Before John F. Kennedy the United States had some notably popular presidents like Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was elected for four terms; and some notably unpopular ones like Andrew Johnson, who was almost impeached. But none of them were celebrities, in the truest sense of the word, the way JFK was. As a shining, easy presence on television and a master at public relations, Kennedy became a media and culture darling, and his staged events both fed the myth and profited from it.

On this day, May 19, in 1962, President Kennedy held his birthday celebrations at Madison Square Garden, among a crowd 25,000 and numerous celebrities including Marylin Monroe, who delivered her famous “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” song.

Monroe was late to the event, but arrived in style, wearing a skintight Jean Louis rhinestone gown sewn especially for her (or on her, as there was no way to put on that dress otherwise.) After a sultry rendition of the Happy Birthday song, she continued with a riff on “Thanks for the Memories,” with lyrics changed to refer to Kennedy’s accomplishments. After the song, Kennedy turned and joked “I can now retire from politics after having had Happy Birthday sung to me in such a sweet, wholesome way.”