One evening in 1963, Garbo spent some time at the White House. The previous summer in Europe, she had become quite friendly with Lem Billings, one of President Kennedy's closest friends, who, on his return to America, spoke extensively about his time with her.

It is said that it was on November 13, when Garbo was invited to Washington for a small dinner party at the White House with President and Mrs. Kennedy, her sister Lee Radziwill, Florence Mahoney, and Lem Billings. Garbo enjoyed the dinner very much and wrote Mrs Kennedy a "Thank-you note", dated November 18, 1963.