Ask Not: The Kennedys and the Women They Destroyed

The peninsula known as Cape Cod, Massachusetts, on the eastern seaboard, is famously associated with the Kennedy family, which owns a family compound in Hyannis Port, where they have gathered for decades. This coastal retreat became a significant part of the Kennedys’ public image, symbolizing both their close-knit family dynamic and their New England roots. Cape Cod has served as a setting for numerous iconic photos, events, and family traditions, reinforcing its place in Kennedy lore and US cultural history.

The term “Irish Catholic” in relation to the Kennedy family refers to their heritage as descendants of Irish immigrants who settled in the US and maintained a strong Catholic faith, which heavily influenced their cultural and political identity. This background, in an era when Irish Catholics faced social prejudice in the US, became a significant aspect of the family’s public image and helped shape their commitment to political service, particularly as they rose to prominence as a symbol of immigrant success and integration into the US political elite.

A neurosurgical procedure in which connections to and from the prefrontal cortex of the brain are severed or altered, a lobotomy was historically used during the mid-20th century to treat mental health conditions. The intent of the procedure, often performed via crude methods, was to reduce symptoms like agitation or depression but frequently resulted in severe cognitive and emotional impairment. Rosemary Kennedy (John F. Kennedy’s sister) famously underwent a lobotomy at her father’s insistence, which left her permanently disabled and symbolized the risks and ethical issues associated with the procedure.