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i | F Ro, _ I H { ~ ? H fo. - i i i. | |. | L ! TRE ERTETREAL we cnn neeinnenacen Se thee - ~ a eS: = Port, Kennedy was no different th ‘others of his, ° caste. Caer aeomemert> - ee : . He was conscious of the public’s affection and” "even admiration for him, and did nothing to tarnish “the shining public image he enjoyed. Among his “aides, the overriding factor that ‘influenced. ‘many *a-décision Was What ‘they : the voters would react to:this or that. ast > ‘And, until the tragedy of Chappaquiddick Island, © itheir reaction was invariably favorable — but from: “the moment his car plunged from the Dyke Bridge “and, cartied Mary Jo to her doom, Kennedy’s stock - “— politically — has.gone steadily down. . "” Part of that may have been due to his actions laffer the accident, or to the week-long silence that. spreceeded his dramatic televised account of how “Mary Jo died, Arid, ‘almost’ certainly, a major cause twas the widespread ‘feeling that his version left: - many hard questions unanswered, a x one Oe Ls a are | &"“Feven. then, sat whiat seemed to “be. the low point in his fortunes; Kennedy went to the court of public ‘opinion for a verdict on whether he should, continue in office or resign. And from Massachusetts, if- ‘ot from the rést of the world, the decision was ‘overwhelmingly: in his favor. ae? ”. He -annouiced — then — that’ he would’, stay Yon}..and would seek re-election in 1970: But the ’ *eontinuing -déterioration of his position in the public geye may now have forced .a. change in his thinking. .-,.” There -was a fairly widespread suspicion, after “fhe impact of that emotional’ baring of soul. on. . "TV had worn off, that Kennedy: had received ‘spe- Scial; and preferred treatment. There was, from ~ powerful voices ofthe press and public, a demand 2 that. some furthér steps be taken, that ‘there _be ‘an inquest into the circumstances “Of Mary Jo’s w@eath, - .- a a re cele »- Prodded by his own resporisibilities, and perhaps by the voices that were growing louder with every s*passing day; Dist. Atty. Edmund Dinis ordered the- nquiry, and even attempted to gain the sanction 2-of a Pennsylvania court to’secure, a belated autopsy ©, on Mary Jo’s remains. rr ae a? _ Ne eae, am te Seat $218 Pon." is, aPeaae Ere? Be iThrough all. ofj this, Kennedy’s posture was that idf!.a public figure trying: to- salvage as. much as; ‘2d could from*a situation’ that was‘ rapidly becom. | po SO 4, _ ;ing,. for him at least, a disastrous’ debacle. ~ a (s+ Henmade-it clear, soon: after the date for ‘thes Sdinquest-was.set(ihatche: would. -coopérate:.with sity ed “7 i Rote ol ewe 7. BTV Se ei len eee Ee ag Tine SET Sete eS SS a * “would think. — how _. Ke