[413] J. Edgar Hoover, the FBI director, received reports about Kennedy's indiscretions.[414] These included an alleged East German spy Ellen Rometsch. According to historian Michael Beschloss, in July 1963, Hoover reportedly informed Bobby Kennedy about the affair. Hoover told the attorney general that he had information that the president, as well as others in Washington, had been involved with a woman "suspected as a Soviet intelligence agent, someone linked to East German intelligence". Bobby Kennedy reportedly took the matter sufficiently seriously to raise it with leading Democratic and Republican figures in Congress.[415][416] Former Secret Service agent Larry Newman recalled "morale problems" that the president's indiscretions engendered within the Secret Service.[417]
Kennedy inspired affection and loyalty from the members of his team and his supporters.[418] According to Reeves, this included "the logistics of Kennedy's liaisons ... [which] required secrecy and devotion rare in the annals of the energetic service demanded by successful politicians."[419] Kennedy believed that his friendly relationship with members of the press would help protect him from public revelations about his sex life.[420]
Lem Billings was Kennedy's "oldest and best friend" from the time they attended Choate together until Kennedy's death.