While Marilyn Monroe's gift to US President John F Kennedy as he rang in his 45th was her world-famous breathy rendition of Happy Birthday, it has emerged that the blonde bombshell gave the American statesman yet another memorable present.
A gold Rolex inscribed "Jack, With love as always from Marilyn, May 29th, 1962", which was given to the president by the Hollywood star on his birthday is now on the auction block, with a price tag of £2.5 million.
The watch, enclosed in a gold box embossed with a poem entitled, A Heartfelt Plea On Your Birthday, seems to provide yet more evidence that Marilyn shared more than a passing friendship with the iconic leader. The passionate verse inside, which begins, "Let lovers breathe their sighs", ends with the phrase, "And let me love or let me die". Perhaps unsurprisingly, upon receiving the Rolex, the married JFK apparently passed it to a trusted aide with instructions to "Get rid of it".
The website which is selling the timepiece, MomentsInTime.com, includes a letter from the son of the staff member in question. Entitled The Unwanted Gift, the note reads: "This watch was given to my late father in 1962… As a trusted and well respected member of the White House staff, my father was privy to much sensitive and potentially embarrassing information including the liaison dangereux with Marilyn Monroe."
A gold Rolex, complete with romantic inscription and love poem, which Marilyn gave to President Kennedy on his birthday, is on the auction block with a £2.5 million price tag
Photo: © Alphapress.com
