On May 19, 1962, the Democratic Party held a massive fundraiser at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The event was a celebration for President John F. Kennedy’s 45th birthday, even though his actual birthday was ten days away on May 29. More than 15,000 people attended the gala. Tickets for the night cost between $100 and $1,000, which was a very large amount of money at the time. The event featured many famous performers, including Ella Fitzgerald, Jimmy Durante, and Maria Callas. However, the most famous moment of the night belonged to Marilyn Monroe.
The Secret of the Dress
Marilyn Monroe arrived at the event in a white ermine fur wrap. Underneath the fur, she wore a dress that became one of the most famous pieces of clothing in history. The dress was designed by Jean Louis. He used a very thin, flesh-colored fabric called souffle gauze. The dress was decorated with over 2,500 shimmering rhinestones that were sewn on by hand.
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The dress was so tight that Marilyn Monroe could not wear anything underneath it. Because of the fit, her staff had to sew her into the dress while she was wearing it. This ensured that there were no visible seams or zippers to ruin the smooth look of the fabric. The dress originally cost $1,440.33. In the bright stage lights, the fabric was almost invisible, which made the rhinestones look like they were floating on her skin.
The Performance at the Podium
Throughout the night, the master of ceremonies was Peter Lawford. Lawford was an actor and the President’s brother-in-law. He spent the evening making jokes about Marilyn Monroe’s reputation for being late. He introduced her several times during the show, but she did not appear on stage. Finally, at the end of the evening, Lawford announced her as “the late Marilyn Monroe.” This was a play on words that referred to her tardiness.
Marilyn Monroe stepped onto the stage and walked to the microphone. She removed her white fur wrap to reveal the sparkling dress. The crowd gasped at the sight. She leaned into the microphone and began to sing “Happy Birthday” in a very soft, breathy voice. She sang slowly and added a specific emphasis on the word “President.” The audience sat in complete silence as she finished the traditional birthday song.
Immediately after the birthday song, she transitioned into a version of the song “Thanks for the Memory.” She had worked with a songwriter to create custom lyrics specifically for John F. Kennedy. She sang about his leadership and his work for the country. Her performance was short, lasting less than two minutes, but it had a massive impact on everyone in the room.
The President’s Reaction
After Marilyn Monroe finished her performance, a large, five-tier birthday cake was brought onto the stage. The President joined her at the podium to thank the performers and the donors. He stood before the microphone and smiled at the crowd. He stated that he could now retire from politics after having “Happy Birthday” sung to him in such a sweet and wholesome way. The crowd laughed and cheered at his joke.
The President appeared relaxed and happy during his speech. He praised the organizers of the gala for raising over $1 million for the Democratic Party. He thanked the celebrities for their time and effort. While many performers had appeared that night, the President’s comments specifically highlighted the unique nature of Monroe’s tribute. The interaction between the movie star and the President became the central story of the entire gala.
Behind the Scenes at the Gala
The logistics of the night were complicated. Marilyn Monroe had traveled from Los Angeles to New York specifically for the event. At the time, she was working on the movie Something’s Got to Give. The film studio, 20th Century Fox, did not want her to leave the set. She defied the studio’s orders to make the trip to New York. This decision caused significant tension between her and the film executives.
After the public show at Madison Square Garden ended, a private party was held at the home of Arthur Krim. Krim was the head of United Artists and a major fundraiser for the Democratic Party. Only a small group of people were invited to this after-party. Both Marilyn Monroe and President Kennedy attended. This was one of the last times the two were seen in public together.
The security at the event was handled by the Secret Service and local police. They had to manage the 15,000 guests and protect the various high-profile politicians in attendance. The stage at Madison Square Garden was decorated with large banners and patriotic colors. The lighting was carefully managed to ensure that the performers were visible to the thousands of people in the balcony seats.
Marilyn Monroe’s performance was captured by television cameras, but the footage was not broadcast live. Photographers from various national magazines were present. The most famous photo of the night shows the President and Monroe together at the private party, which was taken by Cecil Stoughton. This image is one of the few records of them in the same room. The night of May 19 remains a specific moment where the worlds of Hollywood and Washington D.C. met in a very public display.
