All-American Mafioso: The Johnny Roselli

A biography of life-time mob man Rosselli describes his role in Capone's gang, in the extortion of the Hollywood studios, and in the infiltration of the Las Vegas casinos

Rosselli, brought to this country from Italy as a child, was a key figure in organized crime for decades until he was murdered in 1976. Los Angeles freelance journalist Rappleye and private eye Becker trace the rise of this gangster who began his career working for Al Capone, moved to Hollywood at a time when the mob was making inroads into the film industry, switched his residence to Las Vegas when the first Cosa Nostra-financed casinos were built, and played a major role in the CIA's abortive attempts to assassinate Fidel Castro. The book draws a deeply depressing picture of American life with its contention that many important figures in business and politics are beholden to the Mafia, including John Kennedy, who, the authors suggest, was killed by the mob. The biography will be much discussed. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Los Angeles-based journalist Rappleye and Las Vegas p.i. Becker join forces in this exciting, appalling life of a high- echelon mobster. Johnny Rosselli, born Filippo Sacco in Italy in 1905, was a gangster's gangster--an urbane, handsome killer whose associates included Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Howard Hughes, and the Kennedys. After a tough childhood in Boston's North End, Rosselli lit out for Chicago, jackknifing his way into the Capone organization. A bout of TB sent him to California, where he engineered a multimillion-dollar extortion of major Hollywood studios. There, too, Rosselli adopted his taste for hiding in the shadows, raking in money while his pals--Bugsy Seigel, Sam Giancana, etc.--soaked up the limelight. In the 1950's, Rosselli reprised his Hollywood success in Las Vegas, overseeing the construction of the Tropicana and other mob-connected casinos. His biggest scams came in the 60's--first ``Operation Pluto,'' the CIA-Mafia attempted hit on Fidel Castro, which Rosselli helped design, and then, according to the authors, a key role (as far as the fraying trail can be followed) in the Kennedy assassination (one eyewitness even places Rosselli in Dealey Plaza that fateful day). Filled with tidbits both salacious and violent (JFK's inauguration-night orgy, the disposition of Rosselli's bullet- heavy, dismembered corpse), but successful above all in its scary sense of how Rosselli epitomizes the dark side of the American dream. (Sixteen b&w photographs--not seen.) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Born Filippo Sacco in Italy, Rosselli's long Mafia career ended in 1976 when he was slain following his Senate testimony about his role in the CIA-Mafia plot to kill Fidel Castro. In between, Rosselli, who started with the Capone mob, was most active in Hollywood and Las Vegas. The authors rather admire their subject, and he is portayed as a principled, patriotic, and gentlemanly mobster. Despite extensive research, the book lacks an authoritative source, and Rosselli and his exploits remain shadowy and not fully realized. Of necessity, there is an abundance of speculation, some well-informed and some dubious. Although a bit lacking in drama and immediacy for the general reader, this book has historical value. Suitable for larger crime collections.
-Gregor A. Preston, Univ. of California Lib., Davis
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.