by Mark Shaw
I wish to thank Lauren Mandell, Online Marketing Associate, NY Post, and Marcia Morgan, FBI Records Management Division, Washington, D.C. Thanks also to Vanessa St. Oegger-Menn for her assistance with transcription of a Richard Kollmer interview.
Carol Lind and Joyce Revilla are thanked for their thoughts about Melvin Belli crucial to understanding his role in the Jack Ruby case and his relationship with Dorothy Kilgallen during the Ruby trial.
I thank Mike Horii, Dave Foley, Earle Peterson, Randy and Karen Baker, Jim Whitesell, Randy Boris, Arielle Neal, June Cardinale, Jonna MacDougall, and Marcia Bauma for their feedback after reading various manuscript drafts. Each provided comments and suggestions most helpful. Also my friend Randy Boris for his help with regard to certain toxilogical questions that arose during my research.
Special thanks to Greg Desilet, who provided expert editing skills and book suggestions all around. And to Marcia Bauman, whose editing assistance improved the text considerably as the book neared its printing.
Also thanks to Hien Nguyen, who provided expert research at the National Archives. Her contribution to the worthiness of the final product is substantial. James Wong at Circle Video in Burlingame, California, is thanked for editing nearly a hundred clips from the videotaped and audiotaped interviews noted in the book and posted on the book’s website. Special thanks to Gael Chandler, Jay Scherberth and Marcia Bauman for their superb creative abilities with the book trailer. Great people.
To publisher Anthony Ziccardi and his colleagues at Post Hill Press, I’m honored to be one of your authors. To my crack agent, Frank Weimann of Folio Literary Management, thanks for your belief in our book and for your hard work in securing a top-flight publisher. You are the best at what you do, a tireless agent whose reputation is unmatched in the literary world.
My wife Wen-ying Lu, my true love, is thanked for her support and superb editing skills. Her confidence in me and belief in this book helped me through the rough times when I wanted to give up the fight. To my dearly departed canine friend Black Sox, you are always with me in my heart and soul.
Certainly, the Holy Spirit guiding me every day is responsible for any effort on my part to publish books that make people stop and think about the truth. My spiritual guru, Thomas Merton, is thanked for his wisdom; for helping me be the best spiritual person I can be.
To Dorothy Kilgallen, I trust this book is one you would favor. Your career was truly remarkable. I hope my effort to chronicle your life and times lives up to the high journalism standards you set for yourself.
Mark Shaw
PHOTOGRAPH SOURCES
Cover: Kilgallen at typewriter, Corbis Images
Kilgallen wearing her favorite wide-brimmed hat, Corbis Images
Dorothy and Sister Eleanor, Corbis Images
Kilgallen, Ekins, and Kieran entering “The Race Around the World,” Author Collection, photo purchased from Tribune Photo Archives
Richard Kollmar, Author Collection, photo purchased from Tribune Photo Archives
What’s My Line? Stars: Dorothy Kilgallen, Steve Allen, Arlene Francis, Bennett Cerf, and Moderator John Charles Daly, Getty Images
Kilgallen at Dr. Sam Sheppard Trial – 1954, Corbis Images
Dorothy Kilgallen and Johnnie Ray with unidentified friend, Corbis Images
Dorothy Kilgallen and youngest son Kerry at townhouse, Author Collection, photo purchased from Tribune Photo Archives
Kilgallen and Ernest Hemingway at the Stork Club circa early 1961. Credit: Billy Rose Theatre Division: The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations
Kilgallen and Belli at Ruby trial, Author Collection, courtesy of Videotape Owner
Kilgallen whispering in Tonahill’s ear, Author Collection, courtesy of Videotape Owner
Kilgallen’s confidant and hairdresser Marc Sinclair, Author Collection, courtesy of Videotape Owner
Kilgallen at time of death, Author Collection, photo purchased from Tribune Photo Archives
John and Eileen Broich photograph, Author Collection, courtesy of Broich family
Murder One cover, Author Collection
Sinclaire pointing at J/A Article re: Mae/Richard funeral confrontation, Author Collection
Charles Simpson, Author Collection, courtesy of Videotape Owner
Marcello being deported to Guatemala, Corbis Images
Mafia Don Frank Costello, Corbis Images
Katherine Stone points to Regency Hotel bar booth
where Kilgallen sat with “Mystery Man” hours before she died, Author Collection, courtesy of Videotape Owner
Kilgallen and Pataky, Author Collection, courtesy of Videotape Owner
Ron Pataky in Ohio, Author Collection, courtesy of Videotape Owner
Kilgallen in all her glory, Author Collection, photo purchased from Tribune Photo Archives
REFERENCE NOTES
The content of this book is the result of accessing as many credible print sources as possible and while interviewing those who have firsthand information about the life and times of Dorothy Kilgallen and others mentioned in the book.
Regarding print sources, only well-researched books, newspapers, magazines, and credible internet sites were considered. When possible, quotes used were confirmed through a second source.
Concerning the information focusing on the JFK and Lee Harvey Oswald assassinations, interviews conducted during the author’s 10-year-plus research for his two books, Melvin Belli: King of the Courtroom and The Poison Patriarch: How the Betrayals of Joseph P. Kennedy Caused the Assassination of JFK were utilized when necessary. Nearly 100 individuals with firsthand accounts were woven into the text for those books and this one. Each was an eyewitness to history; each had a different perspective of what occurred before, during, and after the Dallas killings 50 year ago.
Secondary sources regarding the assassinations were only included when other information corroborated whatever facts were discovered. Certainly all information collected from FBI and CIA files was accurate based on the author having secured the files through the Freedom of Information Act. Kilgallen’s autopsy report, exposed here for the first time, was authenticated through the National Archives.
Readers are welcome to dispute the author’s sources and any, and all, facts and theories proposed in this book. Based on feedback, the author will revise future editions based on suggestions and corrections.
Quotes
Kilgallen’s fame from New York Post Daily Magazine series, “The Dorothy Kilgallen Story,” April, 1960. “Justice is a big rug…” from Kilgallen Journal-American article.
Introduction
Information about Kilgallen funeral and additional facts about her from the New York Journal-American, United Press International accounts and Kilgallen: A Biography by Lee Israel, 1979. Details about Kilgallen’s death were from the NYC medical examiner’s report, November 1965. Marlon Swing quote from Cry: The Johnnie Ray Story by Johnny Whiteside, 1994. Bennett Cerf quote on Kilgallen from Kathryn Fauble collection.
CHAPTER 1
Kilgallen background from Kilgallen: A Biography by Lee Israel, 1979. Kilgallen information about wanting to be a reporter and mother’s disagreement from TV Radio Mirror interview, August 1960. Quote re: Jim Kilgallen’s editor, text on Kilgallen fame prediction her early writing and interest in crime reporting, her college days, her first published writing quote, and promotional material from New York Evening-Journal archives.
CHAPTER 2
Facts about Kilgallen’s coverage of Antonio murder case from Journal-American archives. Information about Kilgallen’s coverage of the Bruno Hauptman trial, her flight around the world, her Hollywood experiences, her trip to the Queen’s coronation, and her “Voice of Broadway” column are based on Kilgallen, A Biography by Lee Israel, 1979. Kilgallen quote re: Nellie Bly from Journal-American
archives and footnote information about Bly from Eighty Days: Nellie and Elizabeth Bisland’s History Making Trip Around the World by Matthew Goodman, 2014. Further information about Kilgallen’s around the world adventure from her book, Girl Around the World, 1936. Information about Kilgallen arriving to board the Hindenburg from New York Post Daily Magazine, April 1960. Details about The Sinner Takes All from www.imdb.com/title/tt0029573/. Sobel quotes re: Kilgallen from Journal-American archives. Hearst newspaper chain Kilgallen announcement from Journal-American archives. Kilgallen column mentioning Kollmar from Journal-American archives.
CHAPTER 3
Kilgallen mention of Kollmar in column from Kathryn Fauble collection. Text about Dorothy Kilgallen’s wedding, the sandwich being named after her, the birth of her second child, the Lonergan trial coverage, the Breakfast with Dorothy and Dick program, Dorothy’s Diary, Leave it to the Girls, and her stand against those named in the Counterattack based on Kilgallen: A Biography by Lee Israel, 1979. Kilgallen FBI notation from FBI files.
Jean Bach’s comment about the Dorothy and Dick radio program from E! Network’s Mysteries and Scandals, 1998. Footnote quote from Bobby Short re: Kilgallen column from TV Radio Mirror.
CHAPTER 4
Information about Kilgallen and Kollmer radio program from Broadcasting: The Weekly Magazine, April 1945. Kilgallen titles and second radio program based on Kilgallen by Lee Israel, 1979. Leave it to the Girls details from Israel biography. What’s My Line? details from Israel biography and other sources. Gil Fates’ comment re: origin of WML? from What’s My Line, TV’s Most Famous Panel Show, 1978. Kilgallen’s comments about the show from TV Radio Mirror, August 1960.
Steve Allen’s comments about Kilgallen and What’s My Line? from E! Network’s Mysteries and Scandals, 1998. Marlon Swing quotes re: Kilgallen and What’s My Line? from E! Network’s Mysteries and Scandals, 1998. Comment re: Kilgallen prowess on show from New York Post Daily Magazine series, 1960. Kilgallen objection to Communist publication and Bach escort details from Israel biography. Kilgallen and CIA standoff re: sources from CIA documents.
Johnnie Ray information from Cry by Jonny Whiteside, 1994. Ray at Copacabana from Cry. Kilgallen coverage of Queen Elizabeth coronation from Israel book. Kilgallen’s “look” from New York Post Daily Magazine, April 1960.
CHAPTER 5
Birth of Kerry from Kilgallen by Lee Israel, 1979. Kilgallen column on mothers from Journal-American archives. Dr. Sam Sheppard trial coverage by Kilgallen and Bob Considine comments on Kilgallen’s star power from Hearst Syndicate article. Johnnie Ray Kilgallen column from Journal-American archives. Information on Edward R. Murrow Kollmar family interviews from Person to Person archives.
Monaco wedding and What’s My Line? details from Israel biography. Kilgallen description quote by New York Post Daily Magazine. Description of Kilgallen and Ray romance from Cry by Jonny Whiteside, 1994. Kilgallen columns on politics and Hepburn, etc. from Kathryn Fauble collection. Bill Slocum’s description of Kilgallen’s celebrity status from Kathryn Fauble collection.
CHAPTER 6
Kilgallen Sinatra series from Heart Syndicate article and Kilgallen/Sinatra feud from His Way: The Unauthorized Biography of Frank Sinatra by Kitty Kelley, 1986. Bobby Short encounter based on Israel biography. Kilgallen townhouse description and party information from the New York Post Daily Magazine series. Steve Allen quote about Kilgallen parties from E! Network’s Mysteries and Scandals, 1998. Liz Smith quote from Whiteside book. Johnnie Ray quotes re: Ray and Kilgallen from episode of Mysteries and Scandals appearing on the E! Network, 1998. Ray’s comments about Kilgallen based on Whiteside book. Wesinger quotes from Whiteside book.
CHAPTER 7
Sinatra “Voice of Broadway” column from Hearst Syndicate articles. Information on Kilgallen and rules from Whiteside book. Information on Kilgallen and Milton Berle show from Israel book. Kilgallen columns from Hearst Syndicate articles. Information about “63rd Street Parties” and Ray/Kilgallen romance from Whiteside book. Kilgallen criticism of Jack Parr, anti-Castro column, and info re: Kilgallen’s “Cloop” office based on Israel book. Kilgallen’s comments on Nina Khrushchev and quote in footnote by Louis Sobel from Hearst Syndicate article. Anonymous comment on Kilgallen becoming “notorious” from Jonny Whiteside book.
CHAPTER 8
Quotes re: Johnnie Ray Detroit trial and Marlon Swing comments re: Kilgallen from Jonny Whiteside book. Finch trial information based on Israel book. Quote re: Kilgallen celebrity status at Finch trial from Time Magazine. Information about and quotes by Kilgallen from TV Radio Mirror, 1960. Kilgallen Random House publishing deal from Israel book.
Kilgallen 1960 presidential election prediction from Hearst Syndicate archives. Jean Bach comment about Kilgallen marriage from E! Network’s Mysteries and Scandals, 1998. Election information from The Poison Patriarch. Kilgallen quote on Kennedy’s from Israel book. Kilgallen comments re: NY Post Daily Magazine articles from Journal-American archives. Kilgallen inauguration information from Israel book. Kilgallen/Sinatra feud facts from Hearst Syndicate archives. Kilgallen and Ray information re: nightlife from Whiteside book.
Hemingway’s comments from New York Post Daily Magazine Kilgallen series. Kilgallen comments re: Hemingway from Hearst Syndicate archives. Alan Eichler’s comments from author interview. Tad Mann quote from his book, Beyond the Marquee, 2006. Kilgallen/Johnnie Ray information from Whiteside book. Kilgallen comments on PT-109 film from Journal-American archives. Kilgallen mention of White House visit with Kerry meeting JFK from Whiteside book.
CHAPTER 9
Kilgallen’s knowledge of JFK and Marilyn Monroe affair and her column about Monroe death from Hearst Syndicate archives. Kilgallen mention of Ruark book column from Journal-American archives. Ruark comments re: Sinatra from Scripps-Howard Newspaper Alliance archives. Mortimer being attacked by Sinatra from Kitty Kelly book, My Way, 2010. Profumo trial coverage by Kilgallen from Hearst Syndicate article. Kennedy visiting Dallas from Dallas Morning News archives. Kilgallen/Shepard case from Israel book. Costello quote from Contract on America by David E. Scheim, 1988.
CHAPTER 10
Kilgallen earnings based on Israel book. Kilgallen column from Journal-American archives. Kilgallen and Richard quarrel over Johnnie Ray from Whiteside book. Kilgallen column on “big business figure” from Hearst Syndicate column. Account of JFK assassination from various newspaper accounts. Hoover call to RFK from Gentry book. Kilgallen column on JFK death from Hearst Syndicate article. Oswald statement based on Dallas Morning News stories. RFK statement to Guthman from RFK by C. David Heymann, 1998. Kilgallen column on JFK assassination from Hearst Syndicate.
CHAPTER 11
Description of Ruby shooting Oswald from various newspaper accounts. Kilgallen contacting sources at Dallas Police Department based on Israel book. Ruby shooting from Contract on America by David E. Scheim, 1988. Kilgallen reaction based on various sources including Israel book.
Belli statement from author interview of J. Kelly Farris. Kilgallen contacting sources at DPD from Dallas Morning News. Ruby statement to Archer from British documentary, Viewpoint 88: The Men Who Killed Kennedy. Hoover proclamations based on The Poison Patriarch, 2013.
Kilgallen watching JFK funeral and her observations based on Israel book. Kilgallen column on Kennedys from Hearst Syndicate article. RFK reactions from The Poison Patriarch. Hoover press release from Washington Post.
CHAPTER 12
Kilgallen column on JFK death from Journal-American archives. Bill Alexander observations from author interview. Kilgallen reaction to Belli as Ruby’s lawyer from The Poison Patriarch by Mark Shaw, 2013. Belli footnote re: conflicting versions as to representation of Ruby from Belli’s books, Dallas Justice and My Life on Trial. Belli arrival in Dallas from My Life on Trial by Melvin Belli, 1976. Kilgallen’s “The Oswald File Must Not Close” column from Journal-American archives.
CHAPTER 13
Belli communication with Kilgallen based on My Life On Trial book. Ruby/Belli conversation from The Poison Patriarch by Mark Shaw, 2013. Kilgallen research on Belli based on Melvin Belli: King of the Courtroom by Mark Shaw, 2007. Hoover text based on J. Edgar Hoover: The Man and his Secrets by Curt Gentry, 1991. LBJ and RFK meeting from David Talbot’s book, Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years (2007). Jeff Shesol’s footnote comments from Mutual Contempt: Lyndon Johnson, Robert Kennedy, and the Feud that Defined a Decade. New York: 1997.
John Connolly’ quote from PBS documentary. Kilgallen column on assassination from Journal-American archives. Kuhn speech from The Poison Patriarch by Mark Shaw, 2013.
Belli trial strategy from My Life On Trial by Melvin Belli, 1976. McCone and O’Donnell’s quotes from David Talbot’s book, Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years (2007). Ruby/Belli jail visit from My Life On Trial.
CHAPTER 14
Belli announcement of insanity defense from My Life On Trial. Belli/Kilgallen interaction from The Poison Patriarch and Kilgallen later actions. Ruby’s brother interaction based on The Poison Patriarch. Quotes re: Ruby trial from Life Magazine, Feb. 29, 1964. Kilgallen access to defense letter to WC and Kilgallen column on government refusal to give Ruby defense documents from Journal-American archives.
Tonahill and others criticism of Belli insanity defense from The Poison Patriarch. Belli and Kilgallen interaction based on author interview with Joyce Revilla, Belli secretary, 2014. RFK actions and Ethel Kennedy comments from David Talbot’s book, Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years, 2007. Kilgallen’s comments about Ruby and Oswald being acquainted from Hearst Syndicate. Bob Considine’s quotes re: Kilgallen from Dallas Morning News. Kilgallen’s comment to Jim Lehrer based on Israel book.