New book explores relationship between JFK and D.C. painter Mary Pinchot Meyer

January 15, 2020


Gone 57 years, President John Kennedy gets another book.

“JFK and Mary Meyer: A Love Story.” Skyhorse Publishing, $24.95, out Tuesday, opens a closed life. It’s written as the diary of Mary Pinchot Meyer, the only woman whom, author Jesse Kornbluth claims, Kennedy may have loved.

Washington artist, socialite, divorced from a VIP CIA official, old friend of Jack and Jackie, Mary Meyer and JFK became lovers. He fantasized about divorce. He itched to marry Mary.

After his assassination, Mary loudly questioned the official story of a lone assassin. Was that why, as she took her daily noon walk in Georgetown a year after JFK’s murder, she was shot? Execution-style? In the head and heart?

Mary had a diary. Her family burned it.

To who killed JFK gets added another question: Who killed Mary Meyer?

NY-based journalist Kornbluth: “It’s the diary she might have written. An intimate account of her 1961 to 1964 life. Exact dates she saw the president. Every White House dinner she also attended. Triple-check of all private parties where she and Kennedy were together. Enough’s known about that romance. This work of fiction is built on fact.”

Unwashed dish includes Frank Sinatra’s shouted vulgar greeting to the president. Jackie tearfully rushing out after her televised White House tour. “Dr. Feelgood” injecting JFK and the first lady with amphetamines before their formal Versailles dinner. Kennedy’s idealistic lover urging him to adopt progressive policies that enraged enemies.

Kornbluth: “Two lovers. Both shot to death. A thriller. Question: Did insider Mary Meyer pay for it with her life?”

Not a toon for kiddies

Now — ready? — there’s a film about a bloody severed hand. Ready again? The thing’s Oscar-nominated. Forget charming cuddly nominees “Toy Story 4” and “Missing Link.” This one’s “I Lost My Body.” Creator French filmmaker Jérémy Clapin: “We should take animation seriously. Not Disney kid stuff. More mature animation to compete directly with live-action — bloody and non-bloody. We need a category for adult animation.

“Showing risk can pay. Cannes Film Festival gave this work about a severed hand terrific exposure.”

Yeah, but happens his French homeland’s also where they’re having vicious Yellow Vest street battles. Maybe to them this is a musical. In any case, you gotta hand it to him.

Political gridiron

At Italian restaurant Morso, favored by favored East Siders, the spoken dish was almost as good as the cooked dish. I learned Dem Charlie King’s doing a podcast. Being he’s a big shot, the name’s “Big Shot!” It’s Democrats and Republicans, like DNC’s Tom Perez versus GOP’s Rick Santorum — tackling one another.

Oscar’s snub turns into deal

Adam Sandler and “Uncut Gems.” Aggravated is UES restaurateur Nino Selimaj of Nino’s who, between risotto mouthfuls, says, “I’m in the movie. Our place is in it. I’m adding Adam Sandler to my celebrity mural in the dining room.”

To celebrate this film gem, Nino’s giving a 20 percent discount to any customer who brings a ticket stub from the movie.”


Hotel guest: “A well-bred man steps on the cigarette so it won’t burn the rug.”

Only in New York, kids, only in New York.

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