Rick Caruso outpaced his father's wealth many times over but could never convince him politics was a worthwhile pursuit.
The year was 1960 and Southern California’s most famous car salesman was going to jail.
In a Pasadena courtroom, Caruso and five former employees were sent away for up to a year in county jail. His wife, Gloria, would be raising their two children: 14-month-old son Rick and his sister. Caruso’s campaign bio notes his father “was indicted and served time for fraud,” though he, perhaps understandably, hasn’t talked much publicly about this ugly and painful chapter of his family’s life.
Caruso outpaced his father’s wealth many times over but could never convince him politics was a worthwhile pursuit. His dad even joked to friends that if Rick ran for office, he’d donate to his opponent. Over the years, Caruso came to believe his father wanted to shield him.
Another customer, Clare Ferguson, contended he purchased a car for $3,400 instead of the $4,400 stated on the sales contract. The automobile had been sitting under a sign advertising a $1,000 discount. When he learned the car cost $4,400, he was told it was too late to return it. Once the other defendants went to trial, Howser claimed, he realized his error in urging a guilty plea. He indicated he didn’t fully review the grand jury testimony, but said the prosecutors had claimed to have an ironclad case. “I am trying to vindicate rightfully the sorriest mistake that I have ever made in the practice of law.”
Hank drove the kids to grammar school each day. Gloria would cook dinner for Rick and his siblings, Christina and later, Marc. When their dad returned home late at night, the family would sit with him as he ate dinner. Around this time he was also appointed to the Department of Water and Power commission — the first of several posts that he cites now as preparation for the job he’s trying to win.“His dad knew if Dollar was going to succeed in the next generation, it needed a leader with Rick’s qualities,” said Bill Allen, one of Caruso’s best friends.
“He’s not a helicopter parent. But from the time that we were young, he always made it a priority to be home to have dinner with the family,” said Alex, 33, now an attorney.
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