The tightest knit friends, this group virtually adopted its own society, making the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas their headquarters. Here they drank, smoked, gambled, dated, and even adopted their own lingo. In "Rat Pack Language," death was known as "The Big Casino," anywhere that wasn’t Vegas was known as "Dullsville, Ohio," and the average Joe was known as "Clyde."
Partying aside, the Rat Pack was instrumental in important aspects of social and political reform. On a social front, they helped desegregate Las Vegas by refusing to perform or do business at any hotel that didn’t provide full service and amenities to African Americans. As the Rat Pack became more popular, and tickets for their shows were in higher demand, the Vegas hotels were left with the choice of removing their unfair segregation policies or losing the most sought-after performers. Politically, the Rat Pack is credited with helping John F. Kennedy get elected. Strong advocates of his candidacy, Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, and Peter Lawford sang the Star Spangled Banner at the 1960 Democratic National Convention.
While they took part in these social and political acts, their fast lifestyle didn’t cease: they still lit up Vegas, frequently performing and partying for days at a time. But, what happened in Vegas didn’t stay in Vegas and the Rat Pack was soon under FBI surveillance because of their rumored affiliation with the Mob.
The negative light shed on them led John F. Kennedy, at the insistence of his advisors, to distance himself from the pack. This had a domino effect and caused Sinatra to distance himself from Kennedy’s brother-in-law, Peter Lawford. Despite the distance, it was John F. Kennedy’s assassination that is generally credited as the beginning of the end for the Rat Pack. Their reputation began to wane upon his death and by the end of the 1960’s the Rat Pack had all but diminished. The members, with the exception of Peter Lawford, all remained the closest friends for life.
Article comments
1 - EJS
Your two versions of the origin of the term "Rat Pack" are really the same. Bogart and Bacall lived in Holmby Hills (on S. Mapleton Drive). The "Pack" would gather at their house, and for this reason Bacall took to calling them the "Holmby Hills Rat Pack", which later became "Rat Pack". As far as I know, Judy Garland did not live in Holmby Hills.
2 - Heloise
Nice article. But since you also focus on cigars here is some trivia: JFK order like 2,000 of Cuba's best cigars before he closed down the trade between the two countries--still in effect today.
Jack has famous photos with a cigar dangling from his mouth in many, many photos. I wonder who influenced whom in terms of smoking them. In a former life he rolled his own.
Thanks.
Heloise