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Charles Rebozo
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Charles Gregory "Bebe" Rebozo (November 17, 1912-May 8, 1998) was a Florida banker who gained fame for being a close friend and confidant of President Richard Nixon. He was also allegedly an associate of the Genovese Family, one of the most powerful New York mafia factions.
The youngest child (hence, the nickname "Bebe" meaning "Baby" in Spanish) of Cuban immigrants to Tampa, Florida, Rebozo owned several businesses in Florida, including a chain of coin laundry outlets, before starting his own bank, the Key Biscayne Bank & Trust, in Key Biscayne in 1964.
Rebozo first met then U.S. Representative Richard Nixon in 1950 through Florida Representative George Smathers. Smathers had recommended Key Biscayne as a vacation destination to Nixon, who eventually set up the Florida White House in the area. While Nixon was vacationing in Key Biscayne, Smathers had Rebozo take Nixon deep sea fishing. Rebozo and Nixon then started a friendship that lasted 44 years.
Always a staunch supporter of Nixon, Rebozo became involved in the Watergate crisis when he was investigated by a congressional committee for accepting a $100,000 cash contribution on behalf of the Nixon campaign from industrialist Howard Hughes.