Rose Kennedy Biography

The mother of President John F. Kennedy and Senators Robert F. Kennedy and Ted Kennedy, Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald Kennedy was a woman of strong convictions and character. Even though she is best remembered as the mother of the president, there was so much more to her personality. She was a socialite and fundraiser known for her deep catholic faith and iron will. The daughter of a Boston mayor she was educated in convents and had a comfortable upbringing. The gutsy young woman began dating Joseph Patrick Kennedy, the son of her father’s rival in spite of her father’s opposition and finally ended up marrying him. Her husband was an ambitious man who eventually became a multi-millionaire. The couple went on to have nine children and Rose took it upon herself to give her children the best upbringing they would get. Her husband, though very successful was a man given to philandering and had numerous high profile affairs. But she never wavered in her commitment towards her family and encouraged her children to reach for the stars. She was also a dedicated philanthropist and a fundraiser for various charities especially those which worked for the betterment of the mentally handicapped. She achieved a celebrity status after her son John became the president.