The Sinatra files_ the secret FBI Dossier Part 13

ANTI-RACKETEERING.

With respect to the information previously received that Judith E. Campbell of Los Angeles was in telephonic contact with Evelyn Lincoln, the President's Secretary, the following additional information has been received from the Los Angeles Office.

Campbell has a.s.sociated with John Roselli, prominent West Coast hoodlum, who is on the second list of forty hoodlums designated to receive intensified investigation.

Campbell states she formerly was employed by Jerry Lewis Productions in a public relations capacity, but is presently a free lance artist. Campbell is divorced from William Campbell, a television producer.

Campbell, when interviewed by Bureau Agents, admitted meeting Sam Giancana, Chicago underworld figure, in Miami Beach, Florida, but refused to furnish names of acquaintances who introduced her to Giancana.

A review of her telephone toll calls reveals four calls in December, 1961, to the Palm Springs, California, residence of Frank Sinatra.

ACTION.

1. If approved, that the attached letters be forwarded to the Attorney General and to P. Kenneth O'Donnell, Special a.s.sistant to the President.

2. The Los Angeles Office is being instructed to vigorously pursue the investigation of Campbell to determine the exact nature of her relations.h.i.+p with Roselli and Giancana.

TO: The Attorney General DATE: February 27, 1962 DATE: February 27, 1962 FROM: Director, FBI

SUBJECT: JOHN ROSELLI.

ANTI-RACKETEERING.

Information has been developed in connection with the investigation of John Roselli, one of the second group of forty hoodlums receiving concentrated attention, that he has been in contact with Judith E. Campbell.

A review of the telephone toll calls from Campbell's Los Angeles residence discloses that on November 7 and 15, 1961, calls were made to Evelyn Lincoln, the President's Secretary, at the White House.

The relations.h.i.+p between Campbell and Mrs. Lincoln or the purpose of these calls is not known.

Information has also been developed that Campbell has a.s.sociated with Sam Giancana, a prominent Chicago underworld figure.

Campbell, a free-lance artist, is divorced from William Campbell, a television producer.

This information is being made available to Honorable P. Kenneth O'Donnell, Special a.s.sistant to the President.

You will be advised of all significant developments in this matter.

Now it was clear that President Kennedy was consorting with two people with mob affiliations-Sinatra and Campbell. The potential for a disastrous scandal must have been obvious to Hoover and the Kennedys, especially given what the FBI had been hearing in recent months about Giancana and Roselli. The two men were involved with CIA operatives in a plot to a.s.sa.s.sinate the president's princ.i.p.al foreign policy nightmare, Cuba's Fidel Castro. The public wouldn't find out about the plot until years later, and it has never been known for sure whether it was a rogue operation or an authorized undertaking and Roselli. The two men were involved with CIA operatives in a plot to a.s.sa.s.sinate the president's princ.i.p.al foreign policy nightmare, Cuba's Fidel Castro. The public wouldn't find out about the plot until years later, and it has never been known for sure whether it was a rogue operation or an authorized undertaking.

In 1975, a Senate committee headed by Frank Church, an Idaho Democrat, conducted a sweeping investigation of reports that the CIA had been involved in a.s.sa.s.sination attempts. Its report described the Castro plot in meticulous detail (though it didn't name Campbell, discretely describing her only as "a close friend of President Kennedy.") The excerpts that follow have been extensively condensed and edited to delete repet.i.tion and extraneous detail.

In August 1960, the CIA took steps to enlist members of the criminal underworld with gambling syndicate contacts to aid in a.s.sa.s.sinating Castro. Colonel Sheffield Edwards, Director of the Office of Security, recalled that Richard Bissell, CIA's Deputy Director for Plans and the man in charge of CIA's covert action directorate, asked him to locate someone who could a.s.sa.s.sinate Castro.

Edwards and the Chief of the Operational Support Division of the Office of Security [name withheld] decided to rely on Robert A. Maheu to recruit someone "tough enough" to handle the job. Maheu was an ex-FBI agent who had entered into a career as a private investigator in 1954.

Sometime in late August or early September 1960, the Support Chief approached Maheu about the proposed operation. As Maheu recalls the conversation, the Support Chief asked him to contact John Roselli, an underworld figure with possible gambling contacts in Las Vegas, to determine if he would partic.i.p.ate in a plan to "dispose" of Castro. The Support Chief testified that Maheu was told to offer money, probably $150,000, for Castro's a.s.sa.s.sination. At first Maheu was reluctant to become involved in the operation because it might interfere with his relations.h.i.+p with his new client, Howard Hughes. He finally agreed to partic.i.p.ate because he felt that he owed the Agency a commitment.

Roselli introduced Maheu to two individuals on whom Roselli intended to rely: "Sam Gold," who would serve as a "back-up man," and "Joe," whom "Gold" said would serve as a courier to Cuba and make arrangements there.

The Support Chief testified that he learned the true ident.i.ties of his a.s.sociates one morning when Maheu called and asked him to examine the "Parade" supplement to the Miami Times Miami Times. An article on the Attorney General's ten-most-wanted criminals list revealed that "Sam Gold" was Momo Salvatore Giancana, a Chicago-based gangster, and "Joe" was Santos Trafficante, the Cosa Nostra chieftain in Cuba. The Support Chief reported his discovery to Edwards, but did not know whether Edwards reported this fact to his superiors. Maheu recalled that it was Giancana's job to locate someone in Castro's entourage who could accomplish the a.s.sa.s.sination.

Shortly before the 1960 election, the FBI learned that Giancana was involved in a plot against Castro-but not that the CIA was involved, according to a memo quoted in the Church committee report.

An October 18, 1960 memorandum from J. Edgar Hoover to Bissell, stated that "a source whose reliability has not been tested" reported that: During recent conversations with several friends, Giancana stated that Fidel Castro was to be done away with very shortly. When doubt was expressed regarding this statement, Giancana reportedly a.s.sured those present that Castro's a.s.sa.s.sination would occur in November. Moreover, he allegedly indicated that he had already met with the a.s.sa.s.sin-to-be on three occasions. Giancana claimed that everything has been perfected for the killing of Castro, and that the "a.s.sa.s.sin" had arranged with a girl, not further described, to drop a "pill" in some drink or food of Castro's.

The plot against Castro might not have been Giancana's only clandestine foray that fall. He suspected that his girlfriend was involved with an other man, who ended up being bugged with the help of the CIA, according to the Church committee report. (Though the report didn't identify them, it later became known that the girlfriend was the singer Phyllis McGuire and the target of the eavesdropping device was the comedian Dan Rowan, according to Curt Gentry's Hoover biography.) other man, who ended up being bugged with the help of the CIA, according to the Church committee report. (Though the report didn't identify them, it later became known that the girlfriend was the singer Phyllis McGuire and the target of the eavesdropping device was the comedian Dan Rowan, according to Curt Gentry's Hoover biography.) After discovering the Las Vegas wiretap on October 31, 1960, the FBI commenced an investigation which quickly developed that Maheu and Giancana were involved in the case. In April 1961, Roselli's involvement was discovered.

Meanwhile, the Castro plot continued, as detailed by the Church committee.

There is some evidence that Giancana or Roselli originated the idea of depositing a poison pill in Castro's drink to give the "a.s.set" a chance to escape. The Support Chief recalled Roselli's request for something "nice and clean, without getting into any kind of out and out ambus.h.i.+ng," preferably a poison that would disappear without a trace. The Agency had first considered a "gangland-style killing" in which Castro would be gunned down. Giancana reportedly opposed the idea because it would be difficult to recruit someone for such a dangerous operation, and suggested instead the use of poison.

Edwards rejected the first batch of pills because they would not dissolve in water. A second batch, containing botulinum toxin, "did the job expected of them" when tested on monkeys. The Support Chief received the pills, probably in February 1961, with a.s.surances that they were lethal, and then gave them to Roselli.

The record clearly establishes that the pills were given to a Cuban for delivery to the island some time prior to the Bay of Pigs invasion in mid-April 1961. Roselli reported to the Support Chief that the pills had been delivered to an official close to Castro who may have received kickbacks from the gambling interests. The official returned the pills after a few weeks, perhaps because he had lost his position in the Cuban Government, and thus access to Castro, before he received the pills. Yet another attempt was made in April 1961, with the aid of a leading figure in the Cuban exile movement. He was paid advance money to cover his expenses, probably in the amount of $10,000. The money and pills were delivered at a meeting between Maheu, Roselli, Trafficante, and the Cuban at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami. As Roselli recalled, Maheu: opened his briefcase and dumped a whole lot of money on his lap and also came up with the capsules and he explained how they were going to be used. As far as I remember, they couldn't be used in boiling soups and things like that, but they could be used in water or otherwise, but they couldn't last forever. It had to be done as quickly as possible.

The attempt met with failure. Edwards believed the scheme failed because Castro stopped visiting the restaurant where the "a.s.set" was employed.

Continuing its wiretap investigation of Giancana, the FBI contacted Maheu, the former agent. Acting on previous instructions, Maheu told the FBI that the bug had been placed as part of a CIA operation and referred the bureau to Edwards, the CIA security director. Hoover apprised Attorney General Robert Kennedy of the situation in a memo on May 22, 1961. The whole mess didn't go over well with the FBI, according to the Church committee report.

Sam Papich, the FBI liaison with the CIA during this period, stated that the FBI was furious when it learned of the CIA's use of Maheu, Roselli and Giancana because it might inhibit possible prosecutions against them in the wiretap case and in others.

Entries in the FBI files, however, indicate that the FBI vigorously pursued its investigation of the wiretap case. Then, on August 16, 1961, the a.s.sistant United States Attorney in Las Vegas reported his reluctance to proceed with the case because of deficiencies in the evidence and his concern that CIA's alleged involvement might become known. The Department of Justice files indicate no activity between September 1961, when the FBI's investigation was concluded, and January 1962, when the question of prosecution in the case was brought up for reconsideration.

It was in the following month, February 1962, that the FBI had discovered the evidence tying President Kennedy to Judith Campbell. The FBI later heard from Fred Otash-the private eye who had tried to set up Jack Kennedy in July 1960-that Campbell and the President were romantically involved. So now, Hoover had enough information to put it all together: Kennedy was sleeping with a friend of two alleged mobsters, Roselli and Giancana, who in turn were friends with the president's buddy Sinatra and who were under investigation for illegal bugging. And Giancana-the same man who had helped the Kennedy campaign and therefore was angry with Sinatra for not getting Robert Kennedy and the FBI off his back-was secretly working with Roselli and the CIA against Castro.

It was time to go see the president. The Church committee tried in vain to find out what happened at that meeting.

On March 22, 1962, Hoover had a private luncheon with President Kennedy. What actually transpired may never be known, as both partic.i.p.ants are dead and the FBI files contain no records relating to it.

It's clear, however, that President Kennedy was finally coming to grips with his own recklessness. Robert Kennedy, increasingly troubled by his brother's public camaraderie with the mobster-friendly Sinatra, persuaded the president to distance himself from the singer. Sinatra reportedly flew into a rage when, after he spent considerable sums fixing up his Palm Springs estate to accommodate presidential visits, Kennedy canceled plans to stay there that March in favor of Bing Crosby's place. President Kennedy also ended the affair with Campbell, who at some point became romantically involved with Giancana, too.

For his part, Hoover decided to force the CIA's hand on the question of whether to prosecute the men under Giancana and Roselli who planted the illegal bug, as detailed by the Church committee whether to prosecute the men under Giancana and Roselli who planted the illegal bug, as detailed by the Church committee.

The day immediately following his luncheon with the President, at which Roselli and Giancana were presumably discussed, Hoover sent a memorandum to Edwards stating: At the request of the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice, this matter was discussed with the CIA Director of Security on February 7, 1962, and we were advised that your agency would object to any prosecution which would necessitate the use of CIA personnel or CIA information. We were also informed that introduction of evidence concerning the CIA operation would be embarra.s.sing to the Government.The Criminal Division has now requested that CIA specifically advise whether it would or would not object to the initiation of criminal prosecution for conspiracy to violate the "Wire Tapping Statute."

The CIA, of course, objected, and word was pa.s.sed on to Robert Kennedy, the Church committee said.

In a memo dated April 24, 1962, Herbert J. Miller, a.s.sistant Attorney General, Criminal Division, advised the Attorney General that the "national interest" would preclude any prosecutions based upon the tap. Following a briefing of the Attorney General by the CIA, a decision was made not to prosecute.

The briefing for Robert Kennedy occurred on May 22, 1962. In the Church committee report, one of the CIA officials recalled the attorney general's reaction on being told that the CIA had conspired with the mob to kill Castro.

If you have seen Mr. Kennedy's eyes get steely and his jaw set and his voice get low and precise, you get a definite feeling of unhappiness.... [He said,] "I trust that if you ever try to do business with organized crime again-with gangsters-you will let the Attorney General know."

Nevertheless, the Church committee discovered that the CIA plot against Castro continued. Another CIA official, William Harvey, had been put in charge of the project in late 1961.

Harvey, the Support Chief and Roselli met in New York on April 8-9, 1962. Four poison pills were given to the Support Chief on April 18, 1962. The pills were pa.s.sed to Harvey, who arrived in Miami on April 21, and found Roselli already in touch with the same Cuban who had been involved in the pre-Bay of Pigs pill pa.s.sage. He gave the pills to Roselli, explaining that "these would work anywhere and at any time with anything." Roselli testified that he told Harvey that the Cubans intended to use the pills to a.s.sa.s.sinate Che Guevara as well as Fidel and Raul Castro. According to Roselli's testimony, Harvey approved of the targets, stating "everything is all right, what they want to do."

The Cuban requested arms and equipment as a quid pro quo quid pro quo for carrying out the a.s.sa.s.sination operation. Harvey procured explosives, detonators, rifles, handguns, radios, and boat radar costing about $5,000. for carrying out the a.s.sa.s.sination operation. Harvey procured explosives, detonators, rifles, handguns, radios, and boat radar costing about $5,000.

Roselli kept Harvey informed of the operation's progress. Sometime in May 1962, he reported that the pills and guns had arrived in Cuba. On June 21, he told Harvey that the Cuban had dispatched a three-man team to Cuba.

Harvey met Roselli in Miami on September 7 and 11, 1962. The Cuban was reported to be preparing to send in another three-man team to penetrate Castro's bodyguard. The second team never left for Cuba, claiming that "conditions" in Cuba were not right. Harvey terminated the operation in mid-February 1963. At a meeting with Roselli in Los Angeles, it was agreed that Roselli would taper off his communications with the Cubans. Roselli testified that he simply broke off contact with the Cubans. However, he never informed them that the offer of $150,000 for Castro's a.s.sa.s.sination had been withdrawn.

Sinatra, meanwhile, didn't completely drop out of Camelot. Kennedy called his old friend while the star was hosting a mob wedding party in Atlantic City, according to a later summary of references in the Sinatra FBI files.

The following references ... set out information pertaining to Frank Sinatra in connection with his appearance in Aug., 1962 at the 500 Club in Atlantic City with Dean Martin, reportedly as a special favor to Paul D'Amato, partner of Sinatra in the Cal-Neva Lodge at Lake Tahoe, Nev. D'Amato possibly had an interest in the 500 Club. Sinatra took over the first floor of the Claridge Hotel which guests invited to attend the wedding on Aug. 26 of the daughter of Angelo Bruno, head of the Italian mob in Philadelphia, could occupy. Information in connection with the hoodlum element was set out including contacts and a.s.sociates of Sinatra. One contact was a personal telephone call which he received from President Kennedy on 8/23/62, the nature of which was not described.

Hoover wrote to his ostensible boss again that summer about the president's call to Sinatra.

TO: The Attorney General DATE: August 27, 1962 DATE: August 27, 1962 FROM: Director, FBI PERSONAL PERSONAL.

SUBJECT: FRANK SINATRA.

While conducting inquiry at the Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in connection with an investigation under our Criminal Intelligence Program, Agents of our Newark Office were confidentially advised by an official of this hotel that Frank Sinatra had received a personal telephone call from President John F. Kennedy on August 23, 1962. It is noted that Sinatra reserved a floor of this hotel during the latter part of the week of August 19-25, 1962, in connection with his appearance with Dean Martin at the 500 Club in Atlantic City.

His dreams of a favored seat at the court of Camelot dashed, Sinatra continued to a.s.sociate with mobsters, though he may have been wearing out his welcome, as this snippet from a surrept.i.tiously recorded September 13, 1962, conversation shows.

GIANCANA: That Frank, he wants more money, he wants this, he wants that, he want more girls, he wants ... I don't need that or him.... I broke my [expletive] when I was talking to him in New York.

Meanwhile, RFK's Justice Department began to close in on Sinatra. An October 1962 FBI memo suggested that Sinatra had put his private plane, a car, and his home at Giancana's disposal for a.s.signations with his steady girlfriend, the singer Phyllis McGuire of the McGuire Sisters.

FRANK SINATRA.

The Los Angeles Division advised on October 2, 1962, that a physical surveillance reflected that a white Ford Falcon belonging to the Frank Sinatra Enterprises arrived at the Palm Springs Airport at 3:40 AM October 2, 1962, and contained one female and two males. FRANK SINATRA's airplane bearing Number N71DE arrived at the Palm Springs Airport at 4:50 AM on October 2, 1962. PHYLLIS MC GUIRE at that time joined the individuals in the Ford Falcon described above. One of the individuals in the Falcon appeared to be SAM GIANCANA.

[image]advised on September 22, 1962, that PHYLLIS MC GUIRE called telephone number 328-2105 in Palm Springs, California. At the time the call was placed, the informant advised that GIANCANA was present with MC GUIRE.

The Los Angeles Office advised on September 23, 1962, that telephone number 328-2105 is the unlisted number of FRANK SINATRA, Tamarisk Country Club, Cathedral City, California. The telephone number is billed to SINATRA's agent, SAM BURK, Suite 419, 9350 Wils.h.i.+re Boulevard, Los Angeles, California.

[image]advised in August, 1962, that GIANCANA had made plans to be in Atlantic City, New Jersey commencing with the week end of August 25, 1962.

The Newark Office advised on August 22, 1962, that GENE CATENA, brother of GERALDO CATENA and JOSEPH PECORA were in Atlantic City, New Jersey for several days commencing with August 22, 1962.

The Newark Office advised on August 27, 1962, that FRANK SINATRA was due to appear at the 500 Club in Atlantic City to perform with DEAN MARTIN on the last night of MARTIN's singing engagement at that club.

Surveillances conducted by Agents at the Newark Office indicated that many individuals came to the Atlantic City area for two-fold purposes, that is to attend the wedding of ANGELO BRUNO's daughter on August 26, 1962, and a performance of FRANK SINATRA-DEAN MARTIN-SAMMY DAVIS, JR., at the 500 Club.

FRANK SINATRA arrived in Atlantic City on August 27, 1962, for the above scheduled appearance with DEAN MARTIN and took over the first sleeping floor of the Claridge Hotel, Atlantic City, which consists of approximately 40 rooms. SINATRA's representatives allowed no one on the hotel floor, including the hotel management, except by invitation.

[image]advised[image] that SINATRA and MARTIN were appearing at the 500 Club as a personal favor to PAUL D'AMATO, also known as "SKINNY," for which they would receive no money but would have all of their expenses taken care of by D'AMATO. that SINATRA and MARTIN were appearing at the 500 Club as a personal favor to PAUL D'AMATO, also known as "SKINNY," for which they would receive no money but would have all of their expenses taken care of by D'AMATO.

SINATRA's personal airplane landed at the Atlantic City Airport on August 25, 1962, and departed from the Airport in an unmarked Atlantic City Police car.

[image]observed SAM GIANCANA in company with[image] in a private dining room on SINATRA's floor of the Claridge Hotel as of in a private dining room on SINATRA's floor of the Claridge Hotel as ofPHYLLIS MC GUIRE.

[image]advised on September 19, 1962, that PHYLLIS MC GUIRE moved into her temporary residence of 2223 Edgewood, Las Vegas, Nevada, as of approximately September 15, 1962. Her residency there was for the period when the MC GUIRE sisters appeared at the Desert Inn Hotel Night Club.

[image]advised on September 22, 1962, that GIANCANA arrived at the above residence during September 21, 1962.

At this point, refer to that section of this report relating to FRANK SINATRA whereby MC GUIRE was observed in the company of an individual believed to be GIANCANA at Palm Springs, California, on September 25, 1962.

MC GUIRE, according to[image] was in contact with GIANCANA at the SINATRA residence in Cathedral City, California, as of October 1, 1962. was in contact with GIANCANA at the SINATRA residence in Cathedral City, California, as of October 1, 1962.

Las Vegas Division advised on September 25, 1962, that GIANCANA had departed Las Vegas on September 25, 1962, via chartered aircraft to Palm Springs, California. The plane was identified as a Cessna 310 and the plane was chartered by GIANCANA under the name of GEORGE GOLDBERG. PHYLLIS MC GUIRE had chartered an aircraft to depart Las Vegas at 1:45 AM, September 26, 1962, for Palm Springs. The aircraft and pilot were to return to Las Vegas at 5:00 PM, September 26, 1962.

Records of the Palm Springs Airport as made available by[image] to SA [Special Agent] to SA [Special Agent][image] on September 25, 1962, revealed that a chartered plane, described as a Cessna 310 aircraft, number 865, arrived at the Palm Springs, California, airport at 8:45 AM, September 25, 1962. The plane belongs to the Alamo Airways and arrived from Las Vegas. on September 25, 1962, revealed that a chartered plane, described as a Cessna 310 aircraft, number 865, arrived at the Palm Springs, California, airport at 8:45 AM, September 25, 1962. The plane belongs to the Alamo Airways and arrived from Las Vegas.

At 3:16 AM, September 26, 1962, PHYLLIS MC GUIRE was observed departing from a private plane at Palm Springs Airport and was met by three unknown males in a station wagon determined to be a 1962 Buick, bearing California License XDP318. This wagon is registered to the Ess.e.x Productions, 9229 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, an enterprise of FRANK SINATRA. After Miss MC GUIRE entered this wagon, it proceeded to the vicinity of the Tamarisk Country Club, Cathedral City, California, and the vehicle was observed shortly thereafter parked in the carport of the residence of FRANK SINATRA.

On September 26, 1962, at 4:55 PM, PHYLLIS MC GUIRE and an unknown male Negro were observed proceeding to a Cessna 310 plane, Registration Number N6848T, belonging to Alamo Airways. This plane is the same aircraft in which MC GUIRE arrived earlier that day. After the above plane departed, the Buick Station which delivered Miss MC GUIRE, proceeded from the airport at Palm Springs to the FRANK SINATRA residence in Cathedral City, California.

It would appear from the observation of surveilling agents at the Palm Springs airport that GIANCANA was one of the individuals who met Miss MC GUIRE upon her arrival at the Palm Springs Airport at 3:16 AM, September 26, 1962.

[image]advised[image] that GIANCANA as of that date was in Hot Springs, Arkansas, with PHYLLIS MC GUIRE and was scheduled to remain there until August 12, 1962. that GIANCANA as of that date was in Hot Springs, Arkansas, with PHYLLIS MC GUIRE and was scheduled to remain there until August 12, 1962.

It is noted that the MC GUIRE sisters singing team made an appearance at the Vapors Club, Hot Springs, Arkansas, on August 4, 1962, and on that date after the completion of the first show of the MC GUIRE sisters, GIANCANA was observed by Bureau Agents at Hot Springs, entering an automobile at the Velda Rose Motel with the MC GUIRE sisters at approximately 9:20 PM on August 4, 1962, and traveled to the Coy's Steakhouse, in Hot Springs, where this party had dinner. After dinner, GIANCANA drove the MC GUIRE sisters to the Vapors Club and then returned to Room 64, Velda Rose Motel, which at the time was occupied by PHYLLIS and CHRISTINE MC GUIRE. GIANCANA was not observed from that time until the evening of August 6, 1962, when he departed Room 64 of the Velda Rose Motel and took a short walk.

By then, it had become clear what Giancana had meant many months back when he told his underling, Johnny Formosa, that he had "other plans" for Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack. He wanted their services for a gig at the Villa Venice, a supper club outside Chicago. Continuing their investigation of Giancana, FBI agents picked up on the story and recounted it in various memos about his business enterprises.

Villa Venice Supper Club, Milwaukee Avenue, Northwest Suburban Cook County, Illinois This well-known restaurant and lounge was owned and operated by ALBERT "PAPA" BOUCHE, until October, 1956, at which time BOUCHE was bought out by the MEO brothers, with backing of "the Syndicate." Although the ostensible purchasers of the property were the MEO brothers and their wives, ALFRED and TRIP (TRIPOLINA) and JAMES and STELL, the real operator of the Villa Venice is SAM GIANCANA, commonly referred to as "MOONEY," while JIMMY MEO is the "front." When GIANCANA appears on the scene, it becomes obvious to all he is the "top dog" in the operation of the place, as all the others, including JIMMY MEO, become subservient to him and jump at his command. GIANCANA regards the Villa Venice as his toy and insists on it being run strictly according to his dictates, and he personally rebukes employees when their dress or conduct are not up to his standards.

CG T-37 [a confidential informant] continued that although GIANCANA was frequently at the Villa Venice prior to the ... hearings of the Senate Rackets Committee (McClellan Committee or more properly, the Senate Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field), he went to Cuba while the hearings were in progress and did not return until the hearings ended. GIANCANA and other "wheels in the Syndicate" held a private party at the Villa Venice to celebrate the conclusion of the hearings. At this gathering, in one of the many private rooms in the Villa, several guards were posted at strategic points on the grounds to challenge anyone not known to them. The Villa has gradually been becoming a headquarters for "the Syndicate," as indicated by closed meetings complete with "lookouts" and by frequenting of the Villa by friends of GIANCANA, who are paid considerable deference by the MEO brothers.

One of the princ.i.p.al attractions of the Villa for the "hoodlums" was the fact it was a "floating house of prost.i.tution." The "floating" aspect of the Villa refers to the ca.n.a.ls and gondolas which comprise part of the Villa's seven or eight acres of grounds. Prost.i.tutes were brought to the Villa by hustlers and turned their tricks on the gondolas with the male customers. Most of these s.e.xual activities did not follow conventional patterns.

The Maitre d' of the Villa, known to the informant only as "LOUIE," knows extremely little regarding the duties of a Maitre d', but the word has gone around that he is the son of one of the better known syndicate "hoodlums," who requested that GIANCANA give his son the job, and GIANCANA obliged.

It has been reported that the Villa Venice Supper Club has been an enterprise of GIANCANA since approximately 1960. From April 1960 through the spring of 1962, the Villa Venice was utilized primarily for private parties, weddings, etc., and was not considered as a money-making proposition. During the summer months and early fall the Villa Venice underwent a remodeling and reopened on November 9, 1962. The featured entertainer for the opening date was EDDIE FISHER. He was followed by SAMMY DAVIS, Jr., and then by FRANK SINATRA and DEAN MARTIN. During the week of the engagement of MARTIN and SINATRA, the act was joined by SAMMY DAVIS, Jr. Following the appearance of MARTIN and SINATRA, SAMMY DAVIS, Jr., remained at the Villa Venice through December 4, 1962. Following December 4, 1962, the Villa Venice was closed and plans are not known at this time as to their reopening.

[image]advised[image] that SAM GIANCANA advised that the Villa Venice will definitely be a "going" proposition and was keeping in close contact with the operation. Advance reservations were made at the Villa Venice for the entire booking of SAMMY DAVIS, Jr., and FRANK SINATRA. that SAM GIANCANA advised that the Villa Venice will definitely be a "going" proposition and was keeping in close contact with the operation. Advance reservations were made at the Villa Venice for the entire booking of SAMMY DAVIS, Jr., and FRANK SINATRA.

[image]advised[image] that SAM GIANCANA is definitely the owner of the Villa Venice, and has spent many hours overseeing the remodeling operation of the Villa Venice during the past several weeks. GIANCANA is referred to at the Villa Venice as "Mr. FLOOD." that SAM GIANCANA is definitely the owner of the Villa Venice, and has spent many hours overseeing the remodeling operation of the Villa Venice during the past several weeks. GIANCANA is referred to at the Villa Venice as "Mr. FLOOD."