John F. Kennedy was the youngest person ever elected president of the United States when he took office in 1961. His administration brought fresh energy to the White House, helped create the Peace Corps, and is credited with de-escalating the Cuban Missile Crisis. But while JFK is remembered for his accomplishments and his assassination on November 22, 1963, his private life has also been the subject of intense speculation.
Despite crafting a public image as a devoted family man, Kennedy is widely considered one of the most prolific presidential philanderers in U.S. history. Here is a look at the women he was linked to during his life.
Marilyn Monroe was perhaps the most famous name connected to Kennedy. For years, their affair was a matter of speculation, but later details confirmed an intimate relationship. The two met in New York City in February 1962 and soon began a passionate affair. They reportedly met at mutual friend Bing Crosby’s house in Palm Springs to avoid media attention.
Over time, Monroe reportedly developed aspirations of becoming First Lady. It has been alleged that she even wrote to Jackie Kennedy about her intentions. Some claims also suggest that Robert Kennedy had a longer affair with Monroe, and speculation has persisted that he arranged for her death to be covered up as a suicide.
Judith Exner met Kennedy before he became president. Through his connections with the Rat Pack, especially Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr., Kennedy was introduced to Exner at a party at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas in 1960. She had previously been involved with a Chicago mob boss named Sam Giancana.
Their affair continued into his presidency, with Exner visiting the White House regularly. She later claimed she served as a courier, transporting packages between Kennedy and Giancana, though those claims were never confirmed. Exner was eventually called before a Senate committee to detail her relationship with the president, making her one of the first people to publicly expose his private behavior.
Inga Arvad was one of Kennedy’s long-term girlfriends during his time in the Navy. It was rumored she may have been a spy for the Soviets. Their relationship ended largely because Kennedy’s father was concerned about the impact it could have on his son’s future political career.
Anita Ekberg, best known for her role in Fellini’s *La Dolce Vita*, was an international sex symbol briefly tied to the president. Not much is known about the details of their relationship.
Ellen Rometsch was born in East Germany and married to a German Air Force sergeant stationed in Washington during the Cold War. She was also a call girl with several high-profile clients, one of whom was reportedly JFK. She was among the sex workers solicited for the president by Dave Powers. It was also rumored that Rometsch was a communist spy and was cast out of the U.S. in August 1963 at the request of Attorney General Robert Kennedy.
Gene Tierney was another Hollywood star connected to Kennedy. Their affair reportedly took place around 1948, while she was still married to fashion designer Oleg Cassini. Tierney was best known for her role in the 1944 film *Laura*, which earned her an Academy Award nomination.
Mimi Alford was a 19-year-old White House intern when she lost her virginity to President Kennedy. Their affair lasted about 18 months. Years later, Alford revealed alarming details, including that Kennedy used illegal recreational drugs with her. She also alleged that he dared her to engage in a sexual act with his assistant Dave Powers in the White House pool.
Marlene Dietrich had a brief affair with Kennedy in 1962. She later said she struggled to remember most of the details because the fling was so quick. Dietrich had also been a longtime lover of Kennedy’s father, Joseph P. Kennedy.
Mary Pinchot Meyer had a well-publicized affair with JFK. A year after his death, she was shot and killed under mysterious circumstances. Some have theorized she was murdered to prevent her from revealing details of their relationship, or that she knew something about Kennedy’s assassination that others wanted kept hidden.
Priscilla Wear and Jill Cowan were two secretaries hired almost exclusively to skinny dip with the president in the White House pool. They also accompanied him on trips to places like Ireland, Rome, Costa Rica, and Berlin. On one occasion, while Jackie Kennedy was giving a tour of the White House to a reporter from *Paris Match*, she came across Priscilla and reportedly said in French that she was the girl supposedly sleeping with her husband.
Blaze Starr, a famous stripper, told *People* magazine in 1989 that she once had a brief affair with Kennedy before he was elected president.
Pamela Turner reportedly had a romantic relationship with Kennedy while working at the White House as Jackie’s secretary. The relationship was mentioned in the book *The Kennedy Half Century* by Larry J. Sabato.
Gunilla von Post, a Swedish socialite, wrote about her affair with Kennedy in her memoir *Love, Jack*. She claimed their relationship began in 1953 and lasted until 1959.