ALS signed "Howard," three pages, lightly-lined, 8.5 x 13.25, date penned in another hand, "5/16-2:15 P.M." Letter to his assistant, confidant, and former FBI agent, Robert "Bob" Maheu, in full: "Please tell me the details of the closing of the purchase of the Stardust Drive-In theater and the so-called 'pie shaped piece of land.' The only reason I ask for this is because, in the maps that Herb Nall sends me frequently to illustrate some piece of property, he has never shown this property as being owned. The maps I refer to always show the property already bought in one color, and the property under consideration in another color. However, the Stardust property mentioned above is never shown at all among the property already acquired. So, therefore, it is apparent that Nall is unaware of that transaction. I only want to see a map illustrating the two pieces of property in order that there be no misunderstanding particularly about the pie-shaped piece of land, which is best known to me. I am still holding the two messages for you which I mentioned last night. I will send them on to you a little later, or possibly in the morning after I have a chance to read them over again and see if I want to make any corrections. Meantime, Bob, I want most urgently to see you get started on the project we have discussed for the sale of the hotels. Before I tell you please to go ahead and see the top man in Denny's, I want you to consider this decision once more very carefully. So much is involved, I am hesitant to say go ahead until I understand fully what changing circumstances led you to shift your views away from the Dominick & Dominick public offering plan which you favored so strongly and to favor instead the Denny approach, which I had principly [sic] been prefering [sic], and which I understood you did not particularly care for. Please explain the changing factors which led to your different evaluation. You explained it at the time, but I never did completely understand it. This is very important. There is a lot of money involved, and once you talk to Denny's, it will be impossible to change back to the other plan. Also, Bob, please give me your very latest thinking as to what can be done about the circus and, one more thing, Bob, please bring me up to date on where the Stardust-Justice Department project stands. I am most anxious to see this progress. Thank you very, very much." In fine condition, with small area of staple-related paper loss to the upper left corner of each page. Despite having never met face-to-face, Maheu was one of Hughes's closest aides and trusted advisor's during the 1960's. Most significantly, Maheu shielded Hughes from the public and orchestrated the deals that made the reclusive billionaire a Las Vegas power player during the city's critical development period.
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