allegations of intoxication and special treatment and a kennedy. >> reporter: crashing his car just down the street from the u.s. capitol at 2:30 in the morning. >> i'm traveling to minnesota to seek treatment at the mayo clinic to ensure that i can continue on my road to recovery. >> reporter: this time patrick blamed the crash on sleeping pills. kennedy didn't keep his problems hidden. it may have been impossible anyway. instead of running away, he made addiction treatment and mental health care a central issue. >> i have an addiction. i have a mental illness. >> reporter: but i have never heard patrick or any politician for that matter as candid as he was now. how much of this is personal for you? >> i am a recovering addict, an alcoholic, i suffered depression in my life. i have seen in my own life friends of mine including family members suffer the ultimate in losing their lives because of this illness.