Legal Figures, Law Enforcers, & Criminals, General & Miscellaneous Biography

The Man to See

Name: The Man to See
Author: Evan Thomas
ISBN: 9780671792114

by Evan Thomas

Available on Bookshop Write a review

Books.org participates in affiliate programs including Bookshop.org and the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you.

Overview

Legendary attorney Edward Bennet Williams was arguably the best trial lawyer ever to practice. Now, for the first time, best-selling author Evan Thomas takes us into the courtrooms of William's greatest performances as he defends "Godfather" Frank Costello, Jimmy Hoffa, Frank Sinatra, The Washington Post, and others, as well as behind the scenes where the witnesses are coached, the traps set, and the deals cut.

In addition to being a lawyer of unprecedented influence, Williams was also an important Washington insider, privy to the secrets of America's most powerful men. Thomas tells the truth behind the stories that made Williams one of the most talked about public figures of his time, including Williams' role in the publication of the Pentagon Papers and the possibility that Williams may have been Watergate's Deep Throat. Based on Thomas's exclusive access to Williams's papers, "The Man to See" is an unprecedented look at the strategies and influence of this exceptional man.

About the Author, Evan Thomas

Evan Thomas is the author of The Very Best Men: Four Who Dared: The Early Years of the C.I.A.; Robert Kennedy: His Life; The War Lovers: Roosevelt, Lodge, Hearst and the Rush to Empire, 1989; Sea of Thunder: The Last Great Naval Command, 1941-1945; and John Paul Jones. His most recent book is Ike’s Bluff: President Eisenhower’s Secret Battle to Save the World.

Reviews

There are no reviews yet. Log in to write one.

Editorials

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Thomas, Newsweek 's Washington, D.C., bureau chief, superbly captures the famed capital trial lawyer/power broker's complex personality and life. Photos. (Nov.)

Library Journal

This action-packed biography of one of America's best-known trial lawyers moves from case to case with a list of clients that reads like a who's who among dignitaries, Hollywood stars, underworld figures, and self-made millionaires. Famous clients included Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Hoffa, Hugh Hefner, and Joe McCarthy. Williams's strategies, from how he chose jurors to his unique theatrics, made him a courtroom winner. At an hourly rate of $1000, he was the highest-paid lawyer in America! Besides portraying Williams the lawyer, Thomas also exposes the man, who was addicted to fame, power, and wealth. He was intolerant of mistakes, hated vacations, and was often preoccupied with work. But he had a soft, kind side and was always available to help a friend in need. Because of the importance and complexity of Williams's cases, this book is very informative about politics, the legal system, and recent historical events. Recommended for public and academic libraries.-- Teresa Brady, Holy Family Coll., Philadelphia