– CIO COnvention he urged the A.F.L. to “defend the men and women of labor until they have their day in court.” Speaking about the violators within the Teamsters, Beck was setting the stage for his own downfall. With Beck continuing to run the Teamsters as president, many began to wonder who really was in charge. “The average Teamster had no sense of identity with Dave Beck; he feels completely identified with Jimmy Hoffa.” (Gomberg, 1961, 512) Though Hoffa was vice president, many saw Beck’s presidency as nothing more than a title for “an arrogant and brassy man nicknamed ‘His Majesty the Wheel”. Beck himself had little direct contact with the everyday operations of the Teamsters. Beck’s detachment allowed Hoffa to gain a better relaitonship with the locals throughout the country. Hoffa was also the Teamsters lead negotiator throughout the nation. With Beck’s illegal activities priming him for a downfall, Hoffa’s prolific role in the Teamsters primed him as next president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Beck was involved in many shady uses of Teamsters funds. Beck felt the title of president allowed him to live a lavish lifestyle. Though that in itself is not wrong, using Teamsters funds to accomplish that goal is. Much of Beck’s salary was supplmented with money from Teamsters pension funds. Beck made the Teamstes buy hima luxurious house and later had the Teamsters buy back the house from him. His tax evasion and personal investments attreacted the scrutiny of the Internal Revenue Service. The investigation into Beck’s personal life led to the government finding out about illegal activities pursued by the Teamsters. The Teamsters, since their foundation, had been continually investigated for illegal activities ranging from assaults and battery to misuse of funds from its members. As it became evident that Beck would no ...
