In a recently unveiled biography, revelations about Marilyn Monroe's life suggest the possibility of her terminating a pregnancy, likely conceived with either then-President John F. Kennedy or his brother, Robert Kennedy, shortly before her tragic death from a drug overdose.
Fred Lawrence Guiles' book, "Norma Jean: The Life of Marilyn Monroe," delves into Monroe's emotional distress, particularly over Robert Kennedy's refusal to leave his wife, Ethel, for her in the days leading up to her demise. The claims surfaced in an excerpt published by The Daily Beast, and the full book is scheduled for release on Tuesday.
According to the biography, Monroe underwent an alleged abortion on July 20, 1962, at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles, just weeks after her encounters with both John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy. However, due to her involvement with other men during that time, it remains uncertain whether the child she might have been carrying was fathered by one of the Kennedys.
Days before her death on August 4, Monroe placed a phone call to Robert Kennedy, with whom she was reportedly infatuated. It is unclear whether she disclosed information about the abortion during that conversation. Struggling emotionally, Monroe sought daily psychiatric sessions with Dr. Ralph Greenson throughout that summer.
In the days preceding her death, Monroe had dinner with her secretary, Pat Newcomb, and actor Peter Lawford, who was the brother-in-law of both JFK and RFK. Bobby Kennedy, accompanied by his wife and children, was also reportedly present at the dinner. Monroe, feeling ignored and sensing tension, believed that Bobby was somehow available to her, despite the Kennedy family's disapproval of their relationship.
Bobby Kennedy made a point to establish an alibi for the night of Monroe's death, documenting his family's presence in Gilroy, California, and later in San Francisco in a Justice Department memo.
Monroe was found dead at 36 from a barbiturate pill overdose, officially ruled as "probably suicide." However, persistent conspiracy theories linking the Kennedys to her death prompted a 2017 FBI investigation into Bobby Kennedy's relationship with Monroe and potential Kennedy involvement in her demise.
Monroe's biographer, James Spada, believes the Kennedys were not responsible for her death but acknowledges her relationships with both brothers. He dismisses murder claims but suggests a cover-up to protect the Kennedys' affairs with Monroe.
Joe DiMaggio, Monroe's second husband, blamed the Kennedys, calling them "lady-killers" and implying their influence negatively impacted her mental health. He believed they were responsible for her death but chose to remain silent to prevent a revolution.
Overall, the new biography sheds light on Monroe's alleged abortion, emotional struggles, and the complex nature of her relationships with the Kennedy brothers, adding layers of intrigue to the circumstances surrounding her tragic death.
