Every Kennedy family tragedy that has fueled rumors of a 'Kennedy curse'

Joseph P. and Rose Kennedy surrounded by their children at a family gathering at their home in Palm Beach, Florida.

CORBIS/Corbis/Getty Images After Robert and John F.

Kennedy were assassinated, a rumor formed that the family could be cursed.

Their history has been marred with tragedy, from four plane crashes to a deadly skiing accident.

In 1969, Ted Kennedy publicly referenced the curse when apologizing for fleeing a fatal car crash.

Members of the Kennedy family have reached the highest positions in public office, becoming senators, congressmen, and even the president.

Now, the next generation of Kennedys is carrying that legacy forward.

Still, the family has also endured profound losses across generations.

Most recently, Kyle Kennedy, the granddaughter of Robert F.

Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy, died at 42 in September.

The family has also dealt with numerous tragedies , from illness and assassinations to fatal accidents and addiction.

The family’s history of loss has fueled the long-running notion of a “Kennedy curse.” Here are the many tragedies that have affected the Kennedy family.

Kennedy patriarch Joe Kennedy Sr. had high expectations of his children.

Some conspiracists have suggested he was to blame for what would befall his family.