JFK, Hitler, and the Danish journalist: The secret love triangle that shaped a future President
During the early 1940s, before he became the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy was involved in a complex and emotionally charged romantic relationship with a Danish journalist. Unknown to many at the time, she was also a figure of interest to Nazi Germany's Adolf Hitler, reports RadarOnline.
Inga Arvad, a former pageant queen, caught the eye of both men, but only one was able to come out on top according to a new book titled, JFK: Public, Private, Secret by Randy Taraborrelli.
Born Inga Marie Petersen in Copenhagen, Denmark, Arvad was a striking and ambitious woman who earned the reputation of a "Nordic beauty." She won the Danish beauty pageant at 16 and later pursued journalism, studying at Columbia University in New York. Her career led her to cover Nazi figures, including three interviews with Adolf Hitler himself. Hitler was reportedly captivated by her charm and beauty, inviting her to private events such as the 1936 Berlin Olympics and even gifting her a personal photo.Hitler thought Arvad was "the most perfect example of Nordic beauty," Randy Taraborrelli wrote in his book. Due to her association with high-ranking Nazis and her presence in sensitive circles, US intelligence agencies, including the FBI, suspected Arvad might be a Nazi spy. FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover authorized surveillance of her apartment and wiretapping of her communications, although no conclusive evidence ever indicated she was guilty of espionage.
Kennedy, then a 24-year-old naval ensign assigned to the Office of Naval Intelligence in Washington, DC, met Arvad in 1941, introduced by his sister Kathleen Kennedy, who worked as a staffer at the Washington Times-Herald , where Arvad also contributed. JFK reportedly fell deeply in love with Arvad, affectionately nicknaming her 'Inga Binga,' which he himself wrote in letters to her.
Correspondence between them reveals Arvad was a confidante who knew Kennedy intimately, even encouraging him to share his political ambitions with his influential father, Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.Their relationship quickly drew the attention of naval intelligence, which viewed Arvad's proximity to Kennedy with suspicion, suspecting she might be using her charm to extract military secrets. Consequently, Kennedy's superiors pressured him to end his relationship with Arvad. In January 1942, under orders to remove Kennedy from Washington and reduce the security risk, he was reassigned to a desk job in South Carolina, about 30 miles from Charleston Naval Base, where restrictions limited his travel.Despite this, Arvad frequently visited him, even traveling by train and plane to see him discreetly. FBI wiretaps recorded intimate conversations between the two, documenting their attachment and struggles to maintain their relationship under growing external pressures.Joseph Kennedy, JFK's father, was particularly wary of the relationship. He feared that Arvad's questionable associations and suspicions around espionage could jeopardize his son's political future. When FBI intelligence reports suggested potential risks, Joseph Kennedy demanded JFK end the relationship immediately. Although JFK was reluctant, the tremendous pressure led to their formal breakup in March 1942, despite Kennedy's continued feelings.Shortly after, John F. Kennedy was further redeployed, ultimately serving heroically in the Pacific theater commanding PT-109 and cementing his status as a war hero.
Historians and biographers suggest that the breakup with Arvad was a deep emotional wound for JFK. According to presidential historian Leon Wagener, JFK became "far less romantic, even remote to women," influenced by the heartbreak and political sacrifice demanded by his father and career ambitions.
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