American scandal uses dramatizations that are based on true events.

Some elements, including dialogue, might be invented, but everything is based on historical research.

It's the morning of July 19, 1969, in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey.

Gwen Capechnie, a 51-year-old homemaker, is in her kitchen cleaning up after breakfast

while her husband is off at the hardware store.

Kepekne takes a pair of dirty plates from the kitchen table and dunks them in the soapy water in the sink.

As she begins to scrub, Capekney's mind wanders to her 28-year-old daughter, Mary Jo.

Mary Jo is spending the weekend on Martha's Vineyard, attending a party for staffers for Robert Kennedy's presidential run last year.

She's there with half a dozen other women who worked on the campaign,

but Capechnie won't feel totally at ease until she hears from her daughter.

The phone rings. Capacne thinks it must be Mary Jo calling, so eager to hear how the weekend is going,

Capecne dries her hands on her apron and hurries to lift the receiver

off the wall. Hello, Capecne residents. Uh, yes, hello. Is Mr. Capecne available? Capney sighs. It's a man.

It must be one of her husband's colleagues. I'm sorry, he's stepped out for a bit, but I can take a

message. May I ask who's calling? Yes, this is Senator Ted Kennedy.

Kepekne feels a jolt in her chest. Her daughter has worked with the Kennedys for several years,

but this is the first time any one of them has called the house. Oh, Senator, hello, I'm sorry,

I should have recognized your voice. They were just replaying your Vietnam speech on TV last night.

I want you to know we're in your corner 100%. We really hope you run for president in 72.

I think you're just what the country needs.

Well, thank you, ma'am. That's very kind of you to say.

Will your husband be back soon? I do really need to speak with him.

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