Charles Rebozo
Encyclopedia
Charles Gregory "Bebe" Rebozo (November 17, 1912 Tampa, Florida –May 8, 1998) was a Florida
banker who became famous for being a friend and confidant of President Richard Nixon
. Rebozo was routinely named as Nixon's primary recipient of covert payments.
, Matias and Carmen, Rebozo owned several businesses in Florida, including a group of laundromats, before starting his own bank, the Key Biscayne Bank & Trust, in Key Biscayne
during 1964. Although of Cuban ancestry, Rebozo regularly attended Key Biscayne Presbyterian Church, sometimes accompanied during later years by Richard Nixon.
. Smathers had recommended Key Biscayne as a vacation destination to Nixon, who eventually established a residence there which was nicknamed the "Florida White House
" by journalists. While Nixon was vacationing in Key Biscayne, Smathers had Rebozo take Nixon deep sea fishing. Rebozo and Nixon then started a friendship that endured 44 years.
John Dean
, Nixon's lawyer, testified before the House Judiciary Committee he was ordered to covertly direct government agencies to punish a journalist who called Rebozo Nixon's bagman.
Rebozo was investigated for accepting large covert payments from Howard Hughes
on behalf of Nixon.
Journalist Jack Anderson speculated that Watergate Special Prosecutor
Archibald Cox
had been fired because he had
started to investigate Rebozo's role in Nixon accepting covert payments.
During 1976, Rebozo was the subject of a bank fraud investigation. The loan application filed with Hudson Valley National Bank (Yonkers, New York
), stated that the loan was for real estate when it was actually used as a business loan. Rebozo repaid the loan with interest, and the bank did not file a complaint.
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
banker who became famous for being a friend and confidant of President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
. Rebozo was routinely named as Nixon's primary recipient of covert payments.
Background and early life
The youngest child (hence, the nickname "Bebe" meaning "Baby" in Spanish) of Cuban immigrants to Tampa, FloridaTampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, Matias and Carmen, Rebozo owned several businesses in Florida, including a group of laundromats, before starting his own bank, the Key Biscayne Bank & Trust, in Key Biscayne
Key Biscayne
Key Biscayne is an island located in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay. It is the southernmost of the barrier islands along the Atlantic coast of Florida, and lies south of Miami Beach and southeast of Miami...
during 1964. Although of Cuban ancestry, Rebozo regularly attended Key Biscayne Presbyterian Church, sometimes accompanied during later years by Richard Nixon.
Friendship with Richard Nixon
Rebozo first met then U.S. Representative Nixon during 1950 by the agency of Florida Representative George SmathersGeorge Smathers
George Armistead Smathers was an American lawyer and politician who represented the state of Florida in the United States Senate for eighteen years, from 1951 until 1969, as a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life:...
. Smathers had recommended Key Biscayne as a vacation destination to Nixon, who eventually established a residence there which was nicknamed the "Florida White House
Florida White House
The Florida White House was an informal name for a compound in Key Biscayne, Florida used by U.S. President Richard Nixon.-History:...
" by journalists. While Nixon was vacationing in Key Biscayne, Smathers had Rebozo take Nixon deep sea fishing. Rebozo and Nixon then started a friendship that endured 44 years.
John Dean
John Dean
John Wesley Dean III is an American lawyer who served as White House Counsel to United States President Richard Nixon from July 1970 until April 1973. In this position, he became deeply involved in events leading up to the Watergate burglaries and the subsequent Watergate scandal cover-up...
, Nixon's lawyer, testified before the House Judiciary Committee he was ordered to covertly direct government agencies to punish a journalist who called Rebozo Nixon's bagman.
Rebozo was investigated for accepting large covert payments from Howard Hughes
Howard Hughes
Howard Robard Hughes, Jr. was an American business magnate, investor, aviator, engineer, film producer, director, and philanthropist. He was one of the wealthiest people in the world...
on behalf of Nixon.
Journalist Jack Anderson speculated that Watergate Special Prosecutor
Special prosecutor
A special prosecutor generally is a lawyer from outside the government appointed by an attorney general or, in the United States, by Congress to investigate a government official for misconduct while in office. A reasoning for such an appointment is that the governmental branch or agency may have...
Archibald Cox
Archibald Cox
Archibald Cox, Jr., was an American lawyer and law professor who served as U.S. Solicitor General under President John F. Kennedy. He became known as the first special prosecutor for the Watergate scandal. During his career, he was a pioneering expert on labor law and also an authority on...
had been fired because he had
started to investigate Rebozo's role in Nixon accepting covert payments.
Later life
Rebozo received a letter threatening his life in 1974.During 1976, Rebozo was the subject of a bank fraud investigation. The loan application filed with Hudson Valley National Bank (Yonkers, New York
Yonkers, New York
Yonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York , and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 195,976...
), stated that the loan was for real estate when it was actually used as a business loan. Rebozo repaid the loan with interest, and the bank did not file a complaint.