| Abstract: | In most accounts of the Kennedy family, Rosemary, John F. Kennedy's eldest sister, has been discussed only in passing. In fact, there is much in Rosemary 's story that is instructive in regard to the effort families take to cope with disability, the impact of the social environment on such efforts, and the impact of a disabled member on the family as a whole. Rosemary's presence within the Kennedy home may have been a much more important component of the family' rise to prominence than most scholars appear to believe. This article describes Rosemary's place within the family, attempts by her parents and siblings to cope with and obfuscate her condition, and her possible impact on family dynamics. |
