Kennedy Memoir Reveals Guilt, Remorse

(AP)  In a posthumous memoir, Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy writes of fear and remorse surrounding the fateful events on Chappaquiddick Island in 1969, when his car accident left a woman dead, and says he accepted the finding that a lone gunman assassinated his brother President John F. Kennedy.

The memoir, "True Compass," is to be published Sept. 14 by Twelve, a division of the Hachette book group. The 532-page book was obtained early by The New York Times.

In it, Kennedy says his actions on Chappaquiddick on July 18, 1969, were "inexcusable." He says he was afraid and "made terrible decisions" and had to live with the guilt for more than four decades.

CBSNews.com's complete coverage of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's life and death

Kennedy drove off a bridge into a pond. He swam to safety, leaving Mary Jo Kopechne in the car.

Kopechne, a worker with slain Sen. Robert F. Kennedy's campaign, was found dead in the submerged car's back seat 10 hours later. Kennedy, then 37, pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident and got a suspended sentence and probation.

Kennedy also writes in the memoir that he always accepted the official findings on his brother John's assassination.

He said he had a full briefing by Earl Warren, the chief justice on the commission that investigated the Nov. 22, 1963, Dallas shooting, which was attributed to Lee Harvey Oswald. He said he was convinced the Warren Commission got it right and he was "satisfied then, and satisfied now."

In the book, Kennedy writes candidly about his battle with brain cancer and his "self-destructive drinking," especially after the 1968 death of his brother Robert.

He also explains why he decided to run for the presidency in 1980, saying he was motivated in part by his differences with then-President Jimmy Carter. He criticized Carter's go-slow approach to providing universal health care.

The book was written with the help of a collaborator and was based on contemporaneous notes taken by Kennedy throughout his life and hours of recordings for an oral history project.

Kennedy died last week at age 77.

[cbvill72]

Is the vetting process for the new seat going to include background checks into each candidates past. At a minimum, the new Senator should 1. Have left someone to die in an underwater car at some point in his/her life. 2. Should not serve a day in jail for his crimes. 3. Should then proclaim to a President "Are there two types of justice in this country...one for common folk and one for the high and mighty. 4. He should be able to say #3 without the slightest bit of shame. Ahhh Teddy....Thanks for dying you POS.

[oiaf0831]

Oh, sure it was "inexcusable." But that didn't stop the big lummox from making himself the most powerful member of the Senate for 40 years afterwards.

Awwww, he spent the whole 40 years wracked with guilt. Like the man who cried all the way to the bank...

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How dare you make such a racist comment. All of the Kennedys were great men, and they are sorely missed.

[plplearecrzy]

Seriously, you need to relax it is someone's comment. I don't believe that CBS reported that as fact.

[exaag]

In reply to the question "what has your family done for the nation lately" I can top the list by stating proudly that we have never voted for a filthy Kennedy. FYI, Joseph Kennedy Sr was not only a bootlegger, he was an outspoken fan of Adolph Hitler ("the modern hope for Europe") who so outraged the British that the government demanded that FDR recall him. JFK caused the loss of the PT107 by parking the ship in an active shipping lane, at night, without a proper watch, and the ship was cut in half by a destroyer. The navy was in the process of court-martialing JFK for malfeasance and incompetence when Pappa Joe stepped in, and the Court martial mysteriously became a medal. (To his credit, however, at least JFK swam back to help crewmen, unlike Teddy). RFK was JFK's angry little hatchet man in 1960 and the Democrat party uniformly disliked him. Pappa Joe and JFK ran one of the most filthy and corrupt campaigns in history when they trashed Hubert Humphrey (a true liberal and honorable fellow) and bought the W. Va. primary in 1960. Speaking of 1960, there is also the little matter of the Kennedy clan and its love affair with the Trafficante Crime family ( the actual basis for JFK'S assasination in 63 when he and RFK double-crossed the mob). Please please please, do not tell me or anyone else who was there that the Kennedy clan was honest, moral or in any way superior to any other machine politicians . I am sure glad that Teddy is sorry for Chappaquidick in a posthumous memoir. Too bad he was not man enough to face up to it when alive.

[pepperwood2]

Kopechne, a worker with slain Sen. Robert F. Kennedy's campaign, was found dead in the submerged car's back seat 10 hours later. Kennedy, then 37, pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident and got a suspended sentence and probation.

Susan Atkins, the terminally ill Charles Manson follower who admitted stabbing actress Sharon Tate 40 years ago, lost what was likely to be her last bid for freedom.

Sometimes the Truth is Stranger than Fiction. So Sad!

[ianlou]

Admit it,
Those of you bashing Kennedy's personal behavior are doing so because you hate his politics.

I'll admit I do the same thing with George Jr. and Cheney.

I've found bashing Rush Limbough's personal behavior too easy.

[PostalOneToo]

There ARE pro-choice, pro gay-rights Catholics out there. Some people can think for themselves.

[PostalOneToo]

by Benton09 September 3, 2009 8:35 AM EDT
Kennedy's bad decision killed one. He admits it. Bush and Cheney's bad decision killed hundreds of thousands (both sides and innocents) and still counting. They will never admit they were wrong. It's the Republican way.

Well said, Benton, good for you!

[edgy44]

Having a big bag of money helps, but money is a byproduct of raw power. The Kennedy boys understood that. Hopefully they bred a few who will know power themselves.

[bubbadubba]

The man is dead, he can't bother anyone now, leave him and his family alone please. What is the point of trashing a dead man?