Ed Klein, former Newsweek editor and long-time friend of Teddy Kennedy, appeared on Diane Rehm’s radio show and revealed something very disturbing about the late senator:
“I don’t know if you know this or not, but one of his favorite topics of humor was, indeed, Chappaquiddick itself. And he would ask people, have you heard any new jokes about Chappaquiddick? That is just the most amazing thing. Its not that he didn’t feel remorse about the death of Mary Jo Kopechne, but that he still always saw the other side of everything and the ridiculous side of things, too.”
So in honor of The Lion of the Senate, here’s our all-time favorite Teddy Kennedy joke:
An aide went into Rose Kennedy’s bedroom early one morning to tell her the sad news that Jackie had died. “That’s terrible,” the old lady rasped. “Was Teddy driving?”
That, my friends, is a great joke. It’s short (just 29 words), yet manages to include three different Kennedys and evokes Chappaquiddick without mentioning it by name.
This post was last modified on September 3, 2009
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I would rather hunt with Dick Cheney than ride in a car with Ted Kennedy
It wasn't all that funny to me, it was terrifying -- especially when I realized Ted wasn't coming back and I tried to scratch my way out of the car. No, it wasn't funny to me at all.
Teddy- What's wrong dear?
Mary Jo- Oh I don't know lately I've just been a little worried.
Teddy- Worried? Worried about what.
Mary Jo- What if . . . what if I'm pregnant?
Teddy- Oh that . . . well my dear, we'll just have to cross that bridge when we get to it.
The punch line should be "We'll just have to drive off that bridge when we get to it." But it's funny either way.