Marilyn Monroe And John Kennedy: America’s ‘The’ Alleged Affair

Marilyn Monroe, an American singer, actress and model, needs no introduction. On the other hand, John F Kennedy, commonly referred to as JFK, was, well, the President of the United States. Rumored to have an alleged affair ever since Marilyn Monroe sang a ‘happy birthday, Mr. President’ in front of more than 15000 people, it has now been confirmed that JFK and Marilyn Monroe, perhaps America’s most attractive figures from the 50s, were having an affair. For the first time, Cosmopolitan can reveal excerpts from the letters written by JFK, on the White House letterhead, to Marilyn Monroe in 1962. "Dearest Marilyn, I have missed us. Ever since Crosby’s party, I have longed to see you. I have arranged, for us, the Presidential Suite at the Waldorf Astoria on the 8th of April. Furthermore, my love, I hope you received the beautiful Versace dress I sent you. Almighty, make the days till the 8th shorter. My soul awaits for us to cross eyes. I adore you, Jack.”

John F Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe first met at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City on the April 11th, 1957 at the Paris Ball. Waldorf Astoria, the same hotel the letter specifies as the location of their meet. Correlation. They were first formally introduced to each other in 1961 at a dinner party hosted by actor Peter Langford. However, author of Marilyn Monroe: The Biography, biographer Donald Spoto revealed that the first sexual encounter of Marilyn and JFK was at Bing Crosby’s party (also mentioned in the letter) on March 24th, 1962. The letter mentioned above is between the Bing Crosby party and the performance by Marilyn Monroe on JFK’s birthday. Rumors about the alleged affair spread after Monroe, also known as the Blonde Bombshell, sang “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” for the commander-in-chief on the 19th of May at the Madison Square Garden. The American actress and model wore an iconic, stunning, skintight dress by designer Jean Louis which was recently auctioned for $4.8 million. The dress worn by Monroe was stitched with marquisette fabric and 2,500 shimmering rhinestones sewn into it. Rumors have it that Monroe had not worn anything under it. The sultry sensual performance was like none other, to which the President later commented on stage, “I can now retire from politics after having had Happy Birthday sung to me in such a sweet, wholesome way.” This is the only known photo of the President and the American actress and model. It was shot by photographer Cecil Stoughton at the Madison Square Garden event. Late actress Susan Strasberg, close friends (and apparent surrogate sisters) wrote in her unfinished memoir that Marilyn did spend a few nights with the President. She quoted, “It was OK to sleep with a charismatic president and Marilyn loved the secrecy and the drama of it.” However, letters reveal that it was not all was not love and romance. “Dear Marilyn, The past few months with you was blissful but I am sorry. I am sorry for ending this. I am sorry that this relationship of ours cannot go on any further. I am sorry to know that you have and continue to have sexual relations with Bobby. I am sorry. I did not wish this from you. John F. Kennedy.”

JFK’s younger brother, Robert ‘Bobby’ Kennedy, also known as RFK, who served as the 64th United States Attorney General. The leaked letters do not only confirm the alleged affair between John Kennedy and Marilyn but also throws light (or shade) on the affair between Robert Kennedy and Marilyn. The aforementioned leaked letter proved credible by Cosmopolitan, reveals another side of the relationship between the Kennedys and Marilyn. Interestingly, a source who wished not to be named commented “This letter was written just weeks before her (Marilyn) death. She was a young broken woman and her personal life was in shambles. Don't you think there was even a chance that her death — overdosing on pills, drugs — is bleakly related to the letter?” Marilyn Monroe, the Blonde Bombshell, died 18 days after the letter which ended the relationship between JFK and herself was written. Although biographer James Spada doesn’t believe there’s any proof that the Kennedys were responsible for Monroe’s death, he said, “it was pretty clear that Marilyn had had sexual relations with both Bobby and Jack.”

Marilyn Monroe dies due to an accidental overdose of barbiturates Marilyn Monroe was simply one of the most sought-after American actresses of the 20th century. A prominent Hollywood sex symbol, she had her own way of capturing our hearts. John Kennedy, POTUS, was magnetic and captivating. None were strangers to allegations and rumors over infidelities and extra-marital affairs, but did America want the two single most attractive powerful names in American history to be secret lovers?