From Cafaro's 1988 affidavit:

Our family or "brugad" has approximately 300-400 members, with a definite hierarchy: a boss, an underboss, and a consigliere, followed by 14 caporegimes. Beneath the caporegimes are the soldiers.

The boss of the Genovese family is Vincent Gigante, also known as "Chin"; Bobby Manna (Louis Manna) is the consigliere. Until his death in April, 1987, Sammy Santora was the underboss of our brugad.

Beginning in the early 1980's, Fat Tony Salerno was generally recognized on the streets as the boss of the Genovese family. In fact, for years Fat Tony reported back to Phillip Lombardo, also known as Ben or Benny Squint. In the 1960's, when Vito Genovese went to jail, he turned control of our brugad over to Lombardo.

In 1972, Lombardo was the boss, "Tommy Ryan" (Thomas Eboli) was the underboss, and Fat Tony was the consigliere. Lombardo wanted to stay in the background and keep the heat off of himself, so Tommy Ryan fronted as boss of the family, while Lombardo controlled things from the background. After Ryan's death in 1972, Lombardo continued in the background while Eli Zaccardi fronted as boss of the family.

When I was "straightened out" in 1974, Lombardo was the boss, Funzi Tieri the underboss who "fronted" as the boss, and Fat Tony the consiglieri. Again, Lombardo stayed in the background and put out Tieri as boss of the family. In 1976, Fat Tony became the underboss and Buckaloo (Antonio Ferro) the consigliere. In 1978, "Fat Dom" Alongi replaced Buckaloo as the consigliere, followed by Bobby Manna in 1980. By this time, Fat Tony fronted as boss of the family, but the real power behind the throne was Lombardo.

In 1981, Fat Tony had a stroke and was "pulled down" by Lombardo, Vincent "Chin" Gigante, Manna, and Santora. Lombardo was also in poor health and retired. Gigante became the boss, Santora the underboss, and Manna the consigliere. Gigante allowed Fat Tony to continue to front as the boss, letting the other families believe that Fat Tony still controlled our brugad. Fat Tony continued to represent the family by sitting on the Commission and in meeting representatives of the other families. In fact, Fat Tony conferred with Chin on any major matters affecting the family. Chin attended a commission meeting, but preferred that Fat Tony go to these meetings.

I read this along time ago. I mean it explains alot. Lombardo liked to keep the feds guessing and playing musical chairs with the consig spot makes strong leaders out of alot of capos then he breaks them back to capo probaly telling them ahead of time this is only a 1 or 2 year position.

Also read that some guys in other families could go to Fat Tony; Lombardo or Gigante to settle disputes.

All three of them were bascially avaliable.

It's like bait-and-switch. After Don Vito's death, the feds were unclear on the hierarchy, but after Fish testified, it became evident that Lombardo was the real boss from 1969 to sometime in 1981.