Of Rats and Men: Oscar Goodman's Life from Mob Mouthpiece to Mayor of Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada: Huntington Press, 2003. A gorgeous copy INSCRIBED/SIGNED directly on the front free endpaper by both the AUTHOR, John L. Smith and SUBJECT, Oscar Goodman (their signatures ONLY, NOTHING else). NOT personalized to anyone. The jacket is protected by a removable, slightly rubbed Brodart clear-plastic sleeve. Appears unread. Fine condition in a bright and shiny Fine dust jacket. NO chips. NO tears. NO creases. NOT price clipped ($25.95). [Bibliographical note: jackets priced $26.95" are later]. Sharp corners. Pages are fresh, crisp, clean and unmarked -- apparently never read. Bound in the original black boards, stamped in bright gold on the spine. From the dust jacket: "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.". INSCRIBED/SIGNED by the AUTHOR & SUBJECT. First Edition. Hardcover. Fine condition/Fine dust jacket. Illus. by NOT a library discard. 8vo. xx, 420pp. + 16 pages of photos. Great Packaging, Fast Shipping.