College girlfriends vouch for Mimi's character: She's no Monica

Boston Herald ^ | Sunday, May 18, 2003 | Jules Crittenden, Franci Richardson and Maggie Mulvihill

[NCjim]

Among the elite young socialites of Wheaton College in the early 1960s, Mimi Beardsley was part of the most envied clique - the most attractive, wealthiest, brightest and most charming girls at the toney school south of Boston.

That she could sign herself out on weekends with the words that she would be traveling with ``The President of the United States'' only added to her status.

No one then imagined the truth, that the demure former White House intern, now known as Marion ``Mimi'' Fahnestock, was having an extended affair with President John F. Kennedy.

It was a secret she kept until last week, when she made the remarkable admission that she was indeed ``Mimi,'' whose story is detailed by historian Robert Dallek in his new JFK biography.

Family and friends were quick to defend her last week, saying there is no comparison to a more recent White House sex scandal.

``This is not Monica Lewinsky,'' said Mimi's aunt, Anne Ellis, who lives in the wealthy New Jersey suburbs where Mimi was raised. While Monica's gabbing was her undoing and she has capitalized on her notoriety, Mimi quietly went on with her life.

``She was a better catch for him (JFK) than Lewinsky was for Clinton,'' said classmate Susan McGunigle Linell. Mary Cleaves Guignard said, ``If you knew her, you could understand why he was attracted to her. She was lovely, well-traveled, very charming, very bright.''

[Twinkie]

Because of wealthy, toney trappings she is somehow
"different" from Monica??? A rose by any other name - -

[Semper Paratus]

Mimi's got an agent and is going to cash in.

[mewzilla]

Let's see...Was an intern? Check. Messed around with a married president? Check. Seems quite proud of it? Check. Where's the diff?

[battlegearboat]

I wish I had a girlfriend like that!

[DoughtyOne]

But Jane Chittick noted, ``It was not common to be sleeping with someone. It was a
different generation. She's not someone I considered to be fast. I would not have
picked Mimi at all.''

Even her closest friends say they never suspected. ``She never said a word. Can you
imagine that, in a dorm, in a women's college?'' said Kirke Dyett Huffard, a former
roommate and lifelong friend. ``For 41 years, she has never said a word to anyone. It
says to me that she had tremendous character.''

Huffard would say little more, except to add, ``She has no reason to bow her head.''

Mimi represented the height of society, from a wealthy New Jersey family, schooled at
Miss Porter's School. At Wheaton College in Norton, Mimi was considered one of the
best catches.

Mimi used her connections to get an interview with another Miss Porter alumna,
Jacqueline Kennedy. That led to the White House internship, where the young
socialite caught JFK's notoriously wandering eye. Dallek reports that the affair was
widely known within the White House - and remarked upon by Jackie - as Mimi partied
with JFK and accompanied him on trips, even as he defused the Cuban Missile
Crisis.

The sexual affair began in June of 1962 and lasted until JFK's assassination in
November of 1963, by Mimi's own account. She was dating her future husband, the
late investment banker Anthony Fahnestock, a Williams College man, at the time. She
has refused to comment on what she told her husband. She became engaged to him
during the affair and married him six weeks after Kennedy's assassination, the New
York Daily News reported.

The grandmother of four had two daughters with Fahnestock, who learned of their
mother's tryst with history last week. At the upscale Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church,
where Mimi is an administrator, the Rev. J. Oscar McCloud said, ``She's the nicest
person in the world. I have the utmost confidence in her.''

Wheaton classmates consider the entire affair history now. ``It really shouldn't matter,''
said Diana Walker Clymer. ``This is the spice of life . . . I just hope she writes a book. I
can't wait for our reunion. I hope she comes.''

[borisbob69]

``If you knew her, you could understand why he was attracted to her.

Hmmm was going to say something about golf balls and garden hoses, but decided that would be crude.

[Dante3]

Mimi might not have Monica's big hair or a sleazy Mom like Monica. but there are more similarities than differences.

[mewzilla]

Huffard would say little more, except to add, ``She has no reason to bow her head.''

This attitude says it all to my mind.

[cheme]

Yes, but she doesn't give BJ's.

[DoughtyOne]

Ah yes, it is interesting to watch the left defend someone who was screwing a married president, as a person with high moral fiber.

Here's a 45 year old man so flawed that he couldn't resist corrupting a nineteen year old behind his wife's back. Kennedy hasn't an ounce of credibility left as far as I am concerned.

[doosee]

Poor JFK didnt live long enough to take her for a ride and miss the bridge. She was lucky she got to live a full life. Teddy is more efficient in these matters.

[putupon]

Well, she wasn't fat, didn't brag about polishing the first penis until long after the fact, and as far we know there were no kinky tobacco product acts involved, so yes, there is a difference.

Oh, and I don't think there were any thongs availble to snap at that time either.

[mewzilla]

Teddy is more efficient in these matters.

Tell it to poor Marilyn...

[Celtjew Libertarian]

Even her closest friends say they never suspected. ``She never said a word. Can you imagine that, in a dorm, in a women's college?''

Of course not. If she'd said anything, she would have ended up a "suicide" like Marilyn Monroe.

[csvset]

She was lovely, well-traveled, very charming, very tight.''

[Lancey Howard]

``If you knew her, you could understand why he was attracted to her. She was lovely, well-traveled, very charming, very bright.''

"And she made Monica look like an amateur. Man, she could really curl a guy's toes!"

Like Monica, "Mimi" was little more than the neighborhood pig.

[DUMBGRUNT]

"Fox has given Monica Lewinsky a talk show. Of all the hundreds of women who could help find Mr. Personality"
Ms Estrich

The real still drives the Clintons wild!

[LADY J]

She may have been considered one of the elite - but she is no better than Monica. Both were in the sleazy line-up of the women used by two men with no character.

The Kennedy family and Clinton's family are both low class. Lots of similarities between JFK and Clintoon. Both with the morals of a dog in heat!

[carmody]

Actually, this is quite funny. The media message is: JFK picked more elite, more prestigious, higher class mistresses while Bubba was slumming with bubble-headed bimbos. JFK's "ladies" were loyal enough to keep their mouth shut while Bubba's couldn't wait to tell all.

Clinton tried desperately to be JFK. And now, the collective media is saying directly to Bill Clinton: We KNEW JFK and YOU are NOT JFK! He must be furious.