intense and untempered by the moral strictures to which the other daughters had adhered. Joe destroyed a portion of her brain rather than risk what she might become if allowed to follow her own path in life."

Though neither of her parents realized the profound effect that the lobotomy would have on Rosemary, the guilt over what happened to her likely stayed with them for the rest of their lives. This was especially evident by the enormous financial contribution that made to support research into the causes of mental retardation. In 1946, Rosemary's father established the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation which established research centres across the United States to promote greater awareness of intellectual disabilities. Along with research funding for brain researchers, the Foundation has provided special carefacilities to help intellectually disabled children and adults live more independent lives. Eunice Kennedy Shriver became a lifelong activist for mentally disabled children and helped found the Special Olympics.

Though she lived her entire life hidden from the public eye, Rosemary Kennedy's legacy remains profound, both as someone born with intellectual disabilities and as a victim of the lobotomy fad that swept the United States during the 1940s and 1950s. She will be remembered.