Jackie Kennedy’s ‘Affair’ With Defense Secretary Robert McNamara Exposed in New Book
**Jackie Kennedy’s Alleged Affair with Defense Secretary Robert McNamara Revealed in New Book**
*Sept. 22, 2025, Published 3:20 p.m. ET* — While late President John F. Kennedy’s well-documented affairs, including his fling with Marilyn Monroe, have long been common knowledge, a new book titled *Passion on the Potomac* has revealed a surprising chapter in history: an alleged affair between poised First Lady Jackie Kennedy and Defense Secretary Robert McNamara, RadarOnline.com can exclusively report.
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**A Close and Flirty Bond**
For years, Jackie Kennedy and Robert McNamara shared a very close, eyebrow-raising bond. This relationship was marked by exchanging flirty notes and Valentine’s Day cards, hinting at something deeper than mere friendship.
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**Jackie Danced With Secretary McNamara at a White House Event**
The pair first made headlines in 1962 — just over a year after John F. Kennedy took office — when Jackie and McNamara reportedly danced the Twist at a White House party. The first lady partied with guests until the early hours and afterward sent McNamara a cheeky note about their dance, revealing it stayed on her mind for days.
Her “lighthearted Valentine collage” included cutouts of their faces superimposed on images of bodies twisting, alongside newspaper clippings reporting their dance together.
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**Valentine’s Day Notes and Growing Intimacy**
Around the same time, Jackie continued to write playful notes to McNamara and sent him photos from the party. According to insiders, the relationship grew beyond a friendly connection — pieced together through their writings and recollections from those close to them.
Ben Bradlee, a friend of the Kennedy family, recalled a White House dinner where Jackie confided that she found McNamara attractive. He notably remarked, “Men can’t understand his sex appeal.”
McNamara’s sister, Lee Radziwill, added that Jackie was drawn to the secretary because “he was very quick and very affectionate.”
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**McNamara’s Confession of Spending the Night with Jackie**
Years after Jackie left the White House following JFK’s assassination, McNamara confided a startling secret to two biographers working on a book about him. He claimed to have spent the night with Jackie while he was Secretary of Defense and his own wife was traveling. The encounter took place at the first lady’s family home in Newport, Rhode Island.
Despite the bombshell, McNamara urged the authors not to disclose this information in their book, saying, “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.”
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**Finding Comfort Amid Turmoil**
Some believe Jackie found solace in McNamara due to her husband’s well-known extramarital affairs. On Valentine’s Day 1963, McNamara handcrafted Jackie a card featuring a heart and arrow drawing, which sources claimed Jackie described as the “most marvelous” card she had ever received.
When JFK was tragically fatally shot with Jackie at his side during a Dallas motorcade, McNamara rushed to support the grieving first lady. She even requested his presence during her husband’s autopsy.
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**An Enduring Relationship Beyond the White House**
Although JFK’s assassination ended Jackie’s tenure as First Lady, she maintained a close relationship with McNamara for years afterward. By the mid-1960s, McNamara frequently visited Jackie in New York City, where they often enjoyed meals at fine dining establishments.
Their alleged romance reportedly cooled after they clashed over the Vietnam War. However, an emotional letter from Jackie years later suggested lingering feelings. In it, she told McNamara, “You will always be my shining knight.”
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*Passion on the Potomac* sheds new light on a lesser-known facet of the Kennedy era, revealing the complex personal ties behind the public facade.
https://radaronline.com/p/jackie-kennedy-affair-with-robert-mcnamara-exposed-in-book/
