Allegations of mob ties haunted the chairman

Friday, May 15, 1998 | 9:32 a.m.

A comedian used to tell a joke about how Frank Sinatra once saved his life.

The crux of the joke was that two henchmen were beating the comic severely. The punchline quoted Sinatra as telling the goons: "OK, he's had enough."

In front of Nevada gamers, Sinatra vehemently denied ever having business dealings with mobsters, but admitted he did play golf with Chicago Mafia boss Sam Giancana on at least one occasion in Palm Springs.

In a 1992 movie in which his youngest daughter, Tina Sinatra, was an executive producer -- a film in which Sinatra inspected the script and had a hand in producing -- the entertainer admitted to having a little closer ties than that to the underworld.

Regardless of the extent of Sinatra's relationship with mobsters, it probably will do little to tarnish his memory with future generations, but rather add to the legendary mystique of one of the 20th century's most recognizable figures.

Because of his alleged ties to Giancana, Sinatra surrendered his Nevada gaming license in 1963. Subsequently, he sold interest in a Northern Nevada resort and the old Sands hotel-casino for $3.5 million.

In 1976, a year after Giancana was slain gangland style, Sinatra bought 400,000 shares of stock in Del Webb Corp., which at the time owned interests in the Sahara and the old Mint hotel-casinos.

In February 1981, at a star-studded hearing before the Gaming Control Board -- actors Gregory Peck and Kirk Douglas testified that Sinatra was a humanitarian -- the "chairman of the board" won a recommendation to a restricted gaming license to serve as a consultant at Caesars Palace hotel-casino.

"I have never in my life, sir, received any illegal monies. I have worked very hard for my money," Sinatra said during five hours of testimony.

Sinatra said there was nothing sinister about his photo being taken with gangsters and termed "ridiculous" the allegations leveled by Jimmy "The Weasel" Fratianno in his book "The Last Mafioso."

Of a photo taken of Sinatra with Carlo Gambino -- then the Mafia's "boss of bosses" -- Fratianno and other underworld figures at a New York theater, Sinatra told control board members:

"Before I realized what happened, there were eight or nine men standing around me and several snapshots were made."

Sinatra denied inviting Giancana to his Cal-Neva Lodge at Lake Tahoe in 1963 and said the property was not a front for the mob's hidden interests.

Sinatra also denied interceding on Giancana's behalf for President John Kennedy.

In a humorous moment, Sinatra answered a question about whether he had gone to Cuba in 1947 to bring mob boss Lucky Luciano $2 million in a briefcase by saying: "If you can find an attache case that can hold $2 million, I'll give you $2 million."

Before month's end, the Nevada Gaming Commission went beyond the control board's recommendation and gave Sinatra an unrestricted license after the crooner said he was considering investing in other Nevada properties.

But, in Sinatra's TV miniseries biography -- he said he opted for a movie instead of a book because that art form is more animated, especially for a singer -- there were indications he was not so forthright with Nevada gamers.

For instance, a line in the movie's script quotes Sinatra as telling Giancana: "My friend Jack Kennedy needs some help in the West Virginia primary."

The relationship with Giancana is explored at considerable length in the five-hour miniseries that focused on the years 1920-74.

"Reading the script at various stages was painful for him," Tina was quoted as saying in a July 1992, Los Angeles Times report.

"Now it is done, and he is going to have to face it."