Mafia Commission Chairman

It is known that Lucky Luciano was the first Chairman of the Mafia Commission in 1931, but does anyone know who served as the presiding officer after that? Not sure if the Wikipedia article on the Commission is accurate on the tenures.

That was a good laugh. Thanks for posting that. Before I began, I like to say that San Jose family never had a seat on the Commission but families on the Commission did represented them, first was Mangano (Gambino), and Luciano(Genovese) it is a bit murky, then was Profaci until the mid 1940s, Bonanno represented them from then till the Colombo represented them through John Misuaca, then Chicago.

Here is what I have.
Charles Luciano 1931-1936 (imprisoned)
Joe Profaci 1936-1941 (Stepped down, or more likely forced to step down)
Vincent Mangano 1941-1951 (Killed)
Frank Costello 1951-1956 (Stepped down)
Joe Bonanno 1956- 1963 (Voted out)
1963-1968 Vacant there is dispute that either Carlo Gambino or Tommy Lucchese was serving, and more than one boss on wiretaps was saying that Stefano Magaddino wanted that spot, but at least from 1963 to 1966 the spot was vacant.
Carlo Gambino 1968- 1976 (Died of natural causes)
Benny Lombardo 1976- 1981 (Retired)
Paul Castellano 1981-1985 (killed)
Vincent Gigante 1986- 1997 (imprisoned)

Joe Massino tried to bring the Commission back, but had very minor success. Wiretaps and informants from 2012 and onwards say that the Commission is back. There may be a chairman or it may just be selected families working together but you can bet that New York families have seats.

I thought the capo di tutti i capi moniker was always more made up by the press than a real hierarchy.

Sure maybe someone had more influence wit the other families and would showing up at a Commission meeting knowing the vote but I don't think 4 bosses would had pointed and said "he's in charge"

The commission was designed as one family, one vote

I thought the same regarding the boss of bosses title.

Was Gotti the Chairman at one point?

No Gotti was not the chairman.

The role of the chairman is to be available to all bosses and call for a meeting among the Commission if it is warranted. Sometimes but not all the time, they are in charge of security.

This “chairman” position is more of a media term. It’s not an actual position as each boss is “equal” on paper. But as we know there’s always hidden alliances and interests so unofficially there’s usually one of the bosses that during certain periods holds the most power, like Gigante in the mid 80s…meaning the other bosses wouldn’t say Gigante is the chairman but they’d all understand (whether they admit it or not) he’s the most influential and powerful.

I’m also not sure that big Paul was ever more powerful than the genovese boss. The Genovese forced him to kill a Gambino capo even. I’m pretty sure that since Carlo passed that the Genovese were more powerful. And it’s not been ever really that close, especially 12/16/85 - present.

This provokes a fun bit of speculation.

If there were a "Chairman" today, I would guess that's Barney. At least it would be his to refuse, which perhaps he would. I would speculate the only other option really might be Cefalu or Mannino. Interesting to note out of the past "chairmen" list, only the Lukes have never had the chair. (Notwithstanding whether there truly is a chair).

Certainly the five NYC families would all have seats now - I'm sure if you're going to have a commission in the modern era, you've forgiven the Bonannos by now.

Who else would have seats? I would think Philly and likely whatever remains of Boston and Chicago. *Possibly* Detroit. Would anyone else have a seat? Buffalo still shows the odd sign of life between the Todaros and their powerful Underboss - would they have a seat at the table?

I would guess the Gambino's speak for the DeCavalcantes.