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

When you think of pop culture’s biggest icons, it’s hard to go past Elvis’s quiff and Marilyn Monroe’s unmistakable star power. Monroe, in particular, became a symbol of both allure and the changing face of showbiz in the 1950s. Her image—especially that famous scene with the white dress billowing over a subway grate from The Seven Year Itch—is as much a part of the last century as the Mona Lisa is to the Renaissance. She managed to carve out a place in Hollywood that was both celebrated and scrutinised, juggling her comedic timing and the ‘blonde bombshell’ persona in a string of Billy Wilder hits, all while dealing with studio bosses who weren’t exactly easy to work with and the fallout from her earlier nude photoshoots.

By the early 1960s, things weren’t all smooth sailing. Her marriage to Arthur Miller had ended, The Misfits didn’t do as well as hoped, and she’d spent some time in a New York psychiatric hospital. There were also plenty of whispers about her relationship with the US President. Most reckon Monroe and John F Kennedy spent the night together after a party at Bing Crosby’s place in Palm Springs in March 1962. Somewhere along the line, she was invited to perform at a Democratic fundraiser at Madison Square Garden, just before JFK’s 45th birthday.

Setting the Stage for a Moment in History

After wrapping up a couple of days filming Something’s Got to Give, Monroe was stitched into a Jean Louis gown covered in rhinestones, ready to join a line-up that included Ella Fitzgerald and Bobby Darin. But it was Monroe’s turn on stage that everyone remembers. She stepped out, draped in an ermine stole, and revealed a sparkling, figure-hugging dress that left the crowd of 15,000 absolutely gobsmacked. Her version of ‘Happy Birthday’ was breathy and flirtatious, aimed straight at the President. It barely lasted a minute, but she managed to slip in a cheeky take on ‘Thanks for the Memory’ to highlight JFK’s first year in office, then called for a massive cake to be brought out before making her exit.

It was a moment that instantly became part of pop culture folklore. The President, clearly a bit flustered, thanked everyone and then quipped,

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

The Aftermath and Lasting Impact

Monroe went back to filming Something’s Got to Give, but the production was eventually canned after she missed too many days. Just a few months later, in August, she was found dead at her home in Brentwood from a barbiturate overdose. The official word was “probable suicide,” but that only fuelled more speculation and stories about her life and death, often overshadowing her achievements and sharp business sense.

Fifteen months after Monroe’s passing, Kennedy himself would meet a tragic end, surrounded by just as much rumour and myth. It takes a certain kind of star to make the world’s most recognisable song your own. With that final performance, Monroe’s ‘Happy Birthday’ became the ultimate example of intimate showmanship and the power of celebrity.