Porfirio Rubirosa - Forgotten?

[frank alvarez]

There have been several famous characters well known for their powers of seduction in the history of our planet. 'Don Juan' de Maraña of Seville, Spain, Giovanni 'Casanova' of Venice, Italy and Porfirio Rubirosa of San Francisco de Macoris, Dominican Republic.

Rubi was known mostly as a high-class 'chulo' (gigolo or what is now known as a 'sanky'--although sankies are usually very unrefined low-class guys) who courted and married some of the best known and richest women in the world in the middle of the 20th century. He mostly led a very full life 'earned' by marrying rich women and then receiving a settlement upon divorcing them.
His first marriage was to 17-year-old Flor de Oro Trujillo, the Dominican dictator's only daughter, in 1932. He also married French actress Danielle Darrieux, Barbara Hutton, Woolworth fortune heiress, Doris Duke, American Tobacco heiress, had affairs with Zsa Zsa Gabor, Rita Hayworth and others.

He was friends with Sinatra and JFK. Partied with King Faruk, last king of Egypt. Was Dominican ambassador to London and visited Buckingham during King George VI's reign. Also Dominican ambassador to Paris during World War II and was imprisoned with all Allied diplomats by the Nazis having received favors from Goebbels and Mrs. Goebbels due to their great admiration of his wife Darrieux. Was accidentally shot by the French resistance and survived.
Was Dominican ambassador to Argentina and hobknobbed with Peron and Evita.

Trujillo gave two orders of elimination of Rubirosa, one prior to his marrying his daughter when he was a 2nd lieutenant in his personal guard and then after he divorced her (and beating her during their regular fights). Rubi somehow avoided to save his neck both times and not only that, he eventually became useful to the dictator as can be seen by his long career as a diplomat representing the Dominican government.

Rubirosa was born in 1909 and moved to Paris in 1915 when his General father was named Dominican ambassador to France during WWI. He was 6.
When he returned to the DR at 19 in 1928, he had not lost his Dominican
spirit and was very much identified with his country throughout his life, in spite of the European influences and the jet-set privileged life he lived. He would sit around with the barrio 'tigueres' in the Colonial Zone in San Lazaro, Ciudad Nueva, San Carlos, etc., shirtless, organizing boxing matches and harassing the pretty girls.

A great boxer, World Class polo player, race-car driver and all-around sportsman, Rubi was the perfect gentleman and made each woman feel as if she was the center of the universe as testified by many of those that he conquered. His 'maleness' was well-publicized with exact measurements provided (11 in. in length and 6 in. in circumference) and he was sterile due to a bad case of the mumps in his childhood. In addition, he was alleged to be a practitioner of an obscure Eastern art of postponement of ejaculation due to concentration, something taught him by the also-famous Ali-Khan, playboy extraordinaire and multi-millionaire who died in a Paris car crash in 1958. Rubirosa used to say that if he ever died in a car crash, he hoped it would not be in a Lancia like Ali-Khan but in a Maserati or a Ferrari.

In 1965, after another one of his party knights in the best boites of Paris, he was driving home intoxicated in his Ferrari and hit a parked car and then a tree. He got his wish of dying in a Ferrari crash. Rubirosa was quite a character.

[juanita]

This was very interesting, thanks so much for sharing this info. Unbelievable to learn that sankies go wayyyyy back!

[rellosk]

Is it true that pepper grinders are commonly referred to as rubirosas?

[xamaicano]

Originally Posted by rellosk

Is it true that pepper grinders are commonly referred to as rubirosas?

In Paris.

[HOWMAR]

Originally Posted by frank alvarez

There have been several famous characters well known for their powers of seduction in the history of our planet. 'Don Juan' de Maraña of Seville, Spain, Giovanni 'Casanova' of Venice, Italy and Porfirio Rubirosa of San Francisco de Macoris, Dominican Republic.

Rubi was known mostly as a high-class 'chulo' (gigolo or what is now known as a 'sanky'--although sankies are usually very unrefined low-class guys) who courted and married some of the best known and richest women in the world in the middle of the 20th century. He mostly led a very full life 'earned' by marrying rich women and then receiving a settlement upon divorcing them.
His first marriage was to 17-year-old Flor de Oro Trujillo, the Dominican dictator's only daughter, in 1932. He also married French actress Danielle Darrieux, Barbara Hutton, Woolworth fortune heiress, Doris Duke, American Tobacco heiress, had affairs with Zsa Zsa Gabor, Rita Hayworth and others.

He was friends with Sinatra and JFK. Partied with King Faruk, last king of Egypt. Was Dominican ambassador to London and visited Buckingham during King George VI's reign. Also Dominican ambassador to Paris during World War II and was imprisoned with all Allied diplomats by the Nazis having received favors from Goebbels and Mrs. Goebbels due to their great admiration of his wife Darrieux. Was accidentally shot by the French resistance and survived.
Was Dominican ambassador to Argentina and hobknobbed with Peron and Evita.

Trujillo gave two orders of elimination of Rubirosa, one prior to his marrying his daughter when he was a 2nd lieutenant in his personal guard and then after he divorced her (and beating her during their regular fights). Rubi somehow avoided to save his neck both times and not only that, he eventually became useful to the dictator as can be seen by his long career as a diplomat representing the Dominican government.

Rubirosa was born in 1909 and moved to Paris in 1915 when his General father was named Dominican ambassador to France during WWI. He was 6.
When he returned to the DR at 19 in 1928, he had not lost his Dominican
spirit and was very much identified with his country throughout his life, in spite of the European influences and the jet-set privileged life he lived. He would sit around with the barrio 'tigueres' in the Colonial Zone in San Lazaro, Ciudad Nueva, San Carlos, etc., shirtless, organizing boxing matches and harassing the pretty girls.

A great boxer, World Class polo player, race-car driver and all-around sportsman, Rubi was the perfect gentleman and made each woman feel as if she was the center of the universe as testified by many of those that he conquered. His 'maleness' was well-publicized with exact measurements provided (11 in. in length and 6 in. in circumference) and he was sterile due to a bad case of the mumps in his childhood. In addition, he was alleged to be a practitioner of an obscure Eastern art of postponement of ejaculation due to concentration, something taught him by the also-famous Ali-Khan, playboy extraordinaire and multi-millionaire who died in a Paris car crash in 1958. Rubirosa used to say that if he ever died in a car crash, he hoped it would not be in a Lancia like Ali-Khan but in a Maserati or a Ferrari.

In 1965, after another one of his party knights in the best boites of Paris, he was driving home intoxicated in his Ferrari and hit a parked car and then a tree. He got his wish of dying in a Ferrari crash. Rubirosa was quite a character.

I showed your post to a co-worker with them same last name. It turns out that Porfirio was his uncle (his father's brother). He says that much of what you said is accurate to the best of his knowledge.
He related the story of when Trujillo called Porfirio in after he beat his daughter. In fear for his life, Porfirio went before Trujillo. When Trujillo asked him why he beat his daughter, Porfirio responded that a Dominican husband was within his rights to beat his wife if she disrespected him. Obviously Trujillo must have agreed.

[linamia]

Originally Posted by HOWMAR

When Trujillo asked him why he beat his daughter, Porfirio responded that a Dominican husband was within his rights to beat his wife if she disrespected him. Obviously Trujillo must have agreed.

That right died with el Jefe. Or else there would be lots of Lorena Bobbits (SP) in DR.

[Stodgord]

Originally Posted by linamia

That right died with el Jefe. Or else there would be lots of Lorena Bobbits (SP) in DR.

Not really, it is still going on. Many women have been murdered or permanently disfigured by their husbands in the DR.

[linamia]

Originally Posted by Stodgord

Not really, it is still going on. Many women have been murdered or permanently disfigured by their husbands in the DR.

Yes, but it is no longer a right now women have the option to press charges in DR. I see a lot of promotion for "la protección de la mujer y niños in DR".

[bochinche]

a well-renowned playboy for sure..........but i don't think he was ever a "sanky", in any sense of the word.

i thought he was well-in with ramfis, trujillo's favourite offspring. which may have been another reason for getting his neck saved. i could well be wrong though.

[Dragonfly32837]

Originally Posted by bochinche

a well-renowned playboy for sure..........but i don't think he was ever a "sanky", in any sense of the word.

i thought he was well-in with ramfis, trujillo's favourite offspring. which may have been another reason for getting his neck saved. i could well be wrong though.

I don't think he was a sanky either. A well renowned playboy sounds better because in order to romance women of that caliber you need to have class.