The Money and the Power: The Making of Las Vegas and Its Hold on AmericaLas Vegas—the name evokes images of divorce and dice, gangsters and glitz. But beneath it all is a sordid history that is much more insidious and far-reaching than ever imagined. The Money and the Power is the most comprehensive look yet at Las Vegas and its breadth of influence. Based on five years of intensive research and interviewing, Sally Denton and Roger Morris reveal the city’s historic network of links to Wall Street, international drug traffickers, and the CIA. In doing so, they expose the disturbing connections amongst politicians, businessmen, and the criminals that harness these illegal activities. Through this lucid and gripping indictment of Las Vegas, Morris and Denton uncover a national ethic of exploitation, violence, and greed, and provide a provocative reinterpretation of twentieth-century American history. Now this neon maelstrom of ruthlessness and greed stands to not as an aberrant “sin city,” but as a natural outgrowth of the corruption and worship of money that have come to permeate American life. |
Contents
Prologue | 3 |
Part One The Juice | 17 |
Benny Binion | 30 |
Pat McCarran | 38 |
Bugsy Siegel | 49 |
Hank Greenspun | 59 |
Estes Kefauver | 75 |
Part Two City of Fronts | 87 |
This Alliance of Gamblers Gangsters and Government | 105 |
Temple Town of the American Dream | 127 |
Character Loans | 149 |
Epilogue | 390 |
Bibliography | 441 |
Acknowledgments | 459 |
Other editions - View all
The Money and the Power: The Making of Las Vegas and Its Hold on America ... Sally Denton,Roger Morris No preview available - 2002 |
Common terms and phrases
agents already American associates attorney Authors bank became become brother called campaign casino century Chicago city's close committee Confidential interview corporate corruption criminal Dalitz decades Democratic described drug early federal figures finance force gambling gaming governor Greenspun House Hughes Ibid industry interests John journalist Kefauver Kennedy knew known Lansky Las Vegas later Laxalt less loans looking Maheu major McCarran million Mormon murder named Nevada never Nixon officials once operation organized crime owners political politicians president Press profits recorded reporter Robert Rosselli Sawyer secret seemed Senate soon story Street Strip Syndicate Teamsters Thomas tion told town turned union University Vegas wanted Washington White wrote Wynn Yablonsky York