Well duhhh...he let her drown before he could get her back to the hotel room and take advantage of her.
Mary Jo: "Ted, I know this news is going to put a crimp into your plans to be president...but, honey, I'm about two months along and I'm very Catholic in my belief. What are we going to do, darling?"
Ted: (Swerving all over the road)"Mary Jo, hic. Er ah, We'll just haaave to cross thaaht bridge when we come to it! Meanwhile, er ah, hic....pour me aanother glaas of that Chevis."
Well duhhh...he let her drown before he could get her back to the hotel room and take advantage of her.
Even then, we could argue that he was technically right, 'never romantically involved with her'. A play on words. How many one night stands did he count as 'romantic'? Taking advantage of the ladies (or however he worded it) might involve some shmoozing on his part to seduce them, but make no mistake, he himself didn't necessarily feel 'romantic'.