FRANK SINATRA & THE DEAD ISSUE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000200930018-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 19, 2012
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: January 29, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP9O-00965ROO0200930018-2
WASHINGTON POST
29 January 1985
ART BUCHWALD
Frank Sinatra & the Dead issue
Now that the inauguration is anyone with intelligence knew
over, historians can ponder where he was coming from."
some of the great words A columnist from The
spoken during the weekend by Washington Post disagreed. "I ran
statesmen who participated in the the tape of his remarks over and
events. over again, and he was talking
about The media. The only thing I
Probably the most memorable still haven't decided is whether he
were not uttered by President meant it figuratively or literally."
Reagan in his Inaugural Address "I'm sure he didn't mean it
but by Frank Sinatra, who told literally," a lady from Women's
"Entertainment Tonight's" Bar- Wear Daily said. "Even Frank
bara Howar, "You're all dead, Sinatra couldn't put out a contract
every one of you. You're all dead." on every person covering the
At the time it was believed Mr. inauguration. My, interpretation of
Sinatra was reacting to a piece his remarks is that we were all
about him in The Washington Post dead as far as talking to him was
concerning his association with concerned."
Hollywood's so-called "Rat Pack," "But we've all been dead for
and that he was addressing the years in Frank's mind," a CBS
media in general when he made reporter protested. "That's not
the remark. news.
But after giving it a lot of "It was only news," I said,
thought, Washington historians "because Frank was in charge of
are now divided on the meaning of the inaugural gala. I'm inclined to
go along with my colleague from
the singer's outburst. the National Review that Sinatra's
Last Friday night the issue was words were misinterpreted. I have
discussed at the I Did It My Way it from a high source in the
Bar and Grill. surgeon general's office that what
A reporter from the National Frank was really trying to say is
Review said, "I can't believe Frank that we'd all be dead if we had to
was talking about the press. No cover the inaugural parade in
one let him finish his sentence. minus-20-degree weather. His
What he was trying to tell us was main concern was that we would
that we were all dead if we didn't bundle up and keep warm."
support President Reagan's 'Star Barbara Howar, the only one
Wars' program." who had been there, said, "He
"Then why didnt he say that?" didn't sound as if he was worried
the New York Times man asked. about me getting pneumonia."
"Because he just assumed that "Frank never likes to show his
true feelings," I told her. "Every
time a sparrow falls he cries."
The Washington Post reporter
refused to be persuaded. "I still
believe he wanted us all dead.
Maybe not dead dead, but enough
so we would never write about
him again."
A photographer from People
magazine said, "Is it possible
Frank was saying we'd all be dead
if we bet on the Miami Dolphins in
the Super Bowl?"
"Could be," I agreed. Now that
you mention it, Frank was always
a big 49ers fan."
The Wall Street Journal man
said, "The big question is, if
Sinatra was referring only to the
media, was he speaking for the
administration or just himself?'
"Ronald Reagan doesn't want us
all dead," Sam Donaldson said. "I
talk to him every day."
"What about the CIA?"
"No one knows who they want
dead, and who they don't," a
reporter from Jack Anderson's
office mused.
I insisted on having the last
word. "I don't believe we're in a
position to judge what Frank
meant by his remarks. The im-
portant thing is they will be .
remembered long after all the
other 1985 inaugural utterances
are forgotten, and will be an
inspiration to generations of
inaugural gala chairmen for years
to come."
O 1985. Los Angeles Times Syndicate
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP9O-00965ROO0200930018-2