A chilling phone call in April 1962 forever etched itself in Jackie Kennedy's memory. The First Lady, residing in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, found herself on the receiving end of a conversation with none other than Marilyn Monroe, the iconic Hollywood actress entangled in rumors of an affair with President John F. Kennedy.

Author J. Randy Taraborrelli, in his book "Jackie: Public, Private, Secret," reveals the unsettling nature of this brief exchange. Kennedy, initially suspecting a prank, was struck by the melancholic and almost spectral quality of Monroe's voice. The call, though short, left an enduring impression on the Kennedy family, shrouded in an aura of mystery for years to come.

Monroe's simple inquiry about the President's presence, followed by a seemingly innocuous desire to say hello, left Jackie Kennedy disturbed. This peculiar call unfolded shortly after an alleged weekend-long liaison between President Kennedy and Monroe at Bing Crosby's Palm Springs residence in March 1962. Taraborrelli's book details Senator George Smather's recollections of Kennedy's admiration for Monroe's beauty and lighthearted nature, a stark contrast to the First Lady's more serious demeanor.

Rumors of the affair, coupled with whispers of Monroe's connection to Robert Kennedy, reached Jackie Kennedy through her sister, Lee Radziwill. Radziwill also cautioned her about Monroe's mental health struggles. While the President downplayed his relationship with Monroe as mere friendship, he agreed to discontinue it at his wife's behest. The now-infamous phone call took place shortly after this agreement.

Adding to the intrigue, the private number Monroe dialed was known only to a select few, raising questions about how she obtained it. Jackie Kennedy even suspected a prank by her half-brother, a notion he vehemently denied. Taraborrelli dismisses rumors of a relationship between Monroe and Robert Kennedy, suggesting Monroe may have exaggerated her connections to the Kennedy brothers.

Months later, Monroe's presence at President Kennedy's 45th birthday celebration further fueled the rumors. Jackie Kennedy, refusing to attend, opted for a family cookout while Monroe famously serenaded the President with "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" in a provocative, skin-tight gown. The incident underscored the tense atmosphere surrounding the alleged affair.

Tragedy struck just months later with Monroe's death from an apparent overdose. Jackie Kennedy, though disturbed by the news, reportedly considered Monroe a "disaster waiting to happen." Years later, during therapy sessions with a psychiatrist who had previously treated Monroe, the mystery of the phone call resurfaced. The psychiatrist confirmed Monroe's claim of making the call, solidifying its place in the complex narrative surrounding Jackie Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, and the Kennedy presidency.