New data show how closely FBI monitored Marilyn Monroe

In this undated publicity photo courtesy Running Press, Marilyn Monroe is shown in the first photo taken of her in the famous white dress from the "The Seven Year Itch."

/ AP Photo/Courtesy Running Press

New information from FBI files on Marilyn Monroe shed no light on the actress' death but do show how closely the bureau was monitoring Monroe, her activities and her acquaintances.

The files, which previously had been heavily redacted, could not be located earlier this year when the Associated Press requested them. They  have been found and re-issued, revealing the names of some of the movie star's communist-leaning acquaintances who drew concern from government officials and her own entourage.

The files include letters and news clippings showing the bureau was aware of theories the actress had been killed 50 years ago, but they do not show that any effort was undertaken to investigate the claims. Los Angeles authorities concluded Monroe's Aug. 5, 1962, death was a probable suicide.

Recently obtained by The Associated Press through the Freedom of Information Act, the updated FBI files reveal that some in Monroe's inner circle were concerned about her association with Frederick Vanderbilt Field, who was disinherited from his wealthy family over his leftist views.

27 Photos

Marilyn Monroe

A trip to Mexico earlier that year to shop for furniture brought Monroe in contact with Field, who was living in the country with his wife in self-imposed exile. Informants reported to the FBI that a "mutual infatuation" had developed between Field and the 36-year-old Monroe, which caused concern among some in her inner circle, including her therapist, the files state.

"This situation caused considerable dismay among Miss Monroe's entourage and also among the (American Communist Group in Mexico)," the file states. It includes references to an interior decorator who worked with Monroe's analyst, reporting her connection to Field to the doctor.

Field's autobiography devotes an entire chapter to Monroe's Mexico trip, "An Indian Summer Interlude." He mentions that he and his wife accompanied Monroe on shopping trips and meals and he only mentions politics once in a passage on their dinnertime conversations.

"She talked mostly about herself and some of the people who had been or still were important to her," Field wrote in "From Right to Left."

"She told us about her strong feelings for civil rights, for black equality, as well as her admiration for what was being done in China, her anger at red-baiting and McCarthyism and her hatred of (FBI director) J. Edgar Hoover."

Under Hoover's watch, the FBI kept tabs on the political and social lives of many celebrities, including Frank Sinatra, Charlie Chaplin and Monroe's ex-husband Arthur Miller. Miller in 1957 was found in contempt of Congress for refusing to name names of a literacy circle suspected of Communist Party affiliations. He and Monroe were married from 1956 to 1961.

The bureau has also been involved in numerous investigations about crimes against celebrities, including threats against Elizabeth Taylor, an extortion case involving Clark Gable and more recently, trying to solve who killed rapper Notorious B.I.G.

The AP had sought the removal of redactions from Monroe's FBI files earlier this year as part of a series of stories on the 50th anniversary of Monroe's death. The FBI had reported that it had transferred the files to a National Archives facility in Maryland, but archivists said the documents had not been received. A few months after requesting details on the transfer, the FBI released an updated version of the files that eliminate dozens of redactions.

The files have for years intrigued investigators, biographers and conspiracy theorists who don't believe Monroe's death at her Brentwood home was a suicide.

A 1982 investigation by the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office found no evidence of foul play after reviewing all available investigative records, but noted that the FBI files were "heavily censored."

That characterization intrigued the man who performed Monroe's autopsy, Dr. Thomas Noguchi. While the DA investigation concluded he conducted a thorough autopsy, Noguchi has conceded that no one will likely ever know all the details of Monroe's death. The FBI files and confidential interviews conducted with the actress' friends that have never been made public might help, he wrote in his 1983 memoir "Coroner."

Monroe's file begins in 1955, the year she made "The Seven-Year Itch," with its familiar subway grating scene, and the year after her eight-month marriage to baseball star Joe DiMaggio.

It focuses on her travels and associations, searching for signs of leftist views and possible ties to communism. One entry, which previously had been almost completely redacted, concerned intelligence that Monroe and other entertainers sought visas to visit Russia that year.

The file continues up until the months before her death, and also includes several news stories and references to Norman Mailer's biography of the actress, which focused on questions about whether Monroe was killed by the government.

For all the focus on Monroe's closeness to suspected communists, the bureau never found any proof she was a member of the party.

"Subject's views are very positively and concisely leftist; however, if she is being actively used by the Communist Party, it is not general knowledge among those working with the movement in Los Angeles," a July 1962 entry in Monroe's file states.

[postings]

Seriously? Two members of the Secret Service show up at her home and she'd dead shortly thereafter? People it's not rocket science! The government have people on standby to eliminate anyone who they feel is a theat to their organization..she's not the firstand definitely not the last. I'm going to shut up now because that's one list I don't want to be on!

[ArtemisRose]

Marilyn Monroe was murdered.

Dr. Naguchi analyzed the contents of her stomach which did not contain a lethal dose of drugs, and compared it to previous ER visits. Hospital records showed two previous ER visits where her stomach was pumped and larger amounts of drugs were evidenced but which didn't kill her.

That is why he then analyzed the contents of her rectum and bowels (which is not standard procedure under this circumstance of overdoses) and there he found evidence of a lethal dose
of barbiturates. However, this pertinent resounding evidence mysteriously went missing from the lab and was never found again. Hmmmm? Sound familiar, remember that JFK's brain contents mysteriously disappeared too?

A realistic theory is that Marilyn may have taken barbiturates herself, drank her favorite champagne, and passed out. Then a lethal dose of barbiturates were administered rectally with the intention of killing her.

Also, the documentation of the ambulance drivers surrounding two separate ambulance visits to her home on that fateful day.
She was DOA each time, but for some curious reason, she was taken home after the first DOA ER visit.
Hours later, after rigormortis had set in, the same two ambulance drivers picked her up and delivered her to the hospital for the final drop off. Go figure!


Marilyn's ties to the Kennedys (both JFK and Robert) and the Mafia were completely left out of this article, I wonder why?

Marilyn's housekeeper/companion never ever spoke one work about anything surrounding her death or the events of that day, who arrived and who left. Wise woman, she knew what would happen to her if she did.

Also, neighbors witnessed and testified that earlier that day Bobby Kennedy arrived driving a white Cadillac.
Peter Lawford was also present at her home that day.
This is well documented but never exposed in the media, to my knowledge.

[friend2008]

FBI also spied on another famous Jewish scholar, Albert Einstein.

A new book reveals the 22-year effort by FBI director J Edgar Hoover to get Albert Einstein arrested as a political subversive or even a Soviet spy.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2033324.stm

[mandiegracetaylor]

If "my week with Marilyn" is any indication - if she were alive today - she would be stellar on A&E's Intervention or "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew." Either way, she would outdo Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston's "Being Bobby Brown" and would definitely outdo the craziness of Anna Nicole. But she died before this current age and Hugh Hefner has bought the tomb above and has asked to be placed in his coffin laying face down - so he continue thinking of doing her for all eternity.

She pill popped like Dr. House, MD but didn't have a stellar hospital and a bunch of top notch MD friends to save her from herself.

They say she snorted liked Scar Face .....and *!@#%$! like Linda Lovelace and died like John Belushi, Chris Farley, Amy Winehouse, .......

She became a parable - if you think mattering through objectivization is better than nothing -people will pick up on it - and treat you accordingly. She desperately sought to reverse this perception - but only moments before she died - she was standing there buck naked absorbing the Pres of the US attention upon herself - and it wasn't to discuss national policy.

[mandiegracetaylor]

It's painfully apparent that the FBI monitored this woman for any reason not affiliated with boning up on leftist policies - they hid the files and used all that black marker because to do otherwise will let us all in on the secret and make them all look like a bunch of suited up stalkers.

[friend2008]

look at this formula

Marilyn Monroe is a Jew convert.

Israel and American Jews spy on USA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReV-dxOftMg

So, FBI is correct. Thank you guys!

[friend2008]

CBS, thank you for deleting my comments. I have noticed that you delete logical and reasonable comments, and leave improper comments.

[rwsmith29456]

LOL. Everybody is a commie until proven otherwise, then they still might be.

[gibsonsdad]

What kind of moron would authorize surveillance of Monroe for "communist ties"? I have seen every photo ever published of her, and in none of them was she wearing a tie.

[cbsblogger]

In the 1950s all of Hollywood was monitored as a Communist threat frenzy. In the post 9-11-2001 era all Americans are considered as a potential threat in that new frenzy.

The rights and freedoms that every USA serviceman have sacrificed for are being destroyed by the absurd belief by a few elites that every American has become a threat. The real threat to our nation comes from these same elites D/R or L/R that control the politicians and our government for their gain and our loss.

[matt6052]

I recall reading that a subsequent owner found evidence of listening devices throughout her house, and I agree that she likely found herself in some political intrigue that was far beyond her ability to manage. The Kennedy deaths have been attributed to just about every possible motive, but I've never heard anyone assert that Jack and Bobby were killed in retaliation for the killing of Marilyn.

My favorite JFK conspiracy is that his sisters did it. Rosemary was mentally retarded and her personal conduct was sometimes an embarrassment. So Joe Sr had her lobotomized. Her sisters realized it was just luck of the genetic draw that they weren't lobotomized instead. So when Jack's personal dalliances became an embarrassment, they arranged for him to have a procedure of equivalent medical value to Rosemary's lobotomy... in the round operating theater of Dealey Plaza.

[matt6052]

And of course they arranged to have it filmed too.