Question about Carlo’s reign

[CabriniGreen]

Joe Bonanno was biased but he said Gambino derived his power from Lucchese and stepped back when Lucchese died. Bonanno placed Lucchese's influence very high and definitely undervalued Gambino ("squirrel of a man") but there could be an element of truth to it.

People also cite him as the lead conspirator against Anastasia when we know it was Riccobono and Biondo's group that took the initiative and carried it out. Gambino had a rocky relationship with Anastasia -- I wouldn't be surprised if he was clued in before it happened and he was certainly aligned with Riccobono-Biondo afterward but it wasn't Gambino's plot.

Would you say that there’s a possibility that perhaps he was a bit of a figurehead in a sense - mainly concerned with Gambino relations with other families, while he actually had Paul, Neil, Paolo running the Family. Like, if you would, if Gambino was the Chairnan of the Board, these guys were like an unofficial handling things day to day for him? With then the Capos reporting to him?

Sorta like he was just the final word, the emissary to other families, basically —- do what Ya’s want, just kick the cash up and don’t make or kill anybody I don’t OK

As early as 73 Capos wanted him to step down because they felt he wasn’t doing anything but was still receiving tribute and that he wasn’t capable of handling things and it was “hurting their bread and butter.”

So it makes me wonder if he wasn’t a figurehead bolstered by Tommy Brown, Paul C, Neil, and Paolo

Gambino was a powerful boss / avugad with massive influence both in NYC and nationally but I do think a mythology has been created around him as a "boss of bosses" and Machiavellian mastermind, like Ivan said. Some people want to make Gambino's reign out to be some kind of "self help" routine where people can learn leadership life skills from him just because he talked about lions and foxes. The reality is more complex and interesting.

He definitely had significant influence over Sam DeCavalcante, Angelo Bruno, and Joe Colombo while managing a massive Family of his own so nothing can be taken away from him, it's just a matter of understanding how Cosa Nostra actually works and what a rappresentante is.

What it seems like he was a macro manager. Leave the nitty gritty to his unofficial panel of top guys. Like, Paul, Paolo, Joe N. Gallo, Neil, these guys were the guys doing the day to day shit.

Those top guys in turn managed the Capos for Carlo. Kept the peace. Any beefs they may have handled as long as the outcome was satisfactory to Carlo.

As long as the financial kick ups add up, as long as no one’s getting made or promoted or killed that he didn’t authorize and it ain’t the OK Corral, then these guys do what they want.

Meanwhile Carlo is focusing his energies on politics, expanding Gambino family power nationwide, etc, cementing alliances and so on with other families, working with Paul to expand the family’s legitimate horizons as well.

But I feel like to your average Soldier, Carlo was “The Boss” but Paul Castellano or Neil Dellacroce or Joe N. Gallo would be who a guy dealt with, answered to.

My man.... this is how families work. It's really not that substantial. I do think Luchesse was the " power" of the " liberal faction"....

[CabriniGreen]

Joe Bonanno was biased but he said Gambino derived his power from Lucchese and stepped back when Lucchese died. Bonanno placed Lucchese's influence very high and definitely undervalued Gambino ("squirrel of a man") but there could be an element of truth to it.

People also cite him as the lead conspirator against Anastasia when we know it was Riccobono and Biondo's group that took the initiative and carried it out. Gambino had a rocky relationship with Anastasia -- I wouldn't be surprised if he was clued in before it happened and he was certainly aligned with Riccobono-Biondo afterward but it wasn't Gambino's plot.

Would you say that there’s a possibility that perhaps he was a bit of a figurehead in a sense - mainly concerned with Gambino relations with other families, while he actually had Paul, Neil, Paolo running the Family. Like, if you would, if Gambino was the Chairnan of the Board, these guys were like an unofficial handling things day to day for him? With then the Capos reporting to him?

Sorta like he was just the final word, the emissary to other families, basically —- do what Ya’s want, just kick the cash up and don’t make or kill anybody I don’t OK

As early as 73 Capos wanted him to step down because they felt he wasn’t doing anything but was still receiving tribute and that he wasn’t capable of handling things and it was “hurting their bread and butter.”

So it makes me wonder if he wasn’t a figurehead bolstered by Tommy Brown, Paul C, Neil, and Paolo

Gambino was a powerful boss / avugad with massive influence both in NYC and nationally but I do think a mythology has been created around him as a "boss of bosses" and Machiavellian mastermind, like Ivan said. Some people want to make Gambino's reign out to be some kind of "self help" routine where people can learn leadership life skills from him just because he talked about lions and foxes. The reality is more complex and interesting.

He definitely had significant influence over Sam DeCavalcante, Angelo Bruno, and Joe Colombo while managing a massive Family of his own so nothing can be taken away from him, it's just a matter of understanding how Cosa Nostra actually works and what a rappresentante is.

How the OP described the Gambino Family, with Carlo as more of a figurehead " King" so to speak, is pretty much exactly how Machiavelli describes a mixed principality. It's not self help, it's how power is structured...