Marilyn Monroe’s JFK Phone Call ‘Haunted Jackie Kennedy’ Years After Star’s Death

JFK’s presidency was marred by numerous allegations of extramarital affairs, and this caused his wife, Jackie Kennedy, severe distress. However, despite JFK’s purported sex scandals, Jackie still maintained a good public image as a loyal wife.

A recently published book, Jackie: Public, Private, Secret by Randy Taraborrelli, delved into the complicated relationship between the 38th President of the United States and his wife. An excerpt from the book sheds light on the dynamics of their relationship. It highlights certain events in their marriage, including the infamous 1962 telephone call from Marilyn Monroe to JFK that haunted the former first lady for years.

Jacqueline Kennedy was disturbed for years by a phone call from actress Marilyn Monroe to her husband, President JFK

Jackie: Public, Private, Secret, detailed that In April 1962, Marilyn Monroe, who had been rumored to have an affair with the president, called the Kennedy household while the President was away asking if he was at home. Jackie answered the phone and informed the caller that her husband was not present. Marilyn then revealed her identity and confirmed if she was speaking to Jackie. The former first lady responded in the affirmative before questioning her about the purpose of the call, only to discover that Marilyn had no specific reason.

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In an interview with Fox News Digital, Taraborrelli revealed that Jackie was left traumatized by the conversation, and not only due to the alleged relationship between Marilyn and her husband. Instead, she was deeply struck by the actress’ demeanor during the call. “There was something about that phone call,” Taraborrelli detailed. “She later told family members that there was a haunting quality to Marilyn’s voice that really stuck with her… And it’s not like they even had any kind of deep conversation… But it was 10 years of wondering, was it really Marilyn Monroe? And that buzz stayed with the family.”

The call came weeks after Jackie told her husband to end his affair with the actress

Taraborrelli further shared that the alleged sexual encounter between her husband and Marilyn took place on March 24, 1962, and it lasted for a short duration of only one weekend before rumors about the adulterous escapade filtered into Jackie’s ears. The aggrieved first lady confronted her husband through a telegram to end whatever relationship was between them, because the actress was very controversial.

“Jackie would never be the type to tell Marilyn, ‘How dare you call here,’ she was not that kind of personality. She was more the type to be polite and hang up, which is exactly what she did,” Taborelli admitted to Fox News Digital. “Had it been Elizabeth Taylor or any other movie star, there wouldn’t have been much intrigue to it. Even if it was one of the other women JFK was having an affair with, there still wouldn’t have been much intrigue. Anything that Marilyn touched has always created a point of interest.”

The author explained that when the phone call from Marilyn came just weeks later, it reignited Jackie’s suspicions even though her husband had earlier maintained that the actress was only a friend. “JFK had so many affairs that Jackie likely thought it was more than just a weekend,” Taraborrelli confessed. “But we should understand that Jackie really didn’t know the extent of JFK’s relationship with Marilyn.”