Roy Fruehauf, Investor in Hotel Nacional, Havana, Cuba
Havana - The "Southern Branch" of Fruehauf Trailer Company
Hotel Nacional de Cuba
The Hotel Nacional de Cuba is an historic luxury hotel located on the Malecón in the middle of Havana, Cuba. It stands a few meters from the sea, and offers a spectacular view of Havana Harbor, the seawall and the city.
The New York architectural firm of McKim, Mead and White designed the hotel, which features a mix of styles. It opened in 1930, when Cuba was a prime travel destination for Americans, long before the United States embargo against Cuba. In its 80+ years of existence, the hotel has had many important guests.
The New York architectural firm of McKim, Mead and White designed the hotel, which features a mix of styles. It opened in 1930, when Cuba was a prime travel destination for Americans, long before the United States embargo against Cuba. In its 80+ years of existence, the hotel has had many important guests.
The garden entrance
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The Hotel Lobby
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Perched on Havana's Malecon
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Among its first illustrious guests were artists, actors, athletes and writers such as Frank Sinatra, Ava Gardner, Mickey Mantle, Johnny Weissmuller, Buster Keaton, Jorge Negrete, Agustín Lara, Rocky Marciano, Tyrone Power, Rómulo Gallegos, Errol Flynn, John Wayne, Marlene Dietrich, Gary Cooper, Marlon Brando and Ernest Hemingway. The hotel's reputation is backed by patrons such as Winston Churchill, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, scientist Alexander Flemming, and innumerable Ibero-American Heads of State and European monarchs. Drawn to Cuba by the nightlife, sun and glamour, it rivaled the Cote D'Azur.
Frank Sinatra
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Marlene Dietrich
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Sir Winston Churchill
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Because of gambling and favorable relations with the corrupt government, Havana became a destination for organized crime. In December 1946 the hotel hosted an infamous mob summit run by Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky and attended by Santo Trafficante, Jr., Frank Costello, Albert Anastasia, Vito Genovese and many others. Francis Ford Coppola memorably dramatised the conference in his film The Godfather Part II.
Choo Choo Suarez, a former blackjack dealer at Meyer Lansky's Riviera Hotel and Casino recounts his personal version of how Havana was before Castro came to power. Click here for the full article, "The Way Havana Was."
By 1955, Meyer Lansky had managed to persuade Fulgencio Batista, the Cuban dictator, to give him a piece of the Nacional. Lansky planned to take a wing of the 10-storey hotel and create luxury suites for high stakes players. Batista endorsed Lansky's idea even though there were objections from American expatriates such as Ernest Hemingway. That same year Pan Am's Intercontinental Hotels Corporation took over management of the hotel. Pan American Airways was represented by the legal counsel of Alphons Landa. Davies, Richberg, Tydings, Landa & Duff, the prestigious law firm in Washington, D.C. represented many famous clients among them, the Fruehauf Trailer Company and Roy Fruehauf. Another partner in Landa's firm represented Dave Beck and some business relating to the Teamsters. Landa undoubtedly arranged for his associates, friends and business partners to become silent partners of the hotel.
Choo Choo Suarez, a former blackjack dealer at Meyer Lansky's Riviera Hotel and Casino recounts his personal version of how Havana was before Castro came to power. Click here for the full article, "The Way Havana Was."
By 1955, Meyer Lansky had managed to persuade Fulgencio Batista, the Cuban dictator, to give him a piece of the Nacional. Lansky planned to take a wing of the 10-storey hotel and create luxury suites for high stakes players. Batista endorsed Lansky's idea even though there were objections from American expatriates such as Ernest Hemingway. That same year Pan Am's Intercontinental Hotels Corporation took over management of the hotel. Pan American Airways was represented by the legal counsel of Alphons Landa. Davies, Richberg, Tydings, Landa & Duff, the prestigious law firm in Washington, D.C. represented many famous clients among them, the Fruehauf Trailer Company and Roy Fruehauf. Another partner in Landa's firm represented Dave Beck and some business relating to the Teamsters. Landa undoubtedly arranged for his associates, friends and business partners to become silent partners of the hotel.
Feathers, Sequins and flesh
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The Tropicana
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The Showgirls at the Tropicana
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Roy’s affiliation with the Hotel remained family legend until a few documents surfaced among his personal papers showing his investment in the illustrious hotel. Roy who loved to gamble visited the hotel in 1951, probably on a business junket. Ruth Fruehauf joined him on trips to Havana and with a twinkle in her eye, often recounted stories of the nightlife in Havana where she and Roy visited the Tropicana Club, The Riviera Casino and the Mambo Club. She described the allure of the Latin nightlife and blushed when questioned about the famous nightclub act featuring Superman.
The showgirls, nightclubs, casinos and prostitutes of Havana were world class. Nightclubs in Paris, New York and Las Vegas tried to copy Havana's glamour, sex appeal, lavish displays of sequins, feathers and flesh. Nat King Cole's wife Maria paints a colorful portrait of the venue in its heyday: "It was breathtaking! My mouth just fell open...there was so much color, so much movement...and the orchestra! The house band had forty musicians...I said to Nat, ’that's the house band? Are there that many showgirls?"
The showgirls, nightclubs, casinos and prostitutes of Havana were world class. Nightclubs in Paris, New York and Las Vegas tried to copy Havana's glamour, sex appeal, lavish displays of sequins, feathers and flesh. Nat King Cole's wife Maria paints a colorful portrait of the venue in its heyday: "It was breathtaking! My mouth just fell open...there was so much color, so much movement...and the orchestra! The house band had forty musicians...I said to Nat, ’that's the house band? Are there that many showgirls?"
Even though it was widely assumed that the Teamsters, Meyer Lansky and Bebe Rebozo owned the Nacional Hotel, Dave Beck, Roy Fruehauf and Alphons Landa were silent partners. Landa the brilliant manipulator had arranged this unsavory connection to what purpose? What young business tycoon would not want to be an owner of one of the most prestigious and glamorous hotels in the world. As a destination for clients and entertaining, Havana was unrivaled in its appeal and Roy, as a big shot in the hotel could extend these privileges to his guests. Roy Fruehauf's papers indicate ownership in the hotel from 1955 through 1957. His ownership stake represented $9,000 according to his 1955 income tax records.
In anticipation of his hearing on May 13, 1957 with John McClellan's Senate’s racket probe hearings Roy was advised to sever ties with the hotel and any entity that could be called into question during his testimony. Roy quickly sold his shares of the hotel and the sale concluded only 8 days after his testimony. Landa, Beck and any other Teamster investment in the hotel would be lost when Fidel Castro gained power in the New Year's eve coup the following year.
In anticipation of his hearing on May 13, 1957 with John McClellan's Senate’s racket probe hearings Roy was advised to sever ties with the hotel and any entity that could be called into question during his testimony. Roy quickly sold his shares of the hotel and the sale concluded only 8 days after his testimony. Landa, Beck and any other Teamster investment in the hotel would be lost when Fidel Castro gained power in the New Year's eve coup the following year.
Dr. Landa Sees Good Opportunities in Cuba
The Havana, Cuba Post, January 31, 1954
The Havana, Cuba Post, January 31, 1954
The undertaking of further concrete studies leading toward more investment by American-Cuban capital in new diversified Cuban enterprises was urged here by Alfonso B. Landa, leading American businessman now in Havana on a week-long business trip.
Mr. Landa, who is the guest of United States Ambassador Arthur Gardner, is a Washington, D.C., attorney of broad international practice and outlook. He is prominently identified with a number of outstanding American companies and is also a Director and Secretary of the American Institute of Management, a non-profit foundation devoted to the improvement of corporate organizations, policies and procedures.
It is in connection with Mr. Landa’s association with the American Institute of Management that he is presently in Cuba. “It is the policy of the Institute,” he said “to be always on the lookout for new subjects of study for possible American investment. I certainly feel that Cuba offers a splendid opportunity for joint American-Cuban efforts.
The undertaking of further concrete studies leading toward more investment by American-Cuban capital in new diversified Cuban enterprises was urged here by Alfonso B. Landa, leading American businessman now in Havana on a week-long business trip.
Mr. Landa, who is the guest of United States Ambassador Arthur Gardner, is a Washington, D.C., attorney of broad international practice and outlook. He is prominently identified with a number of outstanding American companies and is also a Director and Secretary of the American Institute of Management, a non-profit foundation devoted to the improvement of corporate organizations, policies and procedures.
It is in connection with Mr. Landa’s association with the American Institute of Management that he is presently in Cuba. “It is the policy of the Institute,” he said “to be always on the lookout for new subjects of study for possible American investment. I certainly feel that Cuba offers a splendid opportunity for joint American-Cuban efforts.
Alphons Landa, Ruth and Roy Fruehauf
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Roy Fruehauf in Havana in 1951
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“There is no need for me to tell you that the Cuban economy needs further diversification. But no move should be taken toward marked readjustment without a thorough and far reaching study.
“I am told that every government agency and industry in Cuba is endeavoring to meet this period of economic readjustment. That is good. That kind of effort leads to good solutions. Cuba has long depended on one crop. It is the sincere hope of many an American businessman, as well as those here in Cuba, that studies can be undertaken which will encourage new businesses to open in Cuba.”
In the United States, Mr. Landa serves as a Director of the Fruehauf Trailer Company, world’s biggest manufacturer of motor transport freight-hauling trailers, which last year compiled a total of $193,000,000 in sales. This association, he said has also increased his interest in Cuban business fields. “Fruehauf now has a plant in Brazil which is producing trailers for Brazilian business enterprises.”
“I am told that every government agency and industry in Cuba is endeavoring to meet this period of economic readjustment. That is good. That kind of effort leads to good solutions. Cuba has long depended on one crop. It is the sincere hope of many an American businessman, as well as those here in Cuba, that studies can be undertaken which will encourage new businesses to open in Cuba.”
In the United States, Mr. Landa serves as a Director of the Fruehauf Trailer Company, world’s biggest manufacturer of motor transport freight-hauling trailers, which last year compiled a total of $193,000,000 in sales. This association, he said has also increased his interest in Cuban business fields. “Fruehauf now has a plant in Brazil which is producing trailers for Brazilian business enterprises.”
Richard M. Nixon, Meyer Lansky and Bebe Rebozo
Richard Nixon
Another name in U.S. history connected to Hotel Nacional is Richard M. Nixon, 37th President of the United States. Roy Fruehauf had met Nixon at some point, most likely when Roy frequented the White House for meetings with President Eisenhower and the ACT committee. Nixon was Eisenhower’s Vice President for eight years. Correspondence between the two men discovered in Roy's files indicates that Roy was a campaign donor and an acquaintance of Nixons. In February 1955, Vice President Richard Nixon would make a trip to Havana. While there he was entertained at Batista's private palace. Nixon would return to the United States spouting accolades of praise for Batista's stable and noble regime in Cuba, all the while comparing Batista to Abraham Lincoln.
Missing from Nixon's report were the atrocities that Batista committed, and the twenty thousand Cubans who died at his hands purely due to a difference in political opinion. Nixon also didn't mention that Batista was good buddies with Meyer Lansky.
Nixon’s generosity toward Teamsters representatives has been widely reported. In 1972, around the time the Watergate scandal was brewing, Nixon ordered Attorney General Richard Kleindienst to review all Justice Department cases involving the Teamsters. It was revealed that Nixon had supported the creation of a national health plan for the Teamsters. This plan would have given crucial roles to Teamster connected mobsters, netting them heavy financial rewards. It was during this clemency period that Nixon reached out a helping hand to Dave Beck. He instructed the Treasury Department to declare a moratorium on the $1.3 million tax bill owed by Mr. Beck.
Missing from Nixon's report were the atrocities that Batista committed, and the twenty thousand Cubans who died at his hands purely due to a difference in political opinion. Nixon also didn't mention that Batista was good buddies with Meyer Lansky.
Nixon’s generosity toward Teamsters representatives has been widely reported. In 1972, around the time the Watergate scandal was brewing, Nixon ordered Attorney General Richard Kleindienst to review all Justice Department cases involving the Teamsters. It was revealed that Nixon had supported the creation of a national health plan for the Teamsters. This plan would have given crucial roles to Teamster connected mobsters, netting them heavy financial rewards. It was during this clemency period that Nixon reached out a helping hand to Dave Beck. He instructed the Treasury Department to declare a moratorium on the $1.3 million tax bill owed by Mr. Beck.
Meyer Lansky
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Charles "Bebe" Rebozo
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Among Nixon's list of friends was Bebe Rebozo. Rebozo was tight with Moe Dalitz and Meyer Lansky, and together they owned a piece of every gambling establishment in Cuba. Of course the Hotel Nacional was on that list.
Rebozo was so close to the Nixon family that Nixon's daughters Trisha and Julie called him Uncle Bebe. And when Julie Nixon married David Eisenhower, Uncle Bebe bought them a house as a wedding present.
Nixon had a great fondness for gambling, and Rebozo was known to cover Nixon's debts that accrued mostly in Nixon's favorite gambling establishment, the Hotel Nacional.
Rebozo was so close to the Nixon family that Nixon's daughters Trisha and Julie called him Uncle Bebe. And when Julie Nixon married David Eisenhower, Uncle Bebe bought them a house as a wedding present.
Nixon had a great fondness for gambling, and Rebozo was known to cover Nixon's debts that accrued mostly in Nixon's favorite gambling establishment, the Hotel Nacional.
