United States of Kennedy Episode: Marilyn Monroe and the Kennedys
Hosts: George Civeris & Julia Claire
Release Date: February 9, 2026
Podcast: United States of Kennedy (iHeartPodcasts)

Episode Overview

This episode dissects the decades-old rumors, speculation, and conspiracy theories surrounding Marilyn Monroe’s connections with John F. Kennedy (JFK) and Robert F. Kennedy (RFK). Hosts George and Julia dig into the origins and evolution of these alleged affairs, address why they remain so persistent, and critically assess prominent books and pop culture portrayals—from tabloid pamphlets to the 2022 Netflix documentary, The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes. The episode explores the facts, the myths, and the cultural context that continue to make this story so compelling.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Marilyn and the Kennedys in Public Memory

• Only one surviving photograph shows Marilyn Monroe with JFK and RFK, from the 1962 Madison Square Garden birthday event ([03:03]).
• Despite limited direct evidence, speculation about her affairs with both brothers—and even possible involvement in her death—has persisted for decades.
• Quote: "But that hasn't stopped decades of conspiracy theories... especially how it may or may not intersect with her untimely death in 1962." (Julia Claire, [03:03])

2. Why the Truth Is So Elusive

• The story's reality is clouded by unreliable, often self-serving sources, and the fact that almost all principals are long deceased.

• There is a "cottage industry" of people writing semi-fictional accounts of their proximity to Monroe or the Kennedys ([05:16]).

• Archival limitations and contradictory records muddy the historical waters further.

• Notable moment:

  "If we are kind of wishy-washy about whether things are true or false, it isn't because we haven't done enough research. It's actually because we've done too much... Everything contradicts the last thing you read."
  (George Severis, [04:46])

3. Timeline of the Rumors and Theories

a. Early Focus on RFK

• Early rumors centered on RFK, not JFK.

• Source: A 1964 FBI document and anti-communist activist Frank Capell’s pamphlet, The Strange Death of Marilyn Monroe ([09:20]).

• Capell’s conspiracy: Monroe was a communist agent, her death tied to her connections with the Kennedys.

• Quote:

  "A 70 page pamphlet, it evokes a madman."
  (Julia Claire, [09:20])

b. Norman Mailer & the Shift to JFK

• Norman Mailer’s Marilyn: A Biography added high-profile literary speculation but admitted its own conjectures ([11:26]).
• Mailer’s public admission:

  "I was doing something you don't normally do with a book, which is getting into the end of a book with a half-finished exploration."
  (Norman Mailer quoted by George Severis, [12:31])

• Arthur Miller, Monroe’s ex-husband, mocked Mailer’s self-aggrandizement.

c. Earl Wilson & Gossip’s Evolution

• 1974: Gossip columnist Earl Wilson “sets the record straight,” shifting the focus from RFK to JFK as Marilyn’s supposed lover ([18:57]).
• Wilson’s declaration:

  "Now that it's out in the open... I have chosen to tell the true story of Marilyn Monroe's liaison with the brothers Kennedy..."
  (Earl Wilson quoted, [19:04])

d. Rumors, National Enquirer, and Enduring Urban Legends

• From the ‘70s on, rumors drifted toward JFK, spawning claims about secret love children and murder plots.
• The “zone has been flooded” with stories—most deriving from hearsay, not hard evidence ([38:48]).

4. What Do We Actually Know?—The Four Confirmed Meetings

• According to biographer Donald Spoto:

  1. October 1961: Party at Peter and Pat Lawford’s Santa Monica home ([25:16]).

  2. February 1962: Manhattan dinner hosted by socialite Fifi Fell ([26:49]).

  3. March 24, 1962: Both JFK and Monroe were houseguests at Bing Crosby’s Palm Springs estate—this night, a phone call with Marilyn’s masseur, Ralph Roberts. Marilyn allegedly tells Ralph this was the only night of her affair with JFK ([28:16]).

     • Quote:

       "Marilyn told me that this night in March was the only time of her affair with JFK..."
       (Ralph Roberts quoted by George Severis, [29:13])

  4. May 1962: JFK’s birthday gala at Madison Square Garden (where Monroe sang "Happy Birthday, Mr. President") ([35:13]).

• No evidence suggests more than brief encounters; the iconic photo at MSG is routinely cropped to suggest intimacy that the full context doesn’t support ([38:01]).

5. The Family, Sex, and the Allure of Power

• The Kennedys’ well-documented philandering and obsession with Hollywood inform why even implausible rumors seem credible.
• The Kennedy men were raised to treat women as sexual conquests ([22:01]).
• Joe Kennedy’s own affair with Gloria Swanson and the family’s general fascination with showbiz are discussed as factors converging with Marilyn’s ambitions ([22:07], [23:07]).

6. Netflix Documentary "The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes"

(Discussion starts at [38:58])

• Based on journalist Anthony Summers’ research from the 80s, who compiled over 650 interviews.

• The documentary is notable for its immense volume of interviews, but ultimately finds no bombshells—Summers concludes Marilyn likely died (accidentally or intentionally) by overdose, and that the timeline and coverup are “fudged,” not evidence of murder ([56:53]).

  • Quote:

    "In many ways, the documentary is so unsatisfying because you don't get a big bombshell at the end, which then almost makes you feel complicit... I would have preferred it if Bobby Kennedy shot her in her Rumor."
    (George Severis, [41:18])

• The documentary spotlights:

  • The importance of Hollywood fixers and private eyes (most notably Fred Otash, [51:49])
  • Alleged bugging of Marilyn’s house—though no such tapes have surfaced ([54:16])
  • Conversations with surviving family of Monroe’s psychiatrist, her housekeeper Eunice Murray, and the unreliable, changeable nature of those accounts ([59:45])

7. A Culture of Conspiracy: Why the Myths Persist

• The combination of tabloid culture, contradictory (and possible destroyed) records, and the Kennedys’ notorious secrecy have fed the legend.

• The police, FBI, and Kennedy insiders may have contributed to a coverup, but hard evidence linking Monroe's death directly to the Kennedys does not exist ([61:06]).

• Julia’s Occam’s Razor:

  "It's like fairly plausible that she had affairs of varying lengths with either or both of them. But I think that she was obviously like a very troubled person and her death kind of got just swept up in the existing conspiracy theories that surround the Kennedys."
  (Julia Claire, [61:43])

• George’s summary:

  "Gun to my head, if I were to say what I believe, I think it sounds like the one night stand with JFK probably happened and it was no more than that..."
  (George Severis, [62:02])

8. Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Myth

• The hosts end with an appreciation for Monroe as an actor and the person beneath the legend ([63:28]).

• Recommendation to watch Monroe’s films (e.g., Gentlemen Prefer Blondes)—her talent and comedic presence are cited as worth revisiting.

• Quote:

  "She is just completely electric on screen. You can't take your eyes off her. And she's funny. She's really funny."
  (Julia Claire, [63:58])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On endless contradictions:
  "Everyone has an ulterior motive... there’s a cottage industry of people writing semi-fictional accounts..."
  (George Severis, [05:08])

• On the persistent rumors:
  "It's kind of the germ that launched a thousand National Enquirer covers."
  (Julia Claire, [38:29])

• On how the story endures:
  "People were writing pamphlets...a crazy guy passing out these 70 page pamphlets on the street."
  (Julia Claire, [15:15])

• On the futility of speculation:
  "The more research you do, the less you know."
  (Julia Claire, [06:31])

• On Marilyn’s legacy:
  "Her lasting legacy could be proven to be much more positive than that of any of the Kennedys."
  (George Severis, [64:47])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:03] Debunking the photographic “evidence” and introducing the web of speculation
• [09:20] Anti-communist conspiracy theory origins (Capell)
• [11:26] Norman Mailer and intellectualizing the rumors
• [18:57] Earl Wilson and the shift of focus from RFK to JFK
• [25:16] Recap: The four confirmed encounters between Monroe and JFK
• [35:13] MSG "Happy Birthday" and cultural context
• [38:58] Netflix documentary dissection: what’s new? What’s credible?
• [51:49] Hollywood fixers & Fred Otash’s role
• [59:45] Discussion of accounts by Monroe’s housekeeper, Eunice Murray
• [63:28] Final reflections—Marilyn beyond the myths

Final Reflections

Marilyn Monroe and the Kennedys is a case study in American mythmaking—a blend of Hollywood glamour, political intrigue, and irresistible gossip. The hosts demonstrate that while the truth likely lies in a narrow, less glamorous lane (a brief affair and a troubled star’s early death), the cultural machinery that builds and sustains conspiracy is ever-hungry. In closing, George and Julia urge listeners to see past legends and appreciate Monroe’s real artistry.

For further exploration:

• Watch Marilyn Monroe films, e.g., Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Some Like It Hot
• Read The Kennedy Imprisonment by Garry Wills (for Kennedy family context)
• See the Netflix documentary: The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes

Episode in a sentence:
Despite endless intrigue and speculation, the story of Marilyn Monroe and the Kennedys is mostly smoke—fuel for the tabloid era and a case study in the making of American myth.