Historic archive of documents related to Hoffa’s life insurance policy through US Life, three signed by Hoffa, consisting of approximately 70 pages dated between 1955 and 1983, from Hoffa’s initial application to the insurance company’s payout to his son. Contents are loosely bound with metal clips in a 9.25 x 11.75 manila folder. In overall fine condition, with expected document wear.
First document is part of Hoffa’s application, signed “James R. Hoffa,” one page both sides, 8.5 x 11.25, July 18, 1955. Document lists Hoffa’s occupation as “Labor Union Work,” and includes a detailed medical history report signed by his doctor.
Second continues his application, signed “James R. Hoffa,” one page both sides, 8.5 x 11, July 30, 1955. Document lists Hoffa’s occupation as “Union Official…Executive,” with “Teamsters” as his employer, and requests a “Preferred Whole Life” policy in the amount of $50,000, with “Premium Waiver” and “Accidental Death” coverage requested.
Third is a modification to his policy changing his beneficiary, signed “James R. Hoffa,” one page, 8.5 x 11, March 3, 1967. Document names his son, James P. Hoffa, as the beneficiary of the policy. Includes a copy of the modified policy.
The balance of the archive consists of internal memos and documents, and letters from James P. Hoffa and lawyers following the disappearance of his father. Among these is a typed memo from three months after Hoffa’s disappearance, one page, 8.5 x 11, November 4, 1975, in part: “Will you please attempt to develop from this policy file a rough estimate of our liability in the event that Hoffa becomes a death claim which is to be paid by United States Life…I’d like to have an idea of just what our exposure is.”
A later internal document, dated September 24, 1982, lists “Cause of Death: Unknown,” and “Circumstances, if relevant: Teamster leader—missing for 7 years.” Following this is a copy of the State of Michigan Probate Court’s “Order of Presumption of Death,” declaring Hoffa dead as of July 30, 1982, after having been missing for seven years. The final document is a carbon copy of Treasury Department Form 712, detailing the final payment of $50,687 to his son.
Released from prison after serving five years of his 13-year sentence for jury tampering, attempted bribery, and fraud, Jimmy Hoffa remained subject to a non-participation clause that restricted him from joining in union activities until March 1980 (which would have been the end of his prison term, had he served his full sentence). While appealing this condition of his release, he began efforts to regain control of the union from Frank Fitzsimmons, who held equal support from the US government and underground mob leaders; Hoffa’s insistence on reinstating himself in the union made him unpopular on both sides. Scheduled to testify before a Senate committee regarding intelligence activities around the time of the Kennedy assassination (which his mob connections were rumored to have a hand in), Hoffa mysteriously disappeared on July 30, 1975, never to be heard from again. With countless enemies and numerous plausible motives to dispose of him, the case was never solved. Though his body was never found, Hoffa was officially declared dead in July of 1982, on the seventh anniversary of his disappearance. His life insurance policy, thoroughly documented in this archive, was paid in full to his son, James P. Hoffa, who went on to follow in his father’s footsteps, becoming president of the Teamsters’ Union in 1999. An incredibly rare set of documents holding three signatures of the infamous disappeared union leader. RR Auction COA.
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