Page 317. former assistant cultural affairs commissioner: Confidential source, interview with author, 1988.
Page 318. Paul Moses: Interview with author, 1988.
Page 322. “No one would have any reason to send me flowers.…”: Bess Myerson, interview with author, 1988.
Page 323. Tony Bailey: Interview with author, 1988.
Page 326. one of the jurors later said she was moved to tears: Sheila Adler, interview with author, 1988.
Page 326. he thought for sure that Abrams’s summation would compel the other jurors to vote to convict: Daniel Handley, interview with author, December 1988.
Page 328. “I think the judge chose me because he saw I was pro-defense.…”: Jeannie Kasindorf, “How Bess Got Out of the Mess,” New York, January 16, 1989.
Page 329. Berardi felt strongly: Linda Berardi, interview with author, December 1988.
Page 329. Daniel Handley: Interview with author, December 1988.
Page 331. Bess grew more worried: Bess Myerson, interview with author, December 21, 1988.
Page 332. Bess said she understood why her daughter couldn’t be there: Bess Myerson, interview with author, December 21, 1988.
Page 332. “I thought that after they heard what Mayor Wagner.…”: Milton Gabel, interview with author, December 21, 1988.
Page 332. Judge Gabel was also worried: Judge Gabel, interview with author, December 21, 1988.
Index
“A Woman’s Place,” 100
ABC, 100
Abramowitz, Alton, 189, 203
Abrams, Morris, 91
Abrams, Robert, 182
Abrams, Stuart, 282, 292, 310–11, 313–14, 317–18, 322, 325–26, 333
Abzug, Bella, 106, 109, 110
Adams, Cindy, 153, 284, 289, 290, 340, 343
Adams Theater, 36
ADL. See Anti-Defamation League
Adler, Bill, 156
Adler, Sheila, 333, 334
“Ain’t She Sweet?,” 64
Allen, Betty, 242
Alvarez, Zenaida, 330
Amalgamated Meat Cutters Union, 81
American Beauty Review, 36–37
American Jewish Committee, 67
American Jewish Congress, 176
Ames, Charlotte, 116, 118–21, 122, 129
harassment of, 119, 121, 135–40, 141, 143
Anderson, Arlene, 32
Anderson, Robert, 62
Anti-Defamation League (ADL), 41–42, 46, 48, 51, 66
sponsors political debate, 132
Arzt, George, 319
Association for Autistic Children, 74
Astor, Brooke, 242
Avildsen, John, 124
Babinec, Tony, 183, 185, 197, 212, 321
Badillo, Herman, 97, 110
Bailey, Tony, 160, 170, 323–24
Bannon, Peter, 113
Barrett, Wayne, 108
Bartel, Jean, 39
Baum, Joseph, 79, 82–83, 90, 105
Baum, Olga, 83, 105
Beame, Abraham, 97, 98, 106, 108, 110
Becker, Jerome, 120, 248
Berardi, Linda, 287, 327, 328–29, 330, 331, 334, 335
Bergen, Polly, 129
Berman, Susan, 112
Bernikow, Leonard A., 4
Berry, Virginia Freeland, 28, 32, 37
on Myerson’s show, 50
Better Business Bureau, 77–78
Biaggi, Mario, 97
Bienen, Betty, 262, 309
“Big Payoff, The,” 51–53, 54, 62, 64
Birchwood Camp for Girls, 22
Blum, Barbara, 73–74
Blum, Robert, 73–74
B’nai B’rith. See Anti-Defamation League
Bollinger, Ann, 289, 290
Botnik, Victor, 229
Bourscheidt, Randy, 205, 207
Breslin, Jimmy, 229–30
Brezenoff, Stanley, 244
Bribery trial, 284–336
Babinec’s testimony, 321
Canter’s testimony, 317–18
character witness testimony, 324
Harrod’s testimony, 310–12
jury of, 286–88, 329–31, 333–34
Kennedy’s testimony, 321
Koch’s testimony, 318–20
Leventhal’s testimony, 291–92, 293
Mulhearn’s testimony, 324
Pagan’s testimony, 321, 322
Rickman’s testimony, 312–17
Sukhreet Gabel’s testimony, 293–307
verdicts of, 334–35
Bristol-Myers, 104, 108, 125, 131
Brodsky, Fanny, 10
Brodsky, Samuel, 10
Brody, Jane, 157
Bronx Home News, 36
Bruck, Lilly, 90, 95
Bruno, Richard, 201, 202, 204, 205, 206, 207, 246
complaints about Sukhreet Gabel, 208–9
Bryn Mawr College, 70
Brynner, Yul, 117
Buckley, William, 106
Burden, Carter, 120
Bureau of Nutrition, 156
“Buying Time,” 100
Byrne, Brenden, 105
“Candid Camera,” 70, 71
Canter, Walter, 100, 317–18
Capasso, Carl Andy, x, 146–54, 158–66, 169–174, 226, 229, 230, 245, 246–49, 251, 268, 340, 341–42, 343
age difference between Myerson and, 144
buys car for Myerson, 161
company of. See Nanco Contracting Corporation
divorce settlement and, 172–74, 189–90, 192–93, 197–98, 203, 214, 220–23
early life of, 146–47
fundraising for Myerson, 130
generosity of, 152, 156
imprisonment of, 1, 4, 260–61, 262, 274, 341
income of, 190
indictment for bribery, 1, 3, 4, 5, 265
indictment for tax evasion, 246
infatuation with Myerson, 130, 144, 155
investigation of, 231–35, 237, 241–42, 252, 254, 258, 259
Judge Gabel’s recollection of, 186–87
loyalty to Myerson, 143–45
marriage of, 150–54
Myerson assists in defense of, 247–48
Myerson’s disparagement of, 155–56, 165
organized crime associations and, 151, 172, 231–32, 233, 237
pleads guilty to tax evasion, 246–47
pleads not guilty to bribery charge, 267
release from prison, 341
sentencing of, 249
social aspirations of, 152, 156
as stepfather, 150
taped by ex-wife, 216–19, 238, 252
tax evasion scheme of, 215–18, 221, 223, 278
trial and, 285–86, 287, 289, 292–93, 308–9, 310, 311, 313, 323, 324, 329, 330, 332, 333, 334, 335. See also Bribery trial
violence of, 163–64, 169
Capasso, Debbie Herbert, 150
Capasso, Helene Herbert, 150, 162, 163, 340
Capasso, Josephine, 147
Capasso, Michael, 147
Capasso, Nancy, 120, 145, 147–54, 171, 193, 201, 231, 247, 285, 291, 323, 324, 339–40
Capasso’s affair with Myerson and, 158–65
Capasso’s violence toward, 163–64, 169
cooperates with investigators, 258
criticized by son, 340
depiction of at trial, 289, 293, 311, 322, 327
divorce settlement and, 172–74, 188–90, 192, 197, 198, 216–20, 221, 222–25
appeals of, 214, 225, 240–41, 261–62
requests Judge Gabel’s removal, 220
suspicious of Judge Gabel’s ruling, 213–15
unable to collect, 340
first marriage of, 147–49
marriage to Capasso, 150–54
publicly criticised by Myerson, 250, 251
removal of property and, 266–67, 269–70, 271–72, 273–74
resentment of Myerson, 217, 257, 261, 262, 272, 339
subpoenaed by investigators, 232–33
talks to press, 236
<
br /> taping of Capasso, 216–19, 238, 252
at wedding of Myerson’s daughter, 159–60
Capasso, Steven Herbert, 150, 153, 340
Capasso, Michael, 186, 261
Caplovitz, David, 76
Carey, Hugh, 105, 107, 117, 124, 128, 178
Carnegie Hall, 242
Myerson’s debut at, 42–43
Caro, Robert, 177, 324
Carroll, Maurice, 133
Carson, Johnny, 67, 68
Catalina Swimsuits, 38
CBS, 68, 71, 103, 157
Chanin, Pam, 111, 133
Chase, Ken, 279–80
Chicago Sun-Times, 103
Chisholm, Shirley, 98
Christian, Joseph, 184
Citibank, 100, 102, 103, 104, 108, 125, 127, 131, 132, 133
Citicorp, 157
Cody, John, 151
Coffey, Diane, 205
Cohen, Barbara, 184
Cohn, Al, 175, 176
Cohn, Roy, 175
“Colgate Comedy Hour, The,” 52
Columbia Pictures, 67
Columbia University, 43, 48, 50
Commission on Human Rights, 98, 209–11, 238, 253, 280, 338
Commission on Judicial Conduct, 240
Conboy, Kenneth, 237, 245, 265
Connelly, Maureen, 128, 132, 134
Conover, Harry, 21, 22, 31, 43, 131
Consumer Guide to Product Information, 108
Consumer Protection Act, 82, 100
Continental Airlines, 67
Cooper, Gary, 67
Corry, John, 113
Costikyan, Edward, 184
Cotton Bowl parade, 38
Crosby, Bing, 67
Cullen, Bill, 62, 64
Cuomo, Mario, 110, 111, 113, 114, 184, 259
Curtis Institute, 43
Dali, Salvador, 68
Davidoff, Sid, 76, 84, 95
Dayan, Moshe, 126
de la Renta, Oscar, 242
Delfiner, Rita, 80, 97
DeLorean, John, 124
Department of Consumer Affairs, 73, 79–80, 81–82, 90, 93–96. See also Myerson, Bess
Department of Cultural Affairs, 167–69, 199, 207, 237, 238, 252, 253, 258, 338. See also Myerson, Bess
Department of Environmental Protection, 150, 222, 232, 234
Department of Investigation, 252
Department of Licenses, 75
Department of Markets, 75
DeSapio, Carmine, 108, 180
DiBernardo, Robert, 232
Dietl, Bo, 271
DiNapoli, Louis, 232
Dinkins, David, 182, 338
Dorn, Frances, 29, 33
Douglas, Michael, 64
Dowd, Michael, 229, 230
Duffy, Kevin Thomas, 278–79
Dworkin, Susan, 19, 260, 268
Eaton, Dick, 125, 126
Endervelt, Jeffrey, 120, 129, 130
“Ernie Kovacs Show, The,” 52
Esposito, Meade, 99, 100
Fantaisie-Impromptu, 42
Fantasia on Themes, 42
Fashions in Music, 64
Feldberg, Michael, 5, 266, 280, 281, 282
at trial, 290–91, 292, 301–4, 317, 324, 327, 332
Felder, Myrna, 224, 240, 270, 271, 272, 292
Felder, Raoul Lionel, 120, 161, 162, 215, 224–25, 270, 271, 272, 274, 292
confidence in Judge Gabel, 203, 214
questioning of Myerson, 273
Feldman, Chester, 63, 64, 70
Ferrare, Christina, 124
Fiddler on the Roof, 9
Fleischner, Mort, 157, 158
Flender, Harold, 41
Fletcher, Aubrey, 86
Ford, Gerald, 227
Ford, Kevin, 232, 233, 237, 241, 262, 282
Forster, Arnold, 41, 42
Framer, Walt, 51–52
Fredman, Sam, 162
Freeland, Virginia. See Berry, Virginia Freeland
Friedman, Stanley, 227, 229, 249
Capasso’s friendship with, 171, 222, 224, 230, 231, 234, 247, 248, 310
“Full Moon and Empty Arms,” 42
Funt, Allen, 70, 312
Funt, Marilyn, 118, 133, 134, 312
Furness, Betty, 73
Gabel, Hortense W., 175–79, 180, 181, 182, 185, 199, 200, 201, 205, 210, 222, 246, 279, 339, 340–41
appointed to state supreme court, 178–79
birth of daughter, 177
competence questioned, 281–83
concerned about allegations, 202–203
delegates Capasso motion, 198
early life of, 175–76
helps daughter with job search, 179, 184, 207, 209, 211
indictment of, 3–5, 265–66
investigation of, 237, 240, 252, 254, 258, 278
leaves matrimonial division, 219
Myerson and, 186–87, 192
not guilty plea of, 267
poor vision of, 3, 175, 176
reduces Capasso’s alimony, 188–90, 196–97
removal requested by Nancy Capasso, 220
reputation of, 174
retirement from bench, 259, 263
rules in favor of Nancy Capasso, 169
ruling questioned by Nancy Capasso, 213–15
ruling reversed, 214
talks to press, 236, 257
taped by daughter, 263–64
trial and, 286, 290–92, 294, 295, 303, 306, 307, 329, 330, 332–33, 334, 335, 336. See also Bribery trial
urban renewal and, 177, 178
warned against daughter’s hiring, 204
Gabel, Julie Bess. See Gabel, Sukhreet
Gabel, Milton, 3–4, 176, 181, 185, 187, 195–96, 252, 279, 286
at trial, 303, 332, 335, 336
Gabel, Sukhreet, 179–85, 193–96, 203–212, 213, 222, 235, 242, 245–46, 250, 257, 258, 278, 320–21, 337, 341, 342
birth of, 177
cancer of, 294–95
cooperates with investigators, 4, 252–53, 279–81
depression of, 179, 181–82, 185, 211–12, 253
divorce of, 183
electroshock therapy of, 212
hired in cultural affairs department, 196
indiscretion of, 199–200
job at human rights commission, 209–11
job performance of, 200, 207–209, 210
marriage of, 182–83
name change of, 181
relationship with Myerson, 187–88, 191–92, 193–94, 196, 197, 202, 206–7, 238–40
resentment of mother, 180, 212, 281, 305
resigns from cultural affairs department, 210
talks to press, 201–2, 259
tapes phone conversations, 262–64
television appearances of, 333, 338–39
trial and, 286, 288, 308, 309–10, 329, 330, 332–34, 335, 336
testimony of, 293–307
Gambino family, 151
Garson, Greer, 124
Garth, David, 105
Koch’s campaign and, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115
Myerson’s campaign and, 128, 132, 134
Gateway Playhouse, 62
Geldzahler, Henry, 167
Genovese family, 151, 232
Gersten, Steve, 280
Ghetto, The, 10
Giuliani, Rudolph, 226–28, 230, 231, 235, 237, 238, 240, 241, 245, 248, 252, 256, 257, 258, 264, 278–79, 282, 319, 343
early life of, 227
indictment of Capasso, 246
indictment of Myerson, 265
investigation of organized crime, 227, 231–32
learns of verdict, 337
mayoral campaign of, 338
Myerson’s criticism of, 250, 251
Godfrey, Arthur, 64
Goldberg, Jay, 233, 246, 247, 248, 249, 324
at trial, 285, 289, 292–93, 304–7, 310, 311, 316, 318, 321, 323, 324, 326–27, 328, 329, 332, 333
Goldberg, Rema, 287, 309
Goldin, Harrison J., 231
Goldstein, Arnol
d. See Grant, Arnold Goldstein, Hannah, 67
Goodelman, Aaron, 10–11
Goodman, Roy, 111, 114
Goodson, Mark, 63, 124
Gould, Milton, 184, 278, 332
Grace, Sylvia, 8, 10, 15, 23, 32, 38
supportive of Myerson, 21, 27, 30
Grace, William, 38
Grant, Arnold, 66–72, 74, 82–83, 86, 93, 99, 117
committment to Jewish causes, 67
death of, 92
domineering personality of, 69, 76–77
first divorce from Myerson, 70
first marriage to Myerson, 67–70
marital battle with Myerson, 86–92
prenuptial agreement of, 71, 87, 88
remarriage to Myerson, 71
second divorce from Myerson, 92
supportive of Myerson’s career, 74
wealth of, 66–67, 90
Grant, Barra, 54, 62, 64, 67, 99, 133, 134, 193, 259, 332
adopted by Arnold Grant, 70
attempt to intercede in Myerson’s marriage, 91
birth of, 48
custody battle over, 55–58, 60
father’s funeral and, 61
Myerson’s closeness to, 52
Myerson’s illness and, 103
wedding of, 159–60
Grant, Nancy, 67
Grant, Sally, 67
Gray, Barry, 124
Gray, Judith, 199–200
Gray, Lucy, 329, 331, 333–34
Great Depression, 13, 74, 176
Greenspan, Moe, 79
Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A Minor, 24, 29
Gross, Lloyd, 64
Grove, Betty, 52, 54
Gutman, Jeremy, 272, 273
Haas, Richard, 147
Hafetz, Fred, 3, 242, 243, 244, 255, 257, 265, 272, 277–78
at trial, 284, 285, 290, 296, 297–300, 310, 311–12, 314–16, 318, 319, 320, 324, 327–28, 332
Hammer, Armand, 242
Handley, Daniel, 329, 331
Harriman, W. Averell, 177
Harris, Patricia, 103
Harrod, Ray, 171, 310
Harrod, Shirley, 171, 172, 173, 174, 194, 195, 258, 296, 330
trial testimony of, 310–12
Hartnett, Joel, 110
Hatcher, Gwen, 237
Hayden, Jeff, 52
Heller, Ben, 130
Helmsley, Harry, 117, 124
Helmsley, Leona, 117, 124
Herbert, Howard, 148, 150
Herbert, Nancy Roth. See Capasso, Nancy
Hertz Corporation, 67
High School of Music and Art, 17, 25, 168
Hill, Nancy, 275–76
Holocaust, 41
Holtzman, Elizabeth, 123, 126, 131
Myerson urged to support, 124
Myerson’s attack on, 132–33
wins nomination, 134
Humphrey, Hubert, 66, 72
Hunter College, 19–20, 21, 25
Hyman, Mort, 120
I Love New York Diet, 157
Ianniello, Matthew, 151, 161, 232, 248
“In the Public Interest,” 105
International Workers Order, 11
Queen Bess Page 54