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Rosemary Kennedy
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Young John F. Kennedy poses outdoors with his parents, siblings, and a dog; the family is seated and smiling, with John standing at the far right in a white shirt.
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Rosemary Kennedy

sister of John F. Kennedy
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Young John F. Kennedy poses outdoors with his parents, siblings, and a dog; the family is seated and smiling, with John standing at the far right in a white shirt.
Kennedy family Kennedy family photo c. 1931: (from left) Rosemary; Joseph, Jr.; Kathleen; Patricia; Rose; Joseph, Sr.; Jean; Eunice; John; and Robert.

Rosemary Kennedy, sister of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, was born with intellectual disabilities. In 1941, her father, Joseph P. Kennedy, sought an experimental surgery called a lobotomy to treat her condition. The surgery was unsuccessful, leaving Rosemary unable to speak or walk and altering her personality. She spent the remainder of her life in an institution in Wisconsin. Rosemary was one of nine children born to Joseph P. Kennedy and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, a family known for its political dynasty and also for experiencing significant tragedies.1234

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5 Britannica Sources
  1. Is There a Kennedy Curse?
  2. Rose Kennedy
  3. Joseph P. Kennedy
  4. lobotomy
  5. lobotomy: Top Questions

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