Thank you for the kind words. To address the issue "was he made" I'm just not sure. One would have to think so, however, remember the National Crime Syndicate (NCS) had, as its board of directors, Jews and Italians. Dutch Schultz was considered one of its most powerful members at one time.

Joey A. may have been made, but we assume Luciano, Costello and others went through the same ritual made men went though in the 60s and 70s. Valachi appears to be the primary source for this conclusion.

Meyer Lansky, Busgy Siegel, Irving Wexler (aka Waxy Gordon), and others all sat on the syndicates board - which some historians also call the commission.

It can get confusing sometimes as to who as who. It was the NCS who voted to take the Dutchman out after he defied their order NOT to kill Thomas E. Dewey. Did the NCS included the Five New York Families? Was it more powerful or did the Five Families operate independently? What about the Chicago Outfit? It appears they were independent of the Five Families and sometimes of the NCS.

I would love your thoughts!