Peter Lawford; The Man Who Kept the Secrets

New York: Bantam Books, 1991. Second Printing [stated]. Hardcover. Good/Good. [8], 504 pages. Illustrations. Notes. on Sources. Selected Bibliography. Index. DJ has some wear, soiling, and small tears and chips. Peter Sydney Ernest Lawford (born Peter Sydney Ernest Aylen; 7 September 1923 - 24 December 1984) was an English actor, producer, and socialite, who lived in the United States throughout his adult life. He was a member of the "Rat Pack" and the brother-in-law of President John F. Kennedy and senators Robert F. Kennedy and Edward Kennedy. From the 1940s to the 1960s, he was a well-known celebrity and starred in a number of highly acclaimed films. In later years, he was noted more for his off-screen activities as a celebrity than for his acting; it was said that he was "famous for being famous". Derived from a Kirkus review: Spada's Lawford biography is serious and respectful. Spada with heavy research and strong fact-packaging. The outstanding section of the book, the middle hundred pages, covers the ties between Jack and Bobby Kennedy and the death of Marilyn Monroe and manages to assemble that now-familiar story with verve and freshness. Lawford married into the Kennedy family via Pat Kennedy, became JFK's Hollywood go- between with Monroe. The subplot throughout these pages is Frank Sinatra's tie with top Mafia boss Sam Giancana, with Sinatra, JFK, and Giancana all sleeping with Judith Campbell, and JFK enlisting Giancana to blow away Fidel Castro. When RFK as attorney general attacked organized crime, Giancana asked buddy Sinatra to smooth it with RFK by having Sinatra Rat Pack member Lawford speak to RFK or JFK. Sinatra exiles Lawford from the Rat Pack--forever. All this is lively and gripping. Sympathy for a poor devil, once the gayest of blades.