Thats not true about Bonanno that you say "who was he." Besides being a boss, he was "The" boss of one of the largest families in America. He also represented more than a few smaller families throughout the U.S. before the Commission for years.
I think we're in a quantity vs. quality debate here.
What power did he have over the major unions and high end rackets? Did anyone have to go through Bonanno to build, the way Mr. Donald *allegedly* went through Fat Tony and Big Paul to build in Manhattan in the 80s? I know this was past Bonanno's time but in his time, was he ever a power broker on this level? Costello and Anastasia certainly were. Gambino and Lucchese certainly were. I'm sure Bonanno made a lot of money on vice rackets but these weren't the more lucrative rackets during this golden era for the American mob.
Not to mention he was a major power in Canada, and the Trapani Province of Sicily as well. He was a HIGHLY revered mafioso to say the least!
Can't argue with this. I haven't read much about Canada other than that Bonanno was a major player there and the mob in Canada is still highly active.
It's not a quality vs quantity debate. Its what's publicly known vs. What's not publicly known. The story of the entire Mafia has been shown through the eyes primarily through Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Siegel, Vito Genovese and Frank Costello. That's only one group within the entire web of La Cosa Nostra. They don't even focus on the many powerhouses within that Family, just the Big Names. LCN was much more than just those guys. And the fact is, just focusing on those people with greatly understate the might of the mafia as a whole during that time. Luciano was the most documented and publicly known during that time.
Furthermore, I would argue that the "americanized" style has largely broken down the mob from then until today. Luciano, Capone, Genovese, Anastasia, The Gallos, and down the line to The Gottis, Nicky Scarfos, Gaspipe Cassos, Roy Demeos and all the guys who came up under this style have harmed more then helped.
But if you want to be right, the Americanized side won. That's why when Luciano was in Sicily, he called on Frank Costello and Albert Anastasia to help set up the French Connection..... oh wait, he called on Joe Bonanno for that.
I keep trying to emphasize, they all won at the end of the day.
