Allie boy Persico? Very smart. Dropped outta St. Johns college to become acting boss for his pop.. his tenure was like... 1 year?

Lansky was far from an idiot. Paul, well he sounds like a typical Brooklyn knockaround guy on those tapes, but he's also been described as having a good way with words.. so who knows? I think it was Fat Tony who complimented him, who, himself, was never that well educated.