GALLERIES
EVENT - JFK BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION MAY 19, 1962
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President Kennedy's 45th birthday celebrations were held at Madison Square Garden on May 19, 1962, and had more than 15,000 people attended along with numerous celebrities, including Marilyn Monroe, who's date for the night was Arthur Miller's father, Isador Miller. Marilyn's dress was noted for being sheer and flesh colored with 2500 rhinestones sewn into it. The dress was so tight-fitting that Marilyn had to be literally sewn into it; she wore nothing under it. It was designed by Jean Louis and sold at the 1999 Christie's Auction for $1,267,500.
Peter Lawford was at the event that night to introduce Marilyn. He made a play on the actress's lateness by giving her a number of introductions throughout the night, after which she did not go on stage. As she finally came on stage several hours into the show, Lawford introduced her as the "late Marilyn Monroe".
Sung in a sultry voice, Marilyn sang the traditional "Happy Birthday to You" lyrics, with "Mr. President" inserted as Kennedy's name.
Marilyn continued the song with a snippet from the classic song "Thanks for the Memory", for which she had written new lyrics specifically aimed at Kennedy:
Thanks, Mr. President
For all the things you've done
The battles that you've won
The way you deal with U.S. Steel
And our troubles by the ton
We thank you, so much
Afterwards, President Kennedy came on stage and joked about 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, her racy dress, and her general image as a sex symbol.
The song and Marilyn's performance have been remembered for numerous reasons. It was one of her last major public appearances. In addition, there are persistent rumors that President Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe had had an affair, giving Marilyn's performance another layer of meaning. Despite the rumors, there has been no physical evidence that Marilyn was one of Kennedy's several affairs.
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