The untimely death of Marilyn Monroe on August 5, 1962, at the age of 36, sent shockwaves across the globe, marking the end of an era for Hollywood’s most luminous icon. Officially ruled a “probable suicide” due to a barbiturate overdose, Monroe’s passing has been persistently shrouded in suspicion and speculation. Among the most enduring theories is the alleged affair between Marilyn Monroe and President John F. Kennedy, and the potential role this clandestine relationship, along with her rumored involvement with Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, might have played in the tragic events.
Monroe’s personal life at the time was undeniably turbulent. Having been married and divorced three times, the actress was also heavily rumored to be entangled in affairs with both Kennedy brothers. Reports even suggested she threatened to publicly expose these relationships, adding fuel to the fire of speculation surrounding her death. The whispers of an affair with JFK gained significant traction following her unforgettable, sultry rendition of “Happy Birthday” at his 45th birthday celebration at Madison Square Garden on May 19, 1962, a mere few months before her demise. This public display of affection, charged with undeniable chemistry, only intensified public curiosity and fueled rumors of a deeper connection.
Adding to the intrigue, a photograph taken after the “Happy Birthday” performance, at a party hosted by movie executive Arthur Krim, surfaced as the only known image capturing both John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe together.
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Marilyn Monroe pictured with Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and President John F. Kennedy at a party hosted by Arthur Krim on May 19, 1962. This rare photograph, taken by White House photographer Cecil Stoughton, remained hidden for decades before its release in 2010.
The mystery surrounding Marilyn Monroe’s death has been described by her biographer James Spada as “one of the great mysteries of the 20th century.” While Spada acknowledged the lack of concrete proof implicating the Kennedys in her death, he asserted in 2012 that “It was pretty clear that Marilyn had had sexual relations with both Bobby and Jack.” Spada claimed that actor Peter Lawford was instrumental in introducing Monroe to JFK in 1954. However, as Kennedy’s interest waned, he allegedly passed her on to his brother, Robert, around the spring of 1962. Disturbing accounts from witnesses even suggest the existence of a bugged tape from Monroe’s home on the night of her death, purportedly capturing the voices of Lawford, an enraged Bobby, and a distressed Monroe.
Further adding to the complex narrative, Anthony Summers, another Monroe biographer, recounted a 1983 BBC interview with Eunice Murray, Monroe’s former housekeeper. Summers described a poignant moment where Murray expressed, “Oh, why do I have to keep covering this up?” When pressed on what she was concealing, Murray allegedly admitted, “Well, of course, Bobby Kennedy was there [on Aug. 4], and of course, there was an affair with Bobby Kennedy.”
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Senators Robert F. Kennedy and John F. Kennedy are pictured during a Senate Commerce hearing related to the Kohler strike. The Kennedy brothers’ involvement with Marilyn Monroe has been a subject of enduring speculation.
The official investigation into Monroe’s death has also faced scrutiny. Donald Wolfe, author of The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe, suggests a “suicide squad” was formed, yet key figures like Murray, publicist Pat Newcomb, Lawford, and any of the Kennedys were reportedly never interviewed. Biographer Summers echoed these concerns, stating that both the forensic work and the police investigations were “hopelessly flawed.”
The aftermath of Monroe’s death further fueled suspicion. Michael Selsman, who worked for Monroe’s publicist, revealed that Newcomb “was spirited off to [the Kennedy compound in] Hyannis Port” and subsequently received a position at the U.S. Information Agency in Washington, D.C. Spada interpreted these events as indicative of a Kennedy-related cover-up, aimed at concealing the intimate involvement of the Kennedy family with Marilyn Monroe, rather than necessarily a murder.
However, conflicting perspectives exist. Tony Oppedisano, a close friend of Frank Sinatra, argued in 2021 that Monroe was not intending to disrupt President Kennedy’s marriage and wouldn’t have allowed the affair to escalate to a point of public scandal.
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Actress Marilyn Monroe wearing the famous dress she wore while singing “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy on May 19, 1962. This performance fueled rumors of an affair between the two.
Journalist Seymour Hersh, in his 1997 book The Dark Side of Camelot, wrote about the rumored affair, suggesting Monroe’s “instability posed a constant threat” to the president. Jerry Blaine, a former Secret Service agent in Kennedy’s detail, confirmed two encounters between JFK and Monroe, but denied witnessing any affair. He acknowledged, however, the limitations of his perspective, stating “I don’t know what happened behind closed doors.”
Joe DiMaggio, Monroe’s second husband, reportedly held the Kennedys responsible for her death. According to Dr. Rock Positano, co-author of Dinner with DiMaggio: Memories of an American Hero, DiMaggio believed, “The whole lot of Kennedys were lady-killers, and they always got away with it.” He even claimed DiMaggio stated, “I always knew who killed her, but I didn’t want to start a revolution in this country. She told me someone would do her in, but I kept quiet.” DiMaggio reportedly felt the Kennedys “did in my poor Marilyn.” Positano clarified that DiMaggio believed the Kennedys’ influence was detrimental to Monroe’s mental and emotional well-being.
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Baseball legend Joe DiMaggio and actress Marilyn Monroe at the premiere of “The Seven Year Itch” in 1955. DiMaggio reportedly blamed the Kennedy family for Monroe’s tragic death.
The 2022 Netflix documentary, The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes, further probes the circumstances of her death, featuring previously unheard interviews collected by investigative journalist Anthony Summers. Sources in the documentary allege that Robert Kennedy visited Monroe on the day of her death to end their affair, leading to a heated argument. Summers concludes that evidence suggests a deliberate cover-up surrounding the circumstances, potentially due to her connections with the Kennedy brothers. While not alleging murder, Summers believes the cover-up was motivated by the desire to protect the Kennedy family’s reputation. He posits that Monroe, overwhelmed by her relationships with both brothers and feeling rejected, may have overdosed, whether intentionally or as a cry for help.
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A still from the 2022 Netflix documentary “The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes,” which explores the conflicting accounts and unanswered questions surrounding Monroe’s death.
Adding another layer of complexity, the 2024 biography, The Fixer: Moguls, Mobsters, Movie Stars, and Marilyn, based on the files of private detective Fred Otash, corroborates Monroe’s affair with the Kennedys. Otash, who bugged Peter Lawford’s house (used by JFK), claimed to have recordings of John F. Kennedy and Monroe together. Otash alleged his mission was to gather evidence of JFK’s “moral failings,” specifically adultery, to potentially damage his political career.
Otash also claimed to have bugged Monroe’s home, detailing Robert Kennedy’s visit on her final day, including a heated exchange where Monroe confronted him about an abortion. According to Otash, Monroe made desperate phone calls to Lawford and JFK before her death, suggesting a sense of despair and finality. Otash concluded that Robert Kennedy could have potentially intervened and saved her life.
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Private investigator Fred Otash, whose previously unreleased files in the biography “The Fixer” claim to corroborate the affair between Marilyn Monroe and the Kennedys.
While the full truth behind Marilyn Monroe’s death and the extent of her relationship with John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy may remain elusive, the enduring mystery continues to captivate and intrigue. The alleged affair, the suspicious circumstances surrounding her death, and the persistent questions of a potential cover-up ensure that the narrative of John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe will forever be intertwined in the annals of history and celebrity lore.
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A portrait of Marilyn Monroe taken circa 1954, during the period when her rumored affair with John F. Kennedy allegedly began.
