The Hoffa wars: Teamsters, rebels, politicians, and the mob

The Introduction for "The Hoffa Wars" was Jonathan Kwitney's memory of a search for Jimmy Hoffa at a remote lodge that Hoffa owned a part of. This occured two days after the disappearance and the author participated in the search in Eagle River,WI. It was an entertaining Intro. Dan Moldea's book was first published in 1978 amid harsh criticism for his suggestion that the trio of Santos Trafficante,Carlos Marcello,and Jimmy Hoffa were responsible for the JFK assassination. In the years since then, that theory has become arguably the most popularly held theory. The main topic of "The Hoffa Wars" is Jimmy Hoffa himself and the history of the Teamsters Union. A lot of corruption is detailed and Mr. Moldea makes it clear that he is no fan of Hoffa. This book covers a lot of territory; from Hoffa's early years with the local union to his eventual disappearance. The violence among rivals and the circumstances leading to mafia control of some unions is highlighted. The Nixon bribes, mafia connections, shakedowns during union "organizing" are all discussed in this book. After reading many books about the JFK assassination, This book is impressive and the author has really done his research. As far as Jimmy Hoffa's disappearance is concerned....the information that Mr. Moldea provides in this book was confirmed by Frank Sheeran in the book "I Heard You Paint Houses." The only caveat with this edition is the very small print. Despite the volume of the book, it's an easy read with no fluff. I recommend "The Hoffa Wars".

Moldea's book definitely has a tone. There's a point early on where he states fairly flatly that the best thing Hoffa ever did for the Teamsters was disappear. Clearly, this isn't the place if you're looking for a psychological profile of Hoffa.However, it *is* the place to look if what you're looking for is a history of the relationships between the Teamsters, organized crime, Robert Kennedy and Castro. A fascinating look at the web of power that bound these players together. Moldea has a reputation for dedication and honesty, and the work here bears that reputation out. The writing is detailed and passionate. What I liked best was how clearly it communicated issues internal to the Teamsters. It's a very complicated subject, and to understand it you have to understand things like the role of owner-operators. Moldea reduced that complexity for the uninitiated, a formidible task.