Perfect Villians, Imperfect Heroes: Robert Kennedy's War Against Organized Crime [Hardcover]

Ronald L. Goldfarb (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 21, 1995

Written by Ron Goldfarb, who was recruited as a young lawyer to work with RFK, Perfect Villains, Imperfect Heroes tells the story of Robert Kennedy's tenure as attorney general, from his inexperience to his success at carrying out the most relentless campaign against organized crime ever mounted. of photos.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In 1961, when Robert Kennedy became attorney general, Goldfarb (The Contempt Power), then a liberal young New York City lawyer, agreed reluctantly to serve in the Justice Department's Organized Crime and Racketeering section. Soon he was swept up in his boss's campaign against the rackets, the first time any administration had launched all-out war against the mob, the officials it corrupted and the unions it poisoned. While RFK's successful battle against Teamster chief Jimmy Hoffa was his most publicized case, the author shows that he instituted hundreds of other cases and inspired his subordinates with his combination of pragmatism and idealism and with the way he exercised power with confidence and empathy. In Goldfarb's estimation, RFK was a notable being. Arresting is the author's tendency to accept the thesis that the Mafia engineered the assassination of John Kennedy, who was doing deals with the syndicate to eliminate Castro even as his brother's Justice Department was aggressively attempting to prosecute the mob. This insider's view of RFK's campaign against organized crime shows us the workaday world of the Attorney General and his single-mindedness in combating "the roots of evil." Without romanticizing RFK, Goldfarb presents us with a genuine visionary.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Goldfarb, a former Justice Department lawyer, provides an insightful account of Robert F. Kennedy's tenure as U.S. attorney general and his crusade against organized crime. While Goldfarb focuses on his own courtroom experiences, he also shows how Kennedy's open style of leadership inspired Justice Department staff to excel at their jobs. The department's overall effectiveness increased dramatically under Kennedy's direction. By bringing the fight against organized crime to Washington, indictments and convictions each rose from zero to over 600 in Kennedy's first two years on the job. Goldfarb and other department lawyers exposed corrupt public officials, union leaders like Jimmy Hoffa, illegal union activities, mob infiltration of Las Vegas, and much more. Often using obscure statutes to snag racketeers, Kennedy's team also drafted new laws with stiffer penalties. Judging by a number of factors outlined here, Goldfarb sees a connection between organized crime and the Kennedy assassinations. Although the detailed courtroom memoir will mainly interest lawyers, it fills a major gap in the history of the Kennedy era. Recommended for academic and large public libraries.?Gary D. Barber, SUNY at Fredonia Lib.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 357 pages
• Publisher: Random House; 1st edition (November 21, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679435654
• ISBN-13: 978-0679435655
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,314,748 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #88 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( K ) > Kennedy, Robert

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful History!, November 22, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Perfect Villains, Imperfect Heroes: Robert F. Kennedy's War Against Organized Crime (Capital Classics) (Paperback)

Ron Goldfarb's "Perfect Villains, Imperfect Heroes" is an insightful analysis of the RFK led Attorney General office investigation of the mob. Part memoir and part history, you feel like you are part of the action when you read this interesting book.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, February 14, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Perfect Villians, Imperfect Heroes: Robert Kennedy's War Against Organized Crime (Hardcover)

Overall, too much emphasis on Goldfarb, and not enough on Kennedy. The description of his work in Newport is somewhat dull. However, his thoughts at the end about the JFK assassination connection with organized crime are interesting.