IIRC, Kennedy embarrassed Sinatra, because he refused to stay at his house, after Frank had a special-built addition made for him.
I'm not sure *when* Sinatra switched parties, but he was close to Reagan.
He switched during or right after the Kennedy administration. I do know he became anti political for some time because of the Kennedy’s. That is about the time I learned elsewhere when He supported Reagan for Governor. After all, Hollywood liked Reagan because he was the Union leader for some time and came to the actors defense a lot against the big Studios.
One of the things, besides Bobby going after the Mob, was that the Kennedy’s didn’t allow Sammy Davis Jr to perform at the White House. They also refused to let him perform during the campaign.
Sammy and Sinatra were HUGE buddies, and Sinatra did not take that too kind.
There was this 2 hour special I watched on Newsmax a few Months ago on the Rat pack. It was verity interesting. Should you ever get a chance I recommend it highly.
Wasn't it a helipad (so that "Marine 1" could land there)?
Regards,
I agree. After the attack by Bobby, the AJ on the Mob, and then after Kennedy did not want to be seen publicly with Sammy Davis, in fear it would hurt him in the South. This and Bobby’s attacks on the Mob caused Sinatra to really backed away from the Kennedy’s and started warming to Regan who would become Governor of Ca, and who supported Goldwater.
I don’t think Sinatra became a Republican, because I never learned if he actually endorsed anyone in 64, but I know he like Reagan from the days Reagan was the guild president in Hollywood. Reagan was a straight shooter, which Sinatra appreciated. Plus, Reagan liked Sammy Davis a lot, which scored huge points with Sinatra.
By the way, when the rest of the rat pack was endorsing JKennedy, Dean Martin was openly supporting Nixon. One of the schisms between Martin and Lewis, was Lewis was a big Socialist, and Martin was a staunch Republican. In the years of the Communist commission, Lewis was vocal, and Martin was supportive in the commission. That and other things ended their relationship and they did not talk for almost 30 years.
Yet, even with Dean Martin supporting Nixon, and Sinatra supporting Kennedy, they both stayed close friends till death.