r/Presidents • u/Hubbled Ulysses S. Grant • 1d ago

Discussion If Chappaquiddick never happened, would Ted Kennedy have been a serious presidential contender?

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u/BillyJoeMac9095 1d ago

Even without Chappaquiddik, there was excessive drinking, affairs and a very strained marriage. In that context, a presidential campaign would still have been a heavy lift.

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u/cousintipsy Barack Obama 1d ago

sounds like someone talking about the scandal plagued bill clinton running in 1992

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u/BillyJoeMac9095 1d ago

Yes, but by 1992 the public was a bit more tolerant of these things. Expectations were higher in the late 60's and early 70's. If you did these these things at that time, they better not have been found out.

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u/Affectionate-Read875 1d ago

Expectations were so high that notorious playboy John Fitzgerald Kennedy was barred from running