The Radcliffe Girl’s Secret: 5 Essential Facts About Diana De Vegh’s Life, JFK Affair, And Career As A Psychotherapist
Diana de Vegh remains a compelling figure in American history, not just for her brief but significant connection to President John F. Kennedy, but for the powerful second act of her life as a respected psychotherapist and memoirist. As of late 2025, de Vegh continues her long-standing private practice in New York City, demonstrating a remarkable professional longevity that has spanned over two decades.
The story of the "Radcliffe Girl" who became one of JFK’s secret lovers has transitioned from hushed rumor to an open, therapeutic narrative, largely through her own candid writing and interviews in recent years. Her decision to finally speak out about the four-year affair, which began in 1958, offers a fresh perspective on the power dynamics of the era and the emotional toll of a "private public affair."
Diana de Vegh: A Biographical Profile
Born around 1938, Diana de Vegh’s early life placed her at the intersection of high society and intellectual circles, a background that both enabled and complicated her later relationship with John F. Kennedy. Her professional journey is marked by a profound shift from the political world to the field of mental health, a transformation she has detailed extensively.
- Born: Circa 1938 (Estimated, based on being 20 years old in 1958).
- Education: Radcliffe College (attended as a junior in 1958). Her later professional training included a focus on social work, linking her to institutions like Fordham University.
- Father: Imrie de Vegh (Noted figure in New York art and social circles, connected to the Council on Foreign Relations).
- Early Career: Began as an aide in Washington D.C., working with the National Security Council.
- The Kennedy Affair: A four-year relationship with then-Senator John F. Kennedy, starting in 1958.
- Later Career: Established a private psychotherapy practice in New York City, specializing as a Social Worker Therapist (NPI 1861159162). She also served as a writer for the New York Times "Modern Love" column.
- Memoir: Author of the 2021 memoir, A Very Private Public Affair: JFK and the Radcliffe Girl (or similar title).
- Current Status (2025): Active psychotherapist, director of the Howard Bayne Fund, and donor to the New York Theatre Workshop.
The Four-Year Affair with JFK: A Private Public Affair
The core of Diana de Vegh’s public recognition stems from her secret relationship with John F. Kennedy, which began when she was a 20-year-old Radcliffe junior. She met Kennedy in 1958 at a political dinner in Boston during his Senate re-election campaign. She describes the initial encounter as one where the married Senator "dazzled the room" before singling her out.
The affair was characterized by the extreme power imbalance inherent in the relationship. De Vegh was a young, impressionable student; Kennedy was a charismatic and powerful politician. She has been open about the emotional impact of being drawn into the "Camelot" mythos, a world of privilege and secrecy where her own identity was subsumed by her role as the powerful man's companion. The relationship was handled with extreme discretion, with staff members reportedly coordinating secret arrangements to bring de Vegh to rendezvous points.
The affair came to an end around 1962, a period marked by significant personal turmoil for de Vegh. It coincided with the death of her father, Imrie de Vegh, a notable figure in New York's financial and social circles who was reportedly working with Kennedy at the time. This confluence of events—the loss of her father and the end of the clandestine relationship—prompted a major life change. De Vegh left her position with the National Security Council and moved to Paris before eventually returning to New York to rebuild her life.
From Washington Aide to New York Psychotherapist
Diana de Vegh's professional pivot from the political stage to the mental health field is perhaps the most significant and often overlooked part of her story. After her time in Washington and Paris, she eventually found her calling in social work and psychotherapy, establishing her private practice in New York City when she was around 60 years old. This career change was a deliberate step toward a life focused on healing, both for herself and others.
Her work as a psychotherapist is rooted in her training as a Social Worker Therapist, a profession that emphasizes the importance of environment and social context in mental well-being. The therapeutic approach she developed was profoundly influenced by her own life experiences. She has often spoken about the "invisible riptide" of her past—the fear and emotional repression stemming from her early life and the Kennedy affair—that shaped her decisions.
De Vegh's insights into power, secrecy, and emotional trauma have not been confined to her private practice. She has shared her expertise through writing, notably contributing to the New York Times "Modern Love" column, a platform where she explored the complexities of contemporary relationships and emotional vulnerabilities. Furthermore, her mother was a teacher in Reevaluation Counseling (RC), suggesting a familial background in therapeutic and self-help principles that likely influenced de Vegh's own professional path.
Latest Updates and Enduring Legacy (2024-2025)
In the current landscape of late 2025, Diana de Vegh remains professionally active and engaged. She continues to enjoy her work as a psychotherapist, providing individual and couples counseling in New York. Her commitment to the arts and philanthropy is evident through her support for organizations like the New York Theatre Workshop and her role as a Director for the Howard Bayne Fund, with updates confirming her involvement as recently as November 2025.
Her enduring legacy lies in her powerful narrative of reclaiming one's story. By publishing her memoir, de Vegh transformed a deeply personal and previously hidden experience into a public conversation about the ethics of power and the journey of self-discovery. Her story serves as a case study for her clients and readers alike, illustrating that it is possible to process past trauma and build a meaningful, impactful life decades later. She has successfully leveraged her unique history to create topical authority in the areas of emotional trauma, power dynamics, and long-term psychological healing.
De Vegh's voice offers a crucial counter-narrative to the romanticized "Camelot" era, focusing instead on the human cost and the emotional consequences for the women involved. Her work, both in the therapy room and in her writing, continues to explore themes of self-worth, agency, and the complex process of moving beyond a defining, yet damaging, past relationship. Her continued professional activity in her late 80s, despite being legally blind, underscores her dedication to her clients and her commitment to the healing process.
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