The Sinatra Files (13 page)

The information that Sinatra intended contributing an article to the Year Book was developed through the technical surveillance on the American Youth for Democracy, New York City, which revealed that on March 22, 1946,
called an unidentified man who was obviously a representative of Sinatra and inquired concerning a 500-word article on “Discrimination” which Sinatra was to prepare for the American Youth for Democracy Year Book. Mr. Sinatra’s representative inquired of
if the American Youth for Democracy was not the former Young Communist League, pointing out that Sinatra’s political beliefs do not run “toward social beliefs—towards Communism.”
advised that the AYD was not the former Young Communist League and stated the AYD was made up of persons of all religious and racial beliefs. Mr. Sinatra’s representative then indicated that Sinatra would prepare the desired article. ASAC Belmont advised that there was no information in the files concerning the reasons Sinatra did not contribute the article.

2—Newspapers reported that on January 14, 1946, Sinatra was one of twenty-two Americans who received awards at the New Masses dinner held at the Commodore Hotel January 14, 1946.

Proof: ASAC Belmont of the New York Division advised that this affair was not covered by Agents or informants and there was no proof of Sinatra’s personal attendance at the affair other than that
indicated in the Daily Worker and other New York papers. The article in the Daily Worker reflected that Sinatra was given the award “for his courageous fight on behalf of all minorities.”

3—On May 3, 1946, Phil Schatz, a reported Communist and member of the National Executive Board and Executive Secretary of the American Youth for Democracy, Detroit, Michigan, made arrangements for an affair for Sinatra to be held at the Jewish Community Center in Detroit on May 23, 1946. It is reported that this rally actually took place on May 16, 1946, its purpose being to combat Anti-Semitism, and all religions were invited to participate. The American Youth for Democracy was among the sponsoring groups.

Proof: The technical surveillance on the American Youth for Democracy, Detroit, Michigan, reflected that Phil Schatz spent considerable time arranging for this affair.
FBI confidential informant, reported that Sinatra, who was then playing an engagement in a local Detroit theater, personally appeared at the rally and was presented with a scroll of appreciation for his contribution to the Youth of America.

    
Another FBI document offered more details on one of the things that caught Hoover’s eye, and should have established once and for all that Sinatra was no Communist sympathizer. It didn’t
.

    Advertisements issued by the American Youth for Democracy during 1946, concerning a yearbook which it intended to publish, entitled “Youth,” claimed that Frank Sinatra would contribute an article to it on the subject of discrimination.

The New York Office obtained a copy of the AYD yearbook which was published in the Fall of 1946. Sinatra’s name is not mentioned in this book.

In this connection, however, on March 22, 1946, an unidentified representative of Frank Sinatra was requested by an AYD representative to contribute a 500-word article on discrimination for the AYD yearbook, “Youth.” Sinatra’s representative inquired for information about the nature of the AYD, asking if it wasn’t a continuation of the former Young Communist League, which was denied, although the AYD representative did admit that there were some Communists in the organization.

Sinatra’s representative explained that he wanted to be sure of the type of organization he was dealing with since Sinatra and his “political beliefs don’t run towards Communism” and added, “If they are strictly out-and-out Communists we don’t fight them, we don’t have any cause to question their rights—they can do as they believe, but it doesn’t mean that we necessarily have to be active and further the principles of an organization with which we have nothing in sympathy.” He also pointed out Sinatra had “recently” been criticized by one of the columnists for his connection with the American Youth for Democracy.

In conclusion, Sinatra’s representative stated that, “We’ll manage to get a story to you.” He had previously admitted having had some dealings with the AYD in the past.

    
The FBI’s interest in Sinatra wasn’t limited to his political activities. In April 1947, Sinatra was in New York to receive an award at the Waldorf-Astoria for fighting racial and religious intolerance. Two days before the award ceremony, a woman visited Sinatra’s room at the hotel. The encounter
was deemed important enough to warrant this memo to Tamm from Alex Rosen, another headquarters official. (Bernard “Toots” Shor, the renowned New York City restaurateur mentioned here, was friendly with both Sinatra and Hoover.)

Assistant Special Agent in Charge A. H. Belmont advised that
well-known prostitute, stated through arrangements made by “Toots” Shor, she paid a professional visit to Sinatra at his room in the Waldorf-Astoria on April 11, 1947. She advised, however, that due to her drunken condition, she was unable to fill her engagement, but nevertheless expected to be paid a fee of $100.

BACKGROUND

was interviewed by Bureau Agents in connection with the Crime Survey program and during the interview it was observed that she had in her possession an address card containing the notation, “Room 5H, Waldorf, 2:30.” Questioned concerning this, she advised that on April 11th, she had received a call from “Toots” Shor instructing her to make a professional visit to Sinatra to this room which he was occupying at the Waldorf-Astoria. She stated that when she arrived there, she found Sinatra in the company of
and during the course of the visit became so drunk that she did not engage in sexual relations with Sinatra. She expressed the hope, however, that despite this, he would pay her the fee of $100 for her engagement.