Jimmy Hoffa 1955. IBT staff was also enlarged during this period, with many lawyers hired to assist with contract negotiations. Following his 1952 election as vice-president, Hoffa began spending more of his time away from Detroit, either in Washington or traveling around the country for his expanded responsibilities. Hoffa's personal lawyer was Bill Bufalino. Hoffa took over the presidency of the Teamsters in 1957, at the convention in Miami Beach, Florida. His predecessor, Beck, had appeared before the John Little McClellan-led U.S. Senate Select Committee on Improper Activities in Labor or Management Field in March 1957, and took the Fifth Amendment 140
Portland Hoffa main reason why he ceased hosting his own show after 1949, but Hoffa often joined him as a semi-regular on Tallulah Bankhead's radio variety show, "The Big Show" (1950–52). She also appeared as the "mystery guest" on one episode of television's "What's My Line", on which Allen had become a panelist from 1954 until his death in early 1956. Hoffa and Allen had also appeared in such films as "Is Everybody Listening?" (1947) and the Jack Benny vehicle "Buck Benny Rides Again" (1940). In 1959, after Allen's death, Hoffa married bandleader Joe Rines, later an advertising executive. Hoffa and Rines