Next to Hughes: Behind the Power and Tragic Downfall of Howard Hughes by His Closest Advisor (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Richard Hack (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Billionaire Howard Hughes's business aide Maheu, writing with freelancer Hack, recounts how during 30 years, starting in 1957, first in Los Angeles and later in Las Vegas, he not only controlled the world's richest man's financial empire (airlines, mines and casinos) but accumulated a large personal fortune while hobnobbing with the rich and powerful--all without ever meeting the reclusive, phobic tycoon. Maheu's career also involved recruiting Mafia connections to carry out the CIA's abortive plot to assassinate Castro and arranging for his boss's donations to such politicians as Nixon, Humphrey and Bobby Kennedy. The self-righteous book pictures Maheu as victim of a scheme by a "Mormon Mafia" of aides to turn Hughes against him. Having lost his wealth and spent years battling indictments for fraud and in unsuccessful libel suits against Hughes, Maheu nevertheless "cried like a child" upon learning of the boss's mistreatment by his entourage--resulting, alleges Maheu, in Hughes's death. Photos not seen by PW. Author tour.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

The self-servingly selective reminiscences of a world-class hustler who, among other dubious career distinctions, was a top aide to Howard Hughes. A sometime FBI agent who made a name for himself after WW II as a freelance trouble-shooter for a suspect clientele (the CIA, Stavros Niarchos, etc.), Maheu (who turns 75 this year) was first retained by Hughes during the mid-1950's. While he never met his employer (who kept in touch by phone or memo), Maheu soon became the reclusive billionaire's main front-man, representing him, among other matters, in the purchase and operation of a wealth of Nevada casinos. Maheu also acted as the Hughes organization's bagman in its efforts to influence such pols as Hubert Humphrey and Richard Nixon. In the meantime, he continued to do the odd dirty job for pals in the intelligence community (e.g., recruiting gangsters Sam Giancana and Johnny Rosselli to assassinate Fidel Castro). Eventually, however, the high-living, Las Vegas-based Maheu ran afoul of the so-called Mormon Mafia, whose members danced personal attendance upon the ailing, drug-addicted Hughes, and he lost his plush post as the mad industrialist's chief surrogate toward the end of 1970. Maheu devotes much of the chronological narrative (coauthored with Dove Books & Audio VP Hack) to exculpatory accounts of the legal woes he endured in the wake of his ouster. These dreary recitals ring false, however, largely because Maheu's assessment of his own role in any number of criminal activities is impenitently amoral. A graceless, narcissistic, score-settling apologia that affords little fresh insight into eccentrics, villains, or scandals from the recent past. (Eight pages of b&w photos--not seen.) -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 289 pages
• Publisher: Harpercollins; 1st edition (April 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060165057
• ISBN-13: 978-0060165055
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #478,252 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT BOOK!, September 15, 2008

By	Paul Manfredi (Pittsburgh, PA USA!) - See all my reviews

After reading the obituary about the fascinating life of Robert Maheu several weeks ago, I purchased this book. I'm glad that I did! This book is a real page turner. Maheu's first hand account of his job with Howard Hughes is unbelievable! I felt as though I was there with Maheu as he became rich and famous and then hit the low points when he was fired. Maheu overcame so much adversity after he was fired by suffering depression, mouth cancer and a heart attack, in addition to the litigation brought by the IRS and government against him. Through it all, he never gave up and he succeeded again! Robert Maheu's life and comeback is inspiring!!! However, Howard Hughes life was a nightmare! I couldn't believe that those who supposedly were "caring for him" let him die the way he did. They used him to spend his money while the poor man didn't know what was going on. What a sad life he led secluded and in bed. Maheu's message to interact with people really inspired me. Maheu was a real networker and he made lots of friends, in addition to his wonderful family. Howard Hughes had no friends or family and as a result, his employees treated him terribly. If he had a family, they would have gotten him the treatment that he so desperately needed. This is a great book!!! I could not put this book down!

6 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Somewhat revealing but disappointing and one-sided., July 17, 1999

By A Customer

Robert Maheu gives a one-sided view of his reign under Howard Hughes downplaying his "sins" in my opinion and never really coming to grips with his abuse of power and lack of character. I suspect that what he did reveal is mostly because he was caught with his pants down. Nevertheless, I still found it interesting in helping to piece together the Howard Hughes enigma. I learned much more from reading "Citizen Hughes".