On Vito Genovese.....
We are talking about a guy who ran from a murder, went to Italy. Somehow talks himself into the inner circle of fuckin Mussolini, runs all kinds of drugs and even talks someone into letting him control a bank. When the US comes, he switches sides, Uses the ARMY to run a huge black market. Then comes back to the states, somehow gets ALL his rivals to beat his murder FOR HIM(!!!!??)
Plots the downfall of the boss for ten years... And wins?!!
If not for the ego, I think he is actually criminally underrated ( pun intended!!)
Saying Genovese wasn't smart is very naive. He was a piece of shit for sure, but a consummate criminal his whole career. I think it was the writer of Mob Summitt, or maybe Douglas Valentine described him as " the smartest of the bosses in NY"....( personally I would say Luchesse..)
Those are valid points. I don't think Vito Genovese was stupid, not at all.I could have worded my post above better. I think he was power hungry, underboss wasn't enough for him, he wanted it all. In the end, what did it get him? He died in jail.
