by Wendy Leigh
882 North Doheny Drive
Beverly Hills, California
December 22, 1961
Dear Marilyn,
Jack and I were touched to receive your kind and concerned letter regarding the stroke which his father, Joe Kennedy, recently suffered. Your sympathy is most welcome and we are grateful.
With warm regards,
Jack and Jackie
MARILYN MONROE
12305 Fifth Helena Drive
Brentwood, California
Jackie Kennedy
The White House
May 5, 1962
Dear Jackie,
Although I haven’t heard from you for the longest time, I am writing to you now because your letters mean so much to me and you are still my closest friend in the world. After the misunderstanding over Gramble Bear, I want to do the right thing and not have anything like that ever come between us again.
Peter has asked me to sing a song to the President at his birthday party on May 19 and I am not sure what to sing, what to wear, or about anything. I am very aware of the honor I shall be getting—singing to the President—and I want to be wonderful, to please Jack and, of course, you.
I so much want to sing a serious song, but I am not an opera singer. Peter says I should sing “I Can’t Give You Anything but Love, Baby,” but I think that is disrespektful [sic], both to the President and to you. Also, the whole world will be watching me, as the party will be televised, and I want to do the right thing.
My first idea was to rewrite the words of Judy Garland’s song “Dear Mr. Gable” and change them to “Dear Mr. President.” I got as far as “Dear Mr. President, I am writing this to you, and I hope that you will read it so you’ll know. My heart beats like a hammer and I stutter and I stammer every time I see you on the picture show”—but I couldn’t find the right words to replace “picture show,” so I stopped.
My next idea was to sing “Mr. Wonderful,” but then I thought it sounded personal, which, of course, my song is not—and I don’t want anyone else to think it is either, especially you.
I feel privileged that I, a poor orphan, an ex-factory worker with a crazy mother, will be up there singing to the President of the United States in front of the entire world. Every girl in the universe will be wishing that she was me, and I want to do her, and Jack, and you, justice. I shall be singing to the President on behalf of the people and, if it’s the last thing I ever do in my life, I want to do it right.
Please write back as soon as you have a moment, as I really don’t know how to handle anything.
Love,
M
P.S. I don’t even know what to wear.
JACQUELINE KENNEDY
THE WHITE HOUSE
Marilyn Monroe
12305 Fifth Helena Drive
Brentwood, California
May 12, 1962
Dear M,
Thank you for your letter regarding your participation in Jack’s official birthday celebrations. Before I respond to your flattering request for advice, I wanted to tell you (for you have probably read about it in the newspaper) that Arthur was one of our guests at the dinner we held last night in honor of André Malraux. I was extremely impressed by Arthur, he is everything you said he was when you first wrote to me—an erudite, charming man. He was particularly attentive to me, and I found our exchange hugely stimulating.
I have given your concerns regarding Jack’s birthday celebrations a great deal of thought and feel most strongly that they are absolutely unfounded. America loves Marilyn Monroe, and Marilyn Monroe is who you must be. At the risk of alienating you (I hope momentarily), I shall quote Olivier: “Act sexy, Marilyn, act sexy.” Your public will expect it of you, and Jack will, no doubt, find it eminently endearing.
So my advice, in essence, is to throw your inhibitions to the wind, enjoy yourself, and BE yourself. Have you thought of contacting Marlene Dietrich’s designer, Jean-Louis, to create a gown for you? Jack always says that her dresses give the impression she is wearing little else than flesh plus diamonds, and (remembering “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” and “Falling in Love Again,” the song played by the music box you sent Jack and me as a wedding present) I think that kind of gown would be most appropriate for you.
As for the song, I think you should consider singing “Happy Birthday,” but making the song entirely your own—through your inimical delivery. Taking a leaf from your “Dear Mr. Gable,” idea, you could address the song to “Dear Mr. President.” I think Jack would like that.
I can’t wait for May 19 to see the effect your performance will have on him. Not to mention Miss Judy Campbell, who (as you so rightly observed) will probably be “pea green with envy.” Which reminds me, do you think Mr. G will resent your serenading Jack so publicly? I suspect not, as I am sure you have told him that your friendship with Jack is above reproach, and how close you and I are, as well. That way, I am sure he will understand that you would never betray our friendship.
Please know, Marilyn, that I shall be applauding more loudly than anyone, and can’t wait to witness your show-stopping performance.
Love,
J
__________________________
Jackie wrote in the Purple Diary, “I can no longer hide from the truth. And while I still care about her, there is no choice. I shall do what has to be done. Will I ever forgive her? Probably not. Although, in the end, it is probably just a case of the scorpion and the frog, as in the Aesop fable. It’s just her nature. Just as it is his. Of course, I forgive him less. After all, he owes me. Not that he will ever admit it. Or act accordingly. Sometimes, at times like this in. particular, I don’t know how to go on or how to bear it anymore.”
MARILYN MONROE
12305 Fifth Helena Drive
Brentwood, California
Jackie Kennedy
The White House
May 14, 1962
Dear J,
Thank you so much for your lovely letter and great advice. Knowing that you will he watching and applauding will make it so much easier for me to sing to the President in front of so many millions of people. I was so nervous, but now that you have told me how to handle everything and are rooting for me, I think I will be fine. More than fine, I hope. I want to be wonderful.
I’ve already arranged a fitting with Jean-Louis, telling him I want flesh with diamonds. Thank you for a wonderful idea. Like I said before, I really want JC to be pea green with envy. Mr. G, though, won’t mind, because by now he knows how much I love him and that I would never ever be interested in any other man.
I want to be wonderful for all the people, for the President, and for you. Now that you’ve told me to “act sexy”—and I don’t mind you quoting Sir Olivier, because I know you mean the best for me—I will feel right being that way in front of the President of the United States. And if anyone asks me why I was so sexy, I can say, “Because the First Lady told me to be!”
Thank you again for being so very kind to me and helping me to do the right thing for the ‘President and for the country.
See you on May 19!
Love,
M
Marilyn Monroe
Madison Square Garden
Jackie Kennedy
The White House
May 19, 1962
Dear Jackie,
I’ve just got off the stage and I can’t believe you weren’t in the audience, with Jack.
I did everything you said, was everything you said, but you weren’t there to see me. Peter said you were away riding, but I don’t believe him.* I don’t know what to believe. Now he is banging on the door, ready to take me to the party, but I don’t want to go. I just want to know the truth.
M
__________________________
* Jackie was, indeed, spending the day of the birthday party riding. She and Caroline attended the Loudon County Horse Show in Glen Ora, Virginia.
Marilyn sang “Happy Birthday” before 17,000 Democrats and a huge assortme
nt of stars who had gathered to fund JFK’s upcoming presidential campaign. Marilyn also paid the $1,000 admission price. The evening’s entertainment included Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Henry Fonda, Maria Callas, Harry Belafonte, and Jack Benny.
Marilyn was sheathed in a sheer flesh-colored gown shimmering with hand-sewn rhinestones, designed by Jean-Louis. Marilyn worked very closely with the designer, whose brief was to “make this a dress that only Marilyn Monroe would dare to wear.” The $12,000 dress did precisely that. When the spotlights hit Marilyn, the silk became almost transparent and she looked as though she were glistening and nude.
Marilyn sang the first verse of “Happy Birthday” and then waved her arms to encourage the audience to sing along for a reprise as a six-foot cake with forty-five oversize candles was carried onstage by two chefs.
MARILYN MONROE
12305 Fifth Helena Drive
Brentwood, California
Jackie Kennedy
The White House
May 20, 1962
Dear Jackie,
The President hated every single second of my performance, I just know it. In public, he thanked me for singing in “such a sweet and wholesome way,” but I know I wasn’t sweet or wholesome. You told me not to be. The President was just acting. He was acting at the party afterwards, when he thanked me, acting, acting, acting. Acting all the time, nothing but acting. Acting and lies. Lies and acting. Only I’m the actress and he’s the President. A cat may look at a king and an actress can sing to a President. Especially if the President’s wife says so.
The President was acting onstage, acting at the party, acting all the time. He didn’t think I was wonderful. He said I was sweet and wholesome, but I wasn’t. He said that to make a fool out of me. He didn’t think I was sweet and wholesome, he thought I was a tramp, a nothing. Perhaps I was. Perhaps I am.
Dorothy Kilgallen wrote that “it seemed like Marilyn Monroe was making love to the President in direct view of 40 million Americans.” That isn’t true. Marilyn Monroe doesn’t need to make love to the President in direct view of 40 million Americans, or any other way, for that matter. I wasn’t making love to him. I was doing what you told me to. I was singing the way you said, the way you wanted. I was singing to him for the people.
I called Jack this morning to explain that none of it was my idea, none of it was me, but he wouldn’t take my call. I just don’t understand.
M
JACQUELINE KENNEDY
THE WHITE HOUSE
Marilyn Monroe
12305 Fifth Helena Drive
Brentwood, California
May 23, 1962
Dear Marilyn,
I am sorry you were so traumatized by Jack’s reaction to your appearance at his birthday party. I think he was just unprepared for the sexually charged nature of your performance, but afterwards probably realized that your performance was motivated by your open-hearted desire to please him and that you did it out of love and that your intentions were both honorable and patriotic.
It goes without saying that I am sorry that I unwittingly led you astray. My advice to you was based on what I believed to be my knowledge of Jack, his tastes, and what I thought would entertain him on his birthday. I now realize my mistake and hope you will accept my profound apologies.
You and I share so many very happy years of corresponding together and life is far too short—as they rightly say. So let’s just put the birthday party behind us and continue our warm and happy friendship.
Love, as ever,
Jackie
MARILYN MONROE
12305 Fifth Helena Drive
Brentwood, California
Jackie Kennedy
The White House
May 20, 1962
Dear Jackie,
Your letter made me so happy. Very little does right now, so I am glad. I am having a rough time with Something’s Got to Give. Some of it isn’t that terrible, though. Today I did a nude scene, and didn’t look bad for thirty-six either. Also had to do a scene with a Swedish accent, and imitated our friend Greta!
But back to the birthday party—lots of people have been very kind and friendly to me about my song—but I still feel kind of strange that the President hasn’t said anything nice to me about it. It would be lovely if you could ask him to call me, just for a second, so he could tell me what he really thought, now that he has had the time to think about it. Perhaps if you are there when he calls, we can talk afterwards.
I guess another thing you could do, if you want, is to tell him that you advised me to act so sexy onstage. But if you did, you would have to tell him all about our letters, then maybe he would want to read them, and I don’t remember everything I wrote, so perhaps that isn’t a good idea.
But when he calls me, everything will work out anyway.
Love,
Marilyn
WESTERN UNION TELEGRAM
MARILYN MONROE
12305 Fifth Helena Drive
Brentwood, California
Jackie Kennedy
The White House
May 29, 1962
Dear Jackie,
He still didn’t call. You must have told him to call, but he hasn’t. Will he ever forgive me? Please try and explain to him that I did what I did because you told me to. Please don’t let him put me in prison for a crime I didn’t commit. Please tell, him that I love and honor my President and my country more than ever.
Love,
Marilyn
MARILYN MONROE
12305 Fifth Helena Drive
Brentwood, California
Jackie Kennedy
The White House
May 31, 1962
Dear Jackie,
Please call the moment you get my letter, and get Jack to as well. I must know that things are OK between us all or I’ll go crazy. I love you both.
Marilyn
WESTERN UNION TELEGRAM
MARILYN MONROE
12305 Fifth Helena Drive
Brentwood, California
Jackie Kennedy
The White House
June 1, 1962
Jackie,
I can’t take it anymore. Make Jack call me, please.
WESTERN UNION TELEGRAM
MARILYN MONROE
12305 Fifth Helena Drive
Brentwood, California
Jackie Kennedy
The White House
June 2, 1962
To Jacqueline Kennedy, The White House
Dear Mrs. President.
I am writing this to you and I hope that you will read it so you know. My heart is broken with a hammer, I stutter and I stammer every time I think of Mr. G, you know. Over, over, over, help me, Jackie, help me, I’m going crazy, purple is still crazy, and blue, very blue, blue eyes, the bluest in the world, teeth white, starlight, starbright, dark night, night, twinkle twinkle twinkle, Mr. Wonderful, Mr. G, H, I, J, K, over, over, over, letters are a girl’s best friend, help, help, help, please, help
WESTERN UNION TELEGRAM
MARILYN MONROE
12305 Fifth Helena Drive
Brentwood, California
June 3, 1962
Dear Jackie,
Thank you for sending me a good angel. Thank you for saving my life.
Love, forever,
Marilyn
JACQUELINE KENNEDY
THE WHITE HOUSE
June 7, 1962
Dear Marilyn,
I was delighted to learn from your last cable that you are feeling better.
I am sorry not to be able to write to you at great length this time, but am presently preparing for the summer vacation (am leaving for Europe on August 7 with Lee, and am taking a series of small trips before then).
Do take care of yourself and write to me once Something’s Got to Give is completed and you have time.
Love, as always,
Jackie
__________________________
Jackie wrote in her diary, “Have decided to distanc
e myself from MM for a while. Not because of Jack—because I am convinced that is over. I put paid to it, and I’m not sorry I did. However, strangely enough, I still care about her and wish her well. I just need time before I forgive and, maybe, forget. After all, knowing Jack, she is probably merely one of hundreds. Sometimes I could just strangle him.”
MARILYN MONROE
12305 Fifth Helena Drive
Brentwood
California
Jackie Kennedy
1095 North Ocean Boulevard
Palm Beach, Florida
July 9, 1962
Dear Jackie,
I know you said you were getting ready for Europe and traveling, but when I phoned the compound, they said you would be back by now and I need to write you so badly.
My whole life has changed and I owe it all to you. I am happier than I have ever been, ever. Except for just one thing—knowing in my heart that I have not been honest with you, the kindest, best person I have ever known. Whenever I remember what I have done, everything is spoiled, feels dirty, and I don’t want to feel that way anymore. I want to be happy without any more shadows or any more guilt.
They say confession is good for the soul. Well, sometimes I wonder whether I even have one. I know I am an actress—and acting is telling lies, lies someone else writes for you that you are passing on—but I hate lying when I am not acting. I owe you the whole truth at last, because although I lost Mr. G, because of you, I found Mr. X and I am in heaven!