Marilyn Monroe's tragic death in 1962 sent shockwaves around the world, but questions
have swirled for decades about what really happened to the iconic actress.
Though her passing was ruled an accidental overdose, many, including Frank Sinatra, believed
sinister forces were involved.
Over 60 years later, revelations from Sinatra's inner circle shed new light on his perspective
on the truth behind Monroe's controversial demise.
Join Factsverse as we examine what Sinatra uncovered about the last days of his close
friend Marilyn, and his belief that her death was no accident.
Monroe's Affairs with the Kennedys Marilyn Monroe's rumored affairs with John
F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy have long captivated the public imagination.
Monroe first met JFK in the 1950s, likely beginning an intimate relationship around
the time of his 1960 presidential campaign.
Their affair was fostered by mutual friend Frank Sinatra, who allowed them to meet at
his Palm Springs home for discreet rendezvous.
Following JFK's election victory, Monroe memorably serenaded the new president with a sultry
rendition of "Happy Birthday Mr. President" in 1962.
This highly-publicized performance further fueled speculation of an illicit romance.
According to Monroe's confidants, she cherished private pillow talk with JFK in which he would
share perspectives on world affairs.
Monroe saw herself as Jack's intellectual companion, not just a casual fling.
Their paths crossed frequently in 1961-1962 within JFK's inner circle.
Some historians posit RFK used his growing friendship with Monroe to ingratiate himself
to his presidential brother.
Others claim it was a romantic rivalry in which RFK pursued Monroe partly to spite JFK.
RFK's personal phone records show lengthy conversations between his office and Monroe's
home, implying late-night intimacy.
Whatever the truth, Monroe found herself enthralled by the charismatic brothers, especially Jack.
She saw them as her guides to the heights of power in Washington.
Tragically, once JFK replaced Monroe with newer mistresses like Judith Exner, he and
RFK abruptly severed contact with the actress.
This deep rejection by her Camelot idols was emotionally crushing for Monroe.
Having invested over a year of intimate access to America's royal family, Monroe was ruthlessly
cast aside once she was no longer amusing to the Kennedys.
In the final months of her life, Monroe tried desperately to reconnect with her former lovers
and understand why she had been so heartlessly abandoned.
She placed distraught calls to the Kennedy compound that were blocked on RFK's instructions.
This cruel rejection by such influential men profoundly damaged the already fragile actress.
Monroe's Stay at Cal Neva Lodge In the final weekend of her life, Marilyn
Monroe stayed at the Cal Neva Lodge on the shore of Lake Tahoe.
This resort was partially owned by Frank Sinatra, who frequently allowed Monroe to stay free
of charge as a courtesy to his close friend.
Little did Sinatra know, this weekend would be the last time he would see Monroe alive.
Monroe had traveled to Cal Neva in the company of her ex-husband Joe DiMaggio.
Unbeknownst to the public at the time, Monroe and DiMaggio had quietly reconciled and were
making plans to remarry.
According to Sinatra's eye-witness account, Monroe was in a highly emotional state throughout
her weekend at Cal Neva.
She anxiously vacillated between elation about her reunion with DiMaggio and despair over
her severed ties with the Kennedy brothers.
Sinatra remembered Monroe consuming cocktails and pills in alarming quantities as she vented
to him about feeling abandoned by the Kennedys.
At one point that weekend, Monroe accidentally overdosed on barbiturates and Sinatra had
to rush to her hotel room.
He found her unconscious and quickly took measures to revive her, including dousing
her face with cold water.
After Monroe regained consciousness, Sinatra demanded she accompany him on a brisk walk
around the resort grounds to stay alert.
Witnesses recall seeing a distraught Sinatra guiding an extremely drowsy Monroe around
the Cal Neva cabins, propping her up to prevent another overdose.
Sinatra later said he had never seen Monroe so emotionally unravelled as she was that
weekend.
Unknown to either Monroe or Sinatra, tabloid reporters were stalking the resort, trying
to snap photos of the actress.
The press had caught wind that Monroe was secretly back with DiMaggio and intended to
announce their marriage plans at an upcoming press conference.
Eager for gossip fodder, the paparazzi attempted to document evidence of the reconciliation.
This media encroachment compounded Monroe's anxiety and substance intake during her stay.
Meanwhile, DiMaggio remained nearby at a separate hotel, coordinating with Sinatra to keep Monroe
safe and try to stabilize her.
But her emotional state only deteriorated further.
Sinatra's Belief Monroe Was Murdered In the immediate aftermath of Monroe's death,
whispers swirled that she had in fact been murdered to silence her.
Frank Sinatra gave credence to these chilling theories based on evidence he uncovered.
Sinatra's lawyer Mickey Rudin informed the singer that Monroe had been killed to stop
her from holding a tell-all press conference about the Kennedys.
Sinatra also had underworld connections linking Monroe's death to the mafia.
Chicago mob boss Sam Giancana said Monroe was snuffed out by an organized crime figure
who ran in both Kennedy and Sinatra circles.
Additionally, Los Angeles mobster Johnny Roselli told Sinatra that Monroe was purposefully
silenced before she could damage the Kennedys' reputations.
Piecing together what he knew of Monroe's final days along with the revelations from
Rudin and his mafia contacts, Sinatra became convinced that Robert Kennedy and Jimmy Hoffa
conspired to have Monroe murdered via lethal injection.
Sinatra thought they hired a corrupt medical examiner to administer a fatal barbiturate
suppository while she was unconscious.
With her major announcement about reuniting with Joe DiMaggio on the horizon, the theory
was that Kennedy and Hoffa felt the bombshell actress needed to be stopped from airing details
of her affairs.
They could not risk a national scandal rupturing Camelot's idyllic image ahead of JFK's re-election
bid.
Sinatra also suspected the mob held up their end of this quid pro quo bargain by guaranteeing
union support for Kennedy in the 1964 campaign.
In Sinatra's mind, Monroe was a victim of a high-level political assassination.
He shared his belief that "she was snuffed out" because Monroe's reemergence threatened
too many powerful interests.
For decades after Monroe's passing, Sinatra continued investigating theories around her
possible murder.
He financed private investigations into potential co-conspirators and scoured Monroe's phone
records and medical reports for clues.
Sinatra felt compelled to achieve some justice for his dear friend Monroe and expose those
responsible for her fate.
While never able to definitively prove his allegations, Sinatra remained utterly convinced
that the corrupt forces of Hollywood, Washington and organized crime had colluded to end Monroe's
life.
He felt strongly that the Los Angeles Police Department participated in a cover-up to make
Monroe's murder look like an accidental overdose.
Sinatra carried that resentment toward the Kennedys, Jimmy Hoffa, and the mafia leaders
he held accountable for Monroe's tragic end.
Monroe and Sinatra's Close Bond Though never romantically involved, Marilyn
Monroe and Frank Sinatra shared an incredibly close platonic bond.
They formed an intimate friendship based on their similar experiences as stars navigating
fame.
Both felt isolated and burdened by their public image and notoriety.
This gave them a unique understanding that became the foundation for their enduring connection.
When together behind closed doors, Monroe and Sinatra could relax and open up honestly
with each other about their struggles.
According to Sinatra's friend Peter Lawford, they had a rapport like Bogie and Bacall.
Sinatra and Monroe provided each other with empathy and escape from the constant pressures
of stardom.
He sympathized with her anxieties about getting older in a business that only valued youth.
She listened patiently as he vented about his failed marriages and free-falling film
career in the early 1950s.
In 1962, when Monroe was struggling severely with depression and substance abuse, Sinatra
tried to intervene as a caring friend.
He invited her to join him in Palm Springs to recover out of the spotlight.
Later that year, he welcomed Monroe as his guest at Cal Neva Lodge at Lake Tahoe.
On both getaways, Sinatra made concerted efforts to lift Monroe's spirits and dry her out.
Tragically, Monroe could not escape the demons that ultimately led to her overdose.
But Sinatra never stopped believing in her potential for happiness.
He resented her manipulative husbands and callous lovers who failed to provide real
support.
Until her death, Sinatra remained committed to protecting Monroe from the cruelties of
Hollywood.
He knew she needed true friends who saw beyond the artificial, glamorous facade.
Their rare friendship represented a safe harbor where both icons could momentarily lower their
guard and gain respite.
Losing Monroe devastated Sinatra and left an irreplaceable void in his life.
Besides grieving her loss, he deeply regretted being unable to rescue someone he cared for
so dearly.
Sinatra pledged to never forget the special connection they shared - a bond allowing two
lost souls to find solace.
Sinatra's Unresolved Grief Over Losing Monroe The sudden loss of Marilyn Monroe in 1962
left Frank Sinatra with lasting grief and anger over the death of his close friend.
Sinatra was on tour when he received the traumatic news of her passing from an apparent drug
overdose.
He was so distraught that he chartered a private jet back to Los Angeles immediately.
In the decades after Monroe's funeral, Sinatra continued to privately mourn her loss and
reminisce about their special friendship.
According to Sinatra's daughter Tina, he always regretted not intervening more forcefully
to save Monroe from her inner demons.
Sinatra confessed that losing her felt like the tragedy of my life.
Sinatra dealt with his grief by further investigating theories that Monroe had actually been murdered.
He felt pursuing justice for her death could bring some meaning from the senseless tragedy.
Sinatra quietly funded extensive probes into potential co-conspirators, trying in vain
to substantiate his belief that she was silenced by figures like the Kennedys and mafia bosses.
By many accounts, Sinatra also coped by plunging deeper into alcohol abuse and hisassociations
with organized crime figures.
He fraternized with mobsters like Sam Giancana as if trying to maintain some morbid link
to Monroe.
Sinatra's unresolved grief seemingly fueled a self-destructive spiral for years following
her passing.
Only very late in life did Sinatra achieve some perspective and acceptance about Monroe's
death.
He told friends that he finally realized obsessing over her demise failed to honor Monroe's life
and memory properly.
Leaving flowers at her grave or toasting her birthday felt more like truly celebrating
their friendship.
There you have it.
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