Part 15 (2/2)
In reviewing this file, Los Angeles noted a possible Fraud Against the Government violation in connection with apparently false statements made by Sinatra in an affidavit given to IRS, Los Angeles, in 1959. In this statement Sinatra denied the presence of Sam Giancana at a party in the Claridge Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, in July, 1959. However, in our investigation of Sam Giancana we interviewed a professional dancer who advised that she was present at this party[image] She also identified several other hoodlums in attendance including Rocco and Joseph Fischetti. She also identified several other hoodlums in attendance including Rocco and Joseph Fischetti.
RECOMMENDATION OF SAC, LOS ANGELES.
SAC, Los Angeles recommends that this possible violation be brought to the attention of Mr. Sheridan and his opinion as to prosecution secured. SAC, Los Angeles points out if investigation is warranted a grand jury could possibly be convened at Los Angeles and Giancana, Joseph Fischetti and other personalities present at the 1959 meeting could be brought before the grand jury.
ACTION.
Los Angeles is being authorized to bring this possible violation to the attention of the United States Attorney's Office at Los Angeles but to point out that any request for investigation should be channeled through the Department.
To substantiate the information of the violation are the following excerpts from FBI reports: Pages 89-90 of September 12, 1960, FBI report ent.i.tled ”Samuel M. Giancana” prepared by SA [Special Agent][image] reflected that reflected that[image] advised on September 16, 1959 that he had recently been to the Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in order to see Frank Sinatra and was told SINATRA had reserved the entire first floor of the hotel. The informant stated when they got off the elevator on the first floor they were approached by two ”tough looking men” and asked for identification and purpose of their visit. The informant stated one individual in SINATRA's suite at this hotel was identified to him as JOSEPH FISCHETTI, described as the ”well known hoodlum from Miami.” advised on September 16, 1959 that he had recently been to the Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in order to see Frank Sinatra and was told SINATRA had reserved the entire first floor of the hotel. The informant stated when they got off the elevator on the first floor they were approached by two ”tough looking men” and asked for identification and purpose of their visit. The informant stated one individual in SINATRA's suite at this hotel was identified to him as JOSEPH FISCHETTI, described as the ”well known hoodlum from Miami.”
Of July 13, 1962, FBI report ent.i.tled ”Samuel M. Giancana” prepared by SA [Special Agent][image] Chicago Office, reported that Chicago Office, reported that[image][image] She stated that at the age of approximately eighteen she became employed as a professional dancer, appearing in chorus lines at various hotels, night clubs and casinos around the country. She stated that at the age of approximately eighteen she became employed as a professional dancer, appearing in chorus lines at various hotels, night clubs and casinos around the country.[image] she became acquainted with FRANK SINATRA during approximately 1958. During this period she traveled throughout the country and worked for some time at the Tropicana and Riviera Hotels in Las Vegas. she became acquainted with FRANK SINATRA during approximately 1958. During this period she traveled throughout the country and worked for some time at the Tropicana and Riviera Hotels in Las Vegas.
In July, 1959, she attended a party given by FRANK SINATRA in Atlantic City, New Jersey, at the Claridge Hotel. SINATRA at that time was appearing at the 500 Club as the featured entertainer. The party referred to lasted approximately two weeks and normally started at about 8:00 PM and lasted until about 4:00 or 5:00 AM the following morning.[image] She mentioned other persons in attendance at this affair, in addition to the ones mentioned above, as actress NATALIE WOOD, actor ROBERT WAGNER, then the husband of NATALIE WOOD, ROCCO FISCHETTI, his brother, JOSEPH FISCHETTI, JOHN FOREMAN (true name JOHN FORMOSA) and PAUL ”SKINNY” D'AMATO. She mentioned other persons in attendance at this affair, in addition to the ones mentioned above, as actress NATALIE WOOD, actor ROBERT WAGNER, then the husband of NATALIE WOOD, ROCCO FISCHETTI, his brother, JOSEPH FISCHETTI, JOHN FOREMAN (true name JOHN FORMOSA) and PAUL ”SKINNY” D'AMATO.
Also in connection with this matter, the Newark Division in October, 1959, by airtel dated 10/28/59, TOP HOODLUM PROGRAM, Chicago Division, AR., advised that[image] at the Claridge Hotel, had been a.s.signed to the SINATRA party from 7/25-8/2/59 and had identified the photograph of SAM GIANCANA as closely resembling an individual visiting the SINATRA party on two or three occasions. at the Claridge Hotel, had been a.s.signed to the SINATRA party from 7/25-8/2/59 and had identified the photograph of SAM GIANCANA as closely resembling an individual visiting the SINATRA party on two or three occasions.
But in the end, Sinatra was let off the hook, according to this Novembe 4, 1963, memo 4, 1963, memo.
TO: Director, FBI FROM: SAC, Los Angeles RE: FRANCIS ALBERT SINATRA,.
aka. ANTI-RACKETEERING Re Los Angeles airtel to Bureau dated 10/7/63 and Bureau airtel to Los Angeles dated 10/10/63.
The material relating to the possible violation of t.i.tle 18, Section 1001 was brought to the attention of Special a.s.sistant to the Attorney General, THOMAS R. SHERIDAN at Los Angeles on 10/29/63 and Mr. SHERIDAN advised that in his opinion this was an apparent, though a minor violation of t.i.tle 18, Section 1001, and of itself, in his opinion, was not sufficient to warrant a prosecutive effort. He added that this, of course, could be added to other charges of a more substantial nature if and when such charges were ever developed in the future.
He advised that this matter is now known to DOUGALD MAC MILLAN of the Department and he concurs in this opinion.
Two and half weeks later, on November 22, 1963, the president was a.s.sa.s.sinated. Sinatra was told the news while filming a scene for Robin and the Seven Hoods Robin and the Seven Hoods in a Burbank cemetery, according to Nancy Sinatra's biography. After a brief talk with a White House staffer, he told the crew, ”Let's shoot this thing, 'cause I don't want to come back here anymore.” Roselli, meanwhile, went to Judith Campbell's hotel room in Los Angeles to console her in the aftermath of the murder of her former lover in a Burbank cemetery, according to Nancy Sinatra's biography. After a brief talk with a White House staffer, he told the crew, ”Let's shoot this thing, 'cause I don't want to come back here anymore.” Roselli, meanwhile, went to Judith Campbell's hotel room in Los Angeles to console her in the aftermath of the murder of her former lover.
Ever since Jack Kennedy's murder, there have been suspicions that the mob was behind the crime. Though no one has ever come close to substantiating such conjecture, some of the coincidences are extraordinary, as demonstrated by these excerpts from the FBI's files on what the Warren Commission had to say about Sinatra. (Reprise Records was Sinatra's record company, which employed Mike Sh.o.r.e.) Volume 14 of The Report Of The President's Commission On The a.s.sa.s.sination of President Kennedy, contains the following information concerning Frank Sinatra: On 4/14/64, Robert Carl Patterson, a musician and singer of Dallas, Texas, testified in the office of the US Attorney, Dallas, that in approximately November (year not stated) Jack Ruby was interested in promoting a ”rock 'n roll” record for Patterson. Ruby told Patterson that he had connections with Reprise, with which Sinatra had something to do, and that the record could be promoted by Reprise.
On 5/28/64, Mrs. Eva Grant, sister of Ruby, also testified before the US Attorney in Dallas, concerning the selection of attorneys to defend Ruby. She stated that her brother Earl Ruby made a trip (date not stated) to the West Coast to see Mike Sh.o.r.e (not identified), who knew Sinatra there, and ”they” figured they would know somebody and that was how Melvin Belli came into the picture as a defense lawyer for Ruby.
This reference indicated that Ruby killed Lee Harvey Oswald, who allegedly killed President Kennedy.
There certainly is ample evidence in the files that the mob did bear a grudge against the Kennedy family.
[image]advised he had heard that LCN [La Cosa Nostra] members had allegedly planned to attack the characters of U.S. Senators Edward and Robert Kennedy, as well as their brother-in-law, Peter Lawford. This was to be accomplished through a.s.sociates of Frank Sinatra, who were to get the victims in compromising situations with women.
In 1975, Giancana and Roselli both met violent deaths themselves, in the midst of the Senate investigation of the CIA plot to kill Castro. Giancana got a .22-caliber bullet in the back of the head while cooking up a midnight snack of sausages in June, just before he was to testify. In July, just after he testified, Roselli wound up asphyxiated in a 55-gallon drum floating off the coast of Key Biscayne, Florida.
SEVEN.
SINATRA TURNS RIGHT.
”Don't go overboard in praise.”
Politically, Frank Sinatra changed with his times, but what didn't change was his desire to be close to people in power. Early on, he was a prominent supporter of left-leaning causes. He sipped tea in the White House with FDR and named his son after the president-Franklin-rather than Francis, his own given name.
In the 1950s and early '60s, when Sinatra and Hugh Hefner were the defining American male ideals of sophisticated virility, the swinging singer had cultivated a kins.h.i.+p with the suave Jack Kennedy. Later Sinatra campaigned for Hubert Humphrey, shunning the slain president's brother Robert, whose anti-mob crusade had targeted Giancana and other Sinatra a.s.sociates. But once the Republican Richard M. Nixon won the White House, Sinatra drew close to Vice President Spiro Agnew and supported the Republican ticket's reelection.
Sinatra's rightward s.h.i.+ft reflected the political climate of the times and the increasingly conservative views of some other Hollywood Democrats who switched to the GOP, notably Ronald Reagan. Not surprisingly, Sinatra stumped for Reagan's reelection as California's governor in 1970. In 1981, the transformation was completed when Sinatra produced the gala for Reagan's presidential inauguration.
But the mellowed entertainer had little opportunity to come to terms with the ultraconservative Hoover, who died in 1972. In any case, the FBI was still watching-and warning each successive politician who befriended Sinatra that he was trouble.
After President Kennedy's death, the Johnson White House requested the lowdown on a number of celebrities, including Sinatra. Hoover's reply was sent to President Lyndon B. Johnson's a.s.sistant, Bill Moyers (who would later become a noted broadcast journalist). The reason for the request isn't clear, for Sinatra wasn't all that close to Johnson and didn't become friendly with Vice President Hubert Humphrey until later.
THE WHITE HOUSE.
WAs.h.i.+NGTON.
November 16, 1964 Memo to Mildred Stegall From Barbara Keehn At Mrs. Carpenter's request-I would like to have FBI reports on the following entertainers-as quickly as possible.
Carol Channing (Mrs. Charles Lowe)-NYC Frank Sinatra-9229 Sunset Boulevard, L.A., Calif.
Lena Horne-NYC Debbie Reynolds-Beverly Hills, Calif.
Carol Burnett-NYC Dame Margot Fonteyn Rudolf Nureyev Peter Gennaro-NYC Danny Kaye-1103 San Ysidro, Beverly Hills, Calif.
Mike Nichols Elaine May November 20, 1964 BY SPECIAL MESSENGER.
Honorable Bill D. Moyers Special a.s.sistant to the President The White House Was.h.i.+ngton, D.C.
Dear Mr. Moyers: Reference is made to the memorandum dated November 16, 1964, from Mrs. Barbara Keehn to Mrs. Mildred Stegall requesting name checks concerning Carol Channing and ten other individuals who were described as entertainers.
The FBI has not investigated the following individuals and our files contain no derogatory information identifiable with them.
Carol Channing Peter Gennaro Debbie Reynolds Mike Nichols Carol Burnett Elaine May
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