Marilyn Monroe Sings Happy Birthday Mr. President to JFK

On May 19th, 1962, at a Democratic fundraiser in honor of President John F. Kennedy’s birthday, after actor Peter Lawford introduced Marilyn Monroe to the event and she took to the stage in a sheer, flesh-colored dress that left the crowd of 15,000 stunned by her appearance and the sultry, intimate voice of her delivery.

She then followed her birthday song with her own lyrics to the Classic “Thanks for the Memories.” After her performance, President Kennedy took to the stage and joked about Marilyn’s version of the song, saying, “I can now retire from politics after having had Happy Birthday sung to me in such a sweet, wholesome way,” alluding to Marilyn’s delivery, skintight dress and public image as a sex symbol.

Pegged as one of Kennedy’s mistresses by investigative reporter Seymour Hersh in his book The Dark Side of Camelot, he claims the two met the night of his birthday party fundraiser, then later spent a weekend together at Bing Crosby’s home in Palm Springs. Two months later, Marylin Monroe would be found dead, the victim of a barbiturate overdose.