Somehow my mom, who would later score me tickets to see the Beatles at Carnegie Hall, managed to get an invitation for the big birthday bash for John F. Kennedy. I vaguely recollect that they came through the International Ladies Garment Workers Union.

A program from the May 19, 1962 event sold at Christie’s for $66,000 in 2007. Ms. Weiss still has hers.

It was an utterly boring event for a young child, but I took it all in as the big comedians Jack Benny and Jimmy Durante told jokes that went over my head, and a series of singers like Ella Fitzgerald and Peggy Lee sang popular songs.

After missing several cues, apparently trying to find the stage entrance, when Marilyn Monroe finally came out, Peter Lawford introduced her as “the late Marilyn Monroe.”

It was as if a totally white and sparkly angel had been brought to the stage. She was all white — blond hair, white mink wrap and white clinging backless dress that we later found out both she and 2,500 rhinestones had been sewn into.

Marilyn was barely able to sing the first two lines of “Happy Birthday to you Mr. President” in a tiny little breathless whisper as the crowd roared with delight and laughter.

She quickly followed it with a few lines someone else made up about taking on big steel, and then a 10 foot birthday cake was brought on. She disappeared, and President Jack Kennedy took the stage.

They were both dead within 18 months.