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Family of Mary Jo Kopechne releases 50-year-old letter from Muhammad Ali
The Times Leader ^ | 7/13/2019 | Bill O’Boyle

Posted on 07/15/2019 9:02:35 PM PDT by Born Conservative

WILKES-BARRE — With the 50th anniversary of her death coming up this week, relatives of Mary Jo Kopechne are making public a letter the Luzerne County native’s parents received from boxer Muhammad Ali shortly after her passing.

In it, Ali urges the family to sue Sen. Ted Kennedy, who was driving the car that plunged off a bridge into a pond on the night of July 18, 1969, from which Kennedy escaped and Kopechne’s lifeless body was recovered the next morning. She was 28.

The letter has been released to the Times Leader by William Nelson and his mother, Georgetta Nelson Potoski, Mary Jo’s first cousin. Potoski’s mother and Kopechne’s mothers were sisters.

Nelson said Ali’s handwritten letter to Joseph Kopechne, dated July 31, 1969, has never been shared outside the family, adding that it has been professionally authenticated by sports experts at Beckett Collectibles and “is a bit controversial to say the least.”

Ali wrote that the family should seek a good lawyer and they should sue Kennedy “for everything he’s got.” Ali suggested there was “an illicit sexual encounter” and he claimed there was foul play involved in Kopechne’s death.

Ted Kennedy never faced any serious charges over the incident and went on to serve for decades in the U.S. Senate. He died in 2009.

Born Cassius Clay in Louisville, Ky., Ali was a three-time heavyweight champion and gold-medal Olympian, who has been acknowledged as one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century. But he also was known for his activism. He changed his name and converted to Islam, spoke out in support of civil rights and opposed the war in Vietnam. Ali was convicted of draft evasion, a conviction he successfully fought all the way to the Supreme Court. He died in 2016.

It is not clear, however, whether or how Ali would have known details about interactions between Kennedy and Kopechne such as he alleged in the letter.

Nelson and his mother, who issued a statement in connection with the release of the letter, expressed gratitude to Ali for the support he showed their family at a time of great anguish. It can be read in full below, and a photo of the letter is attached to this story.

“Shortly after Mary Jo’s death, a young fighter who knew prejudice and injustice when he saw it and fought against them both in his professional and personal life, wrote this letter to the parents of Mary Jo Kopechne,” they wrote. “This letter is an example of the fire and passion that propelled Muhammad Ali to the champion he became in the boxing world as well as the champion he became for the downtrodden in everyday life.”

They note that in 1969 Ali had recently had his boxing titles stripped from him for his draft-evasion conviction, and had lost his means of providing for his family.

“He was by all reports frustrated and angry at the ‘establishment’ for taking away the life he had fought for, earned, and deserved,” they wrote.

His letter to Kopechne’s parents was written days after Kennedy’s televised speech on the Chappaquiddick incident, they note.

“This letter is written by a man swinging with all of his might for justice for a fellow victim and telling Mary Jo’s parents ‘You still have some power.’ Despite his own struggles, Muhammad Ali had the courage to come to Mary Jo’s defense at a time when her character and reputation were being destroyed,” the statement continues. “Mary Jo was being treated as a footnote in her own death when Muhammad Ali took the time to passionately speak out and that meant a lot to her parents Gwen and Joe and it means a lot to us today.”

Nelson and his mother say they feel strongly about releasing the letter even though some in the boxing community may object to the way it will reflect on Ali.

“His stance in this letter may not fit the narrative and image they want to portray of him today, just as his acts of defiance over fifty years ago didn’t fit into their narrative then,” they write in the statement.

“What critics may not realize however is that Muhammad Ali was not alone. After her death, Mary Jo’s parents received thousands of letters from all walks of life,” they add.

“We want to thank Muhammad Ali for defending Mary Jo with the passion and bravery he showed his entire life. God bless him and God bless Mary Jo.”

Nelson and Potoski have long been advocates of telling Kopechne’s story to ensure she will be remembered as an intelligent and hardworking young woman who was dedicated to education and supported the civil rights movement, spending time teaching in Alabama.

They are co-authors of a book, “Our Mary Jo” and co-founders of the Mary Jo Kopechne scholarship fund at Misericordia University.

* * *

STATEMENT ON ALI LETTER

The following is our statement on the Muhammad Ali letter to the Kopechne:

“July 18th, 2019 is the 50th anniversary of Mary Jo Kopechne’s death. Today, we want to take a minute not only to reflect on the memory, character and potential of our girl Mary Jo, but to thank those who came to her defense those many years ago.

“Shortly after Mary Jo’s death, a young fighter who knew prejudice and injustice when he saw it and fought against them both in his professional and personal life, wrote this letter to the parents of Mary Jo Kopechne. This letter is an example of the fire and passion that propelled Muhammad Ali to the champion he became in the boxing world as well as the champion he became for the downtrodden in everyday life. To start to understand why Muhammad Ali wrote this letter, you have to consider his mindset at the time in which he wrote it.

“It was 1969 and amongst all the other challenges he faced, Muhammad Ali had recently had his heavyweight title stripped from him, he was convicted in a court of law for not reporting for service and had lost his means of providing for his family. He was by all reports frustrated and angry at the “establishment” for taking away the life he had fought for, earned, and deserved. Days after Kennedy’s televised speech on the Chappaquiddick incident and witnessing Mary Jo becoming a victim of the “establishment” herself, Muhammad Ali lashed out in her defense. This letter is written by a man swinging with all of his might for justice for a fellow victim and telling Mary Jo’s parents “You still have some power”. Despite his own struggles, Muhammad Ali had the courage to come to Mary Jo’s defense at a time when her character and reputation were being destroyed. Mary Jo was being treated as a footnote in her own death when Muhammad Ali took the time to passionately speak out and that meant a lot to her parents Gwen and Joe and it means a lot to us today.

“This letter has been in our family’s possession for the past fifty years and although it has been authenticated by renowned experts in the sports world, there are some in a boxing co mmunity who are against releasing it. There are a select few who are against showing the world this side of Muhammad Ali because it may taint his “public image” or his “brand.” His stance in this letter may not fit the narrative and image they want to portray of him today just as his acts of defiance over fifty years ago didn’t fit into their narrative then. So once again, fifty years later, there are some who are seeking to silence Muhammad Ali’s voice.

“What critics may not realize however is that Muhammad Ali was not alone. After her death, Mary Jo’s parents received thousands of letters from all walks of life. Muhammad Ali was not the only one who wrote passionate, strongly-worded letters to Mary Jo’s parents in support of her and in order to help ease a parent’s anguish of losing their only child.

“Those familiar with the Chappaquiddick incident know that time after time politics overshadowed the truth as privilege steamrolled justice and to allow this to happen today would be an injustice to Mary Jo’s memory as well as Muhammad Ali’s character and spirit.

“Although colorfully written, we couldn’t be prouder of Muhammad Ali’s act of support and compassion at a time when it was the exception to the rule. We wanted to honor and thank Muhammad Ali by sharing this moment in history with the world and we should use this letter going forward as an example when faced with the choice to defend those who cannot defend themselves. We want to thank Muhammad Ali for defending Mary Jo with the passion and bravery he showed his entire life. God bless him and God bless Mary Jo.

Sincerely,

William Nelson, Georgetta Potoski

* * *

Editor’s Note: The date of Mary Jo Kopechne’s death was incorrect in an earlier web version of this story and in the print edition. It was July 18, 1969.


TOPICS: Local News; Miscellaneous; Reference
KEYWORDS: kennedy; luzernecounty; maryjokopechne; massachusetts; muhammadali; tedkennedy
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To: Born Conservative

Could it be that a 50-year moratorium on commenting on Mary Jo’s death has just expired? Perhaps the family will release more.


41 posted on 07/16/2019 3:05:31 AM PDT by Oratam
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To: headstamp 2

The family got 2 checks, one from an insurance company and one from the Kennedys. The former for about 50 grand, the later almost 100 grand.


42 posted on 07/16/2019 3:09:28 AM PDT by mewzilla (Break out the mustard seeds)
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To: dp0622

The family refused to insist on an autopsy so we will likely never know.


43 posted on 07/16/2019 3:10:58 AM PDT by mewzilla (Break out the mustard seeds)
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To: Born Conservative

Archive of the old Y Ted K.com site. Lots of good primary material.

https://web.archive.org/web/20050226015704/http://www.ytedk.com/


44 posted on 07/16/2019 3:23:31 AM PDT by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: blackdog
Very much belatedly, and not to gloss over Ali's or any American of African descent's mistake in joining the religion of the people who were the actual hunters, captors, and sellers of their ancestors, but I eventually came to the same conclusion he did about the stupidity of American involvement in an Asian civil war. Wrong war in the wrong place, stupidly fought by arrogant Democrats, that damaged this country badly (thanks, LBJ).

My draft lottery number in 1972 was 10 (out of 365) and if not for a couple sports injuries noted at my induction physical I would probably have been called up, and would have reported. But he did pay a price for his stand and did not, for example, scurry off to Canada and continue his boxing career. So looking back now I have respect for a man my grandfather saw fight in pre-championship bouts in Cincinnati and who he described as the most phenomenally gifted boxer he'd ever seen. In his words, "Clay fights like some giant jungle cat". And apparently Clay likewise saw the Kennedy's for the scum they were. So, warts and all, I'll give the man his due.

45 posted on 07/16/2019 3:54:33 AM PDT by katana
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To: Born Conservative
...there are some in a boxing co mmunity who are against releasing it. There are a select few who are against showing the world this side of Muhammad Ali because it may taint his “public image” or his “brand.” His stance in this letter may not fit the narrative and image they want to portray of him today just as his acts of defiance over fifty years ago didn’t fit into their narrative then.

I hope some reporter will ask for an elaboration on this. Precisely who in the boxing community is objecting to a letter that shows Ali on the side of truth, justice, and accountability for irresponsible, degenerate, politically connected elites/ Any what is their motive?

46 posted on 07/16/2019 3:55:47 AM PDT by sphinx
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To: dp0622
and he may not have even been in the car when it went under.

Well he definitely WAS in the car when it went IN the water.........

47 posted on 07/16/2019 4:05:10 AM PDT by Hot Tabasco (I'm in the cleaning business.......I launder money)
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To: Born Conservative

The Delegate from Chappaquiddick poster from National Lampoon, no. 28, July 1972.
48 posted on 07/16/2019 4:05:52 AM PDT by \/\/ayne (I regret that I have but one subscription cancellation notice to give to my local newspaper.)
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To: wastedyears

https://time.com/5305927/trump-muhammad-ali-pardon/


49 posted on 07/16/2019 4:36:08 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (Denounce DUAC - The Democrats Un-American Activists Committee)
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To: A_Former_Democrat

>>They were and are rotten to the core

The Press?
The Kennedys?
All of the Above?


50 posted on 07/16/2019 4:37:14 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (Denounce DUAC - The Democrats Un-American Activists Committee)
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To: headstamp 2

Yep.


51 posted on 07/16/2019 5:11:43 AM PDT by bgill
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To: \/\/ayne

Loved that cartoon.

It hung on the wall of my shop at work for years.


52 posted on 07/16/2019 5:53:49 AM PDT by Roccus (When you talk to a politician...ANY politician...always say, "Remember Ceausescu")
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To: headstamp 2

A check....with an added scary threat.


53 posted on 07/16/2019 6:04:04 AM PDT by wintertime (Stop treating government teachers like they are reincarnated Mother Teresas!)
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To: Born Conservative
Ali wrote that the family should seek a good lawyer and they should sue Kennedy “for everything he’s got.” ... Ted Kennedy never faced any serious charges over the incident and went on to serve for decades in the U.S. Senate. He died in 2009.

The coward - the killer - the creepiest of the criminal Kennedy family - had a "D" by his name so he got a pass from the corrupt press and the corrupt 'intelligence' fops... So he walked... and was worshiped by the white trash 'elites' in Washington...

54 posted on 07/16/2019 6:18:42 AM PDT by GOPJ (MSNBC Bimbos & Pretentious men: EVERY CHILD RAPIST on Epstein's plane was a powerful democrat...)
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To: Born Conservative
Ali wrote that the family should seek a good lawyer and they should sue Kennedy “for everything he’s got.” Ali suggested there was “an illicit sexual encounter” and he claimed there was foul play involved in Kopechne’s death.

Everyone knew this, however the media covered it up, the corrupt media.

55 posted on 07/16/2019 6:20:12 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: mewzilla

Well we now know what a 1969 daughter is worth $100Gs.

All I can say is they must not have liked her much!

And to think the Clintons make the Kennedys look like Fagin and his pickpocketing gang!

The truth is be it Kennedys, Clintons or Bidens fundamentally its the fault of the voters. Always looking for a magic savior who’ll make them rich with no effort, smite the wealthy because well “Just Because!”, make them sexy, clean their teeth & make them smell good!


56 posted on 07/16/2019 6:39:16 AM PDT by Reily
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To: katana

My lottery number was 52. I felt like I had a bull’s-eye on my back there for a while. I was fortunate in that I got a student deferment just before those were ended. The draft was ended before I finished college.
My father was one of the early Marine advisors and came back in 1964 and told me and my brothers it was going to be an ugly mess and to stay out of the military if we could. My father was a dyed-in-the-wool patriot but he also was realistic and knew how to read the tea leaves.

Before he was in Nam he was a military liaison with the civilian press in Washington DC. He knew about all the shenanigans well ahead of everybody else. That meaning the Kennedys and the press.

One of Kennedy’s copter pilots lived across the street from us in Woodbridge Virginia. he suddenly got sent to Vietnam as a fighter pilot and was killed in action. It was always my father’s opinion this was a result of seeing and hearing too many things about JFK.


57 posted on 07/16/2019 6:42:15 AM PDT by ChildOfThe60s (If you can remember the 60s........you weren't really there)
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To: Born Conservative

Yawn. If you didn’t have the guts to put this out there during one of The Swimmer’s many re-election campaigns, don’t do it now.


58 posted on 07/16/2019 7:38:54 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog (Patrick Henry would have been an anti-vaxxer.)
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To: a fool in paradise
Ted Kennedy told dead Mary Jo jokes and the press knew about it but kept that a secret until after he died.

Oh... my!

Has this been multi-sourced and authenticated?

.

59 posted on 07/16/2019 8:02:22 AM PDT by Seaplaner (Never give in-never, never,never...except to convictions of honour and good sense. Winston Churchill)
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To: dp0622

“... or is it a complete conspiracy theory?”

A&E did a special, years ago. I highly recommend it, if you can find it. Mary Jo and several others (they called themselves the “boilermaker girls”) went on the road with Ted and company. The rumors abounded, apparently. She got pregnant, got Kennedy wife aspirations, and got dumped after a late-night tryst. She left Ted, drove off, drunk, in the car. Ted walks back to hotel, crawls into bed, oblivious to her abscence.

An autopsy would’ve revealed BAC, pregnancy, and any other neat stuff Ted’s career would prefer remain unknown. One big cash settlement, and Ted’s dirty laundry AND Mary Jo’s stayed secret forever.


60 posted on 07/16/2019 8:31:29 AM PDT by Nabron
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