The Sinatra files_ the secret FBI Dossier Part 16

There are enclosed two memoranda setting forth information concerning Frank Sinatra and Dame Margot Fonteyn.

With reference to Lena Horne, our files reveal that a summary of information available concerning Lena Horne was furnished the Honorable P. Kenneth O'Donnell by letter dated January 5, 1962. In addition to the information contained in that summary, our files reveal that the "Los Angeles Times" for November 1, 1963, contained an article which indicated that the radio stations in Los Angeles, California, banned the playing of a recording sung by Lena Horne ent.i.tled "Now," describing it as containing a "biting, angry integration message." The article further described the record as voicing a "strong racial freedom message" and the lyrics called for action now strengthening, according to the newspaper, the racial unrest in the United States.

We have not investigated Rudolf Nureyev; however, our files reveal that he has been publicly identified as a Soviet ballet artist who defected from the Leningrad Ballet in Paris, France, in June, 1961. Representatives of this Bureau have interviewed Mr. Nureyev and he has furnished limited information to the FBI. He was contacted by a Russian intelligence service shortly after his defection, but he stated he refused to cooperate with them. Since his defection he has danced with the British Royal Ballet in the United States and elsewhere.

Our files reveal that summaries of information in our files concerning Danny Kaye have been furnished the White House on January 12, 1962, May 10, 1962, and October 19, 1964. We have no additional information identifiable with Danny Kaye.

Sincerely yours, J. Edgar Hoover Hoover enclosed a summary report on Sinatra. It included the usual stuff about the draft and Communists, as well as some more recent information about his alleged a.s.sociation with mobsters.

November 20, 1964 FRANK SINATRA.

We have received information over an extended period of time from sources, who have furnished reliable information in the past and who have knowledge of general criminal activities in the United States, that Sinatra has been a close friend and a.s.sociate of Samuel Giancana, a former chauffeur and bodyguard for Anthony Accardo, the acknowledged leader of the syndicate (La Cosa Nostra) in Chicago, Illinois, prior to 1956. Giancana, described as a cold, brutal killer, a.s.sumed leaders.h.i.+p of the syndicate in Chicago in approximately 1956. Giancana has been a guest at various places owned or operated by Sinatra and at Sinatra's home in Palm Springs, California. It has been reported that due to Sinatra's close a.s.sociation with Giancana and other syndicate hoodlums he lost his license to operate gambling establishments in the State of Nevada. As a result of this loss, Sinatra was reported to have sold his interest in the Sands Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, for $43,500 per point for a total of $391,000 and his entire interest in the Cal Neva Lodge at Lake Tahoe, Nevada....

In March, 1963, an informant who has furnished reliable information in the past advised that Sinatra and Dean Martin, well-known singer, were long-time friends of John Anthony Mata.s.sa. Mata.s.sa is a former member of the Chicago Police Department, who resigned many years ago after taking the Fifth Amendment before the McClellan Committee and as of 1963 was a business agent for a Chicago, Illinois, local of the Teamsters Union and reportedly a close a.s.sociate of Samuel Giancana and other syndicate hoodlums.

In early 1964 another informant, who has furnished reliable information in the past regarding general criminal activities in the United States, indicated among other things that Paul "Skinny" D'Amato, operator of the 500 Club, Atlantic City, New Jersey, and a business partner with Sinatra in Nevada, was a hoodlum and a member of the La Cosa Nostra syndicate. The informant stated that although Sinatra was not a member of the syndicate, he was big enough and close enough to the organization to obtain any favors he desired.

In January 1967, Sinatra testified behind closed doors before a federal grand jury in Las Vegas looking into casinos allegedly controlled by the mob. That May the Italian-American Anti-Defamation League tapped Sinatra to head a nationwide effort to discourage the stereotyping of Italians as mobsters. The choice of an entertainer publicly known to a.s.sociate with accused gangsters seemed odd to some. Still, the new group helped persuade the producers of The Untouchables The Untouchables television series to change some of its hoodlum characters' surnames television series to change some of its hoodlum characters' surnames.

And it managed to land Vice President Humphrey as a speaker. A Justice Department official requested and received the usual briefing materials on Sinatra, which included some new information. (The next year, Sinatra returned the favor: He endorsed Humphrey for president in the Democratic primary over Robert Kennedy, who had quit the Justice Department in 1964 to become a senator from New York.) primary over Robert Kennedy, who had quit the Justice Department in 1964 to become a senator from New York.)

TO: Mr. Gale DATE: May 18, 1967 DATE: May 18, 1967 FROM: W. V. Cleveland

SUBJECT: PROPOSED SPEECH BY VICE PRESIDENT.

HUMPHREY BEFORE AMERICAN ITALIAN ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE, INC., NEW YORK CITY, MAY 20, 1967.

On the night of 5-17-67, Mr. John T. Duffner, Executive a.s.sistant, Office of the Deputy Attorney General, telephonically requested name checks of the following: Frank Sinatra, Ross J. DiLorenzo and the American Italian Anti-Defamation League, Inc. Duffner stated he was requesting this information in connection with a proposed speech by the Vice President before the American Italian Anti-Defamation League, Inc., on May 20, 1967.

Frank Sinatra is well known for his hoodlum a.s.sociations and, according to recent press reports, has been named National Chairman of the above-mentioned league. The Department has been previously furnished complete details on the background of Sinatra and his a.s.sociation with hoodlums. Ross J. DiLorenzo is the president of this league. With reference to this organization, recent newspaper publicity has criticized it for the appointment of Sinatra to a high position in this organization. In an article dated May 12, 1967, in the "New York Times," former New York Police Officer Ralph Salerno took this organization to task for appointing Sinatra as National Chairman and indicated strongly that the Italian American community should face the facts that some 10,000 Italian wrongdoers were disgracing the 20 million law abiding Italian American citizens and that this organization should devote its activities to a.s.sisting law enforcement in cleaning up that element of Italian American communities which is in violation of law and order.

Among the directors of the American Italian Anti-Defamation League, Inc., are listed Anthony Scotto and Dr. Mario Tagliagambe, concerning whom we have received allegations from confidential informants that they are reported members of La Cosa Nostra.

With specific reference to Ross J. DiLorenzo, he is the individual who, in a letter to the Bureau in March of this year, endeavored to imply that a Bureau television show defamed Italian Americans. In our reply, we set the record straight and pointed out to DiLorenzo that no such defamation occurred and, in fact, the princ.i.p.al character of the show in question was named Roland which is not an Italian name.

May 18, 1967 FRANK SINATRA.

During the summer of 1964 an informant who has furnished reliable information in the past indicated that he had learned from one of the top hoodlums in the syndicate that on one occasion Sinatra owed the syndicate "a lot of money." He also stated that although it was publicly reported that Sinatra divested himself of all financial interests in gambling establishments in Nevada, he had actually not "cut loose" from his night clubs but that the names were changed concerning reported owners.h.i.+p.

The May 4, 1967, issue of "The New York Times" newspaper, New York City, contained an article captioned "Sinatra to Head Antibias Group." This article indicates in part Sinatra had been named National Chairman of the American Italian Anti-Defamation League. A copy of this article is enclosed.

The May 12, 1967, issue of "The New York Times" contained an article captioned "Sinatra a.s.sailed as Ethnic Leader." This article indicates in part that Ralph Salerno, a former member of the New York City Police Department's Central Investigation Bureau, criticized the selection of Sinatra as National Chairman of the American Italian Anti-Defamation League stating Sinatra's friends.h.i.+p and a.s.sociation with identified members of the Mafia "hardly matches the image the league is seeking to project as representative of the 20 million Americans of Italian birth or ancestry." A copy of this article is enclosed. Details concerning Sinatra previously furnished Department.

Three months later, White House aide Mildred Stegall again asked for and received an update on the Sinatra file from the FBI, as shown in this excerpt.

August 21, 1967 BY LIAISON.

Mrs. Mildred Stegall The White House Was.h.i.+ngton, D.C.

Dear Mrs. Stegall: Reference is made to your request for a review of the information in FBI files subsequent to the previous name check which was made on November 20, 1964, regarding Frank Sinatra.

Our files reveal that Frank Sinatra continues to a.s.sociate both socially and on a business basis with alleged members of La Cosa Nostra and other members of the hoodlum element in this country. Notable among such a.s.sociates are Sam Giancana, Chicago, Illinois, who reportedly has been out of the country for the past year, and Joseph Fischetti, Miami, Florida.

Meanwhile, Sinatra kept showing up in reports about the FBI's routine surveillance of mob figures and hangouts.

TO: Director, FBI FROM: SAC, Miami SUBJECT: ELSUR [Electronic Surveillance]

FRANK SINATRA 4/18/68.

In connection with the Anti-Racketeering investigation of JOSEPH FISCHETTI, aka, Miami installed an eavesdropping device in Puccini's Restaurant, 991 N.E. 79th St., Miami, Florida.

On 3/26/62, FRANK SINATRA and FISCHETTI came to Puccini's Restaurant for dinner and parts of the conversation were overheard concerning his, SINATRA's, returning to Los Angeles and the airport being "fogged in," and they discussed the possibility of chartering a plane to New Orleans. It was general conversation and nothing was disseminated nor learned of value.

Later that year, Sinatra canceled campaign appearances on behalf of Humphrey, after The Wall Street Journal The Wall Street Journal detailed his continuing mob a.s.sociations. By 1969, Sinatra's politics had begun to lean right. Shortly after Nixon's inauguration, the FBI (presumably Hoover himself) wrote to Nixon's top aide, John D. Ehrlichman of Watergate fame, to fill him in on Sinatra's background detailed his continuing mob a.s.sociations. By 1969, Sinatra's politics had begun to lean right. Shortly after Nixon's inauguration, the FBI (presumably Hoover himself) wrote to Nixon's top aide, John D. Ehrlichman of Watergate fame, to fill him in on Sinatra's background.

April 25, 1969 Honorable John D. Ehrlichman Legal Counsel to the President The White House Was.h.i.+ngton, D.C.

Dear Mr. Ehrlichman: This letter is being written to you to outline briefly a.s.sociation for many years by Frank Sinatra with many leaders of La Cosa Nostra. As you know, that organization is the dominant force in the country's organized crime underworld.

Sinatra, who was born December 12, 1915 (or 1916), in Hoboken, New Jersey, was a.s.sociated early in his singing career with the late notorious Willie Moretti, a long-time La Cosa Nostra leader in northern New Jersey who became the victim of a gangland type slaying in 1951. Also quite early in his career, Sinatra was quite friendly with Paul Emelio D'Amato, a La Cosa Nostra member who, for many years, was the proprietor of The 500 Club, a night spot in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Sinatra's a.s.sociation with D'Amato, who has served a penitentiary sentence as a panderer, continued over the years with Sinatra appearing at The 500 Club during many summer seasons. It has been reported that during some of those appearances, Sinatra rented one or two entire sleeping floors in the Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City for party purposes, the party actually being a cover for clandestine meetings of La Cosa Nostra leaders.

D'Amato and Sinatra were a.s.sociated in the operation of the Cal Neva Lodge at Lake Tahoe, Nevada, during 1963. Salvatore "Sam" Giancana, long-time "boss" of the Chicago "family" of La Cosa Nostra, was frequently Sinatra's guest at the Cal Neva Lodge during that period. These connections on the part of Sinatra provided a basis for the revocation of his gambling license in the State of Nevada and the disposal of his interest in the Cal Neva Lodge as well as the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Sinatra was present in 1947 in Havana, Cuba, with top leaders of La Cosa Nostra who had gone there to meet with Salvatore Lucania, more commonly known as Lucky Luciano, former "boss of bosses" of La Cosa Nostra in the United States. Luciano had entered Cuba surrept.i.tiously from his native country, Italy, to which he had been deported under his parole from a New York State penitentiary where he had been serving a sentence on conviction for compulsory prost.i.tution.

Sinatra has long been very friendly with the Fischettis, particularly Joseph and Rocco. The Fischettis were connected with the Chicago "family" of La Cosa Nostra once headed by their cousin, the late Al Capone. Their deceased brother, Charles Fischetti, was once "boss" of the Chicago La Cosa Nostra.

In addition to the foregoing,[image] that Joseph Colombo, a New York La Cosa Nostra leader, met with Sinatra that Joseph Colombo, a New York La Cosa Nostra leader, met with Sinatra[image] of Raymond Patriarca, New England La Cosa Nostra leader, of Raymond Patriarca, New England La Cosa Nostra leader,[image] that Colombo was asked by Patriarca to meet with Sinatra because of a close friends.h.i.+p between the two. In prior years, Sinatra, together with his friend and fellow entertainer, Dean Martin, became a director of the Berks.h.i.+re Downs Race Track in western Ma.s.sachusetts. that Colombo was asked by Patriarca to meet with Sinatra because of a close friends.h.i.+p between the two. In prior years, Sinatra, together with his friend and fellow entertainer, Dean Martin, became a director of the Berks.h.i.+re Downs Race Track in western Ma.s.sachusetts.It is thought that this known and alleged connection of Sinatra's with La Cosa Nostra leaders.h.i.+p might be of interest to you.

Scotland Yard also requested information on the singer-through an American legal attache ("Legat") in London-to prepare for an audience with England's Queen Elizabeth. The background summary prepared for Scotland Yard included a bare-bones memo on the usual Sinatra background material, as well as the latest news-Sinatra being forced to testify before a New Jersey crime commission. (Though the FBI didn't know it at the time, Sinatra confirmed under oath that Skinny D'Amato and Sam Giancana were indeed his friends but denied knowing that they and various other infamous figures with whom he'd allegedly a.s.sociated were organized crime members.) URGENT 3-10-70.

TO DIRECTOR.

FROM LEGAT LONDON NO. 33.

FRANK SINATRA, FOREIGN POLICE COOPERATION.

ON MARCH NINE LAST JOHN WALDRON, COMMISSIONER, METROPOLITAN POLICE, NEW SCOTLAND YARD, ADVISED SINATRA AND COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA ARE APPEARING AT ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL, LONDON, ON MAY SEVEN AND EIGHT NEXT IN A CHARITY PERFORMANCE FOR BENEFIT OF SOCIETY FOR PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN. SOCIETY HOLDS ANNUAL PERFORMANCE, IS ONE OF ROYAL FAMILY'S FAVORITE CHARITIES, THEY ARE USUALLY INVITED AND USUALLY ATTEND.

THE COMMISSIONER IS EXTREMELY CONCERNED OVER RECENT PUBLICITY AFFORDED SINATRA OVER TESTIFYING RE MAFIA CONNECTIONS IN NEW JERSEY. COMMISSIONER MUST MAKE RECOMMENDATION FOR OR AGAINST APPEARANCE OF QUEEN AND OTHER MEMBERS OF ROYAL FAMILY. IF QUEEN ATTENDS SINATRA WILL BE PRESENTED TO HER AND HE FEARS UNFAVORABLE PRESS MAY RESULT.

COMMISSIONER WOULD BE MOST APPRECIATIVE FOR SUMMARY OF PERTINENT AVAILABLE INFO RE SINATRA TO INCLUDE IDENT RECORD, WHY HE HAD TO DISPOSE OF LAS VEGAS INTERESTS, RECENT NEW JERSEY MATTER, ETC. HE a.s.sURES ANY INFO WILL BE TREATED AS CONFIDENTIAL AND BUREAU POSITIVELY NOT IDENTIFIED AS SOURCE. HE NEEDS INFO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS ROYAL FAMILY HAS RECEIVED INVITATION.

IN VIEW TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF BUREAU WORK HANDLED BY NEW SCOTLAND YARD AND COMMISSIONER'S OUTSTANDING COOPERATION IN ALL MATTERS, RECOMMEND SUMMARY OF INFO REQUESTED BE POUCHED SOON AS POSSIBLE IN FORM SUITABLE FOR DISSEMINATION TO HIM.

TO: Mr. DeLoach DATE: 3/12/70 DATE: 3/12/70.

FROM: A. Rosen

SUBJECT: FRANK SINATRA.

PURPOSE:.

Attached memorandum and ident record regarding Sinatra outline pertinent data in Bureau files regarding him and were prepared for forwarding to Commissioner Waldron, New Scotland Yard, at his specific request.

BACKGROUND:.

3/10/70 cablegram from Legat, London, forwarded a specific request from Commissioner John Waldron, New Scotland Yard, for pertinent data in Bureau files regarding Sinatra, who has been invited to perform at a charity performance in London on May 7, 1970. This performance will benefit one of the favorite charities of the British royal family, who usually attend this function. New Scotland Yard believes that Sinatra will be presented to the queen and desires to guard against any unfavorable publicity which may result as a result of Sinatra's past affiliations with criminal and hoodlum elements in this country.

Attached letterhead memorandum outlines Sinatra's affiliation over the years with such well-known hoodlums and members of the La Cosa Nostra as the late Willie Moretti, Paul Emelio D'Amato, and Salvatore "Sam" Giancana. Attached memorandum also includes the results of a security-type investigation conducted regarding Sinatra in 1955, which disclosed that his name had been a.s.sociated with or lent to approximately 16 organizations in the early and middle 1940's which were either communist fronts or communist infiltrated. This investigation did not uncover any actual Communist Party or front members.h.i.+p on Sinatra's part.

Commissioner Waldron has been most cooperative with the Bureau in the past and he has a.s.sured Legat, London, that any information received will be treated on a strictly confidential basis and the Bureau will not be identified as the source.

RECOMMENDATION:.

That the attached letter to Legat, London, enclosing the above-mentioned letterhead memorandum and identification record be approved and that Legat, London, be authorized to furnish the data regarding Sinatra to Commissioner Waldron of New Scotland Yard on a strictly confidential basis in response to his request.

March 12, 1970 FRANK SINATRA.

In June, 1969, Sinatra was subpoenaed to appear before the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation which was probing organized crime and corruption in New Jersey. Sinatra refused to honor this subpoena and as a result, a warrant citing him for civil contempt was issued. Sinatra was purged of this contempt after testifying before the Commission on February 17, 1970, and the contempt citation was dismissed at that time. The nature of Sinatra's testimony before the Commission has not been made known.

The FBI's apparent warning and the continuing controversy surrounding Sinatra notwithstanding, the Nixon administration courted his support. He had initially bonded with Vice President Spiro Agnew, whom he met in mid-1969 at a political event, and later socialized with him regularly. Soon the White House was inviting Sinatra to attend official functions and to play golf with the president.

This memo between two Nixon aides (from the National Archives' Nixon Project files, not the FBI's) indicates that the White House was concerned about the propriety of inviting Sinatra to the White House, but not because of his unsavory mob acquaintances.

November 30, 1970 MEMORANDUM FOR MRS. CONNIE STUART.

FROM: DWIGHT L. CHAPIN.

As you will recall, Frank Sinatra endorsed Ronald Reagan when he ran for the Gubernatorial election this year. The President and Mrs. Nixon invited Sinatra to attend the Diaz Ordaz dinner in San Diego. Sinatra did not attend the dinner but he did fly in for the reception, although he opened the same night in Las Vegas. Last weekend Sinatra played golf with the Vice President in Palm Springs.

I talked with Paul Keyes today and he offered the suggestion that perhaps Sinatra might be available to do an Evening at the White House. There are obviously strong arguments pro and con in giving Sinatra the White House forum. I am sure that many of our friends in the entertainment field would think it wrong to have a former anti-Nixon person entertain at the White House. I am fairly well convinced that the publicity value alone-not to mention the development of a relations.h.i.+p between Sinatra and the President would far outweigh the negatives.

I offer this only as a possibility that you may wish to explore with the First Lady and with Paul Keyes directly.

At times the FBI's information was very obviously flawed, as in this September 15, 1971, memo from the FBI's special agent in charge for New York.

TO: DIRECTOR, FBI.

FROM: SAC, NEW YORK.

SUBJECT: FRANK SINATRA.

MISCELLANEOUS- INFORMATION CONCERNING.

[image]advised that FRANK SINATRA has been diagnosed as having terminal cancer, and estimates of life expectancy vary to as little as two months. According to the source, SINATRA has been examined at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, New York City, and his presence in New York was kept secret, with the exception of an appearance at the recent funeral of BENNETT CERF, at which time SINATRA appeared to be in extremely poor health.

This exchange of memos from a year later (also from the National Archives) indicates that the White House consciously overlooked Sinatra's controversial background a few months after his announced retirement from entertaining. Still, Chief of Staff H. R. Haldeman didn't want to go too far, so Nixon sent him a perfunctory letter.

THE WHITE HOUSE.

WAs.h.i.+NGTON.

November 1, 1971 MEMORANDUM FOR ELISKA HASEK.

FROM: d.i.c.k MOORE.

Warren Dorn, Chairman of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (a Republican), phoned me this morning to request a presidential letter or telegram for Frank Sinatra, who is being honored with the Los Angeles County Distinguished Service Award this Thursday, November 4. The award will be made at a reception at the Music Center which will be attended by the Supervisors, Mrs. Norman Chandler, and other civic officials and community leaders.

Dorn said that Governor Reagan is also sending a message. Sinatra actively supported Reagan in his 1970 campaign and I keep hearing that there is some likelihood that he may support President Nixon in 1972.

While Sinatra has been controversial, he seems to have settled down since his retirement and I would think that a presidential message would be appropriate and well received. However, I am sending a copy of this memo to Bob Haldeman in case he knows any reason why the President would think differently.

cc: H. R. Haldeman Ray Price THE WHITE HOUSE.

WAs.h.i.+NGTON.

NOTE PER INFO FROM d.i.c.k MOORE:.

On receiving his copy of the attached memo, Mr. Haldeman called d.i.c.k Moore to let him know that he thought the President would want to send a wire to Sinatra-but that it should be brief and very general (don't go overboard in praise).

Attached file on Sinatra shows President invited him to attend dinner last year in San Diego for Diaz Ordaz (after Sinatra's endors.e.m.e.nt & support for Gov. Reagan's reelection) and also talked to him by phone in March of this year, but no indication of subject of conversation.

Claudia 11/2/71 Mr. Frank Sinatra c/o Honorable Warren M. Dorn Chairman, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors 500 West Temple Street Los Angeles, California 90012 My wholehearted congratulations to you as you receive the Los Angeles County Distinguished Service Award. It is highly fitting that your deep humanitarian concern and your generous contributions to the community be recognized, and it is a pleasure to join with those who honor you on this occasion in conveying my best wishes for every success in the future.

RICHARD NIXON.