Here's my summary of leadership requirements
Genovese: Mobility scooter, Thick Glasses, Breathing tank, Always wearing Pj's
Gambino: Be from the old country
Lucchese: Business wise Boss
Bonanno: Drug dealing tough Bastard
Colombo: Behind Bars
You nailed it dude.....lol
That whole slippers and robe crazy act of Gigante probably brought more attention onto him than it took away. Nobody in law enforcement was fooled. The guy walks around Sullivan Street muttering to himself, then goes into the Triangle Social Club and meets with a bunch of Genovese capos all day.
It gave his whole claim of being insane credibility. Law enforcement wasn't fooled but what mattered was what the courts believed. His crazy act was a big reason why he spent relatively little time in prison, especially when you consider he became a NY boss in 1981. It wasn't until 16 years later that he saw the inside of a prison cell.
Ivy you hit it on the head with that one. I agree 100%. The Chin would have spent MORE years behind bars without the crazy claim.
It's just like Vito Rizzuto getting his son to be a lawyer then having him help in his defense, they can talk business on the phone and the feds can't do anything due to the laws.
