How Do We Remember Chappaquiddick And Mary Jo Kopechne, 50 Years Later?

On July 18, 1969, Massachusetts U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy drove a black Oldsmobile off the Dike Bridge into the water of Pucha Pond in Chappaquiddick. Also in the car was Mary Jo Kopechne, a staffer who had worked on Robert Kennedy's campaign.

Kopechne died in the car. She was 28 years old.

Kennedy did not report the accident to the police for 10 hours.

On the 50th anniversary of that day, we look back on what exactly happened in the hours following the accident and how the incident reverberates today.

Bob Bruguiere, a summer patrolman for Edgartown police who responded to the scene of the accident in July 1969.

Matt Storin, former editor of The Boston Globe who was a correspondent in the newspaper's Washington bureau when Chappaquiddick broke. He wrote about his experience covering the story for WBUR's Artery. He tweets @MattStorin.

Thomas Whalen, associate professor of social science at Boston University. He is the author of two books about John F. Kennedy and his family, including “JFK and His Enemies: A Portrait of Power." He tweets @TomWhalenBU.

Joan Vennochi, Boston Globe columnist. Her most recent column on Chappaquiddick is called "Chappaquiddick at 50: Ted Kennedy’s Long Life In Public Service Was A Privilege Of Different Times." She tweets @joan_vennochi.