Rosemary

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They were the most prominent American family of the twentieth century, and their daughter, hidden away, made all the difference. Joe and Rose Kennedy’s beautiful daughter Rosemary attended exclusive schools, was presented to the Queen of England, and traveled the world with her spirited sisters. Yet, Rosemary was intellectually disabled — a secret fiercely guarded by her powerful family. Major new sources, including Rose Kennedy’s diaries, school and doctors' letters, and exclusive family interviews, bring Rosemary to life as a girl adored but often left behind by her competitive siblings. Kate Larson reveals the sensitive care Rose and Joe provided for Rosemary and the desperate measures the Kennedys took to keep her away from home as she became increasingly difficult in her early twenties. Larson also sheds light on Joe’s decision to have Rosemary lobotomized at age twenty-three and the family's complicity in maintaining the secret. A profoundly moving moment occurs when JFK visits Rosemary for the first time while campaigning in the Midwest; she had been isolated in a Wisconsin institution for nearly twenty years. This visit prompted the siblings to understand Rosemary's fate and bring her home for loving visits, leading to a reckoning that inspired them to advocate for the disabled, transforming countless lives.