Aunty is closest to accuracy re: Ted and Mary Jo. In 1969 DUI was a minor crime compared to today. A misdemeanor. 2nd degree manslaughter would result in small jail time for the average citizen in 1969. But you already know their is at least a two-tiered legal system in the US, one for average people and another for people with money, privilege, and power.

There was lack of evidence - as in real legally admissible in court evidence - for even a 2nd degree manslaughter charge, so no way was the DA gonna' touch that. And given all the Kennedy money and political power, he would have skated on the leaving the scene of an accident charge, but it would have been just too obvious and egregious. It's fairly likely Kennedy was guilty of 2nd degree man., but that's not the same as a legally admissible case.

Funny thing about 1969 is that the general public was more curious about the scandal of a potential affair between TK and MJK than they were about DUI. The gallows humor joke of the time was that as they were driving back to the mainland, MJ told TK that she was pregnant, causing Ted to drive off the bridge, the question being was it deliberate or not. All that aside, there was no indication of any affair since they were newly acquainted. However, had they made it back to the mainland and their hotel (they were staying at the same one), one may have been in the offing, but that's just nosy speculation.

Getting back to the US justice system, or lack of it, there was an interesting piece in the news a couple weeks ago following Michael Vic's reinstatement into the NFL. Really shows the disparities in justice. Vic received disproportionately harsher justice, 20 mo., for torturing and killing dogs than several NFLers who variously served zero, 23 days, and 90 days for forms of manslaughter and murder. You get the higher tier of justice if you're a rich celebrity in the US. And anyone thinks it's strange that an uber-rich senator from an uber-powerful political family would receive preferential treatment in the US legal system? He plead guilty to leaving the scene of an accident, and that went on his record. Chances are if Teddy had made the Green Bay Packers (he was decent in college and got a look at from the GBP), he could have skated and dodged even that little blemish on his legal record.

Focusing on chappaquidic and ignoring the suite of cases of double standard justice, and the lack of legal evidence, suggests the protests may be more political in nature than a personal protest directed toward the legal system and the facts of the case.

Sg