The Untold Story Of 'Trailer Park Joan': 7 Shocking Secrets From Joan Lundberg's Affair With JFK

The name Joan Lundberg has recently resurfaced from the annals of American political history, not as a footnote, but as a central figure in the hidden life of one of the country’s most iconic presidents, John F. Kennedy (JFK). As of December 13, 2025, the most current and explosive details about Lundberg’s secret relationship with JFK are being unveiled through the meticulously researched new biography, JFK: Private, Public, Secret, by J. Randy Taraborrelli. This deep dive into the 35th President's private life has reignited public fascination, positioning Lundberg as arguably the most significant of Kennedy’s alleged paramours, whose story was largely silenced for decades.

The narrative surrounding Joan Lundberg is a compelling blend of working-class ambition, Hollywood glamour, and political scandal, painting a vivid picture of a "free spirit" whose unpublished writings provide an intimate, unfiltered look into the Kennedy marriage and the pressures of a secret life. Her story, finally coming to light, challenges the carefully curated image of the Kennedy dynasty and reveals the profound personal cost of their clandestine relationship. The following sections compile the essential facts and newly revealed secrets about the woman the Kennedy family allegedly derisively called "Trailer Park Joan."

Joan Lundberg: A Biographical Profile and Overview

Joan Lundberg’s life was far more complex than the simple label of "mistress" suggests. Her journey from a small Wisconsin town to the orbit of a future president is a fascinating, if tragic, American story. Her biographical details, pieced together from family accounts and her own unpublished writings, provide the necessary context for understanding her role in the Kennedy saga.

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• Full Name: Joan Lundberg
• Born: Racine, Wisconsin
• Background: Born to working-class parents, she was described as a "free spirit" and an "unconventional and independent" woman by her son, Zachary Hitchcock.
• Early Career: Lundberg moved to California and worked as a flight attendant for Frontier Airlines. She also worked as a cocktail waitress.
• The Affair: She first met Senator John F. Kennedy in 1956 in California, when he was already married to Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy (Jackie).
• The Memoir: Lundberg left behind an extensive, unpublished memoir titled Lovers Don't Snore, as well as private diaries, which were shared with biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli by her family.
• Family: Her son, Zachary Hitchcock, has been instrumental in sharing his mother’s story, describing her as a "voluptuous beauty with a great smile."
• Nickname: She was famously, and cruelly, dubbed "Trailer Park Joan" by members of the Kennedy family.

The Genesis of the Secret: How a Flight Attendant Met a Future President

The relationship between Joan Lundberg and John F. Kennedy began in 1956, a pivotal time when JFK was a rising political star, serving as a Massachusetts Senator, and already married to Jackie. Their initial meeting took place in California, where Lundberg was working her two jobs—one as a flight attendant and the other as a cocktail waitress. This contrast between Lundberg’s humble, working-class background and Kennedy’s elite, political world is what made their liaison so scandalous and, to the Kennedy family, so unacceptable.

The new biography, JFK: Private, Public, Secret, utilizes excerpts from Lundberg’s own unpublished memoir to give a firsthand account of the dynamic between the two. These writings reveal a side of JFK that was not always the confident, charismatic public figure. According to her memoir, Kennedy often confided in her, admitting that he "didn't think he was a good man," which suggests a deeper, more emotional connection than a casual fling. This emotional intimacy, combined with the physical affair, made Lundberg a unique figure in Kennedy’s extensive list of alleged romantic partners.

Lundberg’s writings suggest that she was one of the few people Kennedy truly felt he could be vulnerable with, away from the intense scrutiny of the political machine and the expectations of the powerful Kennedy family. Her perspective as an outsider, a "free spirit" from Racine, Wisconsin, offered a stark contrast to the high-society world of the Boston elite. This dynamic is central to the renewed interest in her story, as it provides a humanizing, albeit controversial, look at the future president.

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7 Explosive Secrets Revealed by Joan Lundberg’s Unpublished Memoir

The core of the recent media frenzy surrounding Joan Lundberg lies in the shocking revelations contained within her own unpublished memoir, Lovers Don't Snore, and her private diaries. These documents, shared by her son Zachary Hitchcock with J. Randy Taraborrelli, offer unprecedented insight into the private lives of John and Jacqueline Kennedy.

1. The Derogatory Nickname: "Trailer Park Joan"

Perhaps the most widely reported detail is the cruel nickname given to Lundberg by members of the Kennedy family: "Trailer Park Joan." This epithet was a clear reflection of the Kennedy family's snobbery and their disdain for anyone they perceived as "low-class," particularly a working-class woman from the Midwest who threatened the family’s public image. The use of this term highlights the intense pressure and secrecy surrounding JFK’s extramarital affairs and the lengths the Kennedy inner circle would go to discredit any potential threat.

2. JFK’s Vulnerability and Self-Doubt

Lundberg’s memoir reveals a rarely seen side of the future president. She wrote that Kennedy often confessed his feelings of inadequacy, stating directly that he "didn't think he was a good man." This emotional vulnerability suggests their relationship was more than purely physical; it was a sanctuary where Kennedy could drop his public persona and share his deepest insecurities about his life and his marriage.

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3. The Timing of the Affair’s Peak

The affair was reportedly at its most intense shortly after Jacqueline Kennedy suffered a stillbirth in 1956. The biography suggests that JFK, dealing with his own grief and the stress of the loss, sought comfort and escape in his relationship with Lundberg, which was a period of great strain on the Kennedy marriage. The timing of this liaison adds a layer of complexity and tragedy to the history of the Kennedy White House.

4. Jackie Kennedy Nearly Filed for Divorce

The new book suggests that Jackie Kennedy was aware of the affair and that it pushed her to the brink of leaving her husband. The emotional toll of JFK’s infidelity, particularly the relationship with Lundberg, was so severe that it is rumored to have been a major factor in Jackie considering divorce, which would have been a catastrophic political event for the ambitious senator.

5. The Financial Arrangements

Following the end of the relationship, Kennedy allegedly provided Lundberg with financial support, though the exact details and extent of this arrangement are not fully clear. This type of financial settlement was a common practice for the Kennedy family to ensure the silence and discretion of JFK's romantic partners, protecting his political career from scandal.

6. Lundberg’s Own Perspective on the Secrecy

In her memoir, Lundberg is reportedly vague on how much "Jack" told "Jackie" about their relationship, indicating that the secrecy was a constant, anxiety-inducing element of their lives. Her writings provide a unique, female perspective on the psychological burden of being a political mistress, constantly having to hide and navigate the powerful forces of the Kennedy empire.

7. The Enduring Legacy of the Hidden Story

The most significant secret is the fact that her story was successfully suppressed and remained largely hidden from the public for decades. The release of Taraborrelli’s book, drawing heavily on Lundberg’s own words, ensures that her narrative—the story of the working-class woman who captured the heart of a future president—will now be permanently etched into the historical record, challenging the idealized view of the Kennedy era.