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1965 Howard Hughes Letter to Assistant Bob Maheu In the 1950s, ex-FBI special agent Bob Maheu worked for Howard Hughes on an...
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1965 Howard Hughes Letter to Assistant Bob Maheu In the 1950s, ex-FBI special agent Bob Maheu worked for Howard Hughes on an assignment basis- thwarting blackmailers, spying on Hughes' girlfriends and acting as his personal emissary. By 1961, Maheu had moved to Los Angeles from Washington, D.C. to become Hughes' full-time surrogate and main dealmaker with a salary of $520,000 and an unlimited expense account. Maheu once said about their relationship "He decided that he wanted me to become his alter ego so he would never have to make a public appearance." Amazingly, throughout their 13 year association, they never met face-to-face! Communications were always by phone or memo. Offered here is one such memo dated November 13, 1965 on a sheet of lined yellow legal paper. It starts out (in a secretarial hand): "From Maheu...As of yesterdy [sic] Sonnett was due to arrive in N.Y. today. He doesn't know the exact time. Davis is standing by for your call. He didn't think much of the idea of calling Sonnett on an emergency basis, but will do whatever you desire." ("Davis" was Chester Davis, Hughes' attorney). The rest of the front and the entire verso of this sheet is in Howard Hughes own hand. He writes in part: "...I must have an absolute fix -- Apartment in N.Y. Airport Home in up-state N.Y., Westchester, of Connecticut. Golf Club or what have you. We lose trading positions in the biggest business deal in history of industry in U.S. and the world..." He was likely referring to the sale of TWA stock here. Hughes goes on: "...Please tell Mayheu [sic] I am not trying to blame anyone for anything, but I thought Mayheu [sic] understood everything in this message. If Sonnett finds out we are surveiling [sic] him it would be the end of everything..." Pretty cloak-and-dagger sounding, wouldn't you say? Hughes has written his comments along both horizontally and vertically- actually quite messy. A rare document that gives a fascinating look into the business dealings of the billionaire recluse. Transcript included.Auction Info
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