Elie Hirschfeld

Crazy and in Charge: the Autobiography of Abe Hirschfeld Elie Hirschfeld

In these skittish times when powerful men warn thepublic to "watch what you say," many people with something¿ different and thought-provoking to say havedone just that. And then there's Abe Hirschfeld. From the moment he landed in America in 1950, Abe Hirschfeldhas been saying what's on his mind, no matter who or what has stood in the way. Little wonder that various powers that be have derided him as "meshuga" andtried to keep him quiet, by any means necessary including putting him in jailat age 80. And still, Abe Hirschfeld won't keep quiet. Now, at last, he tells the story of his incrediblelife, imparting the wit, wisdom and unvarnished truths of a self-mademillionaire gadfly who has had a profound impact on the last half-century --from his invention of the open-air garage to his behind-the-scenes role at theCamp David peace accords to his brief but pivotal ownership of the New York Post to his $1 million offer toPaula Jones that ultimately saved Bill Clinton's presidency. It's all here, along with vivid anecdotes ofpowerful people he has called friends such as Bobby Kennedy, Yasser Arafat, Menachem Begin, and Jimmy Carter; others who have betrayed him such as MarioCuomo and George Pataki; those who learned at his feet such as Donald Trump; andthe story of a very intriguing liaison with Shirley MacLaine. So read on, learn how Abe Hirschfeld became rich,famous and feared. Be prepared to laugh, cry and scream in outrage. And maybeeven change your mind about a few things.