Lansky Meyer

Meyer Lansky, the "Mob's Accountant", ALS on Israel and Bashing Nixon

Single page autograph letter signed on lined paper. Dated "Dec 12, 1974", and signed by Meyer Lansky as "Shalom Meyer". 8.5" x 11". Near fine condition with two punch holes along right edge affecting one word of text, a toning to the outer edge of the paper.

Meyer Lansky, known as the "Mob's Accountant", was an American major organized crime figure who, along with his associate Charles "Lucky" Luciano, was instrumental in the development of the National Crime Syndicate in the United States. An intriguing letter by Lansky written in 1974, discussing that he is not giving interviews, and if anything his story will be in book form. He also references his prediction of Nixon and what his administration may do to Israel. Lansky attempted a flight to Israel where he first tried to escape charges of tax evasion back in 1970/1971.

Lansky rise first had his start after Prohibition ended in 1933, Lansky successfully parlayed his fortune into gambling interests around the United States (and ultimately internationally). He encouraged other mobsters to invest in Cuba, where eventually he owned or had financial interest in at least three casinos: the Habana Riviera, the Hotel Nacional and the Montmartre Club. In the 1940s, Lansky also began investing in Las Vegas casinos, and assigned his friend Siegel to oversee construction of the Flamingo Hotel.

That project did not go well, at least initially. Cost overruns ballooned the budget from $1.2 million to $6 million, and some of Lansky’s fellow Mob investors were unhappy. Some believed that Siegel, who also tightly controlled income from the telephone “race wire” providing sports results to bookie parlors and casinos, was stealing a portion of their investment. Several chroniclers claim that Lansky, at a Havana meeting of leading organized crime figures from across the United States, approved of Siegel’s assassination, which occurred on June 20, 1947. Lansky’s associates immediately took over the Flamingo upon Siegel’s death, and the property generated income for Lansky and others for decades.

It was around the time of these Syndicate meetings that Lansky allegedly made the famous comment that the American Mafia was “bigger than United States Steel,” at one time the world’s largest corporation. The quote was also used by the fictional character Hyman Roth in the film The Godfather, Part II. Lansky is widely viewed as the inspiration for the Roth character.

This letter also alludes to issues between him, Nixon and Israel. Although less well known, Nixon had ongoing connections to Lansky for decades, including other Mob members. According to historian Anthony Summers, when Nixon was gambling very heavily, and Rebozo covered Nixon's losses and to the tone of possibly $50,000. Most of Nixon's gambling took place at Meyer Lansky's Hotel Nacional in Cuba. Lansky rolled out the royal treatment for Nixon, who stayed in the Presidential Suite on the owner's tab. Author John Andrews wrote in his book, Power to Destroy that Nixon invested heavily in Florida land via a secretive investment syndicate headed by Rebozo. Nixon and Rebozo forged close ties to Keyes Realty which was mainly set up as an investment funnel for the mafia and for ex-Cuban politicians who served under Batista. The lender for one of Nixon's Key Biscayne properties in 1967 was Arthur Desser. He was a real estate developer who consorted with both Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa and Meyer Lansky. In 1967 this land passed to Nixon and Bebe Rebozo at bargain rates.

But it was years later, when Meyer Lansky’s daughter Sandi stated

that President Nixon’s had threaten to withhold the sale of Phantom fighter jets to Israel because Lansky refused to cut Nixon in on a casino deal in the Bahamas. Nixon was already angry that Lansky had supported JFK for president years earlier. Undercurrents can run deep.

Lanski's vague comment regarding Nixon and Israel could be most anything, however what is known is that these two men were intertwined.

Despite his efforts to conceal income, in 1970 Lansky was indicted on federal tax evasion charges. He and his family fled to Israel under the Jewish nation’s “right of return,” but that right did not extend to criminals. Lansky returned to the United States and was arrested in the Miami International Airport. His letter is shown in part below:

"… hope I made myself clear to you and Uri that their visit here isn't for the purpoase of interviewing me. I have given one interview against my wishes and inner judgement. My next one will be in book form; I am sure no one will want to publish it. The establishment will not like what I have to say about them.

Do you recall what I had to say about the Nixon administration and what they may do to Israel? Sadly what I predicted came home to roost…

I will be happy to see Uri … but I want to keep it on a friendly bases not an interview … If I can be of help to him for Israel you have all of me …"

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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