New Book Details Extent of JFK's Numerous Affairs

A new book, "Ladies' Man: The Careless Heart of John F. Kennedy" by Laurence Leamer, delves into the extensive extramarital relationships of the 35th President, spanning from his youth to his presidency. The book details numerous affairs, suggesting that Kennedy's frequent romantic encounters were a way to express his vitality and a source of exhilaration due to the inherent risks.

Leamer's research indicates that while those around Kennedy were aware of his promiscuity, the public remained largely oblivious during his lifetime. The book explores relationships with women such as Inga Arvad, a Danish journalist he met in 1941. Their passionate intimacy was documented in letters, though Arvad's past associations with high-ranking Nazis and her marriage complicated the relationship. The FBI reportedly investigated Arvad for potential espionage, and the couple eventually broke up in March 1942.

Another significant relationship detailed is with Gunilla von Post, a Swedish aristocrat. They met in 1953 when Kennedy, then a senator, was two months away from marrying Jacqueline Bouvier. Despite his impending marriage, Kennedy pursued von Post, visiting her in Sweden two years later while his wife was recovering from back surgery. Von Post later wrote a memoir titled "Love, Jack."

The book also highlights Kennedy's encounters with younger women, including Diana de Vegh, a Radcliffe College student he met in 1958. Kennedy arranged a job for de Vegh at the White House, and their relationship continued for several years. De Vegh described her role as an "enabling acolyte to a master of the universe."

Perhaps one of the most controversial relationships detailed is with Mimi Beardsley, a 19-year-old White House intern. According to the book, Kennedy initiated an affair with Beardsley in 1962, even in the First Lady's bedroom. Despite her limited secretarial skills, Beardsley accompanied Kennedy on trips and her involvement was noted by White House staff and journalists, though the affair remained largely secret for four decades.

Attempts to expose Kennedy's behavior were made by some, including Leonard and Florence Kater, who confronted Kennedy in 1958 about his clandestine visits to Pamela Turnure, a receptionist in his office. The Katers contacted the FBI and sent information to newspapers, but Leamer suggests that Kennedy's aides worked to discredit them and that the era was more deferential to public figures.

Leamer posits that Kennedy's numerous affairs were intertwined with his severe health problems. He suggests that Kennedy viewed sex as a way to assert his vitality and counteract his "sickly" self-perception, relishing the danger involved in his risky liaisons. The author implies that had Kennedy lived to run for re-election in 1964, his health issues and sexual exploits might have come to light.