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This is an excellent "tell all" book about Jimmy Hoffa and the teamsters. They say that nothing corrupts like money and power and this is about both. The research done by the author supports the idea that Jimmy and the teamsters got mixed up with the mob because retirment funds and their power to influence elections. Further, because the Kennedy's double cross of the teamsters (going after Jimmy and the mob connection) he was involved with the Kennedy's unfortunate demise. Then when he might be subject to saying the wrong thing to the Senate hearing about mob influence, he was eliminated along with the mob bosses who were involved with the Kennedy deal. All loose ends were eliminated at one time. A must read history book that makes sense of otherwise random violence.
As a born and bred Philadelphian, though transplanted to the suburbs and from there even further away for the succeeding decades, I was agog with the local color and places that I had seen or read about from childhood up. Our Italian grandparents used to take us to dine in South Philly, so names of streets and restaurants were somewhat familiar. The latter residences of Francis J Sheeran in Delaware County, the protagonist in this story, were also not far away from my parents' move from West Philly. While growing up, I heard phrases like "Latin Casino", "playing the numbers" and of course "Hoffa" on the news without being totally aware of what they were about. Gradually with my generation, I came to political consciousness round about the Vietnam era. Lucky I was not born a guy. On a freezing cold day, January 1961, we huddled around a black and white TV straining to hear and see JFK's inauguration speech. Jack Kennedy did manage to pass through Upper Darby shortly before he was elected but it was raining. Beyond the umbrellas blocking the way, I couldn't see him speaking from the gargantuan steps of the Public Library. School was shocklingly interrupted that November day with a loud speaker announcement that the President was shot. We all went around in a daze that lasted for months, if not years. And then Bobby was taken down on a warm June day in '68. I believe Lee Harvey Oswald's mother even more so now, that her son was set up after reading this book. Whatever glamor or power one gets by association with crime, it's the naked law of the jungle operating. The richest, most powerful, most moneyed, etc. get to kick around everyone else. It was fairly disgusting to read that Sicilian orphans after the War were also used for hits and then were disposed of afterwards. Strong lions become pretty pathetic in their old age. All one needs to do is open the middle of the book to the photographs and view the dons in their wheelchairs or on canes. Also considering the amount of energy spent, families disrupted by murder, time spent in jail, the question remains whether it is really worth trying to make money in a crooked fashion. My grandfather tried to open a barber shop in the 20's in South Philly but wasn't able to pay "protection" money. With all the governmental regulations, counter regulations, millions paid to lawyers, what is the whole bloody point about controlling labor through illegal means? Who really gains? With all the hype and speechmaking by Hoffa, surely not the workers. But controlling the masses through their work was already understood and exploited by the communists. But that was not obvious back in the 40's, 50's and 60's. Bobby Kennedy paid with his life standing up against the unscrupulous. There is so much more that needs to be told about this era and more questions than answers, which an excellent book like this raises. I could not put the book down. The storytelling ability of Sheeran describing his life, the running commentary, both scholarly and humane of Charles Brandt, the local color, the characters aptly described--all this was magnetic. This is not the place to give away the plot although it had been suspected for years and finally admitted by Sheeran that he killed Jimmy Hoffa. The irony is only a close friend could have done such a thing. Regret was not an emotion Francis Sheeran allowed himself although the hurt must have cut deep. Bravo Charles Brandt! by zamyrabyrdRead full review
I'm not a professional critic. I like what I like. This book was a terrific read, It's easy and compelling. Reading it from "The Irishman" himself. And to have his attorney and author (Charles Brandt) add other known facts about Jimmy and those Teamster days makes for a great read. I lived through those times and was always interested as to whatever happened to him. I can't wait for the movie. I now do believe that it was Frank Sheeran who killed Hoffa. Forget the movie with Nicholson and Devito. That was good, but not good enough for me. Read this book, if you like to read stories about that genre.
Verified purchase: No
Could not put it down,finally the true account of Hoffa and his death.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Good reading
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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