PBS Theory Links Hoffa, Giancana, Rosselli Hits
Frank "The Irishman" Sheeran |
As one journalist noted: Sheeran's "deathbed confession" is still the most believable theory ever to come to light.
“History Detectives Special Investigations,” “Who Killed Jimmy Hoffa?” -- which ran recently this week -- purported to take a fresh look at the slaying of Jimmy Hoffa, the former head of the Teamsters union who vanished from the face of the earth on July 30, 1975.
It was the perfect mob hit and a high-profile public figure, too.
The History Detectives’ investigation focuses on who killed Hoffa and why.
What the show adds to the story is primarily new information from the Nixon tapes that makes one thing perfectly clear: Fitzsimmons (Hoffa's replacement while the teamsters boss was in prison) had pressured Nixon to get Hoffa out, but he wanted "strings" attached to Hoffa.
Also of note: the show managed to drag into the spotlight one of the witnesses of the Joey Gallo hit, which The Irishman also had admitted to pulling off.
The witness, a woman, hid her identity and described a "tall white man with red hair." Showed a picture of Sheeran from around the time of the Gallo hit, she touched it with a finger and said, with no hesitation, that he was the man she had seen in the restaurant on that infamous night in Umberto's in Manhattan's Little Italy (back when there still was a Little Italy).
Eyewitness testimony is among the least reliable forms of evidence, but at least the witness was consistent with her description: she's never wavered from the redhaired guy (nor has she ever identified herself as the witness).
Nixon provides more clearcut evidence that goes to the heart of some key issues, and offers tantalizing clues armchair detectives can't help but ponder.
First, Fitzsimmons.
Attorney General Mitchell tells Nixon on a tape recording that Fitzsimmons is pressuring Mitchell to talk to Nixon about a pardon for Hoffa.
Mitchell calls Fitzsimmons a "son of a bitch."
Nixon: "Hoffa has more stroke with the members of that Teamsters than Fitzsimmons will ever have."
Mitchell: "He's a tough, beer-drinking no-good SOB like the rest of them."
Special Counsel to the President Charles Colson later picks up the story for Nixon, noting that Fitzsimmons wants Hoffa out "with strings attached to him."
The reason Fitzsimmons wanted Hoffa out, according to Colson, was that Fitzsimmons wanted to have stronger control over the pro-Hoffa elements in the Teamsters, but he wants to keep his job, so he asked for the pardon, with strings -- the strings being Hoffa was freed but had to stay out of union business until 1980.
At this time, in 1971, one must consider the mindset of the President.
Defying all logic, Nixon felt that he'd be facing a tough reelection campaign against Senator George McGovern of South Dakota, who ran an anti-war campaign but was handicapped by his outsider status, limited support from his own party, the perception of many voters that he was a left-wing extremist and the scandal that resulted from the firing of vice-presidential nominee Thomas Eagleton.
In fact, Nixon won 60.7% of the popular vote, a percentage only slightly lower than Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, but with a larger margin of victory in the popular vote (23.2%), the fourth largest in presidential election history. He received almost 18 million more popular votes than McGovern, the widest margin of any United States presidential election.
But before all this, Nixon was thinking about the war chest (and slush fund?) he'd need to start building.
Nixon told Colson: "Tell him Mitchell is gonna handle it now. Tell him to tell Mitchell everything he wants and Mitchell will do it."
"....we may take a little heat," Colson added.
"The hell with heat."
Later, John Dean would have another conversation with Nixon about the Watergate burglars' demand for money, which Dean pegged at costing around $1 million over a few years.
"We could get it..." Nixon said immediately. "In cash. I know where it could be gotten."
Taken together, we already have the "smoking gun," in the sense that Hoffa was in the right about his claims regarding his pardon being "illegal." It is against the law for the President to benefit in any way from a pardon. Nixon pardoned Hoffa knowing Fitzsimmons would funnel cash to him in return.
But what of Nixon's claims about $1 million in cash?
What else was happening at that time in American history?
To be continued...
I dashed this off in a hurry; Colson not Carlson as my auto spell kept correcting me.
ReplyDeleteI cannot find this guy credible as I do not believe he killed Joey Gallo. That was Sonny Pinto, I believe, with the help of some others. I could be wrong on the last name. But then again the night Gallo was killed he insulted Buffalino at the Copa. Who knows if Sheeran was there. I never read his book as I think he is a fraud.
ReplyDeleteI gotta say OId School, I understand where you are coming from. What bothers me about Sheeran, and I will add this to the article when I have time to finish it, has to do with other claims Sheeran made, which the show didn't even bother going into because it would've opened a whole new can of worms: The JFK assassination. I couldn't figure out why Bufalino would want Joey Gallo hit, either, unless it was a favor. Or, what you said would also perfectly align with motive....You should read the book, though. It is intriguing, and a good read...
ReplyDeleteJust wondering when you were going to continue the article about Spero and the bath ave crew??
ReplyDeleteSoon as I have time. It's half finished. I could do a two-parter but I've got two other leads I'm following, one being the mysterious arrest last week of JOSEPH ISGRO, THE GAMBINO FAMILY'S PAYOLA GUY, IN LOS ANGELES. LAPD AND NYPD KEEPING IT VERY HUSH-HUSH. STATE CHARGE, NO BAIL, HE'S BEING HELD IN AN ODD PLACE, TOO. CHARGES HAVE NOT BEEN REVEALE. YOU GO ON GANGSTER BB? Ask the Brits there, how do I possibly know this????????????
ReplyDeletehi ed been busy good article philly
ReplyDeleteGimme call tomorrow or when you have time...
ReplyDeleteDid you catch my nod to Nixon's bullshit? Embedded in the copy, hidden in plain sight, as they say....
ReplyDeletecrazy is someone was talking like he is back where he was boss him and his family would have disappeared no questions asked , i remember someone alreeady telling him to stay quiet once when he spoken to a lo russo in the prison where he is held ..
ReplyDeleteWho knows who killed Hoffa, heck there is still people who do not believe lee Harvey Oswald was the only shooter in jfk's assassination. My point is until someone more credible than this sheeran guy comes forward, then there is so need to believe a lot of this nonsense.
ReplyDeleteHow about you finish the one you said was coming 'very soon' and worry about your other leads after that. No one like's a cock tease.
ReplyDeleteWere you part of the crew, Bay23? You have info to offer?? Please email me at eddie2843@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteCan you edit the c@$#-tease, part, too? I try to limit profanity or Google will screw me and that'll be that...
It is a shame what happened to this man. The murder of Falcone and Borsellino led to the rapid downfall of the Sicilian mafia and the public came out in full force. I remember seeing on the news the Sicilian Mammarelles doing nonstop prayers and novenas after this happened. The civilians acquiesce out of fear, but the mafia is despised by most Sicilians. I know because I am married to one.
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