Throughout history, gentlemen such as Capone, Colombo, Geneovese, Marcello, and Gambino (as many others) were known to be men that were widely respected and looked up to.
In the old days, it seemed that the head of the families were proud to be the godfathers. Things were safer as Hoover looked the other way and RICO wasn't effectively used.
These days, the dons are more prudent. They go out of their way to disguise their position, even appointing front men to take the heat from the feds.
