Did Tom have a life?

Tom and his family lived at the Mall. He was on duty for Vito, later Michael, 24x7x52. Can you imagine Tom telling Vito or Michael, "Hey, I'm taking Teresa and the kids to Disneyworld. See you in a couple of weeks."

Early in the novel, we learn that, after Vito named Tom consigliere, he would become a very wealthy man. What would he spend his money on?

Your thoughts?

Tom went to the actors studio. Had a big tv career before he even got into movies.

Oh wait your talking about the character Tom Hagen and not Robert Duvall.

Tom had a wife, mistress and a couple of kids. The Godfather found him homeless in the streets, put him through law school. Yes he had a good life.

It not about what he spent his money on. The point was that he had it if he wanted something he could just buy it.

This is an interesting question. The section where Tom goes to see Woltz is littered with references where Tom is evaluating the things around him - clothes, furnishings, food - with an eye that's more sophisticated than "expensive is better." My guess would be that he's quietly developing a sense of culture - season tickets to the symphony, collecting first editions. I think that Vito would encourage him to take vacations ("but let me know where I can find you"), but Tom would be more likely to take a rustic house at the shore or mountains or go visit historical sites than stay at the family hotel in Miami.

Tom was the epitome of the company man, completely dedicated to his employer. But after Vito died and Mike turned him out of things, I think his enthusiasm died. He then walked through his Corleone role.

What he enjoyed, I don't know.

With Michael talking about his mistress he seemed to get out a lot like Sonny did it seems as it looks like Vito and Michael didn't like any of them fooling around on their wives hence their mentions of it throughout the movie (Vito with Sonny, Michael with Tom). So it seems Tom got around, we just didn't see it.

Crap I forget, did Michael mention it in the novel? I forget. I need to re-read it again since it's been a while.

No, there's nothing like that in the book.

Exactly Pete. For some reason, a few Board members think that everything in the Trilogy is in the novel. For the record, there's alot that's not.

In my view, the motivating factors in Vito's life were security and control. His wealth was aimed at buying the power and influence to assure security and control. The kind of materialism we identify with people of great wealth didn't register with him. I think Tom was very much in Vito's model: Sonny picked him up off the street, where he was homeless, starving and suffering from an eye infection. Just being accepted as a member of a big, secure, warm Italian family must have been paradise to Tom. He probably used his own wealth to assure his kids' education, and to leave them with an estate they could build on. But, I'm guessing he, like Vito, wasn't motivated to live big and flashy.

You know what we need on this site a Rep acknowledgement on a post that we agree on. Like your post turnbull you touch the rep on your post and the people that agree with you names show at the bottom.

On top each of us show the reps that people agree with. Like you can see your name when your on, and check how many reps you have and for what posts you made where you got a rep.

I have that on one of my soccer sites.

I would have rep your above post if I could have.

Tom's Mistress was also Sonny's wife so I'm sure that didn't make mike too happy

Can't blame him, Sonny's wife was HOT! (talking novel I know, just saying)

This leads to another point:
Having a goumad is a standard of behavior in the Mafia. But, as far as we know, neither Vito nor Michael played around. Prudes? I doubt it--they were probably too busy accumulating and using power to have time for mistresses.

He snuck in a few drills w/Ava Gardner here & there while paying 4 a couple of paid 1 nite stands w/ the buxom $$ hungry Ms. Gabor...LOL..just kiddin guy's..seriously, all good points above, concerned w/power & cash flow.

TB, I just think that neither Vito nor Michael had any inclination to violate their marriage vows. Despite the fact that they might murder at the drop of a hat, there were "limits" to their immorality.

Well said oli.

Part of snapping at Tom may have just been jealousy over having a mistress. An interesting question is what Michael did for companionship after the formal split with Kay. I don't think he would ever remarry because (1) he was keeping up a Catholic facade; and, (2) Michael wouldn't publicly acknowledge a previous mistake. Still, 40 years is a long time to go solo while surrounded by call girls and showgirls.

Pete, I've always maintained that Michael's animosity directed at Tom was due to Tom's failure to protect the family: i.e., Vito's near death and Sonny's murder, as well as the temporary decline in the Corleone power.

As far as post-Kay female companionship, I'm sure that he enjoyed some. However, I think Mike was pretty much a monogamous type and minimized his liaisons. As far as his Catholicism went, I don't think that entered his mind until repentance became one of his priorities