On the Right

The Right On Taking the Fifth

New York, Aug. 15–What Senator Kennedy has done, in effect, is to plead the Fifth Amendment. Not only has he said, or rather has had it said in his behalf, that he will not ever again discuss the mystery of Chappaquiddick, he has apparently sworn his entire The Massachusetts judiciary meanwhile give promise of cooperating. So do the police in Edgartown, who acted towards the Senator like equerries. At this point dignitaries flew into Hyannis Port from all over the country to contrive a statement which was a combination of tusheries (“I was not under the influence of alcohol”), and heroic but guarded self-mortification (‘what I then did was indefensible’).

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William F. Buckley Jr.

William F. Buckley Jr. founded National Review magazine in 1955.

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The Right On Taking the Fifth

New York, Aug. 15–What Senator Kennedy has done, in effect, is to plead the Fifth Amendment. Not only has he said, or rather has had it said in his behalf, that he will not ever again discuss the mystery of Chappaquiddick, he has apparently sworn his entire The Massachusetts judiciary meanwhile give promise of cooperating. So do the police in Edgartown, who acted towards the Senator like equerries. At this point dignitaries flew into Hyannis Port from all over the country to contrive a statement which was a combination of tusheries (“I was not under the influence of alcohol”), and heroic but guarded self-mortification (‘what I then did was indefensible’).