The Kennedys: A Private Inquest

From the beginning, the Kennedy-Kopechne case has been viewed by most Americans in terms of personal tragedy and political impact. But its legal implications, as Edward Kennedy and his advisers are painfully aware, are still to be resolved. The fact that Kennedy pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident does not completely preclude prosecution on a more serious charge. An official inquest could determine whether grounds exist for further proceedings, and last week, after nearly two months of delay, the procedure for an inquest was settled.

Originally, the inquest was to...