Bobby Kennedy's Presidential campaign had been ably assisted by the "Boiler room girls". A team of young women who were completely dedicated to the Kennedy cause. They were: Mary Jo Kopechne, Rosemary Keough, Nance Lyons, Mary Ellen Lyons, Susan Tannenbaum and Ester Newburgh. More than just secretaries, the girls' commitment made their role vital to the campaign. In June of 1968 Bobby was assassinated and grief overwhelmed the Kennedy family and the Boiler room girls. It had not even been five years since the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

Almost every summer, members of the Kennedy family had traveled to Martha's Vineyard to participate in the Edgartown regatta. 1968 would to be an exception. Bobby's murder was a massive blow to the family and those cl

It should be noted at this point that Chappaquid*censored* Road/Main Street was a asphalt road, and Dike Road a dirt road. Either Kennedy or Kopechne, given the number of times they had been driven over the roads and Bridge that day, would have recognized they were going the wrong way when they realized they were on a dirt road. At the inquest Kennedy testified that by the time he realized he was on a dirt road he had driven off the Bridge. At the speed Kennedy stated he was driving, 20 mph, this seemed unlikely.

So just who was driving the car? And was there another person in the back seat? We may never know the answer.

Kennedy: At no time did I drive into Cemetery Road.

In his inquest testimony, Kennedy had gone into detail about trying to reach doorknobs, feeling for an open window and even knowing that he was upside down in the car. Farrar noted that it would be very unlikely that Kennedy would have been so composed and have been able to locate the door handle. (YTedK) Damage to the car windshield conflicts significantly with Kennedy's testimony about being in the car. At the inquest he said: "There was complete blackness. Water seemed to rush in from every point, from the windshield, from underneath me, above me". The car windshield, though extremely cracked, still had safety film holding the glass in place, this made it impossible for water to come in through it. (YTedK) The precision in details that Ted had regarding the doorknobs seems questionable when he was incorrect with such an important aspect as the windshild.

No injuries were apparent when Kopechne's body was examined, but having been immersed in salt water for hours, they could certainly have healed. Kennedy had no visible injuries, and Chappaquid*censored* Police Chief Jim Arena noted: "I found it hard to believe the Senator had been in a major automobile accident. His face bore no traces of any marks. He never appeared in any kind of physical discomfort, or in shock, or confused." (McGinniss 544) Leo Damore notes that Kennedy's family physician later diagnosed that Kennedy had suffered "concussion, contusions and abrasion of the scalp and acute cervical strain".

Many questions that will never be answered ultimately hold the truth to May Jo Kopechne's death. Why were Gargan and Markham wet or even damp at this time? Why had Kennedy been chatting in a normal fashion with no mention of the accident until they arrived? Was this the first Kennedy had heard of the accident? Had Gargan and Markham only just carried out their desperate rescue attempt instead of the previous night? Why wasn't an autopsy demanded?

Some common words found in the essay are:
Gargan Markham, Mary Jo's, Dike Road, Chappaquid*censored* Kennedy, Mary Jo, Cemetery Road, Markham Kennedy, Kenneth Kappel, Peachey YTedK, YTedK Damage, gargan markham, mary jo, dike road, lawrence cottage, ted kennedy, boiler girls, kennedy stated, rescue attempt, mary jo's, martha's vineyard, dike bridge twice, mary jo kopechne, morning immediately contacted, immediately contacted police, gargan paul markham,
Approximate Word count = 3747
Approximate Pages = 15 (250 words per page double spaced)