[quote=Lou_Para]I don't think it would have made any difference,since Salerno was only the "front boss" who served to deflect the heat off of the Chin,who was the actual Boss of the Genovese Family. This was an open secret in the New York Mafia,and if Gotti wasn't afraid of the Chin,he sure as heck wasn't going to be afraid of Fat Tony. This only serves to show how blatantly stupid and arrogant Gotti was. He really believed that once he became Boss,no other Family would dare make a move on him. If not for a very lucky coincidence, Gotti would have been blasted into the phantom zone.
Don't some say that Lombardi was still the official boss of the Genovese up until his death and Gigante wasn't the de facto boss until late 80s?
My understanding is that Lombardo stepped down around 1981 or so and named Chin Boss and then Chin named Salerno as front Boss.
From what I heard on the streets & know back in those days when I was a heavy hitter( no pun intended)...Benny Eggs had Alot 2 say & do around 79...80..etc..this guy was/is no joke...he may have settled down now that he way fuckin'old....but my old friend Salvie Testa swore by him..2. say the least, he (Benny Eggs) oversaw when Nicky became boss,,keeping everyone @ bay .
