◆ SpookStack

‘ eee over $100,000 from the Silver Slipper to: Danner, who delivered it. to Nixon’s close ‘The participants won't talk about the trans- action. Responded Maheu tersely: “I have ‘made it a matter of policy never to discuss political contributions on behalf of any client unless I have specific anthorization.in writ- ing. In this case, I doubt whether the author- ization would be forthcoming.” Danner, who now runs the Sands hotel- casino for Hughes, refused to comment. And {Continued from page j) Rebgzo wouldn't take our calls. annem While Hughes was supporting Richard Nixon, he also courted Hubert Humphrey. The secretive billionaire hoped to use Humph- rey, then Vice President, to stop nuclear testing in Nevada. “Bob,” Hughes instructed Maheu, “there is opinions that the tests may have tibpered an rthquake. “Bob,” Hughes added, “I Jeaye this whole campaign in your hands. 1 am sure you should personally go to the White House after we have obtained the 90-day delay and endeavor to sell the President on a permanent policy. Tam sure H.H.H. would be glad to go with you and toset up the appointment.” Maheu suggested a personal message from Hughes to the President would be more effective. Replied Hughes on April 24: “You know I am perfectly willing to write a short personal message to Johnson, which we could ask Humphries to deliver — hand deliver — to Johnson, “Or if we feel it would be more prudent, I could ask F to deliver it, I that way, itneed Cot interfere with anything Humphries has going. “I feel we must start a negotiation with the AEC. just as if we were negotiating a business deal. I think we can go through oné man who can accomplish our objective Humphries,” through (Lyndon) Johnson — and that man is | Humphrey, whose last name the billionaire “Why don't we get word to him on a basis of secrecy that is realily, really reliable that we will give him immediately full, unlimited » support for his campaign to enter the White | House if he will just take this one on for us?” © The billionaire's secret, hand-scrawied in- structions indicate Humphrey's help had been secured, Hughes sought “an order from LBJ inspired by Humphries” to halt all Nevada testing of or, at least, a 90-day delay to give him more time to prepare a case against the tests. “J concur completely,” Hughes wrote Maheu on April 16, 1988, ‘with telling the V-P. that he is free to tell the people in Washington if they don’t grant the 90-day delay, I am going to drepublic immediately.” . He threatened to make public St¥ernttict ~WTHEVEr Bet straight, acknowledged to us ad oppased the Nevada tests. But he — this gosition, he said, reach irom ihe Hughes people bedore the ——