Chappaquiddick Address Persuasive Speech
My fellow citizens: I have requested this opportunity to talk to the people of Massachusetts about
the tragedy which happened last Friday evening. This morning I entered a plea of guilty to the
charge of leaving the scene of an accident. Prior to my appearance in court it would have been
improper for me to comment on these matters. But tonight I am free to tell you what happened and
to say what it means to me.
It has been seven years since my first election to the Senate. You and I share many
memories—some of them have been glorious, some have been very sad. The opportunity to work
with you and serve Massachusetts has made my life worthwhile.
I regard as indefensible the fact that I did not report the accident to the police immediately. I regard
as indefensible the fact that I did not report the accident to the police immediately.
The events on that night have been described to you in detail. I made immediate and repeated
efforts to save Mary Jo by diving into the strong and murky current, but succeeded only in
increasing my state of utter exhaustion and alarm.
I have no doubt that the facts of the accident are as I have described them. I have no doubt that my
conduct and conversations during the next several hours make no sense to me at all.
I have made a statement to the people of Massachusetts because I believe that they have a right to
know the facts and because I must seek their advice and opinion. I recognize that the decision I
must make about my political future is a decision I must finally make on my own.
I ask you tonight, the people of Massachusetts, to think this through with me. In facing this decision,
I seek your advice and opinion. In making it, I seek your prayers—for this is a decision that I will
have finally to make on my own.
It has been written: A man does what he must—in spite of personal consequences, in spite of
obstacles, and dangers, and pressures—and that is the basis of all human morality.
Whatever may be the sacrifices he faces, if he follows his conscience—the loss of his friends, his
fortune, his contentment, even the esteem of his fellow man—each man must decide for himself the
course he will follow. The stories of the past courage cannot supply courage itself. For this, each
man must look into his own soul.
I pray that I can have the courage to make the right decision. Whatever is decided, whatever the
future holds for me, I hope that I shall have—be able to put this most recent tragedy behind me and
make some further contribution to our state and mankind—whether it be in public or private life.
Thank you and good night.
