◆ SpookStack

se FD-35. (Rev. 7-16-63) meet ot -Rebozo ‘Can’ Lose’ Building Beal big May Face Coi gress pal By FRED ANDERSEN Herald Staff Writer A Cuban shopping center, riday became a “target for. congfessidn vestigators, ria. Rebozo, ae Fend of ; President Niron, built the center under a “can't-lose” ‘ financial arrangenient with -the federal government's Smail Business Administa- ; tion before Nixon bec - C Wright ; man (., Tex.) ‘of the Mouse Banking. and Currency Com- mittee said Friday he is “se. | tiously considering” a com- mittee probe of the SBA deal which guarantees Rebozo and his partner’ $2.4 million in rentals over 20 years. . A few hours earlier, Thom- as A. Butler, regional direc- tor of the SBA here, said he has ‘asked the agency’s Washington office to “make a though investi ation” o the matter, 8 t fiant and an what he called “unw rranted character assassination” in connection with the Rebozo pact, Butler said he has “had it up to here” about the $900, 000 minicenter.. REBOZO AND a: Miami real estate developer, C. ¥, W. Trice Jr., are part- ners in the 34,000-square- foot comales which is to open late s month. It block of NW fronts along a OT MAD? 106g Jee) (Mount Clipping in Spoce Below) Maus The entire. “teal on the. Latin-orient: center was born-and éompleted during a Democratic - administration and the mortgage committed ~more than a year before Nix- | ' on’s election. - . ‘Butler is a longtime ‘friend - of Rebozo,: as dent. The SBA 6ffictél -has-- been associated with the Key ' | Biscayne banker in several ; Property transactions and i was a founding stockholder in Rebozo's financial institu- tion. | REBOZO'S next door neighbor during negotiations for the shopping center was his friend former U.S. Sen. George Smathas, who at the - same time wag chairman of the Smali Bugmess Commit- tee of the JSenate, which partially oversees operation : of the SBA. | The staff director of the Smali Business Administra- tion, said in an interview that he’ intervened, at Rebozo’s re- quest, and got the SBA to cut _through red tape to expedite | final approval of the project. Mcinarnay said neither | ‘Smathers nor the committee | had suggested the shopping : center, “The SBA came to us ‘and said they were interested in they did it because Smathers | as vis . the * Presi-.. William MclInarnay,’: | merits Florida,” he said. .“I think tee.” - ; Rebozo has repeatedly - refused to comént to the press on his . involvement ' with the SBA. He declined to { Teturn phone calls to him ; trom The Herald. -°_ - SEN. -PATMAN ‘told news- men in Washington Friday he was “disturbed -hy news sto-" ries which indicated an SBA - employe who participated in approving: the: lease” guaran- : tee had a close business and ~ personal relationstip With, Reboze,” 3 . The SBA . ; &: Cuban pea so asa “pilot project” in which busi-: nessmen who? : qualify for. Economic tunity loans - are set up fn’ eration in & single sh ‘Patman nothd: his’ ‘commit. tee has “legiflative jurisdic- tion over SBA ‘and I believe - ‘we should give ‘Serious con- ‘ sideration to an in tion | which will determine het: er similar arrangements *h been entered it ea inte eek other i developers dy Pe wih tions of the country? - “If such ‘an ks es conducted, it, abe | agéncy’s role. in this. particu. lar shopping center develop- - enough to detetatne tally the : he | . Tolsan . a BelLrach » Mohr. » Pihop » Casper . Cobakhan » Comrad . Felt. Ritr., Ci @ air, Roce n pRir. £:- i Kir. Mr. Tele. Room Mies Eos ‘ER | Miss Gangy_ Taye Oo Pert eer DP uapie Pence es ‘W(Indicate page, name of newspaper, city and state.) mer | The MIAMNT HERALD 1A Miami, Florida Being followed Date: 2/8/69 Edition: Author: Editor: Title: RE: PING CENTER', Character: [MH 46 --0] Classification: "REBOZO SHOP- MIAMT vi Submitting oticeliamt F { fh. ene eee, oO Being Investiqated pre He} RECORDED "476 MAR 3 1969