informed Kennedy that Mary Jo was threatening to tell her story to the media. This would implicate the Kennedy family in the cover-up of JFK’s assassination. He was told to arrange a meeting with Mary Jo and to explain why it was important for her to keep quiet for the good of the Kennedy family. If necessary, they would also apply pressure on Mary Jo.

At 11.15 p.m. Kennedy suggests to Mary Jo that they go for a ride. It is not known how Mary Jo responded to Kennedy’s suggestion that she does not reveal what she knows. While in the car with Mary Jo they have some visitors. The men tell Kennedy that they will have a talk with Mary Jo. Kennedy is told to go to his hotel. They probably have even arranged to take Kennedy back to his hotel by boat. He would definitely feel uncomfortable about this but he is in no position to argue with them. Anyway, he does not suspect they plan to kill her.

Before getting the boat Kennedy goes back to the cottage. He cannot tell Gargan and Markham the full story. I suspect he tells them that he has had sex with Mary Jo. However, she responded badly and has driven back to the ferry in the car. (The last ferry was due to leave at midnight). Kennedy says he is concerned about Mary Jo because she had consumed a lot of alcohol during the day. Gargan and Markham give Kennedy a lift to the harbour. Kennedy uses the public phone at the harbour to check that Mary Jo got back to the hotel. He discovers that she is not yet back. Kennedy is worried. He asks the men to search for her in the area he left her while he will return to his hotel by boat.

While this is happening Christopher Look comes across Kennedy’s car (12.45 am.). Look sees three people in the car (Mary Jo and the two men). The car drives off. Look then goes to Lawrence Cottage where he talks to Ray LaRosa, Nance Lyons and Mary Lyons.

Gargan and Markham get to where Kennedy left Mary Jo at about 1.30 am. By this time Mary Jo is dead. In the dark it is impossible to find here. They go back to Lawrence Cottage to get some sleep. At first light they begin their search for Mary Jo. They find the car and make several attempts to see if they can get her out (that is why they are wet when they get to Kennedy’s hotel).

Gargan and Markham now go to Kennedy’s hotel to tell him the news. This is why Kennedy, who previous to this appeared to be calm and relaxed, goes into a state of shock. Lieutenant George Killen and Ross Richards were right when they speculated that Kennedy did not know that Mary Jo was dead until this meeting at 8 the next morning. It also explains why Kennedy did not report the accident when it happened and why he did not phone his close friends for advice. Kennedy now knew he had been set up. He had only two options.

(1) Go to the police and tell all. This would of course meant explaining why he had kept quiet about the assassination of his two brothers. If he did this his political career was over. The lives of his children would be put at risk. What would the public have thought of Kennedy leaving Mary Jo alone with the two men? However, he told this story, he Camelot Myth would have been destroyed.

(2) Report to the police that he had been driving the car when the accident took place. After making repeated efforts to save Mary Jo he goes to seek help from Gargan and Markham. They also make efforts to save her life. Suffering from shock he does not report the accident. Nor do his two friends. The reason being is that they thought he was going to do it. They cannot check that he has done it because he leaves them by swimming back to his hotel. The story is completely bizarre but he believes because of Kennedy family power, he might get away with it. He might even be able to keep his seat in Congress. Who knows, after a few years he might even get the chance to be president.

Given these two options, one can understand why he decided to confess to being the driver. He maintains the Camelot Myth. He retains his seat in Congress. However, he does not become president. Nor are the real reasons for the assassination of JFK ever revealed.

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John,

I believe this post and the view of Cutler and Sprague is the best explanation for what happened to Mary Jo. ( I used to see Cutler around in Massachusetts decades ago and thought he was a bit nuts with his dart out- of -the- umberella theory, but his work on Ted is commendable.)

Very little research has been done on this tragedy. Teddy's story never made sense from the start. I have always believed it was a frame-up. And of course he still must keep silent. Oh but to hear what Tedd really knows/believes about this entire conspiracy.

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There is an interesting connection between Chappaquiddick and Watergate. Ted Kennedy got the Washington lawyer, Herbert J. Miller, to help him against the accusations made following the death of Mary Jo. Miller had been a close friend of Robert Kennedy. Kennedy used Miller to have a secret meeting with Lieutenant Bernie Flynn, one of the senior police officers involved in the investigation. Flynn later confessed to Leo Damore that he provided Miller with details of the testimony that had been given by key witnesses such as Christopher Look, Stanley Moore and Ross Richards. This was vitally important in developing a defence strategy. For example, pressure was then put on Moore and Richards not to testify about Kennedy’s drinking in the afternoon and his behaviour in the hotel the morning after the accident.

When Nixon became president he employed Howard Hunt to research the Chappaquiddick. He also sought CIA files on the Kennedy brothers. In his book, The Ends of Power, Haldeman argues that Helms refused Nixon access to some of these files that related to the assassination of JFK. Helms speculates that these files related to the assassination attempts on Fidel Castro. However, he admits that Nixon never told them what they were. Only that he planned to use the information in these files to blackmail Helms and senior members of the CIA.

Another interesting connection is that when Nixon was in difficulty over Watergate he employed Herbert Miller as his lawyer. I suspect he did this in order to discover what Miller had on the Kennedys and the CIA.

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John I can assure you Miller's career as a lawyer would have been over almost as quickly as Kopechne died had he revealed the confidences of one client to another.

Nixon himself was an attorney so he knew that full well.

Nixon probably wanted Miller because he was an excellent attorney. (Sometimes the simplest explanations are the correct ones.)

IMO had Nixon had better legal representation he might very well have survived Watergate. Of course, his first legal representation was (cough!!) John Dean!

Edited by Tim Gratz
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John I can assure you Miller's career as a lawyer would have been over almost as quickly as Kopechne died had he revealed the confidences of one client to another.

The same is true of Miller buying information from Bernie Flynn but he did it. I do not share your confidence in the honesty of lawyers. As Nixon said to Cord Meyer, keep up the illegal CIA work but remember: "don't get caught".

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  • 2 months later...

In his autobiography, The President's Private Eye, Tony Ulasewicz explains that he received a phone call from Jack Caulfield, who was working for Richard Nixon, soon after Mary Jo Kopechne's dead body was found at Chappaquiddick. He was told to get any dirt on Edward Kennedy. Ulasewicz got to the scene of the crime before any of the journalists. As a result he was the first person to interview several of the important witnesses, including the woman who lived in Dike Cottage. Although the woman was reading her book with the light on when the accident happened, Kennedy did not knock on her door when the accident took place. Ulasewicz also interviewed the people who examined Mary Jo's body. He also interviewed John Farrar, the scuba diver who pulled Mary Jo out of Kennedy's car. Farrar argued that Mary Jo had been trapped alive for several hours inside the car.

In the Senate Watergate Report there is an interesting reference to Mary Jo Kopechne. John Dean testified that he was directed by Deputy Attorney General Richard Kleindienst to call Cartha DeLoach, the Deputy Director of the FBI, to find out about the foreign travels of Mary Jo Kopechne. He later gave this information to Jack Caulfield at the White House (pages 228-229). The committee do not appear to have asked why Nixon was interested in this information. Nor did it say what time period that Nixon was interested in. I wonder if it was about Mary Jo's foreign visits in 1963? Did she go to Cuba for JFK? Was she playing a similar role to Lisa Howard? After all, at the time she was working for JFK's close friend, George Smathers. However, soon after the assassination she went to work for Robert Kennedy.

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Namebase entry for Mary Jo Kopechne:

http://www.namebase.org/xkoo/Mary-Jo-Kopechne.html

Anderson,J. Peace, War, and Politics. 1999 (138-40)

Groden,R. Livingstone,H. High Treason. 1990 (321, 325)

Kessler,R. The Sins of the Father. 1997 (388)

Summers,A. The Arrogance of Power. 2000 (379)

Vanity Fair 1993-09 (200, 206, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 223-6)

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  • 4 weeks later...

While this is happening Christopher Look comes across Kennedy’s car (12.45 am.). Look sees three people in the car (Mary Jo and the two men). The car drives off. Look then goes to Lawrence Cottage where he talks to Ray LaRosa, Nance Lyons and Mary Lyons.

What prompted Christopher Look at this point to go to the Lawrence Cabin? What did he talk about? Presumeably no one yet knew about Mary Jo's disappearance.

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What prompted Christopher Look at this point to go to the Lawrence Cabin? What did he talk about? Presumeably no one yet knew about Mary Jo's disappearance.

Here is the relevant passage from Leo Damore's book, Senatorial Privilege : The Chappaquiddick Cover-Up (1983):

Domininick Arena had to be reminded by reporter Ed Crosetti of The Boston Record-American, "Chief, you better talk to 'Huck' Look." Arena had neglected to question the deputy sheriff in the confusion of events on Saturday. Look's comments at Dike Bridge hadn't seemed critical.Whether the accident occurred at 11: 15 a .m. as Kennedy said in his report, or after Look saw the car, didn't make much difference insofar as a leaving-the-scene charge was concerned. Arena said, "The question of time only became an issue after the press picked up inconsistencies in Kennedy's report."

A husky man with the high color of the outdoors, and a plainspoken, country-boy manner, Look was reluctant to retell his story officially for the record in view of the Senator's published account of the accident.

Look regretted having blurted out information before he realized its significance.

Look had seen a dark car between 12:40 a.m. and 12.45 a.m., Saturday morning approaching the bend on Chappaquiddick Road at the center of the intersection of Dike Road. Arena noted, "He is positive there was a man driving and that there was someone next to him. He 'thinks there may have been someone else in the back seat but he's not sure." The car appeared "unsure or lost." Look stopped, and started to walk toward the car, but the driver had sped off down Dike Road.

Look's story sounded OK to Arena. "The thing that bothered me about it was, 'Huck' was so adamant about his time. I did believe he saw this particular thing, but I was between a stone and a hard place because I couldn't disprove Kennedy's time."

Look was more closely interrogated by George Killen and Bernie Flynn when the two detectives arrived in Edgartown around noon....

Killen knew "Huck" Look as a reliable and responsible court officer from cases he'd prosecuted in Edgartown. Look agreed to accompany the police officers to Chappaquiddick to reenact his encounter with the "Kennedy car."

Look had worked as a special police officer at the Edgartown Yacht Club Regatta dance from 8 o'clock to 12:30 on Friday night. Brought to Chappaquiddick in the yacht club's launch, Look got into his car parked at the landing and headed home. He had seen the headlights of a car coming toward him near the curve at the intersection.

"Knowing the road, I slowed down, because there's a sharp corner that people usually will cut too close," Look said. "I wanted to make sure I didn't get sideswiped." Look came almost to a complete stop. A black sedan passed in front of his headlights. "There was a man driving, a woman in the front seat, and either another person or some clothing, a sweater, or a pocketbook in the back seat - what appeared to be a shadow of some kind." The car went off the pavement into the private, dirt Cemetery Road.

By this time Look had proceeded around the corner a little bit, he said. "I observed in my rear view mirror that the car was parked. And it looked like they are going to back up. I thought they wanted information, that they were lost or something."

Look got out of his car and walked toward the other vehicle. He was 25 to 30 feet away when the car started backing up toward him, tail lights showing all over the deputy sheriff uniform he was wearing. Look believed the driver must have seen him, as the lights glanced off the badge and whistle on his shirt. He started to call out an offer of help, but the car took off down Dike Road in a cloud of dust. He observed a Massachusetts registration letter "L", he said. "And I did sort of a photostatic thing in my mind that it had sevens in it, at the beginning and the end."

Look returned to his car. A short distance from the intersection he saw two women and a man doing a snake dance down the middle of the road, "like a conga line." He stopped to ask if they needed a lift. The tall girl of the trio said, "Shove off, buddy. We're not pick-ups." The man in the group apologized. "Thank you, no," he said. "We're just going over there to our house."

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What prompted Christopher Look at this point to go to the Lawrence Cabin? What did he talk about? Presumeably no one yet knew about Mary Jo's disappearance.

Here is the relevant passage from Leo Damore's book, Senatorial Privilege : The Chappaquiddick Cover-Up (1983):

Domininick Arena had to be reminded by reporter Ed Crosetti of The Boston Record-American, "Chief, you better talk to 'Huck' Look." Arena had neglected to question the deputy sheriff in the confusion of events on Saturday. Look's comments at Dike Bridge hadn't seemed critical.Whether the accident occurred at 11: 15 a .m. as Kennedy said in his report, or after Look saw the car, didn't make much difference insofar as a leaving-the-scene charge was concerned. Arena said, "The question of time only became an issue after the press picked up inconsistencies in Kennedy's report."

A husky man with the high color of the outdoors, and a plainspoken, country-boy manner, Look was reluctant to retell his story officially for the record in view of the Senator's published account of the accident.

Look regretted having blurted out information before he realized its significance.

Look had seen a dark car between 12:40 a.m. and 12.45 a.m., Saturday morning approaching the bend on Chappaquiddick Road at the center of the intersection of Dike Road. Arena noted, "He is positive there was a man driving and that there was someone next to him. He 'thinks there may have been someone else in the back seat but he's not sure." The car appeared "unsure or lost." Look stopped, and started to walk toward the car, but the driver had sped off down Dike Road.

Look's story sounded OK to Arena. "The thing that bothered me about it was, 'Huck' was so adamant about his time. I did believe he saw this particular thing, but I was between a stone and a hard place because I couldn't disprove Kennedy's time."

Look was more closely interrogated by George Killen and Bernie Flynn when the two detectives arrived in Edgartown around noon....

Killen knew "Huck" Look as a reliable and responsible court officer from cases he'd prosecuted in Edgartown. Look agreed to accompany the police officers to Chappaquiddick to reenact his encounter with the "Kennedy car."

Look had worked as a special police officer at the Edgartown Yacht Club Regatta dance from 8 o'clock to 12:30 on Friday night. Brought to Chappaquiddick in the yacht club's launch, Look got into his car parked at the landing and headed home. He had seen the headlights of a car coming toward him near the curve at the intersection.

"Knowing the road, I slowed down, because there's a sharp corner that people usually will cut too close," Look said. "I wanted to make sure I didn't get sideswiped." Look came almost to a complete stop. A black sedan passed in front of his headlights. "There was a man driving, a woman in the front seat, and either another person or some clothing, a sweater, or a pocketbook in the back seat - what appeared to be a shadow of some kind." The car went off the pavement into the private, dirt Cemetery Road.

By this time Look had proceeded around the corner a little bit, he said. "I observed in my rear view mirror that the car was parked. And it looked like they are going to back up. I thought they wanted information, that they were lost or something."

Look got out of his car and walked toward the other vehicle. He was 25 to 30 feet away when the car started backing up toward him, tail lights showing all over the deputy sheriff uniform he was wearing. Look believed the driver must have seen him, as the lights glanced off the badge and whistle on his shirt. He started to call out an offer of help, but the car took off down Dike Road in a cloud of dust. He observed a Massachusetts registration letter "L", he said. "And I did sort of a photostatic thing in my mind that it had sevens in it, at the beginning and the end."

Look returned to his car. A short distance from the intersection he saw two women and a man doing a snake dance down the middle of the road, "like a conga line." He stopped to ask if they needed a lift. The tall girl of the trio said, "Shove off, buddy. We're not pick-ups." The man in the group apologized. "Thank you, no," he said. "We're just going over there to our house."

Judging from this, Look did not go to the Lawrence Cottage nor is it likely that the car he encountered was Kennedy's.

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Judging from this, Look did not go to the Lawrence Cottage nor is it likely that the car he encountered was Kennedy's.

I disagree with both these points. I cannot see why Huck Look would lie about this. What would be his motivation for telling this false story? Leo Damore points out that Look was reluctant to make a fuss about this once he knew Edward Kennedy’s account differed from his. The authorities eventually decided to go with Kennedy’s story rather than believe Look. However, Kennedy lied about other aspects of the case. Might he also have lied about the time of the accident. Maybe Kennedy was not in the car when the accident took place. It is possible that Mary Jo was in the car with two other men.

Look’s times had to be right as he was a special police officer at the Edgartown Yacht Club Regatta dance from 8 o'clock to 12:30 on that Friday night. His identification of the car certainly fits the one that Kennedy was using that weekend. Police officers were unable to trace any other car that was on that road at that time.

It was not surprising that Look approached the cottage. Several people in the area heard the noise of the music coming from the party (it was normally a very quiet area). Anyway, Look’s story was later confirmed by the two people he talked to that night.

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Judging from this, Look did not go to the Lawrence Cottage nor is it likely that the car he encountered was Kennedy's.

I disagree with both these points. I cannot see why Huck Look would lie about this. What would be his motivation for telling this false story? Leo Damore points out that Look was reluctant to make a fuss about this once he knew Edward Kennedy’s account differed from his. The authorities eventually decided to go with Kennedy’s story rather than believe Look. However, Kennedy lied about other aspects of the case. Might he also have lied about the time of the accident. Maybe Kennedy was not in the car when the accident took place. It is possible that Mary Jo was in the car with two other men.

Look’s times had to be right as he was a special police officer at the Edgartown Yacht Club Regatta dance from 8 o'clock to 12:30 on that Friday night. His identification of the car certainly fits the one that Kennedy was using that weekend. Police officers were unable to trace any other car that was on that road at that time.

It was not surprising that Look approached the cottage. Several people in the area heard the noise of the music coming from the party (it was normally a very quiet area). Anyway, Look’s story was later confirmed by the two people he talked to that night.

I did not say that Huck Look lied and I do not believe that he did. There is no mention in the quoted excerpt that he went to the Lawrence Cottage or that he said he went there. If he did go there, I have yet to find anything about it from any other web site which is why I'm curious about what really occurred.

I'm sure he encountered two men and a woman doing a conga just as he said but he didn't recognize them and he only has a vague impression of the car they were in. I have since read at another site that the two car sightings were separate incidents and that the conga dancers were three other persons from the Lawrence Cottage party, not Mary Jo and Ted Kennedy. None of that is clear in the quoted excerpt.

I have become convinced that Ted Kennedy's story contains several falsehoods but why he told the lies he did remains a mystery to me. A man so cold blooded as to appear perfectly relaxed and jovial the next morning after such an experience would surely have behaved with more intelligence immediately after the crash and would have come up with a better story than the one he finally told.

Is he the reprehensible spoiled rich kid that is usually portrayed or the victim of a frame-up and coercion intended to keep him from ever reaching the White House? I wish I knew.

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