Anonymous wrote:It was standard procedure to do a lobotomy to anyone with any unusual personality traits. Yo cannot judge Joe Sr. harshly for this.
Not so, in 1941 lobotomies were new and had only been done a few times, and NEVER on a mentally retarded patient (as Joe said she was). That would have been considered malpractice even at that time. The truth was she was not as bright as the rest of the kids, and she was a shame to her father, so he listened to some quacks and let them stir the brain of his beautiful 23 year old daughter. Joe also chose never to visit her during the rest of his life. So yes, I will judge him harshly. Please read about lobotomies before you go so far as to say they were "standard" procedure. And while you are at it, google Rosemary's story, you will look at Joe Kennedy a little differently.