The bridge at Chappaquiddick [Paperback]

Jack Olsen (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 254 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown; 1st edition (1969)
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0006DY2EQ
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,978,168 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Passion Always Prevails, September 27, 2002

By 

J. Reynolds (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Bridge at Chappaquiddick (Mass Market Paperback)

This is an extremely thorough and interesting examination of Ted Kennedy's Chappaquiddick incident, meticulously presenting and analyzing the evidence surrounding the case. The author's tenacity demonstrates that passion in a subject invariably will yield complete understanding of that subject. In this case, author Olsen concludes that Kennedy and Kopechne indeed were in the car together that night, but were frightened when it appeared a policman would stop them. Kennedy evidently panicked, not wanting to be caught in the auto with her, and he got out; she then drove away, toward the bridge and her death. Kennedy walked back to his hotel room, where someone saw him (dry and calm) a little later, seeking a newspaper. The seat in the car was set for Kennedy, meaning that a shorter driver on a dark night would not have exercised as much control of the vehicle as he... thus being vulnerable to running off the road.

So, Olsen concludes that Kennedy was not in the car, he wasn't present to dive repeatedly into the water to try to save her, and he didn't even know about the drowning until the following morning -- thus Kennedy was actually innocent of the general accusation that he caused her death. Problem is, he was in fact guilty of something equally dark, and you'll have to read the book to see Olsen's comments about that.

The author's passion was admirable. It reminded me of Robert Graysmith's pursuit of the Zodiac killer, his personal immersion in the case. "The Bridge" is a terrific book. Find a copy and read it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Despite Wingnut Mouth-breathers ..., September 15, 2007

By 

Guydee "GuyDee" (Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bridge at Chappaquiddick (Mass Market Paperback)

like the reviewer who previously broke wind above, there are those who respect facts. We won't ever know the real truth unless Kennedy himself gives a deathbed statement -- maybe not even then. But this author has covered the known facts very well -- especially why Ted seemed blissfully unaware the morning after the tragedy. (He was also comfortably walking about without a neck brace and showing not a sign of any concussion).
Even dark conspiracy theories, like dippy would favor, can't explain Ten's ability to walk on water. P.S. I have no use for Kennedy's politics.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Graceful, Evocative Writing, July 28, 2007

By 

amphyrion (New England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bridge at Chappaquiddick (Mass Market Paperback)

As tragic and controversial as its subject may be, this dynamic work evokes a flavor of Edgartown and environs that stands unmatched. Regardless of one's opinion of Teddy K. and his cohorts and of the later information which may or may not negate the author's basic assumptions about the case, one is left here with simply a terrific read: boldly-presented characters and incidents, some humorous, some farcical; the mysterious nighttime goings-on on Chappaquiddick and off, pungent analysis of the accident, most of it novel--and a Hopper-esque portrait of an old resort locale bisected by the genteel and the rambunctious amidst flapping sails, the shouts of drunks in the night, classic residences, gamy fishing shacks and the "lightly saline scent of the sea".