I'd just like to say: Thank you Rose and Joe...

[Drunken Irishman]

I can't say I have a ton of respect for Joe Kennedy, but the both of them instilled something special in all their kids and for that, I am thankful.

Without them, there would be no Jack, Bobby and Teddy.

[shraby]

1. Don't forget Eunice who worked so hard for the

Special Olympics.

[Crunchy Frog]

2. All of them except poor Rosemary.

:(

[Critters2]

3. Sadly true. nt

[Phx_Dem]

4. Rosemary too. She was the inspiration behind Eunice's

Special Olympics so she played a part too, though a very sad one. God bless her.

[Crunchy Frog]

7. It's a bit of a stretch to say that her parents instilled something special in her.

Her father had her brain butchered, and her mother failed to protect her. She was pretty much abandoned by her family until Joe finally passed.

I'm glad that she at least was able to inspire her sister, but she could have been so much more in her own right.

Definitely the most tragic of all the Kennedy's IMHO.

[girl gone mad]

10. It was the times.

I hate to quote Oprah here, but when you know better, you do better. Most people really didn't know any better back then. I'm sure they thought at the time that it was state of the art medical care and they were helping her. Wealthy people are still being preyed on by quack doctors even today.

[Phx_Dem]

11. I didn't say her parents instilled something special in her, though I'd

be willing to bet her siblings would say that. But, by her siblings own admission on many occasions, she instilled something special in them. They adored her.

And Joe is the only person responsible for Rosemary's lobotomy. Rose knew nothing about it. Today, a hospital would (I assume) require both parents authorization for a serious medical procedure, but back then men could make decisions without their wife's consent. Probably his biggest error in judgement was doing this behind his wife's back. She almost certainly would not have agreed, according to books/written accounts. Joe Kennedy had many many flaws, but I don't believe for one second that he knew this procedure would cause more damage -- people knew next to nothing about brain injuries/retardation back then. He made a very bad decision and was extremely selfish in not consulting his wife, but there was no malice involved toward Rosemary.

[opihimoimoi]

5. 1st son died in the service of his Nation...Joe was supposed to be the candidate

from the Kennedy Family,,,but...destiny called...WW2 ...died on a dangerous mission...

Rose gave 4 sons to the Nation.....they were special....

[Fire1]

6. I don't remember exactly when Rosemary passed. So little

was written about it. Does anyone else recall?

[Crunchy Frog]

8. She died in January of '05.

Although a large part of her was killed in 1941.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bjqmGmHDb1w/SUPm4x-f11I/AAAAAAAABus/4lQnMIiDRFE/s400/Rosemary-Kennedy-pre-lobotomy-joseph-nazi,%20financier-bootleg.jpg

[NecklyTyler]

9. K&R