Of Rats and Men: Oscar Goodman's Life from Mob Mouthpiece to Mayor of Las Vegas (True Crime) [Hardcover]

John L. Smith (Author)

Book Description

Series: True Crime | Publication Date: October 1, 2003

For more than 35 years, Oscar Goodman was the country's pre-eminent defense attorney for alleged gangsters. His endless client list included Meyer Lansky, Nick Civella, Anthony Spilotro, Frank Rosenthal, Jimmy Chagra, Natale Richichi, Nicky Scarfo, and Vinny Ferrara, along with many others. Though no further connection between Goodman and the Mafia has ever been proved, the famous litigator has often been accused of being more than just a mouthpiece for organized crime. Was Oscar Goodman only what he claims, an attorney who defended his clients based on the simple principle that they, too, have constitutional rights? And if so, how did he manage to mingle with the mob for decades without becoming part of it? After scores of unlikely courtroom victories, Goodman pulled off an even more unlikely career change. Twice elected mayor of Las Vegas, he went from legal spokesman for the most notorious crime figures of our era to political spokesman for the most notorious city in the country.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Goodman spent 35 years defending some of the most notorious crime figures in the U.S., including Meyer Lansky, Frank Rosenthal, Anthony Spilotro, and others. That long and infamous career didn't keep him from being elected mayor of Las Vegas, a town trying to rehabilitate its image as a Mob haven. Smith recounts Goodman's rise from a modest childhood with immigrant parents in Philadelphia and a brief stint as a prosecutor in Las Vegas before he developed a fascination with the fast life and colorful characters of the crime world. Goodman's success in a string of attempted prosecutions from Philadelphia to Las Vegas made him "Public Enemy Number One among federal mob prosecutors," who wondered how close he was to the operations of the Mob. Unabashedly proud of his career and reputation as a Mob mouthpiece, Goodman appeared as himself in the Martin Scorsese film Casino. And in 1999, despite the baggage of his career and scathing newspaper editorials, Goodman entered politics and a new career as the self-proclaimed "happiest mayor in America." Cathy Buksar
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

A first-rate profile of one of our most unusual public figures. (It) deserves attention far beyond those interested in gambling. -- Chicago Sun-Times, October 2004

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 419 pages
• Publisher: Huntington Press; 1st ed edition (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0929712986
• ISBN-13: 978-0929712987
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #176,574 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #61 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Professionals & Academics > Lawyers & Judges

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More Insight from Smith  an eminent authority on the mob, November 4, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Of Rats and Men: Oscar Goodman's Life from Mob Mouthpiece to Mayor of Las Vegas (True Crime) (Hardcover)

The copious notes and eight pages of bibliography supporting John L. Smith's meticulously researched biographical look at Oscar Goodman, former mob attorney - presently the two-term mayor of Las Vegas, impressed me.

Talk about "insider" information! Smith has long been quoted as a preeminent authority on mob history and "wise guy" relationships. In his book, "Of Rats and Men: Oscar Goodman's Life from Mob Mouthpiece to Mayor of Las Vegas," Smith names a Who's Who of notorious clients, alleged criminal activities, and egregious political innuendoes surrounding the controversial bonds between Goodman and friends. Scared me! While it is obvious the attention-seeking mayor was generous in his interviews with the author, Smith kept me up nights as he interpreted what Goodman would have us believe with his [author's] own extensive background knowledge and investigative prowess. John L. has balls of brass to write as honestly as he does.

Don't let an easy read fool you. This book is a gem for all who follow gaming history, or the Las Vegas / mob connection - to say nothing of government ineptitude (now, that was a hoot!).

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An inherently fascinating biography, December 11, 2003

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Of Rats and Men: Oscar Goodman's Life from Mob Mouthpiece to Mayor of Las Vegas (True Crime) (Hardcover)

Of Rats And Men: Oscar Goodman's Life From Mob Mouthpiece To Mayor Of Las Vegas is the inherently fascinating biography of Oscar Goodman, a man who deliberately became a pre-eminent defense attorney for alleged gangsters for 35 years. Accused but never proven of being more than a mouthpiece and defense attorney for organized crime, Oscar Goodman somehow managed to successfully defend his clients without becoming part of organized crime itself -- at least according to the voters of Las Vegas who eventually elected him as their mayor twice. Of Rats And Men is very highly recommended reading for anyone with an interest in the history of organized crime in America or who wish to avail themselves of a unique insight into the life and philosophy of an accomplished trial lawyer who specialized in defending members of established crime families.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful Depiction of the Master of the Game, June 28, 2009

By 

Jonathan Warren (Las Vegas, Nevada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Of Rats and Men: Oscar Goodman's Life from Mob Mouthpiece to Mayor of Las Vegas (True Crime) (Hardcover)

Demonstrating yet again that he is the best Author ever to raise a pen to Las Vegas, John L. Smith gets uprecedented access to bring us the ultimate biography of the world's most prolific mayor.

Having lived in Las Vegas for 40 years, and as someone who went to grade school with the Author and has dined with the Subject, I couldn't be happier with the product. Only a local boy like Smith would not fall victim to the temptation of cliche, so often thrust in front of us by so many who move to Las Vegas to give us their version of the story.

Smith's perspective is critical to truly understand the dynamic, real life character that is Goodman, as well as the environment of his ascention. Well chronicled here is his first big defense case in Las Vegas, where Goodman's ease at interacting across the tracks to Las Vegas's old, black West Side served him so well.

Fascinating ties of defense cases involving federal court judge assisinations and Philadelphia mob figures will have you understanding why we locals believe "all roads lead to Vegas."

If you want the true story of Vegas, you need go no further than the works of John L. Smith. Required reading for all who aspire to win over the town of no limit.