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The Sinatra Files: The Secret FBI Dossier
An American Icon Under Government Surveillance
When Frank Sinatra died in 1998, he was one of the most chronicled celebrities ever, but the most unusual record of his life came to light only posthumously: a 1,275-page dossier recording decades of FBI surveillance stemming from J. Edgar Hoover's belief that Sinatra had mob or Communist ties. This shadow biography, with information never before presented in book form, details:
Hoover's search through Sinatra's past to see if he got a bogus medical deferment from military service, ultimately yielding the simple fact that Sinatra really had suffered a perforated eardrum as a youth.
The FBI's previously unreported cooperation with journalists looking for dirt on Sinatra, including one who had recently been punched out by the singer.
Numerous instances of the star's carousing and intemperate behavior - including a detailed report alleging that he rampaged through a Las Vegas hotel after he and his wife Mia Farrow lost small fortunes gambling.
The mob's attempts to curry favor with John F. Kennedy through Sinatra - and its anger when Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy turned up the heat.
This fascinating record of governmental scrutiny will captivate every Sinatra fan, as well as anyone who wants to understand the second half of the American century - the Cold War, popular culture, the cult of celebrity, Camelot, and the FBI's mania for investigating American citizens - all personified by the most dominant entertainer of the era.
When Frank Sinatra died in 1998, he was one of the most chronicled celebrities ever, but the most unusual record of his life came to light only posthumously: a 1,275-page dossier recording decades of FBI surveillance stemming from J. Edgar Hoover's belief that Sinatra had mob or Communist ties. This shadow biography, with information never before presented in book form, details:
Hoover's search through Sinatra's past to see if he got a bogus medical deferment from military service, ultimately yielding the simple fact that Sinatra really had suffered a perforated eardrum as a youth.
The FBI's previously unreported cooperation with journalists looking for dirt on Sinatra, including one who had recently been punched out by the singer.
Numerous instances of the star's carousing and intemperate behavior - including a detailed report alleging that he rampaged through a Las Vegas hotel after he and his wife Mia Farrow lost small fortunes gambling.
The mob's attempts to curry favor with John F. Kennedy through Sinatra - and its anger when Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy turned up the heat.
This fascinating record of governmental scrutiny will captivate every Sinatra fan, as well as anyone who wants to understand the second half of the American century - the Cold War, popular culture, the cult of celebrity, Camelot, and the FBI's mania for investigating American citizens - all personified by the most dominant entertainer of the era.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 11, 2021
3.5 Stars!
Frank Sinatra was a legendary singer,actor and pop culture icon.
Frank Sinatra was also a man who liked to hang out with some interesting people.
Because of the people he associated with the FBI and its legendary creep of a leader J.Edgar Hoover took a lot of interest in his dealings.
The Sinatra Files takes a deep dive into the unsealed FBI file on Sinatra. And let me tell you, its chilling how close the Feds were watching him. Even before Sinatra was a well known singer the Feds were keeping tabs on him because...he supported Civil Rights and he was...against the Nazi's. So obviously Sinatra was a Commie because only Commie's are against racism and anti semitism.
As I read this book I couldn't help but be amused by the detailed notes these agents were making about things they read about Sinatra in tabloids. Instead of investigating actual criminals like OH I DONT KNOW the Klan or the Mafia, the FBI were talking to sex workers about what Sinatra liked to do in bed. It was breathtaking in its stupidity.
I dont think this book is most readers, its mostly just redacted FBI files with a little bit of further explanation. It does have a narrative flow but I still liked it. It kept my interest throughout.
Frank Sinatra was an interesting man and these files prove it!
Frank Sinatra was a legendary singer,actor and pop culture icon.
Frank Sinatra was also a man who liked to hang out with some interesting people.
Because of the people he associated with the FBI and its legendary creep of a leader J.Edgar Hoover took a lot of interest in his dealings.
The Sinatra Files takes a deep dive into the unsealed FBI file on Sinatra. And let me tell you, its chilling how close the Feds were watching him. Even before Sinatra was a well known singer the Feds were keeping tabs on him because...he supported Civil Rights and he was...against the Nazi's. So obviously Sinatra was a Commie because only Commie's are against racism and anti semitism.
As I read this book I couldn't help but be amused by the detailed notes these agents were making about things they read about Sinatra in tabloids. Instead of investigating actual criminals like OH I DONT KNOW the Klan or the Mafia, the FBI were talking to sex workers about what Sinatra liked to do in bed. It was breathtaking in its stupidity.
I dont think this book is most readers, its mostly just redacted FBI files with a little bit of further explanation. It does have a narrative flow but I still liked it. It kept my interest throughout.
Frank Sinatra was an interesting man and these files prove it!
December 1, 2010
I love Sinatra, and while this book got me listening to him non-stop, it was so hard to read. I mean, it just felt like copy and paste stuff. And did anyone even bother to edit it...it just kept repeating itself...
February 28, 2014
Not particularly a story that breaks new ground, but the extent to which the FBI tried to build a case against Frank Sinatra is surprising, as detailed in this book. "The Sinatra Files" offers up a lot of information, but collapses under its own weight, unfortunately, as this book reads like a dossier of sorts. If that was the goal, then I guess it succeeds.
Most people with even general knowledge of Frank Sinatra's life probably have some semblance of the allegations of mob connections, bolstered by his friendship with famed Chicago-area mobster Sam Giancana. There are a lot of details of how mobsters seemed to be affiliated with Sinatra's every move, but ultimately there is no smoking gun that defines Sinatra as a mobster himself, much to the chagrin of the Hoover Administration and the FBI. Nevertheless, the story of how much the FBI would read into Sinatra's actions is surprising if not scandalous overall.
Such is the case with the FBI's attempt to uncover Frank Sinatra as a Communist sympathizer working in Hollywood and with clandestine ties to the red party at every turn. The accusation was preposterous then and remains so by the conclusion of this book; Sinatra was no more a Communist than most of the accused, and the bona fide witchhunt that occurred during that era always makes for a compelling read.
The "supporting" cast of characters in this book aren't portrayed in a glamorous light, either, within these pages. JFK could not be more defamed here, but it would appear as though most of what is said is verifiable, regarding his philandering ways. In many ways, this book is more of an indictment of Kennedy than it ever is of Sinatra.
While there may have been some unsavory activity and downright sleaziness in Frank Sinatra's life, a case of being a mafia-tied Communist it does not make. What a strange period of time in the FBI's history, though, that it sought to defame celebrities of the highest order in order to protect the country. A detailed and odd book but not necessarily one anyone should rush to read.
Most people with even general knowledge of Frank Sinatra's life probably have some semblance of the allegations of mob connections, bolstered by his friendship with famed Chicago-area mobster Sam Giancana. There are a lot of details of how mobsters seemed to be affiliated with Sinatra's every move, but ultimately there is no smoking gun that defines Sinatra as a mobster himself, much to the chagrin of the Hoover Administration and the FBI. Nevertheless, the story of how much the FBI would read into Sinatra's actions is surprising if not scandalous overall.
Such is the case with the FBI's attempt to uncover Frank Sinatra as a Communist sympathizer working in Hollywood and with clandestine ties to the red party at every turn. The accusation was preposterous then and remains so by the conclusion of this book; Sinatra was no more a Communist than most of the accused, and the bona fide witchhunt that occurred during that era always makes for a compelling read.
The "supporting" cast of characters in this book aren't portrayed in a glamorous light, either, within these pages. JFK could not be more defamed here, but it would appear as though most of what is said is verifiable, regarding his philandering ways. In many ways, this book is more of an indictment of Kennedy than it ever is of Sinatra.
While there may have been some unsavory activity and downright sleaziness in Frank Sinatra's life, a case of being a mafia-tied Communist it does not make. What a strange period of time in the FBI's history, though, that it sought to defame celebrities of the highest order in order to protect the country. A detailed and odd book but not necessarily one anyone should rush to read.
January 7, 2016
This is set up like a reference book and not a biography. Great book for research, not so great as a pleasure read.
January 1, 2022
Not exactly a page turner, but it’s a great resource/reference book and, at times, it was eerie. The parallels between then and now are chilling. Socially, we really haven’t come that far-inches, if that.
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
March 7, 2024
A series of many of the files kept by Hoover's FBI (and others) about Frank Sinatra with some context, but over all, just a collection of documents and it just ends so abruptly.
February 5, 2017
Extremely difficult to read. More like a research paper rather than a book.
February 13, 2017
I was interested to see what the files contained and less interested about Sinatra.
May 11, 2012
A trail into the life of Frank Sinatra and his ties to the mob.The book features extensive tapping by the FBI and written reports on this crooner.Not a real exciting read so dont expect much out of it
October 17, 2011
Couldn't even finish it. Very repeatious. Seemed like every page or at least every other page repeated something that was in the book earlier.
February 17, 2012
If you're a fan this is a fun read just to gather some info on Baby Blue Eyes. There isn't much of a plot, and some of the information is blocked out. All-in-all a pretty good read.
May 1, 2014
I thought I would be interested in this but I was wrong. This involved a lot of skimming and forcing myself.
July 11, 2012
This book was horrible. I was hoping to read a summary of the fbi files. Instead they are letters,statements and correspondence from the government about Sinatra. A real let down.
October 28, 2013
quite interesting, but struggled to get past far too much repetition which became more annoying as I progressed through the book.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews