ok...good replies


Once the Kefauver hearings took place in '51, like Cabrini made reference to, what kept Hoover and the FBI from doing any kind of investigation on the mafia?

Not a chest beating public campaign, but just investigation or fact gathering? Not even after a public hearing that captured the imagination of the American press and people?




shown for free in movie theaters across the country before most people had tvs

Yes, Commies were a better Bogeyman that Feds could trot out to get funding...but that still doesn't explain why the Feds wouldn't gather info or "low key" go after known major crime syndicate that was just exposed in nationally covered hearings.

I disagree with, and the facts seem to dispute, Hoover's claim that local and state law enforcement simply enforcing the laws on the books would eliminate the rackets.
State LE enforcing existing laws would have netted street arrests of the guys at the bottom of the hierarchy. The guys pulling strings would remain on top and the street guys would be replaced by other hungry street guys.(Just like what happened decades later with the WAR on drugs)

and the report was the

Kefauver Committee
U.S. Senate Special Committee
to Investigate Organized Crime
in Interstate Commerce

keyword being interstate..which in modern times is a red flag meaning feds....not state law enforcement.


In fact, it wasn't until 10 years AFTER Rico laws were passed that any major dent was put into LCN....with substantial players being convicted.
Hoover's lack of action allowed the LCN to expand into more rackets and become ingrained literally into certain industries.

Incompetence? or blackmail?