Why was Michael the favorite son

Why was Micheal Don Vito's favorite son..On the steps, after killing Don Fannuci, Vito had already chosen Michale as his favorite, does anyone know why that was?

I think he loved all his sons equally. vito never actually said "michael you are my favorite." michael was the youngest of the sons, the purest. a big theme of GFI and what partially shadows GFII is the high hopes that vito had for michael and his future. the hopes of michael becoming a more "respected" corleone. the last conversation between michael and vito in GFI, i think, can help us out on why vito was somewhat holding michael on a pedestal.
from www.thegodfathertrilogy.com
MICHAEL (reaching over, touching his father)

What's the matter? What's bothering you?

(then, after the Don doesn't answer)

I'll handle it. I told you I can handle it, I'll handle it.


VITO CORLEONE (as he stands)

I knew that Santino was going to have to go through all this. And Fredo -- well --

(then, after he sits besides Michael)

-- Fredo was -- well -- But I never -- I never wanted this for you. I work my whole life, I

don't apologize, to take care of my family. And I refused -- to be a fool -- dancing on the

string, held by all those -- bigshots. I don't apologize -- that's my life -- but I thought that --

that when it was your time -- that -- that you would be the one to hold the strings. Senator -

Corleone. Governor - Corleone, or something...


MICHAEL

Another pezzonovante...


VITO CORLEONE

Well -- this wasn't enough time, Michael. Wasn't enough time...


MICHAEL

We'll get there, Pop -- we'll get there...

Im pretty sure that in the novel, it states that the dons favourite was indeed michael

Something to the effect of ' before he went to war, michael was the don's favourite son'

I agree with everything Robo said. Michael was probably the fav. son simply because he was the youngest and because Don Vito saw him as the smartest of his three sons. He believed Michael had the most potential to be something greater, the one to pull the strings.
I also wanted to add that when I read the book (I'm sure I will be corrected b/c it's been awhile since I read it) I believe that Don Vito loved Tom more than was displayed in the movie. I think Michael sensed that and was a little jealous. In the book Don Vito tells Tom not to call him Pop so that Tom is reminded of his past. However it also notes that Don Vito did this to remind himself that Tom is not his son as well. That part always stuck out in my mind, that Don Vito wanted to remind himself to be respectful of Tom's father.

In my opinion, and Im no authority on The Godfather, but in Part II it seems as though Vito was showing favoritism to Michael, esp when they were in The Old Country. In America, he tells the infant son Michael, Michael, your father loves you very much, mi galoso (sp). I asked an Italian friend what that means and he said it meant "my glory..or my pride and joy in maybe our terms here in America. Thats why I figured he had wanted Michael not mixed up in the family business because he loved him so much.

i stand corrected
robert

It says something in the beggining of the book, at Connies wedding when all the characters are introduced, something to the effect that Michael was his favorite, and the most likely to take over the business, because he was the most like his father.Maybe he was his favorite becuase they were the most alike.From the time Sonny was 16, Vito knew he could never be a legit American(you know what I mean)Fredo it seems, followed anything his brother and father did, plus he was Fredo, so all hope for him then goes soaring out the window.Michael was the only one left.Vito wanted him to be legit,and tried to teach him that, because none of his other sons wanted to learn legitimacy.

But he didnt know that when they were very young children, it was grossly unfair of Vito to select a favourite, each were equally deserving of his love, but once michael was on the scene, he was the 'one' at least Fredo's mummy loved him

Michael was Vito's favorite son mainly because he was obviously the smartest, and had the best chance of guiding the family safely in the years ahead. Though Vito had hoped that Michael would become a major political pezzanovante, it became clear later that he also was confident that Michael would make an excellent Don.

The Don had early hopes for Sonny. In the novel, Clemenza tells the Don that he learned that the teenaged Sonny had committed an armed robbery. The Don berates him, then Sonny says he saw the Don kill Fanucci. Then the Don says, "Don't you want to be a lawyer? A lawyer with his briefcase can steal more than a thousand men with guns." Sonny says he wants to follow in the Don's footsteps. And, as we saw, he's a bad Don. As for Fredo: the movie makes him out to be pathologically stupid. In the novel, he's loyal and obedient, but doesn't have leadership qualities. So, after awhile, it becomes Michael by default, if you want to view it that way.

Only cos Sonny died, i cant see Micheal pushing him out of the way.

And so what if Michael was the smartest, theres more to life then that, and as a father Vito should appreciate that and encourage all his children.