His Way_ The Unauthorized Biography of Frank Sinatra - Kitty Kelley [250]
“Mickey analyzed the Agnew situation brilliantly,” said Vic Gold, “and he was not in the least surprised by the cash payoffs. He said, ‘Let me tell you something about your man: He’s very close with a dollar. Every time he opened his wallet and handed Peter money to get something, it was always a fresh bill. That told me something … that he did everything by cash. That went out in Al Capone’s time. I tell all my clients not to do anything except by check or with a piece of paper.’ Despite that, though, Rudin and Frank both wanted Agnew to fight back, and so did I.”
The Vice-President tried to follow the advice by branding as “damned lies” the reports that he took cash kickbacks from Maryland contractors, but federal prosecutors had sworn statements from some of the men who made the payoffs.
“I am innocent of the charges,” Agnew maintained. “I will not resign if indicted.”
But by October 10, 1973, he had no other choice. He had to give up the vice-presidency if he wanted to avoid criminal prosecution. He resigned and then pleaded nolo contendere to one count of income tax evasion.
Frank felt heartsick. “As a citizen who loves America, and as a good friend of Mr. Agnew, this indeed is a sad day,” he said. “Certainly, I offer whatever sympathy and support my friend may need. It takes great courage to pursue the route he has chosen. And I have every hope that in the months and years to come, his action will result in a greater public understanding of his feelings and position as the man in the arena.”
Frank sprang into action for his beleaguered friend, whose net worth of $198,000 was disappearing rapidly. Without his yearly salary of $62,500 as vice-president, Agnew was forced to sell his house in Bethesda and liquidate his stocks to pay his legal fees. He also lost his substantial government pension. Facing a $147,500 bill from the state of Maryland, plus disbarment proceedings, the former vice-president was nearly destitute.
Frank sent Agnew $30,000 the day after he resigned to pay his $10,000 tax evasion fine and his family living expenses while he tried to find a job. He also lent him $200,000 to pay his back taxes, interest, and penalties, and then sent letters to his close friends, asking them to donate at least $3,000 each to help defray Agnew’s legal bills. The figure was kept at $3,000 so the donor would not have to pay federal gift taxes, but the response was unenthusiastic. Most recipients pretended the letter got lost in the mail, but William J. Green, chairman of the Clevepak Corporation, and one of Frank’s closest friends, openly refused to contribute, and said that Frank was putting too much pressure on their friendship by soliciting money for a man like Spiro Agnew.
Frank contacted W. Clement Stone, the Chicago insurance tycoon who thought up PMA (Positive Mental Attitude), and set up a meeting to discuss a possible defense fund that would pay the legal bills. The multimillionaire philanthropist agreed to help, but the fund raised only $40,000, barely covering the lawyers’ retainer fee.
Frank contacted publishers to see how much they’d offer for Agnew’s memoirs. He wanted at least $500,000 but was politely rebuffed.
“Mr. Sinatra called me as a friend, hypothetically, to ask me if we would be interested if Agnew were to write a book,” said Thomas Guinzburg, then of Viking Press. “I told him it would depend entirely on what kind of book it was. If he [Agnew] came clean and said what happened and why it happened, it would be a valuable book. But I don’t think the American public is ready to buy a defense that