Marilyn Monroe and John F. Kennedy were introduced by the son-in-law of the future 35th president, actor Peter Lawford. By marrying John's sister, Patricia, this nimble Englishman became a member of one of the richest and most powerful clans in America and went out of his way to become Kennedy's own. With very modest resources, Peter did what he knew best - he was responsible for the clan's relations with show business, and at the same time supplied Hollywood actresses for John's amorous pleasures. In the summer of 1954, Lawford threw a party in honor of Massachusetts Senator John Fitzgerald Kennedy and his young wife Jacqueline. On it, John was expected by the pleasant surprise promised the day before.

The surprise was none other than Marilyn Monroe. The beautiful blonde who became famous after the film "Niagara" already then drove half the male population of the United States crazy. John Kennedy did not resist. He literally devoured the actress with his eyes, not paying attention to the embarrassed Jacqueline and the indignant glances of Marilyn's husband, the famous former baseball player Joe DiMaggio.

Forgetting decorum, John recklessly courted a new acquaintance, every now and then poured her favorite Piper Heid-sieck champagne, poured witticisms and lavished compliments. Such a frenzied interest of the senator flattered Marilyn's vanity. She felt at the pinnacle of life, laughing incessantly and mercilessly flirting. Desire bubbled and frothed in the champagne glasses. Passion captured them more and more, leaving prudence less and less room ...

But then DiMaggio intervened. He felt that the evening was too lively, and tried to take his wife home. However, Marilyn resisted in every possible way and managed to bring her husband into a state close to insanity. There was an ugly scandal. According to witnesses, DiMaggio grabbed the actress by the arms, “caused her physical pain” and released catchy expressions to the party organizer and the roaming senator, the lightest of which contained a hint of an unnatural connection with Peter Lawford. The scandal was somehow hushed up, and the angry baseball player went home alone. And Marilyn, as if nothing had happened, remained to enjoy the company of a newly-minted admirer from Massachusetts ...

Soul mates

This quarrel destroyed Monroe's already fragile marriage with DiMaggio. Joe was a simple and honest guy and in no way suited the Hollywood actress who craved fame and high-society entertainment. After a short time, they divorced, and Marilyn recklessly and enthusiastically gave herself to a new passion - John F. Kennedy. She did not think about the future, she wanted only one thing: to be close to John. Nevertheless, Marilyn still understood that her lover was in full view, that he was married and the like. In order not to harm the senator's career, she agreed to meet with him secretly. Most often they retired to the villa of the cunning Lawford in Santa Monica. Peter turned his house into a real brothel, where there were mirrored bedrooms, boudoirs with hidden windows and other things designed to awaken the fantasies of the effeminate Kennedy brothers. Almost all the famous beauties of that time stayed at the villa. Lawford even tried to drag in there the already elderly, but not lost her charm Marlene Dietrich, whom John F. Kennedy then dreamed about. The German diva called Peter a "high society pimp" and flatly refused, plunging John, who had not known refusals before, into extreme bewilderment and melancholy. However, it didn't last long...

Here it should be noted that, indulging in the effeminacy of morals, Marilyn and John imperceptibly became attached to each other so much that it was difficult to part even for a short time. Both of them had a romantic nature, and sincerity is inherent in such a nature, so little to do with the outside world. With Marilyn, John did not have to be hypocritical or tricky, with her he could be himself, trust her with the most intimate secrets. With her, he even forgot about the pain in his back, which had constantly tormented him from his youth. Soon, John was surprised to find that he needed this woman.

When Kennedy became the Democratic presidential candidate, he asked Marilyn to take part in the campaign. And she happily agreed, despite the fact that she was bound by contracts with film studios. Constantly disrupting filming schedules and risking thousands of fines, Marilyn rushed after John from city to city, from state to state, cheering him on during speeches, acting as a secretary and recruiting Kennedy supporters.

It was then that the actress began to keep a diary, where, among other things, she recorded conversations with Kennedy. Subsequently, this leather-bound little book will play a fatal role in the fate of Monroe. Perhaps, at the same time, the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bbecoming the first lady of the United States firmly settled in Marilyn's blond head. She had no doubt that she could rise to the level of John, studied secular manners, diligently read political and economic literature. After all, why shouldn't she, the "Hollywood Cinderella", get a fairy-tale prince as her husband? Indeed, in her invented illusory world, in which Marilyn used to live from childhood, she always achieved what she wanted.

Hollywood Cinderella

Marilyn (real name - Norma Jean Mortenson) was born June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles. She did not know her father: Martin Mortenson rode off on a motorcycle somewhere in a southerly direction, leaving the pregnant Gladys Baker to her fate. Cheerful Gladys was not upset for a long time and gave the two-week-old baby to be raised by foster parents. The elderly couple agreed to take Norma in order to live on child support during the famine years of the Great Depression. Gladys occasionally visited her daughter, regaled her with ice cream and talked about the film studio where she worked as an assembler.

Eight years later, the parent suddenly woke up with a maternal feeling, and she took her daughter to her. And a year later, Gladys found herself in a clinic for the mentally ill, from which she did not leave until her death. Little Norma was taken care of by her mother's friend at work, Grace Atkinson McKee. It was she who infected the girl with cinema and assured the dreamy Norma that she would become a famous movie star. Since then, illusions have become the only refuge where she fled from the abominations of impoverished existence.

Life, alas, did not indulge Norma Jean: she had to wander around orphanages, live with different people who treated the girl indifferently at best, endure several rape attempts ... A terrible childhood. But youth was no better. To get rid of an extra mouth, a 16-year-old girl was married off. Early marriage, as one would expect, did not lead to anything good. Twenty-year-old James Dougherty worked as a junior clerk in a funeral home and barely made a living himself. In addition, he was a rather feisty fellow and liked to drink.

After a year of incessant quarrels, James got a job as a sailor on a steamship and sailed away. Left alone, Norma went to work at an aircraft factory. But she did not leave her childhood dream of a career as a film actress. Deciding to become famous at all costs, the girl starred for cheap soldier magazines for five dollars an hour. The poses that photographers sometimes forced young Norma to take were very frivolous. They explained to her that this was necessary to raise morale, and she endured. Norma tried herself both as a fashion model and a dancer in a night strip club ... Finally, she was lucky. One of the producers of the 20th Century Fox film studio accidentally saw her photos and invited the girl to work as an extra, promising to pay $ 125 a week.

For several years in a row, Norma, who took the pseudonym Marilyn Monroe, played tiny episodic roles. But her naturally beautiful external data, which surprisingly combined the charm of an angel with the seductiveness of an experienced temptress, did not go unnoticed by the public and criticism. Particularly successful was her performance in the film "Asphalt Jungle". After this episodic role, the studio signed a seven-year contract with Marilyn, promising her the main roles. And in 1953, the film "Niagara" was released, which made Monroe a star and a sex symbol of America. Grace Atkinson McKee's prophecy has come true...

Rivals

After becoming President of the United States, John forgot to think about a divorce from Jacqueline. However, he was not going to part with Marilyn either. Their relationship experienced an unprecedented rise. The most famous blonde in the world has been escorted more than once to a villa in Santa Monica, to Kennedy's apartment in New York's Carlisle Hotel, or aboard US Air Force No. 1 military aircraft. Taking precautionary measures, Marilyn tried to change her appearance. Most often, she dressed to look like Jacqueline Kennedy: a black wig, a formal suit with indispensable pearl beads and dark glasses. Perhaps Marilyn copied the president's wife for reasons of secrecy, or maybe she wanted to prove to John that she was no worse than his wife and was able to perfectly cope with the role of first lady. She did not give up the idea of ​​taking the place of Jacqueline, which, as Marilyn sincerely believed, was hers by right of love.

Monroe did not miss the opportunity to sensitively prick her rival, and used any means for this. Some of them, even with great indulgence, can not be considered harmless. For example, Marilyn deliberately "forgot" the items of her toilet in Kennedy's bedroom - most often it was underwear. Having discovered him, Jacqueline reacted in accordance with a noble upbringing: she busily tried on underwear for herself and, as if by the way, asked John: “Do you know whose it is? Looks like it's not mine..." In response, Kennedy smiled that disarming childish smile that always helped him extricate himself from difficult situations. It was she who allowed him to defeat Richard Nixon in the pre-election televised debate. Not knowing what to answer to his opponent's tricky question, Kennedy simply smiled, and most American women gave him their votes.

Marilyn acted in another way. She regularly called the White House, asked to call Jacqueline to the phone and demanded that she quickly pick up her things and children and leave, giving way to her, the real chosen one of the president. These calls drove Mrs. Kennedy into a frenzy. Once she could not stand it and told her husband about everything, declaring that she agreed to a divorce if John marries a Hollywood actress and begins to live with her openly. There followed a flash of supreme anger and a promise to cut off all contact with Monroe. But fulfilling the promise was not so easy. Passion, like a powerful magnet, attracted Kennedy to the actress. Just as it is impossible for a person to overcome gravity without the help of a rocket, so it was impossible to overcome this passion without the help of another person. And only Monroe could be such a person! And she, unwittingly, helped the president.

Let me love or let me die

By the time of the events described, the idea of ​​​​becoming the wife of John F. Kennedy turned into a manic idea for Marilyn. Some biographers of the actress believe that Monroe's bad heredity contributed to this transformation to a large extent. Whether this is true or not is unknown. Another thing is known - Marilyn's desire to fill Kennedy's life to failure became too noticeable to others. This could compromise the president. In addition, Marilyn already then began to have serious problems with drugs and alcohol. Being drunk, she could talk about things that in no case should be made public. Confidants strongly advised Kennedy, who was about to run for a second term, to break off the dangerous connection.

Finally, Kennedy himself realized this. And although their dates were as passionate as before, the meetings became more and more rare, and soon stopped altogether. Marilyn was in despair: she called the White House almost daily and bombarded John with pathetic letters. She couldn't understand what had happened. But she was not connected with the president, and the letters remained unanswered.

On the eve of John's birthday, Marilyn with great difficulty managed to give the White House official a gift for the president: a gold Rolex watch engraved with the inscription "To John with love from Marilyn." Another inscription was made on the gold watch box, leaving no doubt about the true feelings of the donor: Marilyn asked John to let her love him or die. Shocked by such a frank gift, Kennedy ordered the employee to immediately get rid of the watch. But, praise the Creator, it took place in America, where mostly practical people live. The employee realized perfectly well how much this watch would cost in the near future, and did not follow the President's order, but kept the watch for himself.

Happy birthday Mr President!!!

Apparently, Marilyn had special hopes for this gift. But she didn't wait for an answer. And then the unfortunate woman, who lost her head, decided on a very daring act. On May 19, 1962, the American beau monde celebrated the 45th anniversary of the president at Madison Square Garden. The gala concert was supposed to replenish the box office of the Democratic Party, devastated by the 1960 election campaign. There were more than 15 thousand guests who paid from one hundred to one thousand dollars for a ticket. Stars of the first magnitude were invited to participate in the program: Ella Fitzgerald, Maria Callas, Harry Belafonte and, of course, Marilyn Monroe. The notorious Peter Lawford acted as the entertainer. Jacqueline Kennedy was absent.

Marilyn ordered a dress for this evening from Jean Louis, who created the famous concert dress for Marlene Dietrich. Monroe wanted to remind the president of a woman he was once deeply infatuated with. The dress was a transparent, tight-fitting piece of fabric, studded with sequins and a luxurious ermine jacket. There was no linen under the dress. Staggering with excitement, as it seemed to many then, Marilyn went to the microphone.

She thought for a moment, then resolutely threw off her jacket and, turning to the smiling Kennedy, sang "Happy birthday, Mr. President!" She sang in such a way that those present felt uneasy: in those days in America it was not customary to express one's feelings so frankly, and besides, publicly.

Now no one had any doubt that the rumors about the president's love affair with Monroe had a real basis.

Kennedy was simply infuriated by this drunken stunt.

He was the only one who noticed that Marilyn was not swaying from excitement at all. The actress really drank a fair amount of whiskey before going out for courage: she understood what kind of reaction her performance would cause.

John considered that Marilyn, having decided to openly declare her love, crossed the line of what was permitted. By order of President Monroe was immediately taken to Lawford's villa in California. Following her, John's brother, Robert Kennedy, flew there to explain the presumptuous actress the rules of the game ...

At the villa, the showdown ended in an ugly quarrel. An enraged Marilyn yelled at Robert that John had used her and then thrown her out like old socks, that she would put together a press conference and tell the whole world how the President treated her and much more in the same vein. At the same time, she waved that ill-fated diary and threatened to publish it ...

On August 5, 1962, Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her bedroom.

And in the fall of 1963, John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

Marilyn Monroe and the Camera: endless material. Lots of photos. http://humus.livejournal.com/2122182.html

Life, and even more death, Marilyn Monroe remains a mystery for many generations. The bright blonde, who managed to get both Kennedy brothers, forever changed the history of not only America, but the whole world. The director of the film Only Girls in Jazz once said: "There are books about the life of Marilyn Monroe, and there are books about the Second World War. They are united by two words "hell" and "necessity."

Seven years would elapse between JFK's first meeting with Marilyn Monroe and her mysterious suicide. Seven years of intrigue, scandals, secret meetings and phone calls. But before the love affair turns into a farce, Monroe will experience her happiest moments of hope and faith that she managed to meet a Real Man, writes Ivona.bigmir.net.

In the summer of 1954, a party was held in Hollywood in honor of the ambitious young Senator from Massachusetts John Fitzgerald Kennedy and his wife Jackie. Actor Peter Lawford, the organizer of the fun, was aware of Kennedy's interest in the beauty actress Marilyn Monroe. To please his friend, Lawford did his best and a sexy blonde appeared at the reception.

Despite the fact that the star was married to the modest baseball player Joe DiMaggio, who was against the noisy fun, Monroe loved Hollywood and local entertainment. Knowing that the appearance at the party portends another scandal with her husband, Marilyn nevertheless went to have fun. And she was rewarded. Subsequently, Marilyn will say: "Kennedy did not take his eyes off me for a second, and at some point I even felt embarrassed."

A few days later, the phone rang at DiMaggio's house. Joe picked up the phone: "I'm listening." There was silence on the other end of the line, and he hung up in a rage. Later, during one of their first secret meetings, John will tell her, "You must warn me so I can call without risking your husband."

Thus began the most dangerous and exciting story in the life of Marilyn Monroe and John F. Kennedy. Still not realizing with whom and with what she contacted, the star wrote poems about her lover and admitted to her assistant that from the age of 15 she had dreamed of such a companion. The blonde had no doubts that John would divorce his wife and introduce Marilyn to the whole world as the first lady of the United States. Can a woman in love be blamed for shortsightedness?

“A smart girl kisses, but does not love, listens, but does not believe and leaves before she was left,” the beauty thought philosophically in her interviews, but in life she was far from prudence.

A secret romantic relationship under palm trees, on the shores of the azure sea, with a millionaire and a famous politician inspired the actress. Both of them had to make considerable efforts to ensure that secret relationships did not become the property of journalists. Marilyn had to dodge and lie. But she couldn't stop. The future president of the United States beckoned her. She dreamed of them. It was her ideal. She believed that it was he, like no one else, who suited her for the role of husband.

The connection with the world-famous blonde inspired John, inspired self-confidence and helped to achieve heights. Marilyn supported her man in everything and was ready to listen to him. The happy actress took part in the election campaign of her lover and in many respects he owes her popularity among the people.

After becoming president, John still did not break ties with Marilyn. They met already in the apartments of the presidential plane. Now Marilyn had to put on a wig, dark glasses, and in this form climb the ladder, posing as a secretary. Peter Lawford, who organized these meetings, had photographs in which John and Marilyn showed off their naked charms. A tough politician in public, in the company of a sexy actress, Kennedy relaxed and rested.

But over time, even the blonde Marilyn, who chose the image of a naive ugly girl in the cinema, began to understand that John F. Kennedy's intentions were not as serious as in her dreams. The Kennedy family of millionaires and politicians was too clannish to let a girl of unknown origin in. No one there could seriously think about marriage with Monroe. Millionaires do not like scandals with divorces and revelations that are characteristic of movie stars.

At the same time, Jeannette Carmen, a relative of the actress, claims that "Marilyn never stopped believing that she could rise to the level of John F. Kennedy, both physically and intellectually. She hoped to become a real lady, whom he could not be ashamed of" . About what to do next, the star did not think for a long time: to fight for your happiness!

“We women have only two weapons… Mascara and tears, but we can’t use both at the same time…” – said the actress.

When it became clear that the most desirable woman in the world was not enough for the president, Marilyn Monroe began to roll scandals. John did not immediately understand this change. He was satisfied only with a closed game. And Marilyn became more insistent. She abused direct dial telephone numbers given only to her. She constantly called John at the White House, demanded meetings that were not scheduled in advance, wrote letters. Receiving no answer, she began to threaten with exposure. In the end, out of spite, she called the president's wife, telling her what young mistresses usually say to the wives of their partners.

This made the situation critical. The President got nervous. He held emergency meetings with his brother, Attorney General Robert. Then he invited FBI Director Hoover. From him, he learned the shocking news - the mafia has a film with a video of his love games with Marilyn. They were filmed naked in Palm Springs. This was the beginning of the end. The president didn't want to take any more risks. But he understood that Marilyn was in such an excited state that she would stop at nothing. She has nothing to lose.

At John's 45th birthday celebration, Marilyn had to sing Happy birthday to You, Mr. President! (Happy birthday, Mr. President!). Peter Lawford, who played the role of master of ceremonies, called Marilyn on stage. Once... second. Nobody. He tried again, this time with irritation: "And now, ladies and gentlemen, Marilyn Monroe, who has left us." This terrible joke (based on the double meaning of the English word late, which can mean "late" or "left us dead") made Marilyn leave her bathroom ...

Then Lawford sent Robert Kennedy to her. The young Minister of Justice and father of seven children stayed with her for about a quarter of an hour. He encouraged the actress, saying that the president was pleased, but perhaps he had other reasons to stay with her ...

“Robert Kennedy seemed to go crazy, running around her with goggle eyes, as if mesmerized by her defiant dress,” said one of those present. And Marilyn fell into an increasing dependence on alcohol and pills. And finally, she noticed that John was avoiding her. Robert Kennedy began to appear more and more often in her house. From that time on, Marilyn became the mistress of another Kennedy. But after a while, when the heat of the first passion cooled down, with Robert, Marilyn began the same difficulties as with John: he was not at all going to marry her.

Losing the last remnants of common sense, the film star began to pursue Robert. Marilyn had already publicly announced that she was head over heels in love with Bobby and that he had promised to marry her. This was becoming unbearable and very dangerous for the entire Kennedy clan.

In the early days of August 1962, Marilyn learned that Robert and his family were vacationing in the Palm Springs villa she knew so well. She called there and demanded that he immediately come to her. She wanted to explain. On the phone, Marilyn, already with a threat, told him that she had been keeping a diary for a long time, where she wrote down everything that both high-ranking brothers told her in moments of relaxation.

All further happened, as in the climactic scenes of Hollywood melodramas. A stormy showdown began, tears, accusations, threats. She shouted that on Monday, August 6, she would call a press conference in the morning and tell the journalists the whole truth. How vilely both Kennedy brothers treated her and how they used her, and what state secrets they blurted out to her. All this is allegedly recorded in her diary, which she will give to the press.

Robert tried to calm her down. In vain. She got carried away again. She didn't hear anything anymore. Furious, she grabbed a kitchen knife and threw it at Robert. It has already crossed all boundaries. Peter and Robert twisted her arms, trying to bring her to her senses.

What happened next, no one will probably ever know. They left immediately or waited until Marilyn fell asleep. And if she fell asleep, then from what? According to the official version, the death of the actress was due to suicide.

Who gave her a strange injection? And did she take the pills herself? By the way, for some reason, the examination did not find traces of sleeping pills in the stomach of the deceased Marilyn. They tried to explain this by the fact that the actress’s body, accustomed to these pills, quickly dissolved and absorbed them completely. And why did Robert Kennedy himself and the official authorities for a very long time and diligently hide that last visit to Marilyn's villa? Be that as it may, the life of Marilyn Monroe is inextricably linked with the Kennedy clan. Like her death.

“I often thought that to be loved means to be desired. Now I think that to be loved means to plunge the other into dust, to have complete power over him ... "- Marilyn once said.

The star failed to achieve the love of the Kennedy clan.

Marilyn Monroe and John F. Kennedy were introduced by the son-in-law of the future 35th president, actor Peter Lawford. By marrying John's sister, Patricia, this nimble Englishman became a member of one of the richest and most powerful clans in America and went out of his way to become Kennedy's own. With modest means, Peter did what he knew best - he was in charge of the clan's relations with show business, and at the same time supplied Hollywood actresses for John's amorous pleasures. In the summer of 1954, Lawford threw a party in honor of Massachusetts Senator John Fitzgerald Kennedy and his young wife Jacqueline. On it, John was expected by the pleasant surprise promised the day before.

The surprise was none other than Marilyn Monroe. The beautiful blonde who became famous after the film "Niagara" already then drove half the male population of the United States crazy. John Kennedy did not resist. He literally devoured the actress with his eyes, not paying attention to the embarrassed Jacqueline and the indignant glances of Marilyn's husband, the famous former baseball player Joe DiMaggio.

Forgetting decorum, John recklessly courted a new acquaintance, every now and then poured her favorite Piper Heid-sieck champagne, poured witticisms and lavished compliments. Such a frenzied interest of the senator flattered Marilyn's vanity. She felt at the pinnacle of life, laughing incessantly and mercilessly flirting. Desire bubbled and frothed in the champagne glasses. Passion captured them more and more, leaving prudence less and less room ...

But then DiMaggio intervened. He felt that the evening was too lively, and tried to take his wife home. However, Marilyn resisted in every possible way and managed to bring her husband into a state close to insanity. There was an ugly scandal. According to witnesses, DiMaggio grabbed the actress by the arms, “caused her physical pain” and released catchy expressions to the party organizer and the roaming senator, the lightest of which contained a hint of an unnatural connection with Peter Lawford. The scandal was somehow hushed up, and the angry baseball player went home alone. And Marilyn, as if nothing had happened, remained to enjoy the company of a newly-minted admirer from Massachusetts ...

Soul mates

This quarrel destroyed Monroe's already fragile marriage with DiMaggio. Joe was a simple and honest guy and in no way suited the Hollywood actress who craved fame and high-society entertainment. After a short time, they divorced, and Marilyn recklessly and enthusiastically gave herself to a new passion - John F. Kennedy. She did not think about the future, she wanted only one thing: to be close to John. Nevertheless, Marilyn still understood that her lover was in full view, that he was married and the like. In order not to harm the senator's career, she agreed to meet with him secretly. Most often they retired to the villa of the cunning Lawford in Santa Monica. Peter turned his house into a real brothel, where there were mirrored bedrooms, boudoirs with hidden windows and other things designed to awaken the fantasies of the effeminate Kennedy brothers. Almost all the famous beauties of that time stayed at the villa. Lawford even tried to drag in there the already elderly, but not lost her charm Marlene Dietrich, whom John F. Kennedy then dreamed about. The German diva called Peter a "high society pimp" and flatly refused, plunging John, who had not known refusals before, into extreme bewilderment and melancholy. However, it didn't last long...

Here it should be noted that, indulging in the effeminacy of morals, Marilyn and John imperceptibly became attached to each other so much that it was difficult to part even for a short time. Both of them had a romantic nature, and sincerity is inherent in such a nature, so little to do with the outside world. With Marilyn, John did not have to be hypocritical or tricky, with her he could be himself, trust her with the most intimate secrets. With her, he even forgot about the pain in his back, which had constantly tormented him from his youth. Soon, John was surprised to find that he needed this woman.

When Kennedy became the Democratic presidential candidate, he asked Marilyn to take part in the campaign. And she happily agreed, despite the fact that she was bound by contracts with film studios. Constantly disrupting filming schedules and risking thousands of fines, Marilyn rushed after John from city to city, from state to state, cheering him on during speeches, acting as a secretary and recruiting Kennedy supporters.

It was then that the actress began to keep a diary, where, among other things, she recorded conversations with Kennedy. Subsequently, this leather-bound little book will play a fatal role in the fate of Monroe. Perhaps, at the same time, the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bbecoming the first lady of the United States firmly settled in Marilyn's blond head. She had no doubt that she could rise to the level of John, studied secular manners, diligently read political and economic literature. After all, why shouldn't she, the "Hollywood Cinderella", get a fairy-tale prince as her husband? Indeed, in her invented illusory world, in which Marilyn used to live from childhood, she always achieved what she wanted.

Hollywood Cinderella

Marilyn (real name - Norma Jean Mortenson) was born June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles. She did not know her father: Martin Mortenson rode off on a motorcycle somewhere in a southerly direction, leaving the pregnant Gladys Baker to her fate. Cheerful Gladys was not upset for a long time and gave the two-week-old baby to be raised by foster parents. The elderly couple agreed to take Norma in order to live on child support during the famine years of the Great Depression. Gladys occasionally visited her daughter, regaled her with ice cream and talked about the film studio where she worked as an assembler.

Eight years later, the parent suddenly woke up with a maternal feeling, and she took her daughter to her. And a year later, Gladys found herself in a clinic for the mentally ill, from which she did not leave until her death. Little Norma was taken care of by her mother's friend at work, Grace Atkinson McKee. It was she who infected the girl with cinema and assured the dreamy Norma that she would become a famous movie star. Since then, illusions have become the only refuge where she fled from the abominations of impoverished existence.

Life, alas, did not indulge Norma Jean: she had to wander around orphanages, live with different people who treated the girl indifferently at best, endure several rape attempts ... A terrible childhood. But youth was no better. To get rid of an extra mouth, a 16-year-old girl was married off. Early marriage, as one would expect, did not lead to anything good. Twenty-year-old James Dougherty worked as a junior clerk in a funeral home and barely made a living himself. In addition, he was a rather feisty fellow and liked to drink.

After a year of incessant quarrels, James got a job as a sailor on a steamship and sailed away. Left alone, Norma went to work at an aircraft factory. But she did not leave her childhood dream of a career as a film actress. Deciding to become famous at all costs, the girl starred for cheap soldier magazines for five dollars an hour. The poses that photographers sometimes forced young Norma to take were very frivolous. They explained to her that this was necessary to raise morale, and she endured. Norma tried herself both as a fashion model and a dancer in a night strip club ... Finally, she was lucky. One of the producers of the 20th Century Fox film studio accidentally saw her photos and invited the girl to work as an extra, promising to pay $ 125 a week.

For several years in a row, Norma, who took the pseudonym Marilyn Monroe, played tiny episodic roles. But her naturally beautiful external data, which surprisingly combined the charm of an angel with the seductiveness of an experienced temptress, did not go unnoticed by the public and criticism. Particularly successful was her performance in the film "Asphalt Jungle". After this episodic role, the studio signed a seven-year contract with Marilyn, promising her the main roles. And in 1953, the film "Niagara" was released, which made Monroe a star and a sex symbol of America. Grace Atkinson McKee's prophecy has come true...

Rivals

In 1961, John Fitzgerald Kennedy became the 35th President of the United States. Of course, he forgot to think about the divorce from Jacqueline. However, he was not going to part with Marilyn either. Their relationship experienced an unprecedented rise. The most famous blonde in the world has been escorted more than once to a villa in Santa Monica, to Kennedy's apartment in New York's Carlisle Hotel, or aboard US Air Force No. 1 military aircraft. Taking precautionary measures, Marilyn tried to change her appearance. Most often, she dressed to look like Jacqueline Kennedy: a black wig, a formal suit with indispensable pearl beads and dark glasses. Perhaps Marilyn copied the president's wife for reasons of secrecy, or maybe she wanted to prove to John that she was no worse than his wife and was able to perfectly cope with the role of first lady. She did not give up the idea of ​​taking the place of Jacqueline, which, as Marilyn sincerely believed, was hers by right of love.

Monroe did not miss the opportunity to sensitively prick her rival, and used any means for this. Some of them, even with great indulgence, can not be considered harmless. For example, Marilyn deliberately "forgot" the items of her toilet in Kennedy's bedroom - most often it was underwear. Having discovered him, Jacqueline reacted in accordance with a noble upbringing: she busily tried on underwear for herself and, as if by the way, asked John: “Do you know whose it is? Looks like it's not mine..." In response, Kennedy smiled that disarming childish smile that always helped him extricate himself from difficult situations. It was she who allowed him to defeat Richard Nixon in the pre-election televised debate. Not knowing what to answer to his opponent's tricky question, Kennedy simply smiled, and most American women gave him their votes.

Marilyn acted in another way. She regularly called the White House, asked to call Jacqueline to the phone and demanded that she quickly pick up her things and children and leave, giving way to her, the real chosen one of the president. These calls drove Mrs. Kennedy into a frenzy. Once she could not stand it and told her husband about everything, declaring that she agreed to a divorce if John marries a Hollywood actress and begins to live with her openly. There followed a flash of supreme anger and a promise to cut off all contact with Monroe. But fulfilling the promise was not so easy. Passion, like a powerful magnet, attracted Kennedy to the actress. Just as it is impossible for a person to overcome gravity without the help of a rocket, so it was impossible to overcome this passion without the help of another person. And only Monroe could be such a person! And she, unwittingly, helped the president.

"Let me love or let me die"

By the time of the events described, the idea of ​​​​becoming the wife of John F. Kennedy turned into a manic idea for Marilyn. Some biographers of the actress believe that Monroe's bad heredity contributed to this transformation to a large extent. Like it or not - it is not known for sure. Another thing is known - Marilyn's desire to completely fill Kennedy's life with herself became too noticeable to others. This could compromise the president. In addition, Marilyn already then began to have serious problems with drugs and alcohol. Being drunk, she could talk about things that in no case should be made public. Confidants strongly advised Kennedy, who was about to run for a second term, to break off the dangerous connection.

Finally Kennedy realized this himself. And although their dates were as passionate as before, the meetings became more and more rare, and soon stopped altogether. Marilyn was in despair: she called the White House almost daily and bombarded John with pathetic letters. She couldn't understand what had happened. But she was not connected with the president, and the letters remained unanswered.

On the eve of John's birthday, Marilyn with great difficulty managed to give the White House official a gift for the president: a gold Rolex watch engraved with the inscription "To John with love from Marilyn." Another inscription was made on the gold watch box, leaving no doubt about the true feelings of the donor: Marilyn asked John to let her love him or die. Shocked by such a frank gift, Kennedy ordered the employee to immediately get rid of the watch. But, praise the Creator, it took place in America, where mostly practical people live. The employee realized perfectly well how much this watch would cost in the near future, and did not follow the President's order, but kept the watch for himself.

"Happy birthday, Mr. President!"

Apparently, Marilyn had special hopes for this gift. But she didn't wait for an answer. And then the unfortunate woman who lost her head decided on a very daring act. On May 19, 1962, the American beau monde celebrated the 45th anniversary of the president at Madison Square Garden. The gala concert was supposed to replenish the box office of the Democratic Party, devastated by the 1960 election campaign. There were more than 15 thousand guests who paid from one hundred to one thousand dollars for a ticket. Stars of the first magnitude were invited to participate in the program: Ella Fitzgerald, Maria Callas, Harry Belafonte and, of course, Marilyn Monroe. The notorious Peter Lawford acted as the entertainer. Jacqueline Kennedy was absent.

Marilyn ordered a dress for this evening from Jean Louis, who created the famous concert dress for Marlene Dietrich. Monroe wanted to remind the president of a woman he was once deeply infatuated with. The dress was a transparent, tight-fitting piece of fabric, studded with sequins and a luxurious ermine jacket. There was no linen under the dress. Staggering with excitement, as it seemed to many then, Marilyn went to the microphone.

She thought for a moment, then decisively threw off her jacket and, turning to the smiling Kennedy, sang "Happy birthday, Mr. President!". She sang in such a way that those present felt uneasy: in those days in America it was not customary to express one's feelings so frankly, and besides, publicly.

Now no one had any doubt that the rumors about the president's love affair with Monroe had a real basis.

Kennedy was simply infuriated by this drunken stunt. He was the only one who noticed that Marilyn was not staggering from excitement at all. The actress really drank a fair amount of whiskey before going out for courage: she understood what kind of reaction her performance would cause.

John considered that Marilyn, having decided to openly declare her love, crossed the line of what was permitted. By order of President Monroe was immediately taken to Lawford's villa in California. Following her, John's brother flew there - Robert Kennedy to explain the presumptuous actress the rules of the game ...

At the villa, the showdown ended in an ugly quarrel. An enraged Marilyn yelled at Robert that John had used her and then thrown her out like old socks, that she would put together a press conference and tell the whole world how the President treated her and much more in the same vein. At the same time, she waved that ill-fated diary and threatened to publish it ...

On August 5, 1962, Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her bedroom.