Joe Colombo & Carlo Gambino

[chin_gigante]

Some of the highlights from the Scarpa files on the period between Magliocco resigning and Colombo's ascension to boss

06 August 1963:
Charles LoCicero told Scarpa that he, Joe Colombo, Sonny Franzese, and others had convinced Joe Magliocco to step down as head of the family, but Scarpa did not believe him and couldn’t visualise Magliocco resigning

11 August 1963:
LoCicero told Scarpa that Magliocco had not been approved by the Commission and the family would soon elect a new boss with approval from the Commission.
LoCicero also stated that he would be leaving the country for health reasons for two to five weeks and that, in his absence, Scarpa was to handle anything that came up. If anyone in the family was told to do anything by Ambrose Magliocco, or any of the other captains, they were to only do so if they got approval from either Colombo or Nick Forlano.

12 August 1963:
LoCicero met with Pete Ferrara to discuss reorganising the family. LoCicero believed that Magliocco would step down by the end of August and be replaced by a three-man committee. The committee would run the family until a new boss was elected. LoCicero believed he may become boss or, at least, underboss or consigliere. Scarpa could not visualise LoCicero becoming boss but wouldn’t rule it out.

21 August 1963:
Scarpa advised that the three-man committee would be approved by the Commission and would stay in place until the Gallo situation and other family problems were resolved. All of the captains would remain in place under the committee, though some of the older captains would like to retire. Scarpa felt Colombo, Franzese, John Oddo and Salvatore Musacchio would likely remain in place. Colombo had a large following in the family and could end up in a position of power in the new set up. Scarpa also noted that Forlano was popular in the family. LoCicero, on the other hand, was despised and likely wouldn’t hold any power.
Scarpa also believed that after Philadelphia family boss Joseph Ida fled the country, the Commission appointed a committee to run that family until Angelo Bruno became boss.

29 August 1963:
Scarpa advised that the committee would be made up of three or four individuals and that the Commission had given Magliocco until the beginning of September to announce his resignation. If Magliocco did not resign, the Commission would announce it for him.

03 September 1963:
Magliocco held a meeting with his captains at his home in Long Island and announced he was resigning as boss. He cited his health as the main reason for his retirement, though he was also upset that LoCicero, a long-time friend, had stirred up resentment against him in the family and left the country without telling him. Magliocco also announced that underboss John Misuraca would run the family until a new boss was elected. No mention of the committee was made and Scarpa believed it would be announced in the next few weeks.
Scarpa believed that Magliocco’s health reasons were used to deflect attention from the truth that Magliocco had been forced to step down by the Commission and the family membership.

15 October 1963:
LoCicero told Scarpa that he had been elected boss by the Commission but turned it down, expressing his appreciation to Carlo Gambino but advising that somebody younger should run the family. Scarpa felt LoCicero was lying about this to make himself seem important.
Scarpa then met with Dick Fusco and George Tropiano. Fusco told him that he was not aware of any news about the reorganisation of the family, but Tropiano stated that it wouldn’t be long until everything was sorted out.
Later that night Fusco met with Scarpa again and told him that he had been to see Colombo. Colombo had no updates on the reorganisation but said that a meeting to discuss it had been called off due to law enforcement heat.

24 October 1963:
Ambrose Magliocco asked Scarpa how he felt about Carmine Persico, and the other former Profaci members who were now with Carlo Gambino, being welcomed back into the family. The Commission had instructed the leadership of the family to poll the membership on the issue. A meeting had also been held to discuss the situation with the Gallos and a second meeting would be held to resolve both the Gallo problem and the issue of the Profaci members with Gambino.

06 December 1963:
Scarpa was told that the Gallo group and the Forlano group had been welcomed back into the family. No-one had yet been appointed to run the family.

11 December 1963:
LoCicero was due to meet with the Commission but had failed to do so, citing law enforcement heat. Scarpa felt this was an excuse.

12 December 1963:
Ambrose Magliocco told Scarpa that peace had been achieved in the family and that both rebel groups were now under Forlano.

16 December 1963:
Scarpa met with Colombo for a sitdown over a numbers dispute. Scarpa noted that it appeared that Colombo was at that point running the family and was receiving a large number of visitors. Scarpa felt that either Colombo or Forlano would become the boss.

22 February 1964:
Scarpa attended a wake with several others including LoCicero, the Gallo group (apart from Larry Gallo), Harry Fontana, Sonny Franzese and Charlie Mineo, who was a soldier under Fontana. Someone mentioned to Scarpa that Mineo was a contender to take over as boss.
LoCicero commented that there had been issued a two-year moratorium on hits to promote peace in the family. Anyone who had not reconciled with the situation by the end of the two years would then be killed.

Early-March 1964:
LoCicero met with Colombo and Ferrara to discuss the reorganisation of the family and the election of a new boss.

23 March 1964:
Colombo met with Simone Andolino at Renato’s Restaurant on 86th Street. Scarpa went to the restaurant at this time and was invited to sit at the table. Colombo told Scarpa that a new boss would be selected in the next couple of weeks, leading Scarpa to believe that Colombo would get the position.

28 March 1964:
Scarpa was told that it would be announced in the next few days that Colombo was the new boss and that Vincent Aloi would be the underboss.

29 March 1964:
Scarpa was told that Colombo was to be the new boss and Mineo the underboss. Scarpa was also told that all of the captains were to poll their men to see what they thought of the news. James Rubertone, acting captain for Ambrose Magliocco, asked Scarpa what he thought, and Scarpa told him that Colombo and Mineo were gentlemen and a good choice.
If no serious opposition to Colombo and Mineo emerged, their positions would be confirmed in the next few days. An election would be held in four or five weeks to select a consigliere.

05 April 1964:
A ceremony was held to install Colombo as the new boss and Mineo as the underboss. The ceremony was attended by the family captains and representatives from seven other families, including Detroit.

20 August 1964:
Colombo told Scarpa that he had recently been confirmed as a member of the Commission.

[gohnjotti]

Great stuff Chin.

[TommyGambino]

I've always viewed Lucchese and Gambino as a partnership with Lucchese the senior partner and Gambino the junior. Both powerful and respected but Lucchese had longevity as a boss whereas Gambino was new to the leadership. With Luccheses death Gambino is the top guy.

Agree

[B.]

Scarpa also reported that Joe Colombo was "campaigning" for the boss position behind the scenes, which was against the rules. Not dissimilar to what John Gotti did, though the circumstances were different. I believe this secret sort of "campaigning" was probably rampant in every boss election despite having a rule against it.

When Magaddino was recorded talking to two Bonanno leaders in 1964, he explained how the family must choose their own acting boss and then vote them in as official boss, and after the family has chosen their candidate it is approved by the Commission. The Bonanno leaders were confused, though, and thought the Commission installed Joe Colombo as acting boss. Magaddino explained that when a family is having trouble, the Commission might appoint an acting boss who then becomes voted in by the family and confirmed as the official boss, and he uses Carlo Gambino as an example, saying that Gambino was appointed acting boss by the Commission because he was already the consigliere and would keep the family together. Joe Colombo seems to have followed a similar route.

^ You can see where someone could interpret the promotion of Gambino and Colombo as the Commission forcing their hand, which they very well might have, but at least in those days the groups still went through the motions of election protocol.

Colombo's predecessor Joe Magliocco was more or less accused of campaigning and setting up a bullshit election to get himself in as boss. As we know, he didn't have actual support from LoCicero, the Gallo faction, and the Carini faction, all of which were actively trying to undermine Magliocco's leadership during his entire run as defacto boss, and Magliocco was never confirmed as official boss by the Commission. Magliocco also avoided meeting with the Commission for an extended point of time after his alleged "election" and this added to his illegitimacy.

[Pierino1978]

Its been written that Lucchese was the most powerful and or influential NY Boss in that time period.

For what its worth...the Outfit also respected him a lot

Interesting villain where does this info come from ?

[DPG]

Its been written that Lucchese was the most powerful and or influential NY Boss in that time period.

For what its worth...the Outfit also respected him a lot

Be cool to see the files on this

Interesting villain where does this info come from ?

[SantoClaus]

I thought Joe Colombo was a killer, with approximately 20 bodies on him, prior to becoming the Don.

[NYNighthawk]

I've always viewed Lucchese and Gambino as a partnership with Lucchese the senior partner and Gambino the junior. Both powerful and respected but Lucchese had longevity as a boss whereas Gambino was new to the leadership. With Luccheses death Gambino is the top guy.

Was Dickie Fusco actually Richie "nerves" Fusco or his father?

[chin_gigante]

Dick Fusco was Frank Fusco, not Richard

[JIGGS]

Its been written that Lucchese was the most powerful and or influential NY Boss in that time period.

When I was growing up tommy brown was in one veterans view "the new frank costello." Even though that statement was based on ignorance. Tommy had always been a powerful figure. But from the square citizens p.o.v. mob guys have always been like playing cards in a hand. One alwaus stands out from the pther mo's. By 1953 tommy brown emerged from the public eye as a mr. big. Luciano, lansky, the joe adonis, willie moore and costello are removed from the n.y. 'limelight.' Luciano in italy. Lansky said fuck n.y. and relocates to florida after the senate hearings. Joe adonis was battling legal problems and keeping low profile before he makes his plea deal with goverment to self deport to italy over prison time. Willie went underground litrally. Vito genovese was respected but not yet the power he would become. Honestly don vito was portrayed in the news like a thug. Same with anastasia. The way the media talked about gotti years later. As someone to be feared but not much in the brains department. Joe bananas and profaci were greasers and not viewed by media as good copy. Tommy brown was it. Luchese the boss was described as clever wily a millionaire semi legit. Allegedly the mayor of nyc vinnie impelliteri was tommy browns guy. Allegedly carmine desapio was tommy browns guy. What remained of the tammany machine was allegedly influenced by the tommy brown with costello out the picture fighting i.r.s. charges and the senate hearings charging him with contempt and perjery. Tommy brown was allegedly tight with vito going back to the Masseria-don maranzano era. Dont be surprised if tommy brown threw his support to genovese before vitos rise in 1957. Anastasia who tommy brown allegedely wanted to have killed after the mangano brothers disappeared is hit in '57. Profaci dies in '62. Bonanmo is chased out of n.y. by '64. In my opinion the big 3 in nyc that wasnt in prison during 1963-1965 was #1 tommy brown #2 jerry catena and #the carlo gambino. Thats just my opinion. Fuck you if you get ofended. The luchese family allegedly dominated the garment center. They allegedly controlled idlewild airport. They was allegedly strong in all 5 boros and new jersey plus california and allegedly had the judges & politicians on the hook. Once francesca luchese gets married to tommy gambino it sets up gambino to inherit all a that shit and rival catena and the genovese.

JIGGS

[CabriniGreen]

Its been written that Lucchese was the most powerful and or influential NY Boss in that time period.

When I was growing up tommy brown was in one veterans view "the new frank costello." Even though that statement was based on ignorance. Tommy had always been a powerful figure. But from the square citizens p.o.v. mob guys have always been like playing cards in a hand. One alwaus stands out from the pther mo's. By 1953 tommy brown emerged from the public eye as a mr. big. Luciano, lansky, the joe adonis, willie moore and costello are removed from the n.y. 'limelight.' Luciano in italy. Lansky said fuck n.y. and relocates to florida after the senate hearings. Joe adonis was battling legal problems and keeping low profile before he makes his plea deal with goverment to self deport to italy over prison time. Willie went underground litrally. Vito genovese was respected but not yet the power he would become. Honestly don vito was portrayed in the news like a thug. Same with anastasia. The way the media talked about gotti years later. As someone to be feared but not much in the brains department. Joe bananas and profaci were greasers and not viewed by media as good copy. Tommy brown was it. Luchese the boss was described as clever wily a millionaire semi legit. Allegedly the mayor of nyc vinnie impelliteri was tommy browns guy. Allegedly carmine desapio was tommy browns guy. What remained of the tammany machine was allegedly influenced by the tommy brown with costello out the picture fighting i.r.s. charges and the senate hearings charging him with contempt and perjery. Tommy brown was allegedly tight with vito going back to the Masseria-don maranzano era. Dont be surprised if tommy brown threw his support to genovese before vitos rise in 1957. Anastasia who tommy brown allegedely wanted to have killed after the mangano brothers disappeared is hit in '57. Profaci dies in '62. Bonanmo is chased out of n.y. by '64. In my opinion the big 3 in nyc that wasnt in prison during 1963-1965 was #1 tommy brown #2 jerry catena and #the carlo gambino. Thats just my opinion. Fuck you if you get ofended. The luchese family allegedly dominated the garment center. They allegedly controlled idlewild airport. They was allegedly strong in all 5 boros and new jersey plus california and allegedly had the judges & politicians on the hook. Once francesca luchese gets married to tommy gambino it sets up gambino to inherit all a that shit and rival catena and the genovese.

JIGGS

Agreed, like to me, Barzini was Luchesse....or mostly based off him...

[Villain]

Its been written that Lucchese was the most powerful and or influential NY Boss in that time period.

For what its worth...the Outfit also respected him a lot

Interesting villain where does this info come from ?

I think you can find some stuff on the MF site...the Chi guys also refered to him as Tommy Brown and i think he was close with Giancana

[Benandjosh]

Probably no coincidence that when Lucchese died in 67, Gambino stepped back from running his family and had castellano running things.

[Extortion]

I wonder if any of the older capos/members opposed Joe's ascension or if they were made promises of more autonomy with their crews if they accepted him as boss?

Someone was recorded on a bug saying that Colombo was nothing more than a bust out guy. Was it on the Gyp Dicarlo tapes? Not sure exactly who said it but I think it was from someone in another family.

Well you gotta start somewhere and he killed 10 people and was a captain. Easily could be boss material.

[B.]

There are a few different versions of the same Scarpa docs, some of them more redacted, so I can't recall if this was in the files Clemente posted or other NARA files, but in one report Scarpa was told (by LoCicero I believe) that they were asking the membership to place their votes for the new boss. Scarpa represented three votes, including his brother Salvatore and another member who were both in prison and couldn't vote themselves.

Scarpa also reported that Joe Colombo was "campaigning" behind the scenes for the boss spot, which was against the rules. However, we know this commonly happened.

From Scarpa's information, it's clear that Colombo was agreed upon by the family captains (and probably the Commission) and the captains in turn asked their soldiers to vote for Colombo, which they did.

So there was definitely an election, but it was more or less rigged behind the scenes with Commission approval. On the Magaddino tapes, the Bonanno representatives who are trying to select a new Bonanno boss (which would be DiGregorio) were under the belief that the Commission appointed Joe Colombo boss, but Magaddino denies this, saying the Commission will only appoint an acting boss if a family is in serious conflict, but the family still must vote for the official boss.

We also know from Magaddino and other sources that Magliocco was forced to resign by the Commission following a Commission meeting where they confronted him and accused him of assuming the role of boss without Commission approval and also plotting to murder Gambino and Lucchese. So Magliocco didn't step down on his own, but under threat by the Commission who ruled against his leadership. To add financial insult to injury, they also forced Magliocco to pay each Commission member for expenses incurred as a result of the meetings/investigation.