The Secret Letters of Marilyn Monroe and Jacqueline Kennedy by Wendy Leigh
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Authors: Wendy Leigh
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two chefs (one French and one Greek). Belonging to none other than Aristotle Onassis himself! He isn’t movie-star handsome like Jack, but the more you talk to him, the handsomer he becomes. In a way, he reminds me of my grandfather Bouvier. He spins such fantastic tales about his early days when he worked as a telephonist for 25 cents an hour. He was utterly charming, a diamond in the rough, but with a way of talking to you that completely envelops you in his warmth and interest. Would I still find him attractive had he fallen off the back of a truck and not been one of the world’s wealthiest men? To be absolutely truthful, I probably would not. In any event, although he is conventionally ugly, he had a tremendous impact onme. For once, Jack (did I tell you he is now here with me?) actually noticed. Afterwards, we had an enormous fight. Mostly, I suspect, because Jack was dressed in a white dinner jacket and I cracked that Churchill must have thought he was a waiter …
After the fight subsided, Jack sulked for ages. Ultimately, because I was bored with his silence, I said, “Jack, I wasn’t laughing at you, but at Churchill, being eighty and probably gaga!” Consequently, he was mollified, while I, for my part, felt a strong surge of guilt, knowing as I do that since April, after he resigned from the British premiership, Churchill has been deeply depressed. It is so sad, isn’t it, when great men go into decline.
I get the sense that you decided not to marry Rainier. But I think you might like Onassis better. If you want (and your Mr. G doesn’t mind), I can arrange an introduction. *
Love,
Josephine
P.S. Since last night, Jack seems inexplicably reformed. Perhaps we are now destined to live happily ever after at last.
__________________________
* Jackie wrote in her diary, “The idea of MM and Onassis is divine. He radiates a rough-hewn masculinity, is strong, masterful, experienced with women, yet kind, not to mention stratospherically rich. Perfect for M, if only for a brief interlude. Mrs. G should really thank me. …”
Here, Jackie was unconsciously picking up on the fact that she and Marilyn shared similar sexual and emotional desires. To the seasoned observer of both women, it is possible to picture Marilyn happily married to Maurice Tempelsman (Jackie’s last love) and Jackie finding marital happiness with Arthur Miller.
2 Sutton Place
New York, New York
Josephine Kendall
1095 North Ocean Boulevard
Balm Beach, Florida
October 31, 1955
Dear Josephine,
Your letter must have traveled by pigeon, as it took months to get to me, but maybe it’s my fault because I’ve left the Waldorf, as my lease expired. Thank you for being so sweet and telling me all about Onassis, but they sent me his picture and I said no. I didn’t like his lips. More important, I don’t want to marry anyone while Mr. G is being so attentive to me. * If that changes, I will consider Mr. Onassis more seriously as a prospect.
But a man with too much money makes me nervous. All men try to buy you in one way or another, the process is always the same, and it is only the price that is higher or lower. Sometimes it is things, other times it is words, and I don’t trust any of it. I care about what men do, not what they say, and about their minds.
How exciting for you to meet Churchill—I would love to meet him one day, as he is one of my heroes—along with Mr. G .
Love,
Martha
__________________________
* For the first time in his life, when Jack was confronted with the possibility of losing Marilyn to Rainier, he was compelled to face the fact that Marilyn—out of all the legions of women in his thrall—had infiltrated his carefully constructed facade. Consequently, at this time, he directed all his emotions, charm, and tenderness toward her.
1095 North Ocean Boulevard
Palm Beach, Florida
Martha Marshall
2 Sutton Place
New York, New York
December 20, 1955
Dear Martha,
I have been
After the fight subsided, Jack sulked for ages. Ultimately, because I was bored with his silence, I said, “Jack, I wasn’t laughing at you, but at Churchill, being eighty and probably gaga!” Consequently, he was mollified, while I, for my part, felt a strong surge of guilt, knowing as I do that since April, after he resigned from the British premiership, Churchill has been deeply depressed. It is so sad, isn’t it, when great men go into decline.
I get the sense that you decided not to marry Rainier. But I think you might like Onassis better. If you want (and your Mr. G doesn’t mind), I can arrange an introduction. *
Love,
Josephine
P.S. Since last night, Jack seems inexplicably reformed. Perhaps we are now destined to live happily ever after at last.
__________________________
* Jackie wrote in her diary, “The idea of MM and Onassis is divine. He radiates a rough-hewn masculinity, is strong, masterful, experienced with women, yet kind, not to mention stratospherically rich. Perfect for M, if only for a brief interlude. Mrs. G should really thank me. …”
Here, Jackie was unconsciously picking up on the fact that she and Marilyn shared similar sexual and emotional desires. To the seasoned observer of both women, it is possible to picture Marilyn happily married to Maurice Tempelsman (Jackie’s last love) and Jackie finding marital happiness with Arthur Miller.
2 Sutton Place
New York, New York
Josephine Kendall
1095 North Ocean Boulevard
Balm Beach, Florida
October 31, 1955
Dear Josephine,
Your letter must have traveled by pigeon, as it took months to get to me, but maybe it’s my fault because I’ve left the Waldorf, as my lease expired. Thank you for being so sweet and telling me all about Onassis, but they sent me his picture and I said no. I didn’t like his lips. More important, I don’t want to marry anyone while Mr. G is being so attentive to me. * If that changes, I will consider Mr. Onassis more seriously as a prospect.
But a man with too much money makes me nervous. All men try to buy you in one way or another, the process is always the same, and it is only the price that is higher or lower. Sometimes it is things, other times it is words, and I don’t trust any of it. I care about what men do, not what they say, and about their minds.
How exciting for you to meet Churchill—I would love to meet him one day, as he is one of my heroes—along with Mr. G .
Love,
Martha
__________________________
* For the first time in his life, when Jack was confronted with the possibility of losing Marilyn to Rainier, he was compelled to face the fact that Marilyn—out of all the legions of women in his thrall—had infiltrated his carefully constructed facade. Consequently, at this time, he directed all his emotions, charm, and tenderness toward her.
1095 North Ocean Boulevard
Palm Beach, Florida
Martha Marshall
2 Sutton Place
New York, New York
December 20, 1955
Dear Martha,
I have been
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