Inside Marilyn Monroe’s Dazzling ‘Happy Birthday’ for JFK

Few figures have left as indelible a mark on popular culture as Marilyn Monroe. Alongside the likes of Elvis Presley, Monroe’s image has become shorthand for a particular brand of glamour and intrigue. Her status as a symbol of sexuality and shifting attitudes in the 1950s is perhaps best captured by the famous scene from The Seven Year Itch, where her white dress billows above a subway grate. That moment, much like the Mona Lisa or the Bayeux Tapestry, has come to define an era in the public imagination.

Monroe’s journey through Hollywood was anything but straightforward. She navigated an industry that both celebrated and criticised her for her pin-up appeal, all while displaying sharp comedic timing in a string of Billy Wilder films. Despite her success, she faced persistent scrutiny over her private life, including scandals linked to earlier nude photographs and the challenges of working with powerful studio executives. By the early 1960s, Monroe’s career had begun to falter. The lukewarm reception of The Misfits in 1961, her divorce from Arthur Miller, and a brief stay in a psychiatric hospital left her in a vulnerable position, both personally and professionally.

The Rumoured Affair and a Presidential Invitation

Speculation about Monroe’s relationship with John F Kennedy has never quite faded. While much remains uncertain, it is widely believed that the two spent a night together following a gathering at Bing Crosby’s Palm Springs home in March 1962. Amidst this backdrop, Monroe received an invitation to perform at a Democratic fundraiser at Madison Square Garden, scheduled just ten days before Kennedy’s 45th birthday. The event promised a star-studded line-up, including Ella Fitzgerald and Bobby Darin, but it would be Monroe’s appearance that would steal the show.

Fresh from a break in filming Something’s Got to Give, Monroe was sewn into a Jean Louis gown adorned with rhinestones, ready to take the stage. The anticipation in the air was palpable as she prepared to deliver a performance that would become legendary.

A Moment That Stopped the Room

When Monroe finally appeared, she revealed a shimmering, form-fitting dress beneath a white ermine stole. Her rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ was breathy and intimate, directed unmistakably at the President in front of an audience of 15,000. The performance, lasting less than a minute, included a playful twist on ‘Thanks for the Memory’ to highlight Kennedy’s achievements during his first year in office. As the song ended, Monroe beckoned for a giant cake to be brought on stage in honour of the President’s upcoming birthday, then made her exit, leaving the crowd in awe.

The President, clearly taken aback, addressed the audience with a wry remark:

I can now retire after having had ‘Happy Birthday’ sung to me in such a sweet, wholesome way.

The moment was instantly etched into history, overshadowing the rest of the evening’s entertainment.

The Final Curtain

Monroe returned to the set of Something’s Got to Give, but the production was soon cancelled due to her repeated absences. Just a few months later, in August, she was found dead at her Brentwood home from a barbiturate overdose, a tragedy officially deemed a “probable suicide.” Her death sparked endless speculation and overshadowed her considerable achievements and professional acumen.

Fifteen months after Monroe’s passing, Kennedy himself would meet a similarly untimely end, shrouded in controversy and myth. Yet, it takes a rare kind of star to make the world’s most familiar song entirely her own. With that final, unforgettable performance, Monroe’s ‘Happy Birthday’ endures as a masterclass in intimate stagecraft and the enduring power of celebrity.