Next to Hughes: Behind the Power and Tragic Downfall of Howard Hughes by His Closest Advisor

Billionaire Howard Hughes's business aide Maheu, writing with freelancer Hack, recounts how during 30 years, starting in 1957, first in Los Angeles and later in Las Vegas, he not only controlled the world's richest man's financial empire (airlines, mines and casinos) but accumulated a large personal fortune while hobnobbing with the rich and powerful--all without ever meeting the reclusive, phobic tycoon. Maheu's career also involved recruiting Mafia connections to carry out the CIA's abortive plot to assassinate Castro and arranging for his boss's donations to such politicians as Nixon, Humphrey and Bobby Kennedy. The self-righteous book pictures Maheu as victim of a scheme by a ``Mormon Mafia'' of aides to turn Hughes against him. Having lost his wealth and spent years battling indictments for fraud and in unsuccessful libel suits against Hughes, Maheu nevertheless ``cried like a child'' upon learning of the boss's mistreatment by his entourage--resulting, alleges Maheu, in Hughes's death. Photos not seen by PW. Author tour. (Apr.)