The alliance between the mafia and the Teamsters Union remains one of the most notorious partnerships in American history — a saga dominated by powerful men like union boss Jimmy Hoffa. Yet its origins can be traced to a Kansas City woman, Sylvia Pagano, whom the FBI once called “the connection between the Detroit Italian Syndicate and the Teamsters Union.”

Author Frank Hayde discusses his new book Hoffa’s Connection: The Story of Sylvia Pagano, the Kansas City Girl at the Center of the Mafia’s Alliance with the Teamsters Union, which examines how Pagano, a labor organizer, emerged as a key ally for Hoffa and a trusted figure within the American underworld.

During a period when the mafia relegated most women to ornamental roles, Hayde details how Pagano was unique, serving as a powerbroker, liaison, and advisor. Her story provides a glimpse into some of organized crime’s most notorious people, places, and events.

A career law enforcement officer, Hayde is the author of five previous books, including The Mafia and the Machine: The Story of the Kansas City Mob and Italian Gardens: A History of Kansas City Through Its Favorite Restaurant.