Editing Howard Hughes (section)

====Autobiography hoax====
In 1972, author [[Clifford Irving]] caused a media sensation when he claimed he had co-written an authorized Hughes autobiography. Irving claimed he and Hughes had corresponded through the United States mail and offered as proof handwritten notes allegedly sent by Hughes. Publisher McGraw-Hill, Inc. was duped into believing the manuscript was authentic. Hughes was so reclusive that he did not immediately publicly refute Irving's statement, leading many to believe that Irving's book was genuine. However, before the book's publication, Hughes finally denounced Irving in a teleconference attended by reporters Hughes knew personally: James Bacon of the Hearst papers, Marvin Miles of the ''Los Angeles Times'', Vernon Scott of UPI, Roy Neal of NBC News, Gene Handsaker of AP, Wayne Thomas of the ''Chicago Tribune'', and Gladwin Hill of the ''New York Times''.<ref name=":3">Bartlett and Steele 2011, pp. 469–471.</ref>

The entire hoax finally unraveled.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/clifford-irving-dead-howard-hughes-prankster-was-87-1069918|title=Clifford Irving, Howard Hughes Prankster, Dies at 87|newspaper=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|location=Los Angeles, California|date=December 21, 2017|access-date=June 25, 2018}}</ref> The [[United States Postal Inspection Service]] (USPIS) got a subpoena to force Irving to turn over samples of his handwriting. The USPIS investigation led to Irving's indictment and subsequent conviction for using the postal service to commit fraud. He was incarcerated for 17 months.<ref>{{cite web |title=Clifford Irving {{!}} National Postal Museum |url=https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibition/behind-the-badge-case-histories-scams-and-schemes-financial-frauds/clifford-irving |website=postalmuseum.si.edu |access-date=December 11, 2021}}</ref> In 1974, the [[Orson Welles]] film ''[[F for Fake]]'' included a section on the Hughes autobiography hoax, leaving a question open as to whether it was actually Hughes who took part in the teleconference (since so few people had actually heard or seen him in recent years). In 1977, ''The Hoax'' by Clifford Irving was published in the United Kingdom, telling his story of these events. The 2006 film ''[[The Hoax]]'', starring [[Richard Gere]], is also based on these events.{{sfn|Irving|1999|p=309}}