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The Mafia's President: Nixon and the Mob
The first-ever full account of Nixon's extensive ties to the American Mafia, from a veteran White House reporter.
Unbeknownst to most people even now, the election of 1968 placed the patron saint of the Mafia in the White House. In other words, Richard Nixon would go on to not only lead a criminal presidency; he would be totally indebted to our nation's top mobsters.
By 1969, thanks in large part to his long-time campaign manager and political advisor Murray Chotiner, a lawyer who specialized in representing mobsters, Nixon had participated in secret criminal dealings for more than 20 years with sketchy figures such as Mickey Cohen, Mob financial guru Meyer Lansky, Teamsters union chief Jimmy Hoffa, and New Orleans Mafia boss Carlos Marcello. And with Chotiner as one of his key behind-the-scenes advisors in the White House, Nixon's ties to the Mafia didn't end there. The Mafia's President reveals a mind-blowing litany of favors Nixon exchanged with these sinister characters over decades, ranging from springing Jimmy Hoffa from prison to banning the federal government from using the terms "Mafia" and "La Cosa Nostra."
Drawing on newly released government tapes, documents, and other fresh information, The Mafia's President by Don Fulsom offers a carefully reported, deeply researched account of Richard Nixon's secret connections to America's top crime lords.
Unbeknownst to most people even now, the election of 1968 placed the patron saint of the Mafia in the White House. In other words, Richard Nixon would go on to not only lead a criminal presidency; he would be totally indebted to our nation's top mobsters.
By 1969, thanks in large part to his long-time campaign manager and political advisor Murray Chotiner, a lawyer who specialized in representing mobsters, Nixon had participated in secret criminal dealings for more than 20 years with sketchy figures such as Mickey Cohen, Mob financial guru Meyer Lansky, Teamsters union chief Jimmy Hoffa, and New Orleans Mafia boss Carlos Marcello. And with Chotiner as one of his key behind-the-scenes advisors in the White House, Nixon's ties to the Mafia didn't end there. The Mafia's President reveals a mind-blowing litany of favors Nixon exchanged with these sinister characters over decades, ranging from springing Jimmy Hoffa from prison to banning the federal government from using the terms "Mafia" and "La Cosa Nostra."
Drawing on newly released government tapes, documents, and other fresh information, The Mafia's President by Don Fulsom offers a carefully reported, deeply researched account of Richard Nixon's secret connections to America's top crime lords.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published November 14, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 14, 2018
As someone who was born after the Nixon Presidency, most of my knowledge of "Tricky Dick" was relegated to the standard "resigned after Watergate scandal" History b00k summary. It was interesting to get a little bit more of a glimpse into the man.
Author Don Fulsom draws enough connections right up front to establish Nixon's relationships with various underworld figures. Unfortunately much of the rest of the book becomes a tedious, repetitive tangle of names and references to both the Bay of Pigs and Kennedy assassinations that reads like a black and white text equivalent of a spider-web of red strings and photographs on a paranoiac's bulletin board.
Structurally, the book is a slog to get though, jumping back and forth across decades and whole passages of the book repeated verbatim in multiple chapters as if a teenager was trying to pad out word-count on a term paper. Some interesting and somewhat compelling facts are presented, but there are mounds of rumor and conjecture to sift through as well.
Author Don Fulsom draws enough connections right up front to establish Nixon's relationships with various underworld figures. Unfortunately much of the rest of the book becomes a tedious, repetitive tangle of names and references to both the Bay of Pigs and Kennedy assassinations that reads like a black and white text equivalent of a spider-web of red strings and photographs on a paranoiac's bulletin board.
Structurally, the book is a slog to get though, jumping back and forth across decades and whole passages of the book repeated verbatim in multiple chapters as if a teenager was trying to pad out word-count on a term paper. Some interesting and somewhat compelling facts are presented, but there are mounds of rumor and conjecture to sift through as well.
November 15, 2018
This book is wild.
There's really no better way to describe it. While the idea that Nixon may have had mob ties is plausible (it'd honestly be one of the tamer things he ever did), the author quickly veers into conspiracy theories on everything from JFK's assassination (not only does he hold Nixon was involved in it, but he tries to argue that years after, Nixon tried to implicate *Bobby Kennedy* in his own brother's death) to J. Edgar Hoover's sexuality, Nixon's own sexuality, and everything in between.
It's an entertaining read, but any plausible conclusions about Nixon's possible mob connections get lost in the midst of tangents about any number of people, repetitive writing, the author's clear near-hatred of Nixon, and the aforementioned conspiracies. Ultimately, it's hard to grant much weight to theories clearly born more of an intense and rabid dislike of a man than anything else, no matter how little regard I myself hold for Nixon or his politics.
(But the book *was* IMMENSELY entertaining to read.)
There's really no better way to describe it. While the idea that Nixon may have had mob ties is plausible (it'd honestly be one of the tamer things he ever did), the author quickly veers into conspiracy theories on everything from JFK's assassination (not only does he hold Nixon was involved in it, but he tries to argue that years after, Nixon tried to implicate *Bobby Kennedy* in his own brother's death) to J. Edgar Hoover's sexuality, Nixon's own sexuality, and everything in between.
It's an entertaining read, but any plausible conclusions about Nixon's possible mob connections get lost in the midst of tangents about any number of people, repetitive writing, the author's clear near-hatred of Nixon, and the aforementioned conspiracies. Ultimately, it's hard to grant much weight to theories clearly born more of an intense and rabid dislike of a man than anything else, no matter how little regard I myself hold for Nixon or his politics.
(But the book *was* IMMENSELY entertaining to read.)
May 18, 2018
Interesting info, but this book was all over the place. Where was his editor? There were so many repetitions and veering thoughts. Whole passages were repeated. At one point, the book becomes more about the author's JFK assassination theory than Nixon--I get that the are intertwined in ways, but the connection presented in the book was frail. I was also put off by the author's snarky personal comments (however legitimately deserved) in the beginning of the book.
November 21, 2017
Don Fulsom did a fantastic job pulling together an overwhelming amount of information regarding Nixon and his politics. It is hard to absorb the amount of deceitful actions and traitorous decisions made by this man that was elected to lead our country. Highly recommended for anyone interested in history and/or politics.
April 30, 2018
Parts of this book were really interesting but I just couldn't deal with the constant repitition. Sometimes entire passages are repeated 100 pages later which constantly made me feel that I must have put my bookmark in the wrong place!
July 6, 2019
Pretty good book about Nixon and Mafia ties. Also goes fairly in depth on the JFK assassination. I knew vaguely of the Nixon/Watergate stuff but had no idea just how dirty he was. Mind boggling to say the least....
December 22, 2023
Very entertaining, although repetitive. The fact that Nixon had mob ties is not surprising at all.
November 14, 2017
I've been interested in the Mafia since I was little girl, when I dreamed of being a mafia princess, yet didn't know what that meant.
I really enjoyed the authors information about the ins and outs of the historical connections between the Mafia and President Nixon. I've been fascinated by this topic for a while now and I found myself completely immersed in the book for hours at a time. Then I'd take a break and return. There is so much information that it felt mind boggling at times.
If you're interested in Presidential history, the mafia and more, this would be the perfect book for you!
I really enjoyed the authors information about the ins and outs of the historical connections between the Mafia and President Nixon. I've been fascinated by this topic for a while now and I found myself completely immersed in the book for hours at a time. Then I'd take a break and return. There is so much information that it felt mind boggling at times.
If you're interested in Presidential history, the mafia and more, this would be the perfect book for you!
September 6, 2020
I wish I had a giant full-wall whiteboard. This book would be perfect for illustration with a giant flowchart. Arrows going everywhere, and some little doodles of the major players: Dick, Bebe, Ruby, et al. It's a rapid-fire read; Don Fulsom throws facts at you, and you are left with your jaw agape. It's all true, folks! Oh, and he'll answer a lot of your lingering questions about the Kennedy assassination, too. This book will also satisfy the 2020 Watauga County Public Library Reading Challenge categories: A Book You Were Meant to Read but Haven't Gotten to; A Book by an Author Who Is New to You; A Non-Fiction Book; A Book with More than 300 pages; A Book You Own but Haven't Read. I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways. It is an advance uncorrected proof.
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November 9, 2017I am excited and honoured to be a GoodReads giveaway winner :)
January 7, 2018
If the information in this book in 100% accurate then this is a very scary and disturbing situation. So much of this could be rectified if all of the JFK assassination papers would be released.
May 7, 2018
Author Don Fulsom has written an excellent history of Richard Nixon, the Mafia, Nixon's political career, and his connection to the Mafia. I was amazed reading it. Given the now known connections and even connections known at the time; If the 24-hour news cycle existed in the 60's, Nixon would never have been elected president or vice-president. It is surprising to me that it took until 1973 before an illegal event was finally connected to Nixon for his removal from office.
I am very questioning of Nixon's involvement in the JFK assassination, but his tight connections with the Mafia makes for a compelling argument. No matter the often repeated phrase of Nixon's, "I'm not a crook," it seems to me that he was a perfect example of a political crook.
I am very questioning of Nixon's involvement in the JFK assassination, but his tight connections with the Mafia makes for a compelling argument. No matter the often repeated phrase of Nixon's, "I'm not a crook," it seems to me that he was a perfect example of a political crook.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews