The son of Cuban immigrants, Rebozo owned several businesses in Florida before starting his own bank in Key Biscayne in 1964.
Rebozo first met then Representative Richard Nixon in 1950 through Florida Representative George Smathers. Smathers had recommended Key Biscayne as a vacation destination to Nixon. 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 commitee for accepting a $100,000 cash contribution on behalf of the Nixon campaign from industrialist Howard Hughes.
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.
The youngest child (hence, the nickname "Bebe") of Cuban immigrants to Tampa, FL, Rebozo owned several businesses in Florida, including a chain of coin laundry outlets, before starting his own bank, the Key Biscayne Bank and Trust, in Key Biscayne in 1964.
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.
BebeRebozo's efforts at self-effacement and dodging publicity no longer availed anything; he was now under the full spotlight of investigation by the press as well as by official probers.
Bebe insisted that he had told her all about the $100,000, and advised her to instruct his lawyer that in the event of his death, the money should be turned over to the re-election committee.
BebeRebozo admitted in testimony to the committee that the $4562 had originally come from campaign funds, but contended it was partial reimbursement to him of the $6000 incidental expenses he had incurred during the 1968 campaign—and that he had made the President a gift of it for the First Lady's diamond earrings.
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