All plausible Thanks

Wikipedia – Meyer Lansky
Shortly after the premiere in 1974 Lansky phoned Strasberg and congratulated him on a good performance (Strasberg was nominated for an Oscar for his role) but added "You could've made me more sympathetic"

the 'Mob's Accountant' always crunching the numbers!

BTW: Here's how Lansky beat the four charges I mentioned earlier:
--The "drug" rap was a local charge, brought by the Miami/Dade prosecutor. He beat that one because the Miami/Dade police arrested in in the international customs area of Miami/Dade Airport--which is Federal, not county, property.

--In the second charge, a US Attorney claimed Lansky ducked a supboena, served on him while he was in Israel, to appear before a Federal grand jury (Lansky claimed to be too ill to travel, and sent a note from his doctor instead). A jury convicted him and he was sentenced to a year and a day in prison. But, his lawyer convinced an appeals court that the overzealous US Attorney had given Lansky only 48 hours to tie up his affairs in Israel and get ready for his grand jury appearance--too little time for even a well man to make preparations. The appellate court agreed, and the conviction was overturned.

--In the third charge, Fat Vinnie Teresa, a former New England mafioso turned government stoolie, testified that he delivered $100k from a London casino managed by long-term Lansky associate Vincent (Jimmy Blue Eyes) Alo, to Lansky at his home in Hallandale, FL. But, Lansky's lawyer showed proof that his client was in a Boston hospital on that date, recovering from a hernia operation; and Lansky's surgeon testified that his patient was too weak to have gotten out of bed, flown to Florida to receive the money, and flown back to Boston afterward. Lansky's lawyer asked Teresa how Lansky could have been in two places at the same time. Fat Vinnie, never the most credible witness, replied: "I dunno--maybe he had a double." Lansky was acquitted.

--The fourth charge stemmed from a $200,000 finder's fee Lansky was paid by Mobbed up hotel owner Morris Landsberg, for helping to broker the sale of the Flamingo Hotel in Vegas. Lansky was up front about the payment and declared it on his income taxes. But, the same overzealous US Attorney charged that the $200k fee proved that Lansky had a hidden ownership interest in the Flamingo, a Federal crime. This time Lansky claimed to be too sick to participate in his own defense, and a court-appointed doctor agreed. But, the US Attorney kept pressing the case. After numerous postponements due to Lansky's ill health, a judge finally ordered the case dismissed.

Of course, in his book, Vinnie claimed that he was never Mafioso.

How could law enforcement have got it so wrong every time

Vinnie Teresa "I dunno--maybe he [Lansky] had a double." reminiscent of Frankie Pentangeli!

unlike Sinatra who berated and threatened Puzo for his assumed likeness of Johnny Fontane

My opinion would be that after the senate hearing anyone paying attention to Michael's doings (general public, or government) would already "know" what he is really about. The idea that he had to go out of his way to protect his "legitimacy", even if that is what he truly thought, was ridiculous because everyone would know that he was not "legit". You would have to be blind not to know what he was about.

However - without any proper evidence - none of it could actually be proven beyond any type of doubt. So - the fact (or very high likelihood) that Rocco was never going to make it out alive - means that Michael had very little/almost zero chance of anything coming of it. Anyone paying attention probably would assume Michael ordered the hit anyway (whether Rocco or someone else executed it).

Who knows that is just my take.

Logic is on your side, Herbski--no doubt most people paying attention to the Senate hearing concluded that Michael was a gangster simply because he was subpoenaed to appear, and because of Cicci's testimony. Most people don't believe "innocent until proven guilty," and are inclined to think the worst of people involved in legal proceedings.

But, logic doesn't take into account Michael's obsession with appearing to be "legitimate." Also, given Rocco's identification with the Corleone enterprise, he was certain to be questioned by law enforcement following Rocco's death or arrest. That's the last thing he'd want after his narrow escape at the Senate hearing. It might also have been enough to put him in the Nevada Gaming Commission's "Black Book" (see my earlier post).