Victor Riesel

Victor Riesel was a prominent American journalist and syndicated columnist known for his fearless reporting on organized crime and labor union corruption, often collaborating with FBI and New York City Police Department to expose Mafia figures like Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky. His columns were widely read in New York City newspapers, including the New York Daily Mirror and New York Post, and he worked closely with other notable journalists, such as Walter Winchell and Dorothy Kilgallen. Riesel's investigative reporting also delved into the world of Teamsters and Jimmy Hoffa, as well as the Kefauver Committee hearings on organized crime.

● Early Life and Education

Riesel was born in 1913 in New York City to a family of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. He grew up in a neighborhood surrounded by gangsters and crime bosses, which would later influence his reporting on organized crime. Riesel attended City College of New York and began his career in journalism as a reporter for the New York Daily Mirror, where he worked alongside other notable journalists, including Walter Lippmann and Drew Pearson. He also developed relationships with law enforcement officials, such as J. Edgar Hoover and Thomas Dewey, who would provide him with valuable information and insights for his reporting.

● Career

As a syndicated columnist, Riesel's work was widely read in New York City newspapers, including the New York Post and New York Daily News. He was known for his fearless reporting on organized crime and labor union corruption, often collaborating with FBI and New York City Police Department to expose Mafia figures like Vito Genovese and Albert Anastasia. Riesel's columns also covered the Kefauver Committee hearings on organized crime, which were chaired by Estes Kefauver and featured testimony from Mafia figures like Frank Costello and Meyer Lansky. He worked closely with other notable journalists, such as Edward R. Murrow and Eric Sevareid, to expose corruption and organized crime in New York City.

● Assassination Attempt

In 1956, Riesel was the victim of an assassination attempt when he was blinded with sulfuric acid by a hitman hired by organized crime figures. The attack was widely condemned by law enforcement officials, including J. Edgar Hoover and Thomas Dewey, and led to a renewed effort to combat organized crime in New York City. Riesel's bravery in the face of this attack was praised by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and New York Governor Averell Harriman, and he continued to report on organized crime and labor union corruption despite his disability. He worked closely with FBI agents, such as Melvin Purvis, to identify and prosecute the perpetrators of the attack.

● Later Life and Death

After the assassination attempt, Riesel continued to work as a journalist and syndicated columnist, using his platform to expose organized crime and labor union corruption. He worked closely with law enforcement officials, including FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and New York City Police Commissioner Stephen Kennedy, to combat organized crime in New York City. Riesel also developed relationships with other notable figures, including Robert F. Kennedy and Jimmy Breslin, who shared his commitment to exposing corruption and organized crime. He died in 1995 in New York City at the age of 82, leaving behind a legacy as a fearless and pioneering journalist.

● Legacy

Riesel's legacy as a journalist and syndicated columnist continues to be felt today, with his reporting on organized crime and labor union corruption remaining widely read and studied. His bravery in the face of the assassination attempt has inspired generations of journalists, including Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, who have followed in his footsteps to expose corruption and organized crime. Riesel's work has also been recognized by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists, such as Nicholas Kristof and Sarah Kendzior, who have praised his commitment to investigative reporting and his fearless pursuit of the truth. His legacy is a testament to the power of journalism to expose corruption and bring about justice, and his work continues to be an inspiration to journalists and law enforcement officials around the world, including those at the FBI and New York City Police Department.