“Will the Real James Bond, Please Stand Up?”

WILL THE REAL JAMES While it is not well-known, one of the BOND, PLEASE STAND UP? people Fleming likely associated with and befriended was Rubirosa. Even the By Daniel J. Voelker FBI, who had Rubirosa “Even the FBI, who under constant had Rubirosa surveillance for three Over the years, many have been named under constant decades (1935 to 1965) as the inspiration for the fictional James surveillance for while he frolicked in Bond. Or was he fictional at all? The three decades the United States, decades long question, asked by many, (1935-1965) while concluded the has been answered: Porfirio Rubirosa or, he frolicked in the playboy’s lifestyle as he would have more aptly introduced United States, closely matched that of himself, "the name is Rubirosa, Porfirio concluded the Bond. Rubirosa," is the real James Bond. playboy’s lifestyle

Rubi was a bon vivant, closely matched Born in San Francisco “Fleming never international playboy, that of Bond.” de Macoris, identified his secret agent, polo , inspiration for player, treasure hunter, jewel thief, in 1909, to a wealthy James Bond, but family, strong, womanizer, avid golfer, millionaire, instead insisted gigolo, jet-setter, diplomat, boxer, pilot athletic, and, as they the character say, dark and and race car driver all rolled up into one was a man. But, Rubirosa was even more; he handsome (not tall, compilation of though), "Rubi" was a rare algorithm of charm, good many people he looks, ruthlessness and cruelty. (meaning “red rose”), had known as he was throughout his Bond’s antics and overindulgences were affectionately known, life.” was the person whom a constant in Fleming’s novels. James Ian Fleming, the British Intelligence was noted for indulging in over 40 Officer turned novelist, modeled 007. drinks and smoking hundreds of cigarettes a mission. Rubi, too, was a Fleming decided to write a novel about a notorious glutton for debauchery, sometimes foregoing food for drink. fictional spy while he “Fleming served during World Like Bond, Rubi thrived on danger and never the thrill of the chase. Propelled by that War II. Fleming never claimed that identified his je ne sais quoi, he was more than a he based the inspiration for James "man's man.” Having what was referred character Bond, but instead to as tigeurismo, he was the world's most on his own insisted the character interesting man. life.” was a compilation of many people he had known throughout his life. Fleming never claimed that he based the character on his own life.

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“Will the Real James Bond, Please Stand Up?”

Hutton. Duke and Hutton were referred to as the “Gold Dust Twins” due to their large inheritances.

Rubirosa was reportedly a guest in Hitler's box at the 1936 Olympics in , present in Havana when Castro invaded, arrested by the German Gestapo for selling visas to the Dominican Republic to fleeing Jews, “I’ve heard much about you, Monsieur. shot three times in the kidney and nearly None of it good.” killed by the French Resistance during World War II and renown for a series of fly-overs of the beach in Cannes in his In the late 1940’s and 50’s, Rubirosa retrofitted B-25 bomber. Rubirosa was a center of “…Rubirosa was as rubbed elbows with Frank Sinatra, attention for the gossip comfortable with a the leader of the Rat Pack, Peter columnists. Rubi gun in his hand as Lawford (brother-in-law of appeared in hundreds he was with a Kennedy), Dean Martin, Sammy of articles, as readers woman at his side.” Davis Jr., and Joe and John F. throughout the world Kennedy, among a host of other were mesmerized by his life, adventures movers and shakers. In its then-classified and romantic interests. Rubirosa tried to files, the FBI noted Sinatra was so close dispel insight into his secret life with to Rubi, he used his address to receive claims that he did not work, insisting mail. rather that women were his job. Truth in fact, Rubirosa was as comfortable with a He infamously indulged in affairs with gun in his hand as he was with a the era’s bombshells and woman at his side. It would have “It would have glamazons, all of “Bond girl” been literally impossible for been literally caliber, including Marilyn Fleming to have not taken careful impossible for Monroe, Eva Peron, Zsa Zsa note of Rubirosa prior to penning Fleming to Gabor, Eartha Kitt, Ava the Bond novels, especially since have not taken Gardner, Rita Hayworth, he was a favorite subject of careful note of Veronica Lake, Joan Crawford, Caribbean and European Rubirosa prior , and , journalists. to penning the among others. His roster was Bond novels, limitless as no mortal woman Rubi operated seamlessly within especially since could resist this otherworldly the most coveted circles, engaged he was a man. Like Bond, he had an in dalliances with the world's favorite subject uncanny ability to render his most beautiful blondes, brunettes of Caribbean conquests powerless against and redheads, and married two of and European his charm. Yet, while Rubi’s the wealthiest women in the journalists.” good looks and charm were world, and Barbara dazzling, his depth and

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“Will the Real James Bond, Please Stand Up?” sincerity, like the early Bond figure, After giving up on the study of law, were not. He wooed women with a sense Rubi embarked on a military career, and of fabricated warmth and feigned married Flor de Oro concern for every ounce of their body (meaning “flower of the “It was widely and psyche, and would – with rare sun”), daughter of rumored Rubi, exception – cast one aside for another. , the like Bond, Dictator of the carried a Rubi's foray into the cosmopolitan world Dominican Republic. license to kill, of possibilities began at the early age of Trujillo was so smitten and tended to 6 when his father – a General in the with his new son-in-law the dirty work Dominican Army – was appointed the that he ordered the of his father-in- Dominican Republic’s Ambassador to celebration of a national law.” France. Rubi lived in Paris until the age holiday to of 17, when he returned home to study commemorate Rubi and law. Rubi and the Bond character were his daughter’s union. Trujillo promptly both residents in Paris (Bond, at the age assigned Rubi to be the principal officer of 16), and, in the series, Fleming writes of his security force and appointed him it was there that Bond lost his virginity. an ambassador at large. Rubi served in We know Bond, like Rubi, developed a the embassies at Vichy, , command of the French language during Berlin, Paris, , Havana and these early formative years. Brussels. It was widely rumored Rubi, like Bond, carried a license to kill, and tended to the dirty work of his father-in- law.

Rubi divorced Flor de Oro in 1937 and, a few years later, married Danielle Darriex, the famous French actress and arguably one of the “Rubi most beautiful traveled women in the frequently… world. as the Nevertheless, Rubi Dominican continued to travel Republic the world in the civil attaché good graces of under the Trujillo’s regime cover of and worked diplomatic tirelessly at immunity.” maintaining the An FBI document, dated June 14, 1961, glamorous lifestyle describing Rubirosa’s official position of the rich and famous. Rubi traveled for the Trujillo regime. frequently between Europe, South America and the United States as the

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“Will the Real James Bond, Please Stand Up?”

Dominican Republic civil attaché under having been publicized by the diving the cover of diplomatic immunity. His legend Jacques Cousteau, provided a roster of international destinations new means of searching for the myriad included the most glamorous locales, of Spanish galleons namely New York, Palm Beach and the that sank in the “Fleming, no French Riviera. Married three more Caribbean carrying doubt, times, and loyal to none, the “Casanova untold amounts of followed the of the Caribbean’s” sexual prowess was gold and jewels, reports of reportedly unparalleled. including many just Rubirosa’s off Jamaica’s south quest for Fleming began writing the Bond series coast, where pirates sunken in January of 1952, at his home in congregated for treasure Jamaica. Casino Royale, published in decades at Port Royal. closely.” 1953, portrayed Bond as handsome, Fleming, who was gambling and carousing in a French fascinated with casino, wearing dapper suits and treasure hunting and an avid scuba diver traveling the world with an unlimited and snorkeler, sensationalized diving in expense account. Fleming introduced the famous Thunderball novel, written in Bond in the first book of the series as a 1960, also set in the Caribbean. Fleming, man whose “skill at gambling and no doubt, followed the reports of knowledge of how to behave in a casino Rubirosa’s quest for sunken treasure were seen as…attributes of a closely. gentleman,” all the time being ruthless and daring. Rubi was strikingly handsome, and, like Bond, he too wore suits handmade in Both Bond and Rubirosa needed to stay England and was always seen sporting a in top-notch physical condition. Fleming fresh manicure and pedicure. He was described Bond in one of his early named to the Best Dressed Men’s List novels, From Russia With Love, as a on several occasions. Rubirosa is also boxer. Likewise, it was known at the often cited as Ralph Lauren’s inspiration time, Rubi worked out regularly with a for the iconic Polo brand. sparring partner to maintain his strength and agility. He also spent “Fleming’s early money like a descriptions of Bond Several of Fleming’s novels were drunken sailor are undoubtedly dutifully set in the Caribbean, reflecting traveling the based upon the looks the azure waters and technicolor foliage world and, and characteristics that acted as a mystical backdrop for his was of Rubirosa. ” characters’ adventures. In the early undeniably, spring of 1952, Rubi spent months the epitome of a gentleman at least to searching for buried treasure in the outside observers. Fleming’s early waters off of the Dominican Republic, descriptions of Bond are undoubtedly Columbia and likely Jamaica where based upon the looks and characteristics dozens of wrecks lie in waiting. Scuba, of Rubirosa. Bond was portrayed in the

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“Will the Real James Bond, Please Stand Up?” early novels written by Fleming as slim, birds in publication at the time, Birds of with black hair, cold-eyed and cruel. In the West Indies, what he referred to as later novels, the Bond character took on “his bible”. Authored by the American, a more well-rounded likable role, James Bond, the tome featured birds of becoming more suave and debonair like Jamaica, where “No trip by Fleming the maturing and increasingly complex Fleming lived on an to the Dominican Rubirosa. ocean estate he Republic would have named “Goldeneye,” been complete at the In addition to close surveillance of and the Dominican Rubirosa, the FBI briefly investigated Republic, where Rubi time without Fleming. The focus on Fleming was the frequently was in sharing libations result of the producer of Goldfinger, the residence. and women with most well-known and popular Bond Rubi and his Latin novel and movie, which was based on By the early 1940’s, entourage.” the contamination of the gold reserves at air travel between Fort Knox, asking the military for the Jamaica and the Dominican Republic use of its planes in the filming of the was readily available, at least to those movie. J. Edgar Hoover, not wanting the with big pocketbooks; the two islands agency to be involved in this nonsense, were only a few hundred miles apart and directed that his agents remind the were easily accessible by boat. There producer of the law against mentioning can be little doubt Fleming’s bird- the FBI in a film, but not without first watching expeditions took him to the noting the Bond novels were one of Dominican Republic. No trip by Fleming President to the Dominican Republic would have Kennedy’s favorite “Kennedy been complete at the time without reads. likely sharing libations and women with Rubi admired and his Latin entourage. Kennedy likely Rubirosa “The likelihood admired Rubirosa because of The likelihood Fleming Fleming and Rubirosa because of his his and Rubirosa met and met and were similarities to the similarities were acquainted with acquainted with each Bond character. It to the Bond each other is far from other is far from was reported character.” surmise. While Rubirosa Kennedy sought was more a lover of surmise.” the advice of Rubirosa as to how to deal women than birds, Rubi with Castro, a friend of Rubirosa. and Fleming ran in the same circles, both Fleming, too, met with Kennedy to men infamously devoted to self- engineer a strategy for Castro’s fall from pleasure. power. Fleming, along with Errol Flynn, the Fleming was an avid-bird watcher, or swashbuckling film star, and Noel ornithologist. He admitted during his Coward, the jack-of-all-trades lifetime to lifting the James Bond name playwright, composer, actor, singer and from one of the most famous books of director, lived on the north shore of

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“Will the Real James Bond, Please Stand Up?”

Jamaica in the 1940’s and 50’s, and, in would reportedly refill their supplies of fact, Fleming and Coward were close Pega Palo, the magic elixir made from neighbors. Fleming, Flynn and Coward the roots of a local tree, known for its were good friends and referred to aphrodisiac qualities. Fleming, also a affectionately by the Jamaicans as the notorious womanizer, no doubt was “British Mafia”. At Goldeneye, aware of their trips and surely partook in Fleming, Coward, and Flynn entertained the elixir they returned with as well. a succession of socialites and were notorious for their partying. Both Rubirosa and Flynn also traveled to Havana frequently both before and after Flynn shared many common friends with the revolution. Before Castro and the Rubirosa including Duke, Hayworth, revolution, Havana – the Las Vegas of Prince Aly Khan (Rubirosa’s dearest its day – was the preferred destination friend), Gardner, Greta Garbo, the for those seeking the high-life and its socialite John Galliher and the elegant casinos and women were Kennedys. Both Rubirosa and Flynn attractive to the social elite. Flynn even were also romantically linked to Eva suffered a much publicized bullet wound Peron, the exquisitely beautiful to his leg, presumably by government Argentinian actress and first lady of troops, on a trip to Cuba in the late 50’s Argentina, and Flynn was involved with to visit with Castro. Duke as well.

Coward was close to Duke, Hutton, Hayworth, Galliher and Gabor, with whom Rubirosa had a notorious and long-standing affair that began in 1952. Coward and Rubirosa frequented the same nightclub, the Peppermint Lounge, which opened in 1958, in New York. Coward even named Rubirosa in the lyrics of a song he re-wrote for Cole Porter, “Let’s Fly Away”, in the late 40’s.

In addition to all being regular visitors to the Cote de Azure of the French Riviera, Rubirosa, Flynn, Coward and Hayworth all traveled frequently in the 40's to Port- au-Prince, Haiti. At the time, Haiti enjoyed a reputation of a get-away for the rich and famous and even hosted the

1949 World’s Fair. Haiti shared the Rubi with his fifth and final wife, Odile island with its neighbor, the Dominican Rodin. Republic. It was there Rubi and Flynn

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“Will the Real James Bond, Please Stand Up?”

Beginning in at least the early 50’s, wife, the beautiful 28 year-old Odile Fleming spent at least two or three Rodin, the spitting image of Ursula months a year, usually January through Andress, the legendary Bond girl from March, in Jamaica writing the next novel Fleming’s Dr. No, Rubi’s prediction in the Bond series. came true. Rubi crashed his silver 250M When he was not “Fleming and Ferrari convertible into a tree while resident in Jamaica, Rubi both traveling over 80 miles per hour. The Fleming traveled frequented the legend died en route to the throughout Europe casinos in Monte hospital. Conspiracy theories aside, Rubi and, from time to Carlo, where died doing what he loved the most: time, the United Rubi would have partying, carousing and living on the States. Fleming and likely ordered precipice of overindulgence. Rubi both frequented his signature the casinos in Monte martini, ‘shaken Both Fleming and Rubi died at the age Carlo, where Rubi not stirred.’” of 56; Fleming in 1964, and Rubi in would have likely 1965. While Fleming never formally ordered his signature martini, “shaken, identified Rubi as the inspiration for the not stirred.” James Bond figure, there is little doubt he is in fact the man behind the Fleming was charmed by Rubi’s mystery. In lifestyle. There can be little doubt, given addition to the “Fleming was their many mutual friends, Fleming and obvious parallels restrained from Rubirosa had crossed paths and were in their identifying acquainted with each other. appearances and Rubirosa as his personas, inspiration…” Like 007, Rubi was no slouch behind the Rubirosa’s wheel, and loved fast cars and their residence in the advanced gadgetry. He raced in dozens Dominican of races, including Le Mans and Republic and close proximity to Sebring. In Bondesque fashion, Rubi is Jamaica, and Fleming’s love of birds noted for having told a friend if he ever that could be found in the Dominican died behind the Republic, hunting for sunken treasure wheel, it would be in “There can be and the gossip columns, along with his a Maserati or a little doubt… close relationships with Coward and Ferrari, not the Fleming and Flynn, who ran in the same circles with Lancia his friend Aly Rubirosa had Rubirosa and shared common friends, Khan had died in. crossed paths lovers, destinations and nightclubs, and were make this the most likely inspiration for On July 4, 1965, acquainted with Fleming’s 007 character. Rubi won the Coupe each other.” de France Polo Cup Fleming was restrained from identifying held in Paris. In true form, he spent the Rubirosa as his inspiration, as that would night celebrating and wining and dining have created unwanted liabilities and the ladies. While driving home to his may have put an end to what would

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“Will the Real James Bond, Please Stand Up?” become the most successful movie running-litigation-the-lawsuit.html). franchise in history. Moreover, given Rubirosa’s Creole or mixed racial Dan can be reached at background, Fleming’s audience in the [email protected] 1950’s and early 60’s may not, unfortunately, have been very accepting of such a revelation. But, even after the passage of over 50 years following their deaths, it is now clear Porfirio Rubirosa was Fleming’s inspiration for 007 and was the real James Bond.

Daniel J. Voelker is the founder of Voelker Litigation Group, a Chicago- based boutique litigation law firm, representing clients throughout the United States. Dan is a forensic historian and one of the world’s leading experts on the life and times of Porfirio Rubirosa.

Dan has written several ground-breaking articles including "It Ain't So, Kid, It Just Ain't So", History’s Apology to “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, Charles Comiskey and Chicago’s Black Sox, that literally rewrote the history of the 1919 Black Sox scandal. (www.chicagobaseballmuseum.org/files/ it-just-aint-so-200909.pdf.)

Dan also recently wrote and published an article about the longest pending litigation matter in history brought by Christopher Columbus and his progeny for their share of the spoils of discovering the New World. (“Legal Lessons from the World’s Longest Running Litigation: The Lawsuits of Christopher Columbus,” http://www.voelkerlitigationgroup.com/l egal-lessons-from-worlds-longest-

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