Days later, the star offered a plane ride to Attorney General John Mitch.e.l.l"s wife, Martha. The offer prompted this tellingly captioned memo to a.s.sistant FBI Director Tolson.
TO: MR. TOLSON.
DATE: 11/9/71 DATE: 11/9/71.
FROM: J. P. MOHR.
SUBJECT: PROTECTION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
In my memo of 11/5/71 details were set out concerning the travel of the Attorney General, his wife and his daughter, Marty. There have been no changes in the travel schedule; however, there has been one change in the mode of transportation.
SA [Special Agent][image] who has been a.s.signed to be with Mrs. Mitch.e.l.l for the duration of her travels, telephoned from San Francisco at approximately 2:30 p.m. today. He referred to the previous arrangement where Mrs. Mitch.e.l.l would be traveling from San Francisco to Los Angeles via Jet Star aircraft owned by Mr. Robert Flour of the Flour Corporation. Departure time is still the same but instead of utilizing the airplane owned by Flour, the party will travel on a Gulfstream II jet airplane owned by Frank Sinatra. It will be flown by a pilot employed by Sinatra named Captain Johnny Spotts. The Attorney General apparently is not aware of this change as he is en route to Los Angeles and is not due to arrive there until 5:00 p.m. today, 11/9/71. It is apparent that Frank Sinatra is becoming quite active in politics on behalf of the campaign to reelect President Nixon. who has been a.s.signed to be with Mrs. Mitch.e.l.l for the duration of her travels, telephoned from San Francisco at approximately 2:30 p.m. today. He referred to the previous arrangement where Mrs. Mitch.e.l.l would be traveling from San Francisco to Los Angeles via Jet Star aircraft owned by Mr. Robert Flour of the Flour Corporation. Departure time is still the same but instead of utilizing the airplane owned by Flour, the party will travel on a Gulfstream II jet airplane owned by Frank Sinatra. It will be flown by a pilot employed by Sinatra named Captain Johnny Spotts. The Attorney General apparently is not aware of this change as he is en route to Los Angeles and is not due to arrive there until 5:00 p.m. today, 11/9/71. It is apparent that Frank Sinatra is becoming quite active in politics on behalf of the campaign to reelect President Nixon.
RECOMMENDATION:.
None. For information.
Alexander P. b.u.t.terfield, the bit player in Watergate who revealed the existence of the Nixon tapes, requested information on Sinatra in early 1972, a few months before the Republican party invited Sinatra and his daughter Tina to Washington for a series of VIP meetings, including a visit to the White House. The FBI gave him the standard rundown, as well as some more up-to-date information, as excerpted below.
February 18, 1972 Honorable Alexander P. b.u.t.terfield Deputy a.s.sistant to the President The White House Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. b.u.t.terfield: Reference is made to your name check request concerning James Ross MacDonald, Malcolm Charles Moos, and Frank Sinatra.
Attached are separate memoranda concerning these individuals.
This letter of transmittal may be decla.s.sified when the enclosures bearing a cla.s.sification are removed.
February 18, 1972 FRANK SINATRA.
By communication dated April 25, 1969, the White House was advised of captioned individual"s a.s.sociation for a number of years with many leaders of organized crime. Since April, 1969, information coming to our attention indicates that Mr. Sinatra continues to be in contact with and is visited by individuals who are a.s.sociated with the organized crime element.
In June, 1969, a confidential source who has furnished reliable information in the past advised that a group of individuals, including several members of the organized crime element in the Kansas City, Missouri, area, took a junket trip to Las Vegas, Nevada, sponsored by Caesars Palace Hotel. According to this source, Joe "Turk" Harris personally contacted Frank Sinatra, who was appearing at Caesars Palace, and had Mr. Sinatra and his daughter, Nancy, meet with these individuals.
chester Zechowski, who is also known as Chester Gray, advised that Gray was in Las Vegas at Caesars Palace during the prior weekend and allegedly had some type of business contact with actor Frank Sinatra. Gray and three other individuals were arrested on May 29, 1969, at which time a large quant.i.ty of stolen securities was recovered by FBI Agents of our New York Office. On November 1, 1971, Gray was sentenced in U.S. District Court, New York City, to serve a term of three years in prison.
A confidential source who was in a position to know advised in March, 1970, that Sam Giancana, nationally known organized crime figure, had a falling out with Frank Sinatra and was reportedly watching Sinatra"s activities for possible retaliation. According to this source, Giancana felt that Mr. Sinatra"s main ambition at that time was to be the number one man in the Italian hierarchy in the United States.
[image]a confidential source who has furnished reliable information in the past advised that Joseph Anthony Colombo, head of the Italian-American Civil Rights League (IACRL), and a leader of the organized crime element in the New York City area, had discussed the planned Italian-American rally to be held on June 29, 1970, at Columbus Circle, New York. According to this source, Frank Sinatra was to be one of three individuals from the show business world who would be at this rally.[image]In December, 1970, a confidential source who has furnished reliable information in the past advised that Frank Sinatra was the G.o.dfather to one of David Robert Iacovetti"s children. Iacovetti was described as a member of the organized crime element in the Miami, Florida, area.
Sinatra is one a number of individuals who are currently subjects in an Interstate Transportation in Aid of Racketeering-Extortion investigation initiated by the FBI in February, 1971. That investigation was based on information received from a confidential source who has furnished reliable information in the past that an attempt was made to extort $100,000 from one Ronald Alpert by the use of physical force and by threatening Alpert"s life. According to this source, Alpert was seeking buyers for Computer Field Expressway stock and allegedly came up with an investor who bought $100,000 worth of this stock, reportedly put up by three individuals, who were described as active in organized crime circles, and Frank Sinatra. Subsequently, the value of this stock dropped and the $100,000 investment was lost.
A copy of an FBI Identification Record, Number 3 794 610, was sent the White House by communication dated August 21, 1967. The files of the Identification Division reveal no additional arrest record.
SECRET/NO FOREIGN DISSEMINATION.
Unaware that the FBI had just informed the White House that her father a.s.sociated with mobsters and himself was the subject of a racketeering investigation, Tina Sinatra requested a tour of FBI headquarters, but not a meeting with Hoover, who died a week later, at age seventy-seven. (Nothing ever came of the racketeering investigation, and several months later, Sinatra endorsed Nixon"s reelection, at one point singing at a Young Voters for Nixon rally in Chicago.)
TO: Mr. Bishop DATE: 4/25/72 DATE: 4/25/72.
FROM: G. E. Malmfeldt
SUBJECT: MISS TINA SINATRA.
(DAUGHTER OF FRANK SINATRA).
SPECIAL TOUR OF THE BUREAU.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1972, 2:30 P.M.
We received a telephone call from the Vice President"s office this morning. We were advised that Mrs. Agnew has a luncheon appointment with Frank Sinatra"s daughter, Miss Tina Sinatra, tomorrow and that the young lady had expressed an interest in touring the FBI some time later that afternoon. We were informed that Tina Sinatra would be accompanied by her agent whose name is Jim Mahoney and by a young lady from the Vice President"s office, Miss Connie Lykkee.
The Vice President"s office was advised that we would be pleased to make special tour arrangements for Miss Sinatra and her companions and an appointment has been set up for them at the above indicated time. It was suggested that they present themselves in the Director"s Reception Room where their arrival would be expected. There was no request to meet the Director.
RECOMMENDATION:.
If you approve, we will have an Agent Supervisor from the Crime Records Division conduct Miss Sinatra and her party on a very special tour of the Bureau.
After Nixon returned from a summit in Moscow, Sinatra scrawled him a brief note, telling him "Bravo" for a job "well done." The president responded with seemingly heartfelt appreciation-though it"s interesting to note that Nixon"s letter to Sinatra was identical to one he sent to the Federal Reserve chairman, Arthur Burns, in response to his letter about the Moscow trip. (Both doc.u.ments are in the National Archives.) June 8, 1972 Dear Frank: After any long journey, the best part is always coming home, and your warm words of greeting made this occasion especially happy.
In a very real sense, every American played a vital role in the success of the Moscow visit, for what was accomplished there reflected our people"s abiding desire for enduring peace. With the agreements we have an unparalleled opportunity to build such a structure of lasting peace, and from your letter I know I can count on your support in this great undertaking. Needless to say, I am deeply grateful for your expression of confidence and encouragement.
With my best wishes, Sincerely, Richard Nixon A month later, Sinatra was hauled before the House Select Committee on Crime as it investigated mob influence in professional sports. The Democrat-controlled panel had wanted to serve him with a subpoena while attending a gala with Agnew, but he ended up appearing voluntarily, according to Nancy Sinatra"s biography of her father. He was questioned about his 1962 investment in a racetrack reportedly owned in part by alleged mob bosses Raymond Patriarca and Tommy Lucchese. Sinatra denied knowing Patriarca and said he"d met Lucchese a few times. Asked if he knew the man was a racketeer, he said, "That"s his problem, not mine."
In April 1973, Nixon asked Sinatra to come out of retirement briefly to sing at a state dinner for President Giulio Andreotti of Italy. Several doc.u.ments from the National Archives shed light on the White House"s evolving view of the star. The Sinatra backgrounder prepared by Nixon"s staff was considerably less juicy than those prepared by the FBI. (The former president later told Nancy Sinatra he"d dismissed as "nonsense" criticism that he shouldn"t invite someone of Sinatra"s "background" to the White House. Andreotti himself, it should be noted, subsequently faced allegations of consorting with the mobsters. Prosecutors in Italy charged him with protecting the Sicilian Mafia while in office; he was acquitted in October 1999.) FACT SHEET: ENTERTAINMENT FOR ANDREOTTI DINNER.
1. It might be good to mention how President Thomas Jefferson (who had earlier visited Italy) ordered that Italian musicians be recruited to be members of the Marine Corps Band in 1803. The band went on to become known as the Band of the President and 8 of its 19 directors have been of Italian birth or descent.2. Francis Albert Sinatra was born on December 12, 1917 (some sources say 1915) in Hoboken, New Jersey. He first became interested in music when an uncle gave him a ukulele. He joined the school band and helped organize the glee club, worked as a copy boy for a newspaper, and won first prize on the Major Bowes Amateur Hour which launched his career. He toured with Harry James, then Tommy Dorsey, and later the Lucky Strike Hit Parade. (He claims to have learned his distinctive phrasing and breathing technique from the way Dorsey played his trombone.) His motion picture career received major impetus when he won an Oscar for best supporting actor of 1953 in "From Here to Eternity." (His career had slumped and he was paid $8,000 for doing the role of Angelo Maggio.) He is often called "the Voice," or "the Chairman of the Board."3. Both of Sinatra"s parents were born in Italy. His mother, Dolly, came from Genoa, Italy at age two months. She was a politician of sorts, the "boss" of Hoboken"s third ward. Told there was no opening for her husband, Martin, in the Fire Department, she responded by saying, "Make an opening," and they did.4. Sinatra has been called "a one man Anti-Defamation League" for Italians in America. He donated his services to a 1945 movie, "The House I Live In," which won a special Academy Award for expressing the importance of tolerance in a democracy. He has been an active philanthropist-witness his world tour for children"s charities a little over a decade ago. One major beneficiary was Boys" Town of Italy. He won the Gene Hersholt humanitarian award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1971. Among other awards, he received the State of Israel"s Medallion of Valor last November and was co-recipient with Vice President Agnew of the Thomas A. Dooley Foundation"s Splendid American Award three weeks ago.5. Serious musicologists such as Henry Pleasants rate Sinatra as one of the major singers of the century. Opera singers often collect his records. Technically he uses body placed tones (rather than head placed tones) in the upper register (which is supposed to be wrong). His range is two octaves-much greater than most pop singers. He is also said to be among the first to have understood the potential for intimacy which the microphone gives the singer. And he is said to have "virtually invented" the proper p.r.o.nunciation for English singing. "In brief," wrote Gene Lees in the Sat.u.r.day Review Sat.u.r.day Review, "Sinatra raised the singing of the tiny popular song to the level of an art form. Indeed, he, more than any other singer, discovered what a treasure of true art American popular music really is and showed it to the world."Yet Sinatra says he has never taken a real music lesson and doesn"t read a note of music. He learns the music by having someone play it a couple of times and learns the lyrics by writing them out in longhand.6. Some Sinatra t.i.tles might have made good campaign theme songs last year. One could mention "All or Nothing At All," "High Hopes," or "I Did It My Way." There were some we did not want to hear, of course: "Put Your Dreams Away," or "Learnin" the Blues," or worst of all, "Softly As I Leave You." But in the end one Sinatra hit summed things up perfectly: "It Was A Very Good Year."
Nixon"s staff also prepared some remarks for the president to deliver before and after Sinatra"s performance. The crack about Sinatra"s tax returns is noteworthy in that former White House attorney John Dean testified at that summer"s Watergate hearings that Nixon had tried to obtain favors from the IRS for a number of entertainers, including Sinatra.
SUGGESTED INTRODUCTION OF FRANK SINATRA.
Were I asked to describe the man I am about to introduce, I would have to say that Frank Sinatra is to music what the Washington Monument is to our landscape. He is the top.
As you know, Mr. Sinatra retired as a performer two years ago, and the fact that he will sing for you tonight surely makes this a night to remember. And I hope there is no conclusion to be drawn from the fact that Frank is coming out of retirement less than a full day after the tax returns had to be filed.
He is known to us by many names. There is Frank Sinatra, the man who has sung his way through our lives. That would make him Mister Music. There is Frank Sinatra, the man of untold charitable contributions in this country and all over the world, including his long and continued support of Boys Town of Italy. That would make him Mister Humanitarian. Then there is Frank Sinatra, the high school student who dreamed of becoming a newspaper reporter. And, on graduation, he became copy boy on the Jersey Observer. But he never became a newspaper reporter, because his dreams of becoming a singer won out. And that, of course, would make him Mister Good Sense.
I am happy to present him to you now. Mister Frank Sinatra.
SUGGESTED REMARKS FOR THE PRESIDENT FOLLOWING.
FRANK SINATRA.
I think you"ll all agree with me this has been a memorable evening in the White House. Now you"re all invited to remain and dance and, above all, enjoy yourselves.
Unfortunately, I still have some work to do before retiring, so I"ll be leaving you to do that. And also, I always try to watch the late news on television to see how the networks would have run the country today.
Finally, this internal White House memo provides background for a presidential thank-you letter-and expresses pleasant surprise at Sinatra"s comportment. Nixon sent an effusive letter, and Sinatra did indeed come out of retirement shortly thereafter.
THE WHITE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON.
May 9, 1973 FOR: MARY FENTON.
FROM: STEPHEN BULL.
RE: Thank-You Letter to Frank Sinatra Frank Sinatra appeared at the April 17th dinner for Prime Minister Andreotti. Contrary to the practice of other performers, Frank Sinatra held a rehearsal with Nelson Riddle on the 16th and ran through all of his material. The purpose of this, basically, was to permit an open dress rehearsal for the White House staff on the day of the 17th. During the course of the dinner it was reported in the newspapers that Frank Sinatra spoke with his dinner guests about the impending birth of his first grandchild-his daughter Nancy was pregnant. Upon returning to his residence after the performance he received a telephone call from Nancy"s doctor indicating that she had had a miscarriage. This announcement put a damper on the evening for him.
When Frank Sinatra was first invited to the White House in late February, he began working strenuously to develop his voice so that he could give a creditable performance. His work included physical exercises, breathing practice, etc. He worked very hard in order to put on a proper performance for the President in the White House.
As a result of his appearance at the White House, Frank Sinatra made the decision to come out of retirement.
Generally, Frank Sinatra, the "Chairman of the Board" who is reputed to be ornery and egotistical, was quite the opposite. He was cordial and polite to all people with whom he worked. He had high praise for members of the Marine Orchestra, the sound people, and virtually everyone else whose job it was to put on this performance.
May 10, 1973 Dear Frank: Once in a great while, a performer manages to hold everyone in the audience spellbound. You did just that during your appearance at the April 17 dinner for Prime Minister Andreotti. The selections which were included in your program were those which many of us have a.s.sociated with you over the years, and that evening you made them sound even better than ever! Incidentally, your graciousness in rehearsing before the members of the White House staff really made their day-and some of the young ladies present were nearly walking on air when they returned to their desks.
Mrs. Nixon and I are most grateful to you for helping to make the evening of April 17 an unforgettable one, and she joins me in sending you our special thanks and warmest good wishes.
Sincerely,Richard Nixon Mr. Frank Sinatra 70-588 Frank Sinatra Drive Cathedral City, California 92234 cc: Stephen Bull The fifty-one-week tenure of former Justice Department official L. Patrick Gray 111 as acting FBI director ended in the spring of 1973 when it became clear that the Senate wouldn"t confirm the man who oversaw the less-than-thorough initial probe of the Watergate burglary. Nixon appointed William Ruckelshaus as the agency"s acting director-who almost immediately requested a dossier on the president"s crooner friend. It included more up-to-date intelligence on the singer, including information suggesting that Sinatra may have had more influence with the Nixon administration than with the Kennedys.
TO: Mr. Cleveland DATE: May 24, 1973 DATE: May 24, 1973 FROM: J. Keith
SUBJECT: FRANK SINATRA.
INFORMATION CONCERNING.
This is in response to the Acting Director"s inquiry. Following is a current brief concerning the above captioned individual.
A source who has furnished reliable information in the past advised on January 3, 1973, that Frank Sinatra is a close friend of Angelo DeCarlo of long standing.
Sources who have furnished reliable information in the past have described DeCarlo as a respected member of organized crime in the United States who holds a position of "caporegima" in the Genovese family of La Cosa Nostra.
On December 21, 1972, DeCarlo was released from the United States penitentiary, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, after a commutation of his sentence by Presidential order.
A source who has furnished reliable information in the past advised[image] that DeCarlo"s release came as no real surprise to certain a.s.sociates of DeCarlo as they had been informed by someone very close to DeCarlo that he was expected to be released before Christmas. that DeCarlo"s release came as no real surprise to certain a.s.sociates of DeCarlo as they had been informed by someone very close to DeCarlo that he was expected to be released before Christmas.
This source further stated that these same a.s.sociates are attributing DeCarlo"s release to the intervention of singer Frank Sinatra, whose close personal relationship with Vice President Spiro Agnew allegedly served as the necessary "contact." The source stated that Sinatra"s efforts had allegedly been in the works for "at least a couple of months."
Information concerning Sinatra"s friendship with DeCarlo and DeCarlo"s release from Federal custody was furnished to the Department by Newark"s letterhead memorandum dated January 11, 1973.
On May 18, 1973, Mr. Jonathon L. Goldstein, United States Attorneys office, Newark, New Jersey, advised that he was contacted on May 17, 1973, by[image][image] claimed to have information indicating that initial contact to secure the release of Angelo DeCarlo from Federal custody was made in April, 1972, by DeCarlo to a singer with a rock group performing at the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary. This singer (Frankie Valli of the Four Seasons Quartet) was allegedly requested to contact Frank Sinatra and have him intercede with Vice President Agnew for DeCarlo"s release. This request was ostensibly related to Mrs. Sinatra who in turn supposedly forwarded to Frank Sinatra. claimed to have information indicating that initial contact to secure the release of Angelo DeCarlo from Federal custody was made in April, 1972, by DeCarlo to a singer with a rock group performing at the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary. This singer (Frankie Valli of the Four Seasons Quartet) was allegedly requested to contact Frank Sinatra and have him intercede with Vice President Agnew for DeCarlo"s release. This request was ostensibly related to Mrs. Sinatra who in turn supposedly forwarded to Frank Sinatra.[image] continued that Frank Sinatra allegedly turned over $100,000 cash to Maurice Stans as an unrecorded contribution. Subsequently, due to the fact that Vice President Agnew had been "stripped of his authority by White House aides," one Peter Maletesta (possibly identical to Peter John Malatesta who was employed as a staff a.s.sistant to the Vice President as recently as January, 1971) allegedly contacted former Presidential Counsel John Dean and got him to make the necessary arrangements to forward the request to the Justice Department. Sinatra then allegedly "made a $50,000 contribution to the President"s campaign fund sometime during December, 1972. DeCarlo"s release followed." continued that Frank Sinatra allegedly turned over $100,000 cash to Maurice Stans as an unrecorded contribution. Subsequently, due to the fact that Vice President Agnew had been "stripped of his authority by White House aides," one Peter Maletesta (possibly identical to Peter John Malatesta who was employed as a staff a.s.sistant to the Vice President as recently as January, 1971) allegedly contacted former Presidential Counsel John Dean and got him to make the necessary arrangements to forward the request to the Justice Department. Sinatra then allegedly "made a $50,000 contribution to the President"s campaign fund sometime during December, 1972. DeCarlo"s release followed."
A summary of Sinatra"s background and a.s.sociation with organized crime figures, prior to that information developed concerning his friendship with DeCarlo has been made available to The White House by letters dated August 21, 1967, April 25, 1969, and February 18, 1972.
While Bufiles do not disclose this information, it is recalled from recent newspaper articles that Sinatra was originally scheduled to entertain at President Nixon"s most recent Inaugural Ball and he failed for some reason to make an appearance. About the same time he reportedly had a strong verbal exchange with society columnist Maxine Cheshire in which he reputedly used obscene language in "chewing her out." Most recently Sinatra did appear at The White House and entertained the President of Italy who was visiting this country.
RECOMMENDATION:.
None. For your information.
As Watergate closed in on the president, Sinatra stood by his friend. During his January 30, 1974, State of the Union message, Nixon defiantly declared to Congress and the nation, "One year of Watergate is enough!" Minutes after it ended, Sinatra sent Nixon a congratulatory telegram from Las Vegas, where he was playing Caesars Palace, which prompted another letter from the president. (This doc.u.ment is from the National Archives.) February 12, 1974 Dear Frank: Very shortly after delivering my State of the Union address to the Congress, I received your telegram, and this is just to let you know how much I appreciated your comments. As I stated that evening, this is a time of great challenge and great opportunities for America. I believe the measures outlined in my message can set the agenda for truly significant progress for this Nation and the world in 1974, and it is heartening to know I may continue to count on your support.
Again, my thanks and warm best wishes.
Sincerely,Richard Nixon Mr. Frank Sinatra 1041 North Formosa Avenue Hollywood, California 90046 P.S. Incidentally, I have received reports about your very kind remarks during one of your Las Vegas appearances. I understand you expressed your love for, and your belief in, our country, and your continuing confidence in me. For this public expression of your support, and of your pride in our great Nation, I am deeply grateful.
Sinatra"s friendship with Agnew lasted long after the vice president and Nixon resigned in disgrace. Agnew was one of only 130 guests invited to the singer"s wedding to Barbara Marx on July 11, 1976. Agnew at the time had become pointed in his criticism of Israel, and Sinatra drew some of the resulting flack in the form of letters from outraged citizens, including several fans. A particularly threatening one prompted Milton A. (Mickey) Rudin, Sinatra"s longtime attorney, to call the FBI. Federal agents interviewed him about it on August 9, 1976.
MILTON A. RUDIN, also known as, "The Judge," attorney, 9601 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, California, business manager for FRANK SINATRA, was contacted concerning RUDIN"s previous telephonic contact with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Los Angeles, California, concerning a threatening letter received by SINATRA.
RUDIN furnished an envelope which was postmarked (?) shing, New York, on July 29. The envelope was typewritten, addressed to Mr. FRANK SINATRA, Palm Springs, California. RUDIN also furnished the letter received in the aforementioned envelope which states in part, that unless SINATRA arranges a well publicized press conference no later than August 15, 1976, in which he denounces his friendship with SPIRO AGNEW, that a chemically treated p.r.i.c.kle will perforate one of his, SINATRA"s eyes transmitted by an African Bushmen"s blowing tube. RUDIN stated that the envelope and letter were received by SINATRA at Palm Springs, California, on Thursday, August 5, 1976. Upon receipt RUDIN stated SINATRA wrote on the front of the envelope, "Sarge-Important for The Judge." RUDIN further stated that the address label affixed to the front of the envelope beneath the typewritten address is a label that the Palm Springs Post Office put on the envelope when it was received at the Palm Springs Post Office. RUDIN stated that SINATRA advised him that he would not hold a press conference as advised on August 15, 1976. A copy of the envelope and letter are attached.
RUDIN stated that the only persons to handle the aforementioned letter and envelope were: FRANK SINATRA (singer-entertainer) Born December 12, 1916IRVING "SARGE" WEISS MessengerMARY CAROL LOGAN SecretaryHELEN MONTROSE SecretaryMILTON A. RUDIN RUDIN then furnished one Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Digest, July/August, 1976 issue, and one ADL memorandum dated May 26, 1976. RUDIN stated ADL memorandum and digest furnished gives background concerning SPIRO AGNEW, in that they feel AGNEW"s statements to the American Press and on the Today Show are "irresponsible, anti-Semitic, and are shocking and unplausible." RUDIN stated that based on AGNEW"s recent statements, a number of people have written SINATRA concerning his a.s.sociation with AGNEW and have recommended that his a.s.sociation be severed. RUDIN furnished six letters that had been received by SINATRA recently concerning SINATRA"s a.s.sociation with AGNEW. Copies of the six letters are attached.
RUDIN telephonically contacted SINATRA on August 9, 1976, at SINATRA"s residence in Pinyon Crest, California, and it was determined that SINATRA had no suspects in this matter. RUDIN stated that he had no suspects in this matter although one letter furnished above to the FBI was postmarked at Flushing, New York, July 31, 1976, from[image] Queens, New York. RUDIN then furnished SINATRA"s itinerary, which reflects that SINATRA will be in Vancouver on August 20 and 21, 1976, and that from August 21 through 27, 1976, SINATRA will be at the Waldorf Astoria while performing during that period at Saratoga, New York, and Holmdel, New Jersey. SINATRA is currently in Palm Springs, California, and will remain there until August 19, 1976. Queens, New York. RUDIN then furnished SINATRA"s itinerary, which reflects that SINATRA will be in Vancouver on August 20 and 21, 1976, and that from August 21 through 27, 1976, SINATRA will be at the Waldorf Astoria while performing during that period at Saratoga, New York, and Holmdel, New Jersey. SINATRA is currently in Palm Springs, California, and will remain there until August 19, 1976.
The letter: To Frank Sinatra!
You will arrange a well publicized press-conference not later than August 15, 1976 August 15, 1976. You will denounce your good friend Spiro Agnew because he sold himself to the Arabs in order to be their spokesman and official anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic propagandist in the USA.
If you do not comply [with] this demand your life is NOT NOT in danger. Death is not a punishment, it is a sudden end of life without suffering. Your famous Blue Eyes are in jeopardy. in danger. Death is not a punishment, it is a sudden end of life without suffering. Your famous Blue Eyes are in jeopardy.
Study the method of African Bushmen"s blowing tubes. The p.r.i.c.kle can be targeted very exactly from a distance of 100 feet or further. The tube could be a cigarette holder, could be a part of a photo camera, a binocular, a trompet or a dozen of other objects. It is absolutely undetectable.