Not really, I have known for worse about Sinatra's ties to the mob for years...which I've posted on QZ about how he got his acting role in "From Here To Eternity". "Godfather, I ask you a favor at your daughter's wedding...." link
Geez its been well & truly documented over the years ole Blue Eyes connections with the mob! He was very close with Sam Giancana (excuse if there is a spelling mistake) and there is even speculation with connections to JFK - apparently Sinatra wanted to be an US Ambassador and the mob was right behind that.
You should read the book 'Rat Pack Confidential' it goes into great depth about Frank's murky dealings and acquaintances. A very interesting read, and to be honest it reveals the fact (aparrently widely accepted) that Sinatra was a complete and total bastard.
The only thing I truly admired about Sinatra as a person is that he always stood up for Sammy Davis Jr. whenever he was discriminated or anyone made racial remarks against him for being black.
...other than that, he seemed like a total douchebag.
Mr.Jingles79 wrote: The only thing I truly admired about Sinatra as a person is that he always stood up for Sammy Davis Jr. whenever he was discriminated or anyone made racial remarks against him for being black.
...other than that, he seemed like a total douchebag.
Except, that is, when the people discriminating were the people who could give frank some power (ie the Kennedys)when JFK was running for president, frank told Sammy to stay away from rallies as having a black guy supporting him was thought to be 'damaging.' How fucked up is that?
Frank's daughter Tina wrote a book about him (BTW she & Frank had a loving relationship, so it wasn't one of those get back at Dad things).
Last year she was promoting it, went on 60 Minutes, showed Mike Wallace newsreel footage of Sinatra at the Congerssional hearings inverstigating the Mob in the 1960's where the Congressmen asked Frank, "Have you now or ever associated or done business with any members of any organized crime families or the mafia"?
Sinatra point blank said no and never flinched.
Tina, while sitting with Mike Wallace as they watched the old footage said to Mike Wallace, "Of course he (Sinatra) lied. He didn't care. he was loyal to "the family" and you NEVER betray the family, and they were good to him. They helped hin with his career. They halped him financially. He didn't look at that as lying. He looked at that as you never snittch on or betray La Familia".
Or something to that extent.
He also had a "deal" to play the Sands Hotel with the Rat pack when most of the mob originally owned and controlled Vegas...and they "asked" him to play there to assure lots of tourists would come and gamble at the casino's (which then were "rigged" by the mob).
Tina also told Mike Wallace a LONG story how John Kennedy's father "summoned" Sinatra to the Kennedy compound before elction day for President, and "asked" Sinatra to go back to Sam Giancana and the Mob Heads who controlled the Teamsters Union's to "Ask" all their members to vote for Kennedy..so the election was pretty much rigged. Then Kennedy's family gave a suitace filled with a s**tload of money to Giancana's & Kennedy's mistress, Judith Exner, to deliver as "payment" to Giancana.