To Buy a King

A History of CIA Dirty Tricks & Mercenaries - Part 1

It was only a simple job of finding women to attend a party: “the intent was to have young movie starlets present at the party.” That is what the fixer, Robert Maheu, claimed he was doing on behalf of his client when he later testified before the U.S. Senate in a secret hearing. However, this was no ordinary client; the CIA was not in the business of hosting events for foreign leaders without an ulterior motive. King Hussein of Jordan was in the United States for an informal visit in 1959 from March 17 to April 17 and “special support” was required from the CIA during the Los Angeles and New York phases of the trip. Under what the CIA called Project Norfolk, Near East and Africa Division officers Norman Paul, Fred Latrash, and William Arms reported that Hussein was “especially desirous of female companionship.” As a young officer in his twenties, Latrash had been the first CIA liaison officer to establish a relationship with Hussein. For this endeavor, the CIA needed to use “a controlled source” to ensure “a satisfied visit,” according to a later Agency account of the events. Costs such as “car rentals, living accommodations” and other expenses were funded through Project NORFOLK.

Having already successful performed his role as a cut-out or intermediary for the Agency on “extremely sensitive cases,” Maheu received a phone call from the CIA one afternoon at his Washington office on April 3, 1959. The Agency knew Maheu was working for the business magnate and film producer Howard Hughes and was looking to take advantage of his Hollywood connections to throw a party for King Hussein at a private residence in Los Angeles. The guest list needed to include celebrities and film actresses. “It seemed like such a simple thing to do,” Maheu commented. He reached out to Hughes’ attorney, Greg Bautzer, described by Maheu as a “powerhouse” and a “flawlessly dressed, articulate man” who knew everyone in town. Eating at a restaurant with Bautzer was “an event,” according to Maheu, as he would hold court and greet every person as they entered. His reputation with women also rivaled that of Hughes. Left out of Maheu’s account was that Bautzer was previously known to the Agency and was “previously granted a covert security approval for use by [Far East] Division.”

Bautzer and his wife, film and TV actress Dana Wynter, offered to host the event at their home, located near Hotel Bel-Air on Canyon Road in Los Angeles. Maheu viewed the party, paid for by the CIA, as a complete success and going off “without a hitch.” The Agency got their wishes with plenty of celebrities in attendance and King Hussein was reportedly happy with the event. Hussein was particularly pleased to become acquainted with Susan Cabot, a film actress best known for her roles in Western movies, having just completed her sixth movie with independent film director Roger Corman. Having been married as a teenager to escape from foster care, Cabot was now divorced and 32 years of age. Hussein, Maheu recalled was “a real playboy then” at the age of 23, and was captivated by her during their first encounter and invited her to remain with him for the duration of the U.S. trip. The CIA recorded that for the duration of the King’s stay in Los Angeles from April 3-7, he and Cabot “became intimate friends.” King Hussein expressed a desire that he wished to “continue his friendship” with her during his time in New York City beginning on April 14. Their relationship had already garnered some notice in the press; therefore, the NEA Division asked the Office of Security to assist and another home was rented, this time in Long Beach, New York “to be used as a confidential meeting place.” With the new location secured, Latrash traveled to the site, along with two Department of State security agents, an NYPD police lieutenant and a chauffeur, who remained at the residence until the end of the trip. King Hussein visited Cabot “each evening and remained for about four to five hours,” according to the CIA.

While at the New York residence, Cabot told government officials “about the possible sources of certain personal information” she had the opportunity to learn as well as “her deep feeling” for Hussein. She explained how Bautzer had recruited her to be “a party companion” for King Hussein and that she was initially unclear on what role he wanted her to play. Bautzer did not mince his words: “I am employed by the CIA,” he told her. “We want you to go to bed with him.” Cabot explained how she had “rejected the proposal but finally went to the party” and how she “became quite taken with” King Hussein, finding him to be “most charming.” Another account of the same discussion records her explaining how the relationship between them “transcended what had been suggested.” Later that year, the CIA’s Office of Security investigated Cabot from May 25 to September 17 and found “no substantive derogatory information regarding her.” From May 1959 through October 1960, the Office of Security assisted the NEA Division, arranging communications between Hussein and Cabot and opening the personal mail correspondence between the two “unbeknownst to either.”

King Hussein later invited Cabot to join him in Jordan, which she accepted. Maheu soon thereafter received a frantic call from Sheffield Edwards, the CIA’s head of the Office of Security. Edwards informed Maheu that Cabot was Jewish (her birth name was Harriet Shapiro) and that she needed to leave Jordan immediately. The CIA was worried about an international incident; they were concerned that this fact would cause the King embarrassment, which he would then in turn blame on the United States. Maheu’s account of his conversation with Edwards may have reflected Edwards not being informed by his team, as the CIA’s written account of events explained how her Jewish background had already been publicized during the initial part of the tour in LA, before the trip to Jordan had taken place: “The publicity touching on the relationship had become more pointed since some publicity mention had been made of the Jewish background of the actress.”

Maheu dutifully phoned Bautzer with an urgent request: “Don’t you have some client who has a big movie part opening up? You must get her the hell out of there.” Once Bautzer successfully extricated Cabot from Jordan, Maheu lost interest. “I don't know how he did it, and I don’t know if Susan ever got that part.” In fact, there were to be no further starring film roles for Cabot, but her relationship with King Hussein was far from over and he would ultimately be accused of being linked to her tragic end.