Happy Birthday, Mr. President

"Happy Birthday, Mr. President" was a song sung

 by actress and singer Marilyn Monroe on Saturday, May 19, 1962, for then-
President of the United

 States, John F. Kennedy, at a celebration of his forty-fifth birthday, ten days before the actual day

 of his 45th birthday (Tuesday, May 29). Sung in a sultry voice, Monroe sang the traditional

 "Happy Birthday to You" lyrics, with "Mr. President" inserted as Kennedy's name.

Monroe continued the song with a snippet from the classic song, "Thanks for the Memory", 

for which she had written new lyrics specifically aimed at Kennedy.

Thanks, Mr. President

For all the things you've done

The battles that you've won

The way you deal with U.S. Steel

And our problems by the ton

We thank you so much

Afterwards, President Kennedy came on stage and joked about the song, saying, "I can now
 retire

 from politics after having had Happy Birthday sung to me in such a sweet, wholesome way,"
 alluding 

to Monroe's delivery, her racy dress, and her general image as a sex symbol.^[1]

The song and Monroe's performance have been remembered for numerous reasons. First, it
 was one

 of her last major public appearances (Monroe died August 5, 1962). In addition, there are
persistent 

rumors that President Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe had had an affair,^[2] giving Monroe's
 performance 

another layer of meaning.

Monroe's performance was accompanied by jazz pianist Hank Jones.^[3] 

President Kennedy's birthday celebrations were held at the old Madison Square Garden^[4] 

on May 19, 1962, and more than 15,000 people attended along with numerous celebrities, 

including Marilyn Monroe. Jackie Kennedy was not in attendance. Monroe's dress was noted

 for being sheer and flesh colored with 2500 rhinestones sewn into it. The dress was so

 tight-fitting that Monroe had to be literally sewn into it; she wore nothing under it.^[5] 

It was designed by Jean Louis.

Peter Lawford was at the event that night to introduce Monroe. He made a play on the 

actress's lateness by giving her a number of introductions throughout the night, after which

 she did not go on stage. As she finally came on stage several hours into the show, Lawford 

introduced her as the "late Marilyn Monroe".^[1]

The event was choreographed by Carol Haney of The Pajama Game fame.

This song is parodied in the Simpsons episode "Rosebud", where Waylon Smithers fantasizes 

about Mr. Burns popping out of a birthday cake naked singing "Happy birthday, Mr. Smithers" 

in the same sultry way as Monroe did.Monroe's dress has become famous as a symbol of

 the song, selling in 1999 at auction in New York for over US$1.26 million.^[5]

^{by wikipedia}