There are certain names in American history that we have a vague knowledge of. Howard Hughes is one of those names. We know that Howard Hughes was the wealthiest man in the country. We know he was a test pilot, a record holding aviator and we know he was a famous recluse in his later years. And after that — the details become foggy.
In his book Hughes: The Private Diaries, Memos and Letters; The Definitive Biography of the First American Billionaire, author Richard Hack has been able to juggle a few difficult objectives. He has supplied a never ending minutia of detail about the man — from specifics of Hughes’ father in the late 1800’s through day to day accounts of the man himself. But do it in such a way where even the smallest facet is both fascinating and lures the reader deeper down the path.
Howard Hughes was born in 1905. When his overprotective mother died in 1922 and his workaholic father two years later, Hughes became heir to the Hughes Tool Company fortune — then valued at half a million dollars — at nineteen years of age. At that time his goals were to be the world’s greatest golfer, the world’s greatest pilot and the world’s greatest movie-maker.
At nineteen, Hughes decides that a serious, young businessman needs a wife so he chooses Ella Rice, a pretty, socially prominent young lady in Houston. Though already in love with someone else, Ella was persuaded by her mother that Howard was a better catch. Soon Hughes was so involved in his golf and movie making endeavors — as well as other women — that he had little time or interest left for Ella or any of his extended family.
In Hollywood, Hughes produces and directs several films including; Two Arabian Nights that wins an Oscar as well as the infamous Hell’s Angels — considered the best special effects film of the decade. Hughes goes on to make many other profitable films and in 1948 he buys RKO Studios which establishes him as a major film maker.
Hughes romantic conquests included Lana Turner, Ginger Rogers, Ava Gardner, Ida Lupino, Olivia de Havilland, Katherine Hepburn, Terry Moore, Yvonne DeCarlo, Kathryn Grayson, Bette Davis, Rita Hayworth, Linda Darnell, Billie Dove, and so many more. In fact it wasn’t uncommon for Hughes to actually be engaged to two even three women at once.
In 1938, prompted by the success of Charles Lindbergh, Hughes set a new record for an around-the-world flight. This won the man a congressional medal, the Harmon Trophy and the Collier Trophy for Aviation. He was also honored with a ticker-tape parade down Broadway in New York City. Hughes — now convinced that air travel had a future — acquired TWA Airlines.
But it’s when Hughes develops a case of syphilis, that his already high fear of germs begins to percolate.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the book is that in his last twenty years of life; when he was a complete recluse; naked in blacked-out rooms devoting days at a time to screening B-movies, dictating long memos to his staff — important memos such as a 22 page procedure on how to open a can of fruit for him — and going through a dozen boxes of Kleenex a day — that his empire actually grew the most. In fact, Hughes orchestrated the purchase of dozens of Las Vegas properties all while being naked on a recliner and never seeing another human being. In fact, his long term aid, Robert Maheu, who had daily — sometimes hourly — contact with the man and managed all of his interests, never even met Howard Hughes in person.
In the last few decades of life, Howard Hughes liberally injected codeine, his hair and fingernails grew to grotesque lengths, he kept urine in mason jars and his body was covered with bed sores since he would spend entire days at a time in a recliner in the dark.
By the end of the book you will know Howard Hughes well. You may not like him — because there isn’t a lot to like about the man — but you will know him. And you’ll be thankful to Richard Hack for the introduction.
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