proposition.
The author of another lengthy FBI memo detailing Sinatra’s activity during this period either had a sense of humor about the matter or simply was careless in identifying Sinatra’s alleged political soul mates
.
The 4/19/47 issue of the “New York Daily Mirror” carried an article by Jack Lait entitled “All in the Family.” The article pertained to Charlie Chaplin and Frank Sinatra, who had held press conferences that week during which Sinatra denied he sympathized with Lenin and the Marx brothers.
By 1950, with his career in decline, his marriage to Nancy Barbato on the rocks, and a tempestuous affair with Ava Gardner under way, Sinatra was anxious to counter suggestions in the press that he was a draft-dodging subversive. An intermediary contacted FBI agent Paul J. Mohr with an extraordinary offer. Mohr passed on the offer in a memo to Tolson
.
TO: MR. TOLSON
DATE: September 7, 1950
FROM: J. P. MOHR
SUBJECT: FRANK SINATRA
called at my office today after having endeavored to arrange an appointment to see the Director. I explained tothat the Director was extremely busy, that he was fully committed and would be unable to see him.stated that he had been requested by Frank Sinatra to contact the Director with … a proposition that Sinatra had in mind.said he was a friend of Sinatra, that he considered him to be a sincere individual and that he has known him for six years.described Sinatra as a “Dago who came up the hard way” and said he is a conscientious fellow who is very desirous of doing something for his country.stated that Sinatra feels he can do some good for his country under the direction of the FBI.
stated that Sinatra is sensitive about the allegations which have been made concerning his subversive activities and also his draft status during the last war. Sinatra feels that the publicitywhich he has received has identified him with subversive elements and that such subversive elements are not sure of his position and Sinatra consequently feels that he can be of help as a result by going anywhere the Bureau desires and contacting any of the people from whom he might be able to obtain information. Sinatra feels as a result of his publicity he can operate without suspicion.
stated Sinatra is a Catholic but is not a practicing one. He also stated that Sinatra denies any subversive affiliations or interests on the part of himself andis sure that Sinatra is truthful, otherwisestated he would not bother the FBI with this matter.
stated that Sinatra was desirous of getting this project before CIA. However,said he told Sinatra that CIA was not the proper place to make the approach. However,did contact a friend in CIA who toldthat he should take the matter up with the FBI since we were primarily charged with domestic intelligence activities.
stated that Sinatra’s principal contacts are in the entertainment field in Hollywood and New York City.further advised that he didn’t know whether Sinatra has any current information with respect to subversives. He said that Sinatra understands that if he worked for the Bureau in connection with such activities it might reflect on his status and his standing in the entertainment field but he is willing to do anything even if it affects his livelihood and costs him his job.
said that Sinatra is willing to go “the whole way.”
stated that Sinatra can, of course, be reached through his residence in Hollywood but that he is presently living in the Hampshire House in New York City and that he is looking for an apartment in New York City since he is starting a television show on ABC on Saturday, October 7, 1950, and consequently will be in New York City for the next year.
I toldthat I wasn’t aware of Sinatra’s activities other than what I had read in the papers. I told him further that Iwasn’t aware of Sinatra’s possibilities and that that was something we would have to analyze and determine. I further toldthat
The author of another lengthy FBI memo detailing Sinatra’s activity during this period either had a sense of humor about the matter or simply was careless in identifying Sinatra’s alleged political soul mates
.
The 4/19/47 issue of the “New York Daily Mirror” carried an article by Jack Lait entitled “All in the Family.” The article pertained to Charlie Chaplin and Frank Sinatra, who had held press conferences that week during which Sinatra denied he sympathized with Lenin and the Marx brothers.
By 1950, with his career in decline, his marriage to Nancy Barbato on the rocks, and a tempestuous affair with Ava Gardner under way, Sinatra was anxious to counter suggestions in the press that he was a draft-dodging subversive. An intermediary contacted FBI agent Paul J. Mohr with an extraordinary offer. Mohr passed on the offer in a memo to Tolson
.
TO: MR. TOLSON
DATE: September 7, 1950
FROM: J. P. MOHR
SUBJECT: FRANK SINATRA
called at my office today after having endeavored to arrange an appointment to see the Director. I explained tothat the Director was extremely busy, that he was fully committed and would be unable to see him.stated that he had been requested by Frank Sinatra to contact the Director with … a proposition that Sinatra had in mind.said he was a friend of Sinatra, that he considered him to be a sincere individual and that he has known him for six years.described Sinatra as a “Dago who came up the hard way” and said he is a conscientious fellow who is very desirous of doing something for his country.stated that Sinatra feels he can do some good for his country under the direction of the FBI.
stated that Sinatra is sensitive about the allegations which have been made concerning his subversive activities and also his draft status during the last war. Sinatra feels that the publicitywhich he has received has identified him with subversive elements and that such subversive elements are not sure of his position and Sinatra consequently feels that he can be of help as a result by going anywhere the Bureau desires and contacting any of the people from whom he might be able to obtain information. Sinatra feels as a result of his publicity he can operate without suspicion.
stated Sinatra is a Catholic but is not a practicing one. He also stated that Sinatra denies any subversive affiliations or interests on the part of himself andis sure that Sinatra is truthful, otherwisestated he would not bother the FBI with this matter.
stated that Sinatra was desirous of getting this project before CIA. However,said he told Sinatra that CIA was not the proper place to make the approach. However,did contact a friend in CIA who toldthat he should take the matter up with the FBI since we were primarily charged with domestic intelligence activities.
stated that Sinatra’s principal contacts are in the entertainment field in Hollywood and New York City.further advised that he didn’t know whether Sinatra has any current information with respect to subversives. He said that Sinatra understands that if he worked for the Bureau in connection with such activities it might reflect on his status and his standing in the entertainment field but he is willing to do anything even if it affects his livelihood and costs him his job.
said that Sinatra is willing to go “the whole way.”
stated that Sinatra can, of course, be reached through his residence in Hollywood but that he is presently living in the Hampshire House in New York City and that he is looking for an apartment in New York City since he is starting a television show on ABC on Saturday, October 7, 1950, and consequently will be in New York City for the next year.
I toldthat I wasn’t aware of Sinatra’s activities other than what I had read in the papers. I told him further that Iwasn’t aware of Sinatra’s possibilities and that that was something we would have to analyze and determine. I further toldthat
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