Jackie Kennedy’s ‘Affair’ With Defense Secretary Robert McNamara Exposed in New Book
**Jackie Kennedy’s Alleged Affair with Robert McNamara Revealed in New Book**
*Published Sept. 22, 2025, 3:20 p.m. ET*
While late President John F. Kennedy’s affairs, including his well-known fling with Marilyn Monroe, have long been public knowledge, a new book titled *Passion on the Potomac* has revealed a surprising chapter involving First Lady Jackie Kennedy. RadarOnline.com can exclusively report that Jackie allegedly had an affair with Defense Secretary Robert McNamara.
### A Close and Flirty Bond
For years, Jackie Kennedy and Robert McNamara shared a very close, and at times eyebrow-raising, bond. The pair reportedly exchanged flirty notes and Valentine’s Day cards, suggesting their relationship went beyond mere friendship.
### The Twist at the White House Party
Jackie and McNamara first stirred headlines in 1962, just over a year after JFK took office. The first lady and the defense secretary were spotted dancing the Twist at a White House party, an event that saw Jackie partying late into the night.
Following the party, Jackie sent McNamara a cheeky note about their dance, which clearly lingered in her thoughts for days. Her “lighthearted Valentine collage” featured their faces superimposed on images of bodies dancing the Twist, along with newspaper clippings reporting on their playful moment.
### Playful Notes and Growing Intimacy
Around the same period, Jackie continued to send playful notes to McNamara, including photos they had taken together at the event. Insiders suggest their relationship deepened over time, evolving into something far more intimate. The alleged affair is pieced together through their own writings as well as accounts from close friends and aides.
Kennedy family friend Ben Bradlee recalled a White House dinner where Jackie confessed finding McNamara attractive, remarking, “Men can’t understand his sex appeal.”
### McNamara’s Confession
Jackie’s sister, Lee Radziwill, once said Jackie was drawn to McNamara because “he was very quick and very affectionate.” Years after Jackie left the White House following JFK’s assassination, McNamara confided a secret to two individuals writing a book about him: he claimed to have spent the night with Jackie at her family home in Newport, Rhode Island, while his wife was traveling.
Despite revealing this bombshell, McNamara asked the authors not to include this detail in their book, stating, “I was, am close to Jackie. I am very fond of her. But I don’t think that has to be part of the book.”
### A Relationship Born from Comfort and Affection
Some believe Jackie found solace in McNamara amid her husband’s numerous extramarital affairs. On Valentine’s Day 1963, McNamara crafted a heartfelt card for Jackie, complete with a hand-drawn heart and arrow. Sources say Jackie described it as the “most marvelous” card she had ever received.
When JFK was fatally shot in Dallas with Jackie by his side, McNamara rushed to support her in the immediate aftermath. Jackie even requested McNamara be with her while her husband’s autopsy was performed.
### Life After the White House
Although JFK’s assassination ended Jackie’s tenure as first lady, the close relationship between her and McNamara endured for years. By the mid-1960s, McNamara frequently visited Jackie in New York City, where they often dined at fine restaurants together.
Their alleged fling reportedly cooled after they clashed over the Vietnam War. Nevertheless, a heartfelt letter Jackie penned years later hinted that her feelings for McNamara remained strong. In the letter, she wrote to him, “You will always be my shining knight.”
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*Passion on the Potomac* offers a fascinating glimpse into the private lives of some of the most iconic figures of the 1960s, challenging long-held perceptions about the perfect Kennedy marriage and revealing the complexities behind the public facade.
https://radaronline.com/p/jackie-kennedy-affair-with-robert-mcnamara-exposed-in-book/
