"If anything in this life is certain, if history has taught us anything, it is that you can kill anyone."

What exactly did he mean by "history"? What history was he referring to?

Well...he may be referring to (among other things) his initially laughed at plan to kill not only Sollozzo but his police protection in the form of McClusky.

He could also be thinking about his unprecedented wiping out of the Five Family Heads after the death of his father.

Perhaps he's considering the almost successfull attempt at his own life, which failed ONLY because his new wife decided to surprise him by driving herself.

Could be any number of incidents he's thinking of when he says that line...and of course he turns out to be right.

Apple

I know the movie isn't taking place in the 1960s but maybe the murder of JFK?

I think he means Julius Caesar. After all the Corleone Family was like the Roman Empire ...once.

I think he means history. Over time, many people once thought untouchable have been assassinated, such as presidents, emperors, kings, witnesses under protection. I believe this is what Michael is referring to.

Way to go, Babe.

"Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat its mistakes."

It's possible FFC and Puzo were engaging in a bit of historical juxtaposing here. Perhaps Michael was "fast forwarding" to the JFK assassination, even though that scene was set ca. 1960, because FFC and Puzo knew all their viewers were familiar with the JFK assassination.
But, as Apple pointed out, Michael could have been pointing more credibly to his own assassination of McCluskey and Sollozzo. Hagen said, "...he is invulnerable. No one has ever gunned down a police captain..." And Michael replied, "Where does it say you can't kill a cop?" That's most likely the "history" he's referring to.

Michael's remark was certainly designed for the the viewer to see the irony in JFK's assassination, particularly in light of the fact that many believe that the Mafia was involved.

I agree. The JFK assassination always comes to my mind when I watch that part of the movie.


Don Cardi

I'm with SB on this one. I think he meant history as a generalisation. History has taught us anyone can be killed... Caeser, JFK, John Lennon, Jesus, Abe Lincoln, Maud Flanders etc.

Even bloody Rasputin!!!

I don't think he was referring to one specific event.

Yes, thoses other events were surely part of Michael's thinking, along with the kiling of McClusky and the 5 Dons. However I think that JFK was in the forefront of FFC & Puzo's mind when they wrote that part.


Don Cardi

Frankly, the statement may have included a little bit of both.

I'll go along with the possibility that FFC/Puzo had JFK and a few other 1960's assasinations in mind when giving Michael that line to say.

BUT...taking simply the fictional character's personal POV and the period of time in which he says it (late 1950's), you just can't bypass the theory that Michael is clearly reminding Tom (and gloating besides) of past killings that virtually no one would've even considered possible until he masterminded them.

Apple

Apple, talk about being "In Sinc" and posting the same thought at the same time.


Don Cardi

Even though everyone brings JFK up first in there mind. Why not, it is within most people generation or close enough as they have heard about it.

What Michael was talking about is really Abraham Lincoln.

If you think about it, the JFK assasination wasn't really all that difficult to carry out.

He was riding slowly in an open limo, past cheering crowds, on a bright, sunny day. He specifically asked that the top be down so he could wave to the crowds. Home footage shows he actually beckoned some Texans to come closer & shake his hand!! Despite the Secret Service apparently everywhere they thought they should be on that day...whoever held the gun whether it was Oswald or somebody else had a clear shot. A map of the President's motorcade route had been published in all the papers. The closest agent was poor Clint Hill, who was riding behind Kennedy and got to the car soon enough to only push down a panicked Jackie who was climbing out the back seat after seeing her husband's head blown off.

If you look at all the circumstances, It was actually an easier job to pull off than the one Booth planned for doing away with Lincoln. It was because of the Kennedy assasination that no President since has EVER ridden an open limo.

So I'm not sure what significance it has to Michael's 'History has proven...' statement.

Apple

isn't there some story floating around out there that the Secret Service had all been partying hard the night before and were hung over on Nov 22??

Some of the agents went drinking at the Cellar in Ft. the night before.

JFK's assassination has nothing to do with what Michael was saying......there were many assassinations in history to back up his statement.....plus his own experiences.....him killing The Turk and McClusky, plus the attempts on his father......his statement was more of a challenge to Rocco....right after he says that line he calls to Rocco....and Rocco says "Difficult, but not impossible" Michael was basically telling Rocco that he will not except failure as an option before he asked Rocco. I mean c'mon.....if Michael says that history has taught us that no one is safe from being killed.....would you want to be the one to tell him....."Uh- Mikey.....I can't think of a way to do it."????
I think Rocco knew that Mike wanted him to do it....regardless of Rocco's own death.

Add to that the assassination of the heads of the Five Families.

I think you're right: basically Mike was saying, "we've had our own way and killed all who opposed us so far ... why can't we continue to do that?"

Although Hagen's caution that the hit on Roth would be akin to a hit on the President was deliberately prophetic.

JFK himself said, a month before his death, that "anyone could kill a President" with a high-powered rifle, "as long as he wasn't worrying about getting caught."