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

by Smith, John L.

• ISBN13: 9781935396475
• ISBN10: 1935396471
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-06-01
• Publisher: Huntington Press

Summary

For more than 35 years, Oscar Goodman was the country's pre-eminent defense attorney for alleged gangsters. His endless client list reads like a Who's Who of mobsters: Meyer Lansky, Nick Civella, Anthony Spilotro, Frank Rosenthal, Jimmy Chagra, Natale Richichi, Nicky Scarfo, and Vinny Ferrara, to name a few. So, was 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. Originally available only in hard-cover format, this all-new paperback edition of Of Rats and Men has also been expanded with five new chapters that bring Goodman's story fully up-to-date. A must-read for any fan of Las Vegas and its colorful past -- and even more colorful former "mob" mayor.

Author Biography

The most widely read columnist in Nevada, John L. Smith has been honored by the National Headliner Awards, the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, and the Nevada Press Association. In 2001, John was named a finalist for the prestigious Batten Medal. He appears regularly on national television shows and was a featured source for the award-winning British documentary Mob Law: The True Story of Oscar Goodman.