Alleged incident took place months after Caroline Kennedy’s birth, says biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli
A newly published biography alleges that former US President John F. Kennedy had an extramarital affair with a young flight attendant, resulting in a pregnancy that he allegedly resolved by paying for an abortion, just months after the birth of his daughter, Caroline, with wife Jacqueline Kennedy.
According to People magazine, the explosive claims come from ‘JFK: Public, Private, Secret’, a forthcoming book by presidential biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli, scheduled for release on July 17.
The Affair and Pregnancy Revelation
The book states that JFK, then a Massachusetts senator, met Joan Lundberg, a 23-year-old flight attendant, in 1956. At the time, Kennedy was 39 and already married to Jacqueline Kennedy.
By 1958, shortly after Caroline Kennedy’s birth, Lundberg reportedly informed JFK over the phone that she was pregnant with his child. The author quotes Lundberg describing Kennedy’s reaction as stunned and emotionally distressed.
“Joan would recall that her news about the baby was ‘like a knife to Jack’s heart,’” reads an excerpt.
According to Taraborrelli, Kennedy questioned whether the pregnancy was planned or even his, to which Lundberg reportedly assured him it was.
Payment and Aftermath
The book claims Kennedy told Lundberg he would send her $400 by mail to cover the abortion costs, emphasising that his political career could not withstand such a scandal.
“’Being a politician is who I am,’ he told her. ‘Politics is all I know. If you take that away . . .’ His voice trailed off,” writes Taraborrelli.
When the money allegedly failed to arrive, JFK reportedly became “unhinged” before eventually wiring a second payment. Lundberg is said to have followed through with the procedure.
“Jack was very clear; he didn’t want Joan to have the baby… She was angry and disappointed, but also realistic,” the book states.
Who was Joan Lundberg?
At the time of the alleged affair, Lundberg was a single mother of two, living with a man named Norm Bishop and working for Frontier Airlines.
JFK never acknowledged the affair publicly and continued to cultivate his image as a devoted family man alongside Jacqueline Kennedy.
Book Release Details
‘JFK: Public, Private, Secret’ delves into the complex duality of Kennedy’s public persona and his hidden private life. Taraborrelli, who has authored multiple biographies of American icons, promises new revelations based on previously unreleased sources and interviews.
