Santo Trafficante vs. Carlos Marcello

Traditionally, there were three recognized Cosa Nostra Families headquartered within the Southern United States; the Santo Trafficante Family of Tampa, FL; Carlos Marcello Family of New Orleans, LA; and Joseph Civello Family of Dallas, TX.

But of those three bosses, admittedly, Joe Civello never held the same stature or operated anywhere near the level of the other two.

So, using all the typical criteria that I usually ask you to consider, wealth, power, stature, longevity, jail time, quality of life and career, etc., etc., The question is,

"1) Between Santo Trafficante and Carlos Marcello, who was the more successful of the two? And 2) If, in fact, you were gonna be a mob boss, who would you wanna be?

This is, in my opinion, your best question yet as both of these men are VERY comparable. I'd lean with Trafficante here. While the back half of both these guys lives were stressful, Trafficante was always able to evade serious prison time. He also was always direct and very close with guys like Momo Giancana and Angelo Bruno so he had the respect of top guys all across the country. Can't prove it, but he's probably one of the main reasons Florida historically had a pretty strong LCN presence.

Carlos ..by far...he held more power & was never in as much trouble as Santo was...Santo was almost killed if not 4 his lawyer & was dropped just like Giancana in the middle of bumfuck nowhere...Carlos , on the other hand, led a pretty peaceful reign...I have done long research on both men & it seems 2 me that Carlo comes out the winner..

I'm going with Trafficante. He got in more trouble by Castro than the American gov. They never put him away like Marcello. He's probably the only example of nepotism that exceeded his father's vision and didn't cause the family's downfall. His dad had him groomed by NYC in his early days (I think lucchese) Where Marcello had the control of Louisiana, Trafficante's had a further reach and was international. Plus, i live in Florida, he gets some extra bias points. .

Interesting viewpoints fellas.

I personally think that Trafficante had the wider reach and influence. Marcello was strong, very strong. But he was nationally strong IMO. Trafficante was internationally strong.

Neither.Took control of a strong family that essentially died after their departure.

What? I didn't understand what you tried to write Furio. Please explain your thoughts better.

The Marcello, Trafficante, Zerilli, the KC fam, Rockford, Milwaukee, LA etc. operated independently to an extent BUT were mainly represented by other larger families on the commission. For example Trafficante worked with both the Midwest fams and the east coast fams. Same thing goes for Zerilli and some of the LA bosses. So its quite hard to say on who was more powerful, meaning between Marcello and Trafficante, since there were more powerful guys above them.

As for the question "who you wanna be"....I would like to be the guy who previously buried both Marcello and Trafficante in my backyard and planted cactuses on their graves, and later placed a pistol on your forehead for asking that type of question lol (just kidding )

The question was NOT who was more powerful than Trafficante and Marcello. The real question asked was who was more powerful between the two of them. Just those two bosses, do you understand?

And as for YOU wanting "to be the guy who previously buried both Marcello and Trafficante in your backyard and later would like to place a pistol on my forehead," LOL. All I can say is you should be very careful who you decide to point your pistol at! (just kidding, I think)

PS: If you don't, then you'd better make sure you fill up your pistol to the top with enough water! LOL

Will do

"you were gonna be a mob boss, who would you wanna be?"

Im just having fun bud, no disrespect.

Me too! LOL

Respect then. You got me worried for a second lol

I got you worried? I thought you were the one with the gun? Lol

Well you are a mob boss and im the guy with the water pistol so i thought im the one in danger...for a second

If you say so Toodopey...

All kidding aside...researcher such as you should watch his words or statements because you might have some young followers who might understand things differently or in the wrong way. Thats all im saying. Sorry if i offended you and again, respect

I wanted to say that I wont choose Trafficante jr or Marcello because when becomed boss both families was active and powerful and after their death,their family almost immediately died because wasnt made new blood etc.

marcello was the richest boss in the country well over a billion bucks.In Carlos Marcello the man behind the jfk assassination author Vaccarra says Marcello was way more powerful than even Capone or Costello.Marcello over Trafficante by far

I respect your choice MM. But remember too, that author has his opinion (thats all it is). Because, conversely, a solid case could also be made for Trafficante.

I understand Furio. But the same could be said for many families all across the country. And, of course, when you're dead you're dead!

Thats why today, there are very few borgatas still in existence.

But during their time at the "helm" of their respective borgatas, while they were the bosses, who, of the two listed, do you feel was, overall, stronger and more diverse and far-flung in their operations? Both in their licit and illicit activities?

Well NY you are right as far as the author and his statements.But your question was which of the two were more succeassful.i dont believe it is even close as far as terms of money.There was not one boss in any family anywhere in this country that had Marcello's money.Not Profaci,Costello,Marcello was a very rich man a multi billion dollar man and alot more successful than Trafficante.I liked this question as well it good question.He owned La.I spent every summer on lake Ponchartrain down around New Orleans visiting my dad Marcello had more power than the Gov he was powerful

I respect your choice.

Thats why I posed the question in the first place. Because each of them were solid bosses. I was curious as to your opinions

Beh I would choice Marcello for his money and the power of NO family that, I remember doesnt need to choose NY ok for induct new members.

Ok. Fair enough, "Furio da Napoli"

Marcello ran everything from Dallas this way and everything in between.Let me put it this way guys like Kirksey Nix and Towhead White strait I mean killers they ran Biloxi Kirksey lived close to my dad.Kirksey was as serious as it gets I believe he killed maybe 14 or more before he hit 30 yrs old cops it didnt matter he shot Buford Pusser but make no mistake anything he pulled around jefferson Parish La. Marcello's home or anywhere Marcello held sway those boys paid tribute killers they may have been but Marcello you didnt cross that man or you were floating in gator infested water quick

I hear ya. But in reality, thats not unlike most cities and territories the Mafia lorded over. Whether it was NYC, Chicago, Buffalo, Providence, Boston, etc. Most everybody, who was anybody, paid to operate in one form or another.

i agree NY for that matter if you were smart you wouldnt cross any made man period or you were dead in those days.Some people have this certain something about them.When I was a kid we would eat at several places Marcello owned he just despite his small size was larger than life you could feel the power he had.This was the man that it was being said was behind the Kennedy killing sitting in the same place that will intimidate any motherfucker you respected that reputation 100 percent.I may be biased toward him but his wealth and power is something that cant be argued by anyone

Kirksey Nix, being used in the same sentence, with the wealthiest and most powerful mafia boss in the history of America.
That is a first, I thought the Dixie Mafia was just a group of low-level criminals that had a loose affiliation to one another.

Marcello pulled in Billions supposedly and a Billion dollars today adjusted for inflation is about a GAZILLION DOLLARS LOL....

Statement such as "richest boss" is often overrated. Those old authors took their information from old newspapers and if we look at the situation like that or from their "old" point of view, according to some newspapers from the 1930's Al Capone made over 100 million dollars a year (Lol), which 100 mil in 1960 (during Marcello's alleged high rise) was equivalent to $1,016,351,351.35 in todays cash And so this is obvious and pure fantasy.

I' d say Trafficante, but in Ragano's book, when he said that a congressman or whoever in politics wanted to go partners with him in a custodial supply business, he sent Ragano to NY to get approval...I found that shocking...

NY said forget about it, there's no money it, but Trafficante was smart enough to just say, we'll give him the money he needs and he'll owe us

Overall, although Marcello held an ironclad control over N.O. and several adjoining areas, his power, although massive and all pervasive, was still regional in scope.

Whereas, Trafficante, was international with some of his endeavors.

Both were highly, highly respected. Thats why I posed the question to the forum in the first place. But for my money, Trafficante edges out Marcello.

My 2 cents also...absolutly..

Absolutely what Hoodlum?