○  edward m. kennedy: chappaquiddick  ○

ater and impulsively swam across, nearly drowning once again in the effort, and returned to my hotel about 2 a.m. and collapsed in my room.

i remember going out at one point and saying something to the room clerk.

in the morning, with my mind somewhat more lucid, i made an effort to call a family legal advisor, burke marshall, from a public telephone on the chappaquiddick side of the ferry and belatedly reported the accident to the martha's vineyard police.

today, as i mentioned, i felt morally obligated to plead guilty to the charge of leaving the scene of an accident. no words on my part can possibly express the terrible pain and suffering i feel over this tragic incident. this last week has been an agonizing one for me and for the members of my family, and the grief we feel over the loss of a wonderful friend will remain with us the rest of our lives.

these events, the publicity, innuendo, and whispers which have surrounded them and my admission of guilt this morning raises the question in my mind of whether my standing among the people of my state has been so impaired that i should resign my seat in the united states senate. if at any time the citizens of massachusetts should lack confidence in their senator's character or his ability, with or without justification, he could not in my opinion adequately perform his duty and should not continue in office.

the people of this state, the state which sent john quincy adams, and daniel webster, and charles sumner, and henry cabot lodge, and john kennedy to the united states senate are entitled to representation in that body by men who inspire their utmost confidence. for this reason, i would understand full well why some might think it right for me to resign. for me t

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