Did Irvings forged letters actually pass muster with a handwriting expert?
They did. Irving had practiced forging Hughes’ handwriting, and wrote numerous letters in Hughes’ name, which assured McGraw-Hill editors that the rich old recluse was actually in contact with Irving. But before committing to Irving’s book, McGraw-Hill sent the letters off to a handwriting expert, who compared them with other specimens of Hughes’ handwriting. His conclusion must have thrilled Irving, the forger. “The chances that (the letters are forged,)” said the expert, “are less than one in a million.” So much for handwriting experts. In the film, Irving’s friend Suskind seems far more ambivalent about the hoax. Was that true? Not really. Dick Suskind was eventually arraigned as a co-conspirator, and by all accounts he was neck deep in the whole affair. And Irving never had to trick him to keep him involved, as the film suggests. The filmmakers added that detail to emphasize Irving’s willingness to deceive everyone and anyone. “Clifford was lying to everyone close to him,” screenwr
