# Robert Maheu

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American investigator (1917–2008)

Robert Maheu Born Robert Aime Maheu (1917-10-30)October 30, 1917 Waterville, Maine, U.S. Died August 4, 2008(2008-08-04) (aged 90) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Education College of the Holy Cross (BA) Georgetown University (LLB)

**Robert Aime Maheu** (October 30, 1917 – August 4, 2008) was an American businessman and lawyer, who worked for the [FBI](/source/FBI) and [CIA](/source/CIA), and as the chief executive of Nevada operations for the industrialist [Howard Hughes](/source/Howard_Hughes).[1]

## Early life

Maheu was born in [Waterville, Maine](/source/Waterville%2C_Maine), the son of Christine and Ephrem Maheu, who were of French-Canadian descent.[2] He held degrees from the [College of the Holy Cross](/source/College_of_the_Holy_Cross) and [Georgetown University](/source/Georgetown_University). In 1941, during his law studies at Georgetown, he was hired by the FBI and worked as a counter-intelligence officer in Europe during [World War II](/source/World_War_II).[3] He left the FBI in 1947 and opened Robert A. Maheu and Associates, a private detective firm in Washington, DC.[4][5] Prior to this he worked in the [Small Business Administration](/source/Small_Business_Administration) for a short period.[6] Maheu was a friend of the lawyer [Edward Bennett Williams](/source/Edward_Bennett_Williams), whom he knew from the Holy Cross debate team.[7] Whenever he needed the service of a private investigator in his cases, he would turn to Maheu for assistance.[8]

## Howard Hughes

Maheu's contract with the Hughes company started in 1955, after [Howard Hughes](/source/Howard_Hughes) hired him to investigate an alleged suitor of his fiancée [Jean Peters](/source/Jean_Peters).[9]

Although Maheu was for years a close confidant of Howard Hughes, he never met Hughes face-to-face, as they worked via memo and telephone. He was dismissed from Hughes' empire in 1970 due in part to a power struggle with [Frank William Gay](/source/Frank_William_Gay), the head of Hughes's inner circle known as the “[Mormon Mafia](/source/Mormon_Mafia)”. Hughes wrote a [manuscript](/source/Manuscript) letter to Chester Davis and Gay, which was published in facsimile by *[Life](/source/Life_(magazine))* in January 1971; this publication provided [Clifford Irving](/source/Clifford_Irving) with a sample of Hughes' handwriting which he later used to attempt to forge Hughes' autobiography.[10] Maheu sued Hughes for defamation of character for $50 million.

In the conference call on January 7, 1972 in which he denounced Irving's supposed autobiography of him as a hoax, Hughes was also asked why he fired Maheu, to which he replied:[11]

Because he's a no-good, dishonest son of a bitch, and he stole me blind. ... you wouldn't think it could be possible with modern methods of bookkeeping and accounting and so forth for a thing like the Maheu theft to have occurred, but believe me, it did, because the money's gone and he's got it.

Hughes was asked later in the conference call how he felt about Maheu, to which he replied:[12][13]

Bitterly is a mild way of putting it. Note, everything [Maheu] has done, everything short of murder, as a result of being discharged. I don't supposed [*sic*] any disgruntled employee who was discharged has even come close to Mr. Maheu's conduct. ... In light of that litigation and the struggle and harassment he has embarked up on, it's very, very difficult for me to tell you precisely the motives that led to [my leaving [Las Vegas](/source/Las_Vegas)] without having some effect on the devastating, horrifying program of harassment that Maheu and his associates have launched against me.

As a result of the first set of statements by Hughes, Maheu sued the [Hughes Tool Company](/source/Hughes_Tool_Company) (which had Hughes as its sole owner) once again, this time for [libel](/source/Libel); he won the suit, and was paid $2.8 million.[14] However, this settlement was later overturned upon appeal.[11]

## Central Intelligence Agency and other government work

According to Maheu associate John Gerrity, he and Maheu were summoned to then Vice President [Richard Nixon](/source/Richard_Nixon)'s office in 1954 at the behest of the [National Security Council](/source/United_States_National_Security_Council). Nixon gave Maheu approval to employ a series of dirty tricks to wreck a pending agreement between Greek shipping magnate [Aristotle Onassis](/source/Aristotle_Onassis) and the [king](/source/King_of_Saudi_Arabia) of [Saudi Arabia](/source/Saudi_Arabia).[15][16][17]

Maheu also worked for the [Central Intelligence Agency](/source/Central_Intelligence_Agency). He would later recall: "The CIA was my first steady client, giving me '[cut-out](/source/Cut-out_(espionage))' assignments [those jobs in which the Agency could not officially be involved]."[18] Maheu's investigative agency was said to be the model for the television series, *[Mission Impossible](/source/Mission%3A_Impossible_(1966_TV_series))*.[19] The CIA enlisted Maheu's help to secure "female companionship" requested by [King Hussein](/source/King_Hussein) of Jordan during his visit to the USA in April 1959.[20]

In the summer of 1960, the CIA recruited Maheu to approach the West Coast representative of the [Chicago mob](/source/Chicago_mob), [Johnny Roselli](/source/John_Roselli). When Maheu contacted Roselli, Maheu hid the fact that he was sent by the CIA, instead portraying himself an advocate for international corporations. He offered to pay $150,000 to have [Fidel Castro](/source/Fidel_Castro) killed, but Roselli declined any pay. Roselli introduced Maheu to two men he referred to as "Sam Gold" and "Joe." "Sam Gold" was [Sam Giancana](/source/Sam_Giancana); "Joe" was [Santo Trafficante, Jr.](/source/Santo_Trafficante%2C_Jr.), the [Tampa](/source/Tampa), [Florida boss](/source/Trafficante_crime_family) and one of the most powerful mobsters in pre-revolution Cuba.[21][22] Glenn Kessler of *[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)* explained: "After Fidel Castro led a revolution that toppled a friendly government in 1959, the CIA was desperate to eliminate him. So the agency sought out a partner equally worried about Castro—the Mafia, which had lucrative investments in Cuban casinos."[23]

Giancana asked Maheu to wire the room of his then mistress [Phyllis McGuire](/source/Phyllis_McGuire), singer of the [McGuire Sisters](/source/McGuire_Sisters), whom he suspected of having an affair with comedian [Dan Rowan](/source/Dan_Rowan). Although Maheu acquiesced, the device was not planted because the agent who had been given the task of planting it was arrested. [Robert F. Kennedy](/source/Robert_F._Kennedy) prohibited the prosecution of the agent and Maheu, who was soon linked to the wire attempt, at the CIA's request.[24]

In testimony before the [Church Committee](/source/Church_Committee) in 1975, Maheu confirmed his role in the assassination plot against Castro, saying that he thought the United States "was involved in a just war."[25][26] CIA documents released in 2007 provided additional details of the plot.

## Later life

He was interviewed for the 1988 [Jack Anderson](/source/Jack_Anderson_(columnist)) documentary *American Expose: Who Killed JFK?*.[27] In 1992, Maheu published his autobiography, entitled *Next to Hughes: Behind the Power and Tragic Downfall of Howard Hughes by His Closest Advisor*. Maheu died in 2008 at the age of 90 in [Las Vegas](/source/Las_Vegas%2C_Nevada). The official cause of death was heart failure.[28]

## See also

- *[638 Ways to Kill Castro](/source/638_Ways_to_Kill_Castro)*, a 2006 television documentary

- [Assassination attempts on Fidel Castro](/source/Assassination_attempts_on_Fidel_Castro)

## Further reading

- *Spooks: The Haunting of America: the private use of secret agents*, by [Jim Hougan](/source/Jim_Hougan), 1978, William Morrow, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780688033552](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780688033552).

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Levitan, Corey (March 2, 2008). ["Top 10 scandals"](http://www.lvrj.com/living/16160347.html). *[Las Vegas Review-Journal](/source/Las_Vegas_Review-Journal)*. Retrieved March 3, 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Casavant Mining Kimberlite International (CMKM) Message Board - MSG: 21092993"](http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=21092993).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Summers, Anthony](/source/Anthony_Summers). *The Arrogance of Power*, (New York: Penguin Group, 2000), p. 153. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-670-87151-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-670-87151-6)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** "CIA may have used contractor who inspired 'Mission: Impossible' to kill RFK, new book alleges". *The Washington Post*. February 9, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [Talbot David](/source/David_Talbot). *The Devil's Chessboard*, (New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2015), p. 322. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-06-227617-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-06-227617-9)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Carlson, Michael. ["Obituary: Robert Maheu"](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/aug/20/usa). *The Guardian*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Pack, Robert (1983). *Edward Bennett Williams for the defense*. Harper & Row. p. 24.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Pack, Robert (1983). *Edward Bennett Williams for the defense*. Harper & Row. p. 180.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** "Robert Maheu Able Opponent in Hughes Row". *Los Angeles Times*. December 10, 1970.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Irving_forgery_10-0)** [Stephen Fay](/source/Stephen_Fay), Lewis Chester, [Magnus Linklater](/source/Magnus_Linklater), "Hoax: The Inside Story of the Howard Hughes – Clifford Irving Affair", Book Club Associates, London, 1972, p. 61-63.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-MaheuvsHughesAppeal_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-MaheuvsHughesAppeal_11-1) *Maheu v. Hughes Tool Company*, [569 F.2d 459](http://openjurist.org/569/f2d/459/maheu-v-hughes-tool-company), 12–20 ([9th Cir.](/source/United_States_Court_of_Appeals_for_the_Ninth_Circuit) 1977) ("... we are reversing the liability judgment and damages for Maheu ...").

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Hughes Denounces Writings"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=giA0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=NOEIAAAAIBAJ&pg=2362%2C3036959). *[Bangor Daily News](/source/Bangor_Daily_News)*. January 10, 1972.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Hughes Ends Seclusion"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xsZOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5AEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7322%2C3511665). *[Toledo Blade](/source/Toledo_Blade)*. January 10, 1972.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** "Howard Hughes Company Must Pay $2.8 Million to Slandered Ex-Aide". *The Washington Post*. December 5, 1974.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Summers, Anthony. *The Arrogance of Power*, (New York: Penguin Group, 2000), pp. 195–196. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-670-87151-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-670-87151-6)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** [Hougan, Jim](/source/Jim_Hougan). *Spooks*, (New York: William Morrow and Company, 1978), pp. 286–306. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-688-03355-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-688-03355-5)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Babcock, Charles R. (August 2, 1978). ["Maheu Admits '54 Anti-Onassis Drive"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1978/08/02/maheu-admits-54-anti-onassis-drive/46221201-7536-49d9-9613-8f1c2168a673/). *The Washington Post*. Retrieved June 17, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Stockton, Bayard. *Flawed Patriot: The Rise and Fall of CIA Legend Bill Harvey*, (Virginia: Potomac Books, 2006), p. 171. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1574889907](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1574889907)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Thomas_19-0)** [Thomas, Evan](/source/Evan_Thomas) (1992). [*The Man to See*](https://books.google.com/books?id=clHAVMYiZQwC). New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 158. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0671689347](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0671689347). Retrieved June 9, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["JFK files: CIA lined up actress for date with Jordan's King Hussein during visit to United States"](https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/01/08/jfk-files-cia-lined-up-actress-date-jordans-king-hussein-during-visit-united-states/1012904001/). *[USA Today](/source/USA_Today)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** [Memorandum for the Director of Central Intelligence, Subject: Roselli, Johnny](https://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/national/familyjewels/20070626_ciaandmob.pdf), November 19, 1970.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** Douglass, James. *JFK and the Unspeakable: Why He Died and Why It Matters*, (New York: Orbis Books, 2008), p. 34. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-57075-755-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-57075-755-6)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Kessler_23-0)** [Kessler, Glenn](/source/Glenn_Kessler_(journalist)) (June 27, 2007). ["Trying to Kill Fidel Castro"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/26/AR2007062601467.html). *The Washington Post*. Washington, D.C. Retrieved May 23, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-MSNBC2007-06-27_24-0)** Johnson, M. Alex (June 27, 2006). ["CIA opens the book on a shady past Declassified 'family jewels' detail assassination plots, break-ins, wiretaps"](https://web.archive.org/web/20171027181214/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/19438161/). *[NBC News](/source/NBC_News)*. Archived from [the original](http://www.nbcnews.com/id/19438161) on October 27, 2017. Retrieved March 17, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Wilmington_Morning_Star;_July_31,_1975_25-0)** ["The CIA: Maheu recruited Mafia to poison Castro"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UcMsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3QkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5327%2C5868948). *Wilmington Morning Star*. Vol. 108, no. 248. Wilmington, North Carolina. July 31, 1975. p. 2. Retrieved May 10, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** "Maheu Relates His Part in CIA Plot to Kill Castro". *Los Angeles Times*. July 31, 1975.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** Frewin, Anthony (1993). *The Assassination of John F. Kennedy: An Annotated Film, TV, and Videography, 1963-1992*. Greenwood Press. p. 64.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-28)** Goldstein, Richard.["Robert Maheu, 90, Surrogate for Howard Hughes, Is Dead".](https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/07/us/07maheu.html) *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*.

## Further reading

- Maheu, Robert with Richard Hack. *Next to Hughes: Behind the Power and Tragic Downfall of Howard Hughes by His Closest Advisor*. New York, HarperCollins, 1992.

- Higham, Charles. *Howard Hughes: The Secret Life*. New York, G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1993 and 2004.

- Drosnin, Michael. *Citizen Hughes: In his Own Words, How Howard Hughes Tried to Buy America*. Portland, Oregon: Broadway Books, 2004. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7679-1934-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7679-1934-3).

## External links

- [How the CIA Enlisted the Chicago Mob to Put a Hit on Castro](http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/November-2007/How-the-CIA-Enlisted-the-Chicago-Mob-to-Put-a-Hit-on-Castro/index.php?cp=1&si=0#artanc)

- [Interview with Robert Maheu](http://www.knpr.org/LVIR/transcripts/robertmaheu.txt) NPR transcript.

- [Robert Maheu's obituary](http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/aug/05/robert-maheu-confidant-howard-hughes-dies-91/)

- [Maheu in *American Expose: Who Murdered JFK?* (1988)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7UduncgO5I&rco=1)

v t e Fidel Castro Timeline Early life Participation in Cuban Revolution Attack on the Moncada Barracks "History Will Absolve Me" 26th of July Movement Landing of the Granma Triumph of the Revolution Political career Revolution first, elections later Agrarian reforms Bay of Pigs Invasion P.M. affair Escalante affair Cuban Missile Crisis Machurucuto raid Revolutionary Offensive Intervention in Angola Battle of Ideas Transfer of duties Death and state funeral Family Ángel Castro y Argiz (father) Ramón Castro Ruz (brother) Raúl Castro (brother) Juanita Castro (sister) Mirta Díaz-Balart (wife) Natalia Revuelta Clews (lover) Vilma Espín (sister-in-law) Alina Fernández (daughter) Fidel Castro Díaz-Balart (son) Mariela Castro (niece) Alejandro Castro Espín (nephew) Popular culture Films Fidel: The Untold Story (2001) Fidel (2002) Comandante (2003) Looking for Fidel (2004) 638 Ways to Kill Castro (2006) Other Guerrilla War (1987) The Real Fidel Castro (2003) Fidel Castro Handbook (2006) Castro's Beard (2006) The Cuba Wars (2008) Other Assassination attempts Robert Maheu Awards and honours Birán Eponymous things Politics Religious views Relationship with dairy My Life Granma (yacht) Justin Trudeau–Fidel Castro conspiracy theory

Authority control databases International VIAF FAST WorldCat National United States Other IdRef

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Robert Maheu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Maheu) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Maheu?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.