17
SERIAL: J/38,776,214
ROUTING: LINE/ZENITH—OPEN
TO: ROBERT CHARLES
FROM: GARRULOUS
11:37 P.M. JULY 15, 1960
SUBJECT: DISHES
Answer to first query: From Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Field of Labor Management, Sen. McClellan, Chairman, 86th Congress, 1st Session, June 9, 1959, lines 18,672–18,681:
MR. KENNEDY: Would you tell us? If you have opposition from anybody, do you dispose of them by having them stuffed in a trunk? Is that what you do, Mr. Giancana?
MR. GIANCANA: I decline to answer because I honestly believe any answer might tend to incriminate me.
MR. KENNEDY: Would you tell us anything about any of your operations, or will you just giggle every time I ask you a question?
MR. GIANCANA: I decline to answer because I honestly believe my answer might tend to incriminate me.
MR. KENNEDY: I thought only little girls giggled, Mr. Giancana.
Answer to second query: OSS working undercover in Italy, 1943, did encounter the following piece of Sicilian wisdom: “Revenge is a dish that people of taste eat cold.”
GARRULOUS
SERIAL: J/38,780,459
ROUTING: LINE/GHOUL—SPECIAL SHUNT
TO: GHOUL-A
FROM: FIELD
11:44 P.M. JULY 15, 1960
SUBJECT: HEEDLESS
Thank you for prompt response on queries. Continuation of transcript AURAL–BLUEBEARD, April 12:
MODENE: Actually, I could have kept shopping with Sam instead of rushing back to the Fontainebleau, because it was the longest wait for Jack. When he finally did arrive, I thought he might be on medication. His face was puffed and swollen. He smiled and said, “It’s happened. My feet are starting to hurt.” “It’s all right,” I told him, “you still look good to me.” But when we kissed, I realized he was in no mood to make love.
WILLIE: That must have set you back.
MODENE: I felt close to him. What a compliment! To keep our date even when he’s entirely wrung out. We just had sandwiches and wine. And he started talking again about the desert island.
WILLIE: I wonder if he and his wife will stay together if he doesn’t become President.
MODENE: Well, as you can imagine, I’ve given a little thought to the subject.
WILLIE: Are you building up any expectations?
MODENE: I can only say I never felt closer to Jack. It was evening and we sat in silence. Then he had to go. He told me that it might be our last meeting for a while, since all his effort would be going into West Virginia now, and even if he wins that, there’ll be nonstop days and nights of preparation for the convention in July. He seemed to get sad at the thought of how long we’d be apart, and we sat in the room and held hands, and he said, “I don’t suppose there has been any time in my life that could have been less propitious for you and me than these madhouse months, but if it’s really there for us, we will bear up. We will bear up, won’t we?” he said, and I had to do all I could not to cry.
WILLIE: I feel like crying.
MODENE: The trouble is that I don’t know what kind of life to go back to. After you’ve been around people like Frank and Jack, who are you going to date for an encore?
WILLIE: I predict that Sam will take up a large role in the near future.
MODENE: Oh, no. While we were shopping, he told me the name of his girlfriend. It’s Phyllis McGuire of the McGuire Sisters. He is off in Las Vegas right now seeing her. I’m all alone by the telephone. (April 12, 1960)
There are occasional calls to AURAL in the next two months, and references to long-distance conversations with IOTA and RAPUNZEL. It is evident, however, that such communications are becoming infrequent. After the West Virginia primary, however, IOTA did phone her. BLUEBEARD’s subsequent conversation with AURAL (May 11) may be worth inserting.
MODENE: Well, he called me the same night. I could hear his political people celebrating in the background. He told me that he didn’t think he could be stopped now, and was going to hold a vision—he used exactly that word, vision—of our reunion in Los Angeles after he won the convention. And he invited me to come out for the week of the convention.
AURAL: Are you appropriately thrilled?
BLUEBEARD: I was very happy he said that. And I feel at peace now. I know I can wait these next two months. I’m feeling awfully sure of myself again. (May 11, 1960)