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Wiseguys and the White House: Gangsters, Presidents, and the Deals They Made
Win a free print copy of this book!
21 days and 17:18:22
25 copies available
U.S. only
A “connected” account of how the Mob has worked with America’s Commander in Chiefs and have influenced the presidency for nearly a century.
Gangsters and presidents have long captured the American imagination, but how much does the underworld actually affect presidential power? How deep are their “connections”? As Eric Dezenhall reveals in this eye-opening history, in some instances, one couldn’t have functioned without the other. From Franklin Delano Roosevelt to Richard Nixon to Joseph R. Biden, the mob has done presidential dirty work, including attempts to assassinate foreign leaders, harass America’s enemies, and put our chief executives in office.
Wiseguys and the White House documents when mobsters and presidents have traded favors—and double-crossed each other, including:
The deal cut with Lucky Luciano to protect the waterfront during World War II.
How the Chicago Outfit (and Frank Sinatra) got one Kennedy elected, only to be pursued by another.
How LBJ and the FBI used a mob hitman to hunt down the killers of Civil Rights activists in Mississippi
Reagan’s association with Lew Wasserman, the powerful and influential Hollywood mogul
Trump's blatant ties to construction and gambling cartels
Biden’s early links to “the Irishman” Frank Sheeran, the labor union official and enforcer for Jimmy Hoffa and Russell Bufalino.
And more
Combining exhaustive research, including newly released government records and the private recollections of leading gangsters, Wiseguys and the White House offers insight into the myths about the power in America and the drive for recognition and respectability that unites consiglieri and commanders-in-chief alike.
Gangsters and presidents have long captured the American imagination, but how much does the underworld actually affect presidential power? How deep are their “connections”? As Eric Dezenhall reveals in this eye-opening history, in some instances, one couldn’t have functioned without the other. From Franklin Delano Roosevelt to Richard Nixon to Joseph R. Biden, the mob has done presidential dirty work, including attempts to assassinate foreign leaders, harass America’s enemies, and put our chief executives in office.
Wiseguys and the White House documents when mobsters and presidents have traded favors—and double-crossed each other, including:
The deal cut with Lucky Luciano to protect the waterfront during World War II.
How the Chicago Outfit (and Frank Sinatra) got one Kennedy elected, only to be pursued by another.
How LBJ and the FBI used a mob hitman to hunt down the killers of Civil Rights activists in Mississippi
Reagan’s association with Lew Wasserman, the powerful and influential Hollywood mogul
Trump's blatant ties to construction and gambling cartels
Biden’s early links to “the Irishman” Frank Sheeran, the labor union official and enforcer for Jimmy Hoffa and Russell Bufalino.
And more
Combining exhaustive research, including newly released government records and the private recollections of leading gangsters, Wiseguys and the White House offers insight into the myths about the power in America and the drive for recognition and respectability that unites consiglieri and commanders-in-chief alike.
368 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication January 14, 2025
About the author
Eric Dezenhall
14 books81 followersEric Dezenhall is an author of eleven books, including three non-fiction texts on crisis communications and corporate witch hunts, journalist and damage control expert based in Washington, D.C. He is the CEO of Dezenhall Resources, a nationally recognized high stakes communications firm. He frequently lectures in academic and business circles, and regularly appears as a damage control expert in the international media. He has appeared on network television and radio outlets including NPR, CNN, FOX, CNBC, and MSNBC; and has been quoted in publications including Fortune, USA Today, Forbes, and The Washington Post. He has written for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, and the USA Today, and writes for the Daily Beast and Huffington Post.
Eric's books have been widely cited in business, media, and academic circles. In addition to his non-fiction books, he is also the author of seven novels. His seventh novel, False Light, is a thrilling tale of revenge set against the vibrant backdrop of sensationalist modern media. A seasoned reporter embarks on an entertaining and complex plan to exact revenge on a predatory media star in the court of public opinion. Eric is a graduate of Dartmouth College, where he studied political science and the news media. He lives near Washington, D.C., with his family.
Eric's books have been widely cited in business, media, and academic circles. In addition to his non-fiction books, he is also the author of seven novels. His seventh novel, False Light, is a thrilling tale of revenge set against the vibrant backdrop of sensationalist modern media. A seasoned reporter embarks on an entertaining and complex plan to exact revenge on a predatory media star in the court of public opinion. Eric is a graduate of Dartmouth College, where he studied political science and the news media. He lives near Washington, D.C., with his family.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
July 26, 2024
You can also see this review, along with others I have written, at my blog, Mr. Book's Book Reviews.
Thank you, Harper, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Mr. Book just finished Wiseguys and the White House: Gangsters, Presidents, and the Deals They Made, by Eric Denzenhall.
This book is a fascinating look at presidents and their connections to the Mafia.
The highlights of this book are FDR’s use of the Mafia to go after Germans inside the US during World War, Truman’s career-long connections to the Mafia, the Johnson’s administration’s use of Mafia members as informants to infiltrate white supremacist groups and assist in prosecutions in civil rights cases, Nixon’s involvements with the Mafia (including a story in which a bank was robbed of about $9 million by burglars going after an alleged Nixon slush-fund) and Trump’s career-long involvement with the Mafia.
I give this book an A. Goodreads and NetGalley require grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, an A equates to 5 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).
This review has been posted at NetGalley, Goodreads and my blog, Mr. Book’s Book Reviews
Mr. Book originally finished reading this on July 26, 2024.
Thank you, Harper, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Mr. Book just finished Wiseguys and the White House: Gangsters, Presidents, and the Deals They Made, by Eric Denzenhall.
This book is a fascinating look at presidents and their connections to the Mafia.
The highlights of this book are FDR’s use of the Mafia to go after Germans inside the US during World War, Truman’s career-long connections to the Mafia, the Johnson’s administration’s use of Mafia members as informants to infiltrate white supremacist groups and assist in prosecutions in civil rights cases, Nixon’s involvements with the Mafia (including a story in which a bank was robbed of about $9 million by burglars going after an alleged Nixon slush-fund) and Trump’s career-long involvement with the Mafia.
I give this book an A. Goodreads and NetGalley require grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, an A equates to 5 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).
This review has been posted at NetGalley, Goodreads and my blog, Mr. Book’s Book Reviews
Mr. Book originally finished reading this on July 26, 2024.
Displaying 1 of 1 review