After RFK died for many the question was not if
Ted Kennedy would be president but when.

Some thought '68 was the when & started a draft
Ted Kennedy boom @ the Democratic Convention.
But Kennedy said no not now.

The press viewed the Kennedy restoration as
a fait accompli & the when was the 1972 election.

In January of 1969,after Kennedy had upset Russell
Long for majority whip, the press gushed about the
Senator of Camalot.

Mary McGrory knew that the '72 race was on.

Because for the Kennedy's "it was never to early" to start
campaigning.

The Wall Street Journal believed that Kennedy would "begin
a carefully calculated..& steadly accelerating campaign"
for the presidency in '72.

David Broder wrote that Kennedy "was a clear & present
danger to Nixon's hopes for a 2nd term."

Time magazine, January 10th,1969 cover story.

(link...)

Then July 18th,1969.Chappaquiddick.

On July 20th,1969,when President Kennedy's vision of
putting a man on the moon was being realized.

Ted Kennedy was silent holed up deep in the bunker
of the family compound.

Hyannis Port was no Sea of Tranquillity for
the Kennedy clan.

All the Kings men were trying to put Teddy
back together again.

In ancient tragedy it's fate.
Modern tragedy is moral weakness.

All the king's men were feverishly trying to change
the narrative of Chappaquiddick from a modern
tragedy of moral weakness to the more palitable
ancient narrative of fate.

"the only surviving brother in a family pursued by tragedy"

"like his 3 brothers before him in mortal compition with
an unlucky star"

"twisted fate..a battle with doom.."

But all the King's men could not put Teddy
back together again.

The American people believed Ted Kennedy's actions
forty years ago today to be moral weakness.

At least enough of a moral weakness to deny Kennedy
the presidency he wanted so badly.

Indeed Chappiquiddick is an epic American tragedy.