Rosemary Kennedy, her unspeakable lobotomy Joe Kennedy’s personal original sin, was twenty-three years old when her father rendered her mute and helpless in 1941. It wasn’t until his death in 1969 that Rose Kennedy felt she could tell her sons and daughters where Rosemary was, and that they felt it was safe to visit her. Rosemary had lived for nearly thirty years without any contact from her parents or siblings. Can you imagine a lonelier life?

