Before Chappaquiddick, William C. Kashatus
Before Chappaquiddick, William C. Kashatus
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Before Chappaquiddick
The Untold Story of Mary Jo Kopechne and the Kennedy Brothers

Author: William C. Kashatus

Narrator: William C. Kashatus, Traber Burns

Unabridged: 6 hr 1 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/31/2020

Synopsis

On July 18, 1969, a car driven by Senator Edward M. Kennedy plunged off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island, off the coast of Cape Cod. Mary Jo Kopechne, a twenty-eight-year-old former staffer for Kennedy’s brother Robert, died in the crash. The scandal that followed demeaned Kopechne’s reputation and scapegoated her for Ted Kennedy’s inability to run for the presidency instead of acknowledging her as an innocent victim in a tragedy that took her life.William C. Kashatus’s biography of Mary Jo Kopechne illuminates the life of a politically committed young woman who embodied the best ideals of the sixties. Arriving in Washington in 1963, Kopechne soon joined the staff of Robert F. Kennedy and committed herself to his vision of compassion for the underprivileged, social idealism tempered by political realism, and a more humane nation. Kashatus details her work as an energetic and trusted staffer who became one of the famed Boiler Room Girls at the heart of RFK’s presidential campaign. Shattered by his assassination, Kopechne took a break from politics before returning as a consultant. It was at a reunion of the Boiler Room Girls that she accepted a ride from Edward Kennedy—a decision she would pay for with her life.The untold—and long overdue—story of a promising life cut short, Before Chappaquiddick tells the human side of one of the most memorable scandals of the 1960s.

About William C. Kashatus

William C. Kashatus holds a PhD in history from the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of more than twenty books, including Jackie and Campy: The Untold Story of Their Rocky Relationship and the Breaking of Baseball’s Color Line (Nebraska, 2014). He has also published essays in a multitude of periodicals, including the Philadelphia Inquirer, American History Magazine, Baltimore Sun, Christian Science Monitor, New York Times, and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Kashatus has appeared on NPR and Pennsylvania Cable Network, as well as on many local television and radio stations.

About Traber Burns

Traber Burns worked for thirty-five years in regional theater, including the New York, Oregon, and Alabama Shakespeare festivals. He also spent five years in Los Angeles appearing in many television productions and commercials, including Lost, Close to Home, Without a Trace, Boston Legal, Grey’s Anatomy, Cold Case, Gilmore Girls, and others.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Valerity (Val) on April 13, 2020

A very interesting book about the innocent woman behind the Chappaquiddick incident. Get to know Mary Jo, rather than all the hype from the news and the innuendo that was tossed around creating scandal. This author really dig into the story, spending much needed time interviewing people who knew Mar......more

Goodreads review by SundayAtDusk on April 11, 2020

As someone who has read a limited amount of articles on Mary Jo Kopechne, I am not sure if William Kashatus is presenting any new information in this book. He definitely wished to present what he felt was a genuine portrait of Miss Kopechne; especially since after her death her name was dragged thro......more

Goodreads review by Kayla on June 25, 2020

The Chappaquickddick tragedy has, in both film and print, largely been told from the Kennedy perspective (are you surprised?) but Kashatus restores Mary Jo Kopechne to the center of the narrative with solid research. He does have to engage the web of rumors surrounding the Kennedys, but I felt that......more

Goodreads review by Shirley on April 18, 2020

Remembering well when this tragedy happened and even remembering where I was when the story broke. This tragedy even more shadowed the moon landing. I have read numerous articles and accounts in books; as well as the movie. What really happened the night Mary Jo Kopecne died? The realities of that ni......more

Goodreads review by Beth on April 21, 2020

Even though I did not grow up in the 60s, this story of the Kennedy brothers and Mary Jo Kopechne peaked my interest. Before Chappaquiddick details the events and people that surround the accident where Mary Jo died at the hands of Ted Kennedy. You get to know Mary Jo's background from childhood to......more

Quotes

“Senator Edward M. Kennedy has dominated the tragic story of Chappaquiddick until now. In Before Chappaquiddick William Kashatus gives us the life story of Mary Jo Kopechne, the young woman who died in Kennedy’s car that summer night in 1969. Inspired by her volunteer work on JFK’s 1960 presidential campaign, Kopechne later became a valued staff member to Robert F. Kennedy. Crushed by his assassination, she rebuilt a political career as a consultant and adviser to Democratic candidates. Ironically, Mary Jo will forever be linked to Ted Kennedy, who was a distant reflection of his elder brothers and the idealism she cherished.” Walter Mears, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and author of The Kennedy Brothers

“William Kashatus’s Before Chappaquiddick is beautifully written, thoughtful, and compassionate. He captures the strength of Mary Jo’s character and does so in the context of the idealistic and often tumultuous sixties. In the process, Kashatus shows that she was innocent of any indecent behavior with Senator Ted Kennedy and that she was unjustly treated by the public and the press. His efforts on Mary Jo’s behalf have given our family much needed solace and comfort.” Georgetta Nelson Potoski, executor of the estate of Joseph and Gwen Kopechne and coauthor of Our Mary Jo

“Before Chappaquiddick captures Mary Jo Kopechne’s intelligence, idealism, and beauty. Weaving her life story into the fabric of the Kennedy brothers’ political careers, Kashatus sets this promising young political consultant free from the rumors and bold-faced lies that have tarnished her reputation for a half century.” Donald D. McFadden, attorney and private investigator for the Kopechne exhumation hearing

“For years after the incident on Chappaquiddick, very little has been published about Mary Jo: who she was, what she and her family suffered. I am so pleased to read Kashatus’s book Before Chappaquiddick and to see Mary Jo’s story told. She was a young woman with ideals. She had hopes and dreams for her future, only to have her life cut short so tragically. She deserves this book, and anyone interested in what happened on the small island of Chappaquiddick so many years ago will find it a worthwhile read.” Leslie H. Leland, foreman for the grand jury inquest into death of Mary Jo Kopechne

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