Back in the day -- your CIA dollars @ work

As part of its domestic spying program, ostensibly aimed at communists supporting the anti-war movement of the Vietnam era, the Central Intelligence Agency bugged a Las Vegas hotel room at the behest of Sam Giancana, a major Mafia figure from Chicago who's been implicated by some in the assassination of President Kennedy and who was involved in unsuccessful CIA plots to poison Castro.

The hotel bugging plan, however, had no geopolitical goals.

Giancana just wanted to know if his girlfriend, the singer Phyllis McGuire, (both pictured at right) was having an affair with Dan Rowan (of TV's "Laugh In" fame, see photo, above left.)

Sorry, most of you have no idea what the hell I'm talking about, do you?

[nyt]

[sam giancana & phyllis mcguire]