"Arnold, Paul and the Rewards of Crime
Arnold and Paul Maxwell Graham have been buddies for years. Two
days after Arnie got his first apartment in LA, Arnie invited a writer to
his place to see the proof that the Weiders had rigged the contest in
which Frank Zane had beaten him. Paul popped out of the bedroom just
after their arrival wearing only his underpants. Arnold complained that
all the contestants had to wear a medallion out on stage with Zane’s
picture on it. The writer had to admit it was Frank’s body on the
medallion right down to the vein on his arm. The writer however,
concluded from looking at the pictures, that Zane deserved to win
because, “Arnold was just plain fat”. Arnold could only see that he was
bigger than Zane.
With in months, Arnie was tearing down the highway with Paul in
pursuit. A squeal of brakes, a crash, and a dazed Arnie hauls himself out
of the car. Paul announces to the witnesses that he is taking Arnold to
the hospital, and hurriedly leaves the scene of the accident. Shortly
after, the police arrived and identified the car as a stolen vehicle.
According to Bill Dreke, Arnold’s long time buddy, several days later our
Germanic Super Hero and Paul fled to Hawaii. A federal warrant was issued
for Paul’s arrest on 1/29/69.
In Honolulu Hawaii, FBI agent Edwin Miller and his partner flanked
the motel door, and then with a kick, the door flies open. There stands
Paul Graham posing stark naked for Arnie who is laying on the bed wearing
only his underpants. Paul and Arnie are cuffed and taken out of the room.
Our usually cool under pressure hero is very upset, the feds refuse to
let him take his little blue pills with him. According to agent Miller,
the pills were found to be the anabolic steroid, Dianabol. For Gods sake
Arnold, tell us that beautiful body was only the result of hard work,
determination and your humble, but strict upbringing.
In the lock up, Paul admitted everything, but swore that Arnold
had no knowledge of the car being stolen. The FBI being only interested
in the Federal Laws that were violated did not press the issue, because
this was up to the state of California. On Feb. 11, 1969 Paul asked for
and received a Rule 20. This Rule 20 transferred the case #3285cd to
Hawaii Federal Court from the Central District of California for the sole
purpose of pleading guilty. The Grand Jury indictment was filed Feb. 5,
1969, charging Paul with 18 U. S. C. #2312, Foreign Transportation
of=Stolen Motor Vehicle. The indictment charged that on or about December
23, 1968, Paul shipped a 1965 Mustang and an 1966 Mustang to Sydney,
Australia. On April 10, 1969 Paul was sentenced to 3 years, and on April
25, 1969 was delivered to Terminal Island , California. On Feb. 16, 1971
after less that 2 years, Paul Maxwell Graham was paroled, and deported to
Australia. Under U. S. Law Paul is not allowed to return to the U. S. But
that has not stopped him. I personally was on the same flight from Las
Vegas with Paul and the Australian body building team in 1984.
California, feeling that Arnold was to small a fish to go to the
expense of extraditing from Hawaii, did not pursue any State charges
against him, knowing that Paul would swear that Arnie did not know the car
was stolen. Bill Dreke claims, Arnold not only knew, but was the look
out for the thief’s.
Arnold visited Paul regularly and provided money to make his life
comfortable. In the movie “Pumping Iron” we see Arnold posing there for
the inmates, but they never explained how Arnie became connected with the
joint. One inmate even asked for a kiss. I can hear the Church Lady
saying “ Isn’t that special”.
After Paul got out of prison he was rewarded by the Weider
brothers for protecting Arnold, by being given the Weider distributorship
and from the IFBB a position as Vice President in charge of Oceania
(Australia, New Zealand, and a bunch of Islands in the south pacific). In
the two years that Paul was in jail, Joe Weider had made Arnie the center
piece of his body building magazines. They had to protect their
investment from scandal. Crime really did pay, and pay big. In 1980
Arnold gave the Mr. Olympia Contest to Paul to Promote. This contest is a
story in itself and will come later. Of course Ben Weider will tell you
that he did not know of his prison record until I told him, but Paul
still rules Body Building in Australia.
If you want a gander at Paul rent “The Pirate Movie”, he is the aging
flabby body builder in the pirate crew.
On the plane coming back from Las Vegas, I found myself surrounded by the
Australian team in coach class. Paul was traveling first class. I asked
them if Paul was as big a crook in Australia as we hear he is. Suddenly I
had four large hands clamped across my mouth with a whispered “Yes , but
shut up he might hear you”. I couldn’t believe these big guys were that
afraid of that old man. After we got to LA they called me from there
Hotel and I took them on a tour of Hollywood. Boy did I get an ear full
of how Paul claims that Arnold owes him his career because he kept his
mouth shut and took the rap alone."
Lacy H. Rich, Jr. (213) 851-6585
