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Re: The Most Influential Gangster in The 20th Century
[Re: DE NIRO]
#342015
11/12/06 12:33 AM
11/12/06 12:33 AM
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,512 AZ
Turnbull
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,512
AZ
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DC, I would like to respond to your question with a broad interpretation of "influential"--because "influential" could mean positive or negative influence. Al Capone was undoubtedly the most influential in a negative sense. He was so prominent, so outrageous, so bold in his flaunting of his criminal enterprise and wealth that his name is forever synonymous with organized crime. And, unfortunately, he tarred generations of Italian-Americans with the "Mafia" brush, even though the Mafia never had more than 5,000 made members (out of more than 25 million Italian-Americans), and even though Capone himself wasn't in the Mafia. Toto Riina, through his murderous excesses, almost singlehandedly mobilized Sicily against the Mafia, after centuries of power. On the positive side, Don Vito Cascio Ferro is most responsible for the genesis of the five New York Families, and for setting up a Europe/Middle East/American narcotics pipeline. And, as posted before, Charlie Luciano's formation of the Commission pushed the Mafia into becoming a nationwide cartel. I'd say he was the most influential American Mafioso. Meyer Lansky, as an individual, achieved more influence than any other organized crime figure acting as an individual--that is, without an organization and muscle backing him. Lansky for decades counseled nearly all the major Mafia Dons. His advice made the Mafia predominant in gambling--particularly legalized gambling in Cuba, Nevada and the West Indies.
Last edited by Turnbull; 11/12/06 12:34 AM.
Ntra la porta tua lu sangu � sparsu, E nun me mporta si ce muoru accisu... E s'iddu muoru e vaju mparadisu Si nun ce truovo a ttia, mancu ce trasu.
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Re: The Most Influential Gangster in The 20th Century
[Re: Turnbull]
#342079
11/12/06 06:40 AM
11/12/06 06:40 AM
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 18,238 The Ravenite Social Club
Don Cardi
OP
Caporegime
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OP
Caporegime
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 18,238
The Ravenite Social Club
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I guess that I was looking for a 'general' answer that could be positive or negative, but either way, influential. And I thank you for providing both. I stand by my original statement that I consider Meyer Lansky to be the most influential gangster of the 20th century. This was a man who, as you pointed out above, counseled many Mafia Dons. He was a man who "always made money for his partners," and his influence reached out to both the underworld and the political world. He would be the one to convince those around him and involved with him that they not only could make money from the illegitimate enterprises they were involved in, but that they could take that money that was made illegitimately and parlay it into legitimate businesses. He basically educated those within the underworld who were really nothing more than uneducated street thugs. He was a man who amazingly brokered a deal with the U.S. Government which allowed his friend and partner, Charlie Lucky, to be released from prison so that he could once again live freely and run things from within Italy. It was Meyer Lansky who was able to convice other mafiosi that investing in a 'desert stopover for G.I.s' would make them money for years and years to come. His influence reached out to world leaders of other nations. Capone did have an influence in certain mob circles, but his influence was somewhat limited and lasted maybe for a decade or two. On the other hand, Meyer Lansky's influence within the mob and also within political cirlcles, spanned over several decades. It was not limited to only a select few, but it was an influence that reached out to many different mob circles across the country and perhaps even around the world. Don Cardi
Don Cardi Five - ten years from now, they're gonna wish there was American Cosa Nostra. Five - ten years from now, they're gonna miss John Gotti.
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Re: The Most Influential Gangster in The 20th Century
[Re: Yogi Barrabbas]
#356585
01/13/07 01:31 PM
01/13/07 01:31 PM
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,512 AZ
Turnbull
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,512
AZ
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Even when he went to prison he still held enough influence to be asked to help out in any possible waterfront espionage.
Yes! In fact, the incident didn't involve sabotage, but thanks to Luciano's reputation, the government sought his help anyway: The French liner Normandie was interned by the US government in the Port of New York after France fell in WWII. Following America's entry into the war, the government decided to convert the Normandie to a troop carrier. A worker who was careless with a torch set a bunch of burlap sacks on fire, and it eventually involved the entire ship, causing it to capsize. But the military commander of the port suspected sabotage by dockworkers of German and Italian descent. This suspicion reached Joseph (Socks) Lanza, Mafia boss of the waterfront. He brought it to Meyer Lansky. Lansky approached Murray Gurfein, a NYC judge who had been Thomas Dewey's top assistant when Dewey was the special prosecutor who put Luciano in prison. The offer: Transfer Luciano to a better prison, and mitigate his sentence, and all "sabotage" will cease. Dewey went along with it. "Sabotage" was never an issue, but the Mob figured, hey, if they wanna believe it, and if they believe Charlie can "stop the sabotage," the least we can do is go along with them.
Ntra la porta tua lu sangu � sparsu, E nun me mporta si ce muoru accisu... E s'iddu muoru e vaju mparadisu Si nun ce truovo a ttia, mancu ce trasu.
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Re: The Most Influential Gangster in The 20th Century
[Re: Don Cardi]
#356666
01/13/07 06:21 PM
01/13/07 06:21 PM
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,512 AZ
Turnbull
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,512
AZ
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And wasn't it Lansky who, once given this information by Lanza, came up with this plan to get Lucky sprung? Wasn't it Lansky who put the deal together? Don Cardi That's what I said in my post--Lansky took it to Dewey's former closest associate, and the rest, as they say, was history. We know that Luciano's calling of a Mob summit conference in Havana soon after he was deported to Italy was his move to reassert power and get back into the US. A story that I read (not saying I believe it) was that ever-jealous Vito Genovese ratted out Charlie's presence in Havana to the Feds, who leaned on the Cuban government to deport him immediately. Luciano still had enough clout to broker a major drug deal with Joe Bonanno in '57, but his power faded after that. I think he was reduced to running a restaurant in Naples by the time of his death.
Ntra la porta tua lu sangu � sparsu, E nun me mporta si ce muoru accisu... E s'iddu muoru e vaju mparadisu Si nun ce truovo a ttia, mancu ce trasu.
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Re: The Most Influential Gangster in The 20th Century
[Re: Frank Pentangely]
#357382
01/17/07 08:36 AM
01/17/07 08:36 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 162 Denmark
Antihero
Made Member
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Made Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 162
Denmark
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Meyer Lansky... The strong, silent type.. Kinda like Gary Kooper
Last edited by Antihero; 01/17/07 08:36 AM.
I don't know nothin'. I don't see nothin'. I don't hear nothin'. When I do I don't tell the cops. Understand?
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Re: The Most Influential Gangster in The 20th Century
[Re: XDCX]
#365091
02/15/07 11:45 PM
02/15/07 11:45 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 19
Mr_Nick
Wiseguy
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Wiseguy
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 19
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Re: The Most Influential Gangster in The 20th Cent
[Re: Turnbull]
#365264
02/16/07 05:39 PM
02/16/07 05:39 PM
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 22,902 New York
SC
Consigliere
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Consigliere
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 22,902
New York
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Following America's entry into the war, the government decided to convert the Normandie to a troop carrier. A worker who was careless with a torch set a bunch of burlap sacks on fire, and it eventually involved the entire ship, causing it to capsize. But the military commander of the port suspected sabotage by dockworkers of German and Italian descent. This suspicion reached Joseph (Socks) Lanza, Mafia boss of the waterfront. He brought it to Meyer Lansky. Lansky approached Murray Gurfein, a NYC judge who had been Thomas Dewey's top assistant when Dewey was the special prosecutor who put Luciano in prison. The offer: Transfer Luciano to a better prison, and mitigate his sentence, and all "sabotage" will cease. Dewey went along with it. "Sabotage" was never an issue, but the Mob figured, hey, if they wanna believe it, and if they believe Charlie can "stop the sabotage," the least we can do is go along with them. Many believe that it was the Mob itself that started the fire (that sank the Normandie) in order to get Charlie Lucky's sentence softened. Frank Costello wielded an unbelievable amount of political power and pressure was put on Thomas Dewey for him to listen to the Mob. Dewey wanted to be president and the Mob could have been a big help in attaining that. He ALMOST made it.
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Re: The Most Influential Gangster in The 20th Cent
[Re: SC]
#366264
02/18/07 11:04 PM
02/18/07 11:04 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 411 your sisters bedroom
manicmontana
BANNED
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BANNED
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 411
your sisters bedroom
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mark Brandon "chopper " Read
struck fear in the hearts of every wiseguy in the whole country of Australia...torturing and robbing mob guys for money and reputation...still hasant been killed to this day
So say goodnight to the bad guy..eh cause its the last time your ever gonna see a bad guy like this again let me tell you/O.K!! im reloaded!!You motherfuckers think your big time!!!Your gonna die big time!!!O.K Here come the pain!!!
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Re: The Most Influential Gangster in The 20th Cent
[Re: DE NIRO]
#457177
12/12/07 08:48 AM
12/12/07 08:48 AM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 44,945
DE NIRO
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 44,945
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Carlo Gambino For the empire he built as Don,leaving the Pope with most powerful family in America,and he messed it all up My choice would now go to Lucky Luciano Frank Costello Meyer Lansky
The Mafia Is Not Primarily An Organisation Of Murderers. First And Foremost,The Mafia Is Made Up Of Thieves. It Is Driven By Greed And Controlled By Fear.
Between The Law And The Mafia, The Law Is Not The Most To Be Feared
"What if the Mafia were not an organization but a widespread Sicilian attitude of hostility towards the law?"
"Make Love Not War" John Lennon
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Re: The Most Influential Gangster in The 20th Cent
[Re: DE NIRO]
#457230
12/12/07 01:13 PM
12/12/07 01:13 PM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,228 Sheffield UK
chopper
Gaetano Lucchese
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Gaetano Lucchese
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,228
Sheffield UK
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Charlie Lucky /Meyer Lansky, New York Al Capone, Murry Humpherys,Paul Ricca,Tony Accardo Chicago Santo Traficante,Florida Stefona Maddingo,Buffalo Angelo Bruno,Philly Dragna Cohen or even Roselli or Buggsy,LA Vegas,Buggsy,Spilotro
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Re: The Most Influential Gangster in The 20th Cent
[Re: chopper]
#465463
01/20/08 02:32 PM
01/20/08 02:32 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 14
MafiosoTiger
Wiseguy
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Wiseguy
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 14
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Lucky Luciano. He made Our Thing was it is. Capone would also come in second, but reading how bad he got owned by Don Corleone in the book(even though it was fiction and done by Mario Puzo's manipulation), my opinion of him was kinda lowered. Though we all know if Don Corleone existed, he could've owned Capone anyways.
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Re: The Most Influential Gangster in The 20th Cent
[Re: MafiosoTiger]
#465466
01/20/08 02:44 PM
01/20/08 02:44 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,296 Throggs Neck
pizzaboy
The Fuckin Doctor
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The Fuckin Doctor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,296
Throggs Neck
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How could you possibly let a work of fiction dictate how you regard someone? I always found Puzo bringing Capone into the novel a bit tacky, almost lazy. He could have easily written in another character in his place. Welcome to the boards.
"I got news for you. If it wasn't for the toilet, there would be no books." --- George Costanza.
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Re: The Most Influential Gangster in The 20th Cent
[Re: pizzaboy]
#489997
05/27/08 04:18 AM
05/27/08 04:18 AM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,228 Sheffield UK
chopper
Gaetano Lucchese
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Gaetano Lucchese
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,228
Sheffield UK
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How could you possibly let a work of fiction dictate how you regard someone? I always found Puzo bringing Capone into the novel a bit tacky, almost lazy. He could have easily written in another character in his place. Welcome to the boards. couldnt agree with you more Pizza Boy
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