Bebe Rebozo
Charles Gregory "Bebe" Rebozo (November 17, 1912 – May 8, 1998) was an American self-made millionaire, banker, and real estate developer based in Florida, renowned primarily as the lifelong confidant and closest personal friend of President Richard Nixon.[1][2]
Born in Tampa to Cuban immigrant parents as the youngest of twelve children, Rebozo grew up amid the Great Depression and began his entrepreneurial career with modest ventures including a service station, tire retreading during World War II, self-service laundries, and Miami-area land investments before founding the Key Biscayne Bank in 1964.[2] He met Nixon in 1950 through mutual acquaintance Senator George Smathers, forging a bond rooted in shared humble origins, interests in boating, sports, and show tunes that endured over four decades, with Rebozo residing adjacent to Nixon's Key Biscayne home and serving as a frequent companion during Nixon's presidency.[1][3] Rebozo demonstrated unwavering loyalty to Nixon through electoral defeats, the White House years, and the Watergate scandal, even funding amenities like a White House bowling alley.[1] A notable controversy arose from Rebozo's receipt of a $100,000 cash donation from industrialist Howard Hughes in 1969–1970, intended for Nixon's 1972 campaign but held in a safe-deposit box; Senate Watergate investigators later questioned its handling and partial disbursement, though no charges resulted despite scrutiny by federal authorities.[4][3]