Research Paper on Mafia
How does one separate fact from fiction? Are some of our fantasies really reality? How does one determine that answer or does the answer really exist? As Hollywood builds a fictitious world through the art of such movies as JFK and Independence Day, the more we as a society gravitate to them. The answer I believe can be found some where in the middle, most movies have some true to life qualities in them.
However, no story plot is more true to life than the American Mafia. Hollywood has grossed billons of dollars on such movies as the Goodfellas, A Bronx Tale, The Last Don and the most famous of all, The Godfather. Even as a young child, I can recall being fascinated with these stories. Partly because the movie it self was well put together, but the most prevalent reason be disposed of was stored. Still to this day police are unsure how many times this method of disposal was used. In the early sixties Bonnano had moved out west and established himself in Arizona and some in California. He would eventually try to take over gambling out west; he also had profitable businesses in Cuba and in Canada. As much as Joe Bonnano flourished in the west, his people back home felt neglected and under appreciated. For the first time in years the Bonnano family was mislead and worst of all due to the lack of leadership they were also underpaid. Bonnano's eventual downfall would come in the early sixties when the other mob bosses had discovered a plot devised by Bonnano to kill all of the heads of the other four families. As a punishment, he was forced to live in exile in Haiti for several years. He was also forced to give up the profits of his family business to the other bosses, a net worth of two billion dollars a year. In 1983 after he suffering a massive heart attach Bonnano released his autobiography "A Man of Honor", a story on the history of the Mafia in the early years. As a result he would later be subpoenaed by a grand jury to discuss his book.
However, no story plot is more true to life than the American Mafia. Hollywood has grossed billons of dollars on such movies as the Goodfellas, A Bronx Tale, The Last Don and the most famous of all, The Godfather. Even as a young child, I can recall being fascinated with these stories. Partly because the movie it self was well put together, but the most prevalent reason be disposed of was stored. Still to this day police are unsure how many times this method of disposal was used. In the early sixties Bonnano had moved out west and established himself in Arizona and some in California. He would eventually try to take over gambling out west; he also had profitable businesses in Cuba and in Canada. As much as Joe Bonnano flourished in the west, his people back home felt neglected and under appreciated. For the first time in years the Bonnano family was mislead and worst of all due to the lack of leadership they were also underpaid. Bonnano's eventual downfall would come in the early sixties when the other mob bosses had discovered a plot devised by Bonnano to kill all of the heads of the other four families. As a punishment, he was forced to live in exile in Haiti for several years. He was also forced to give up the profits of his family business to the other bosses, a net worth of two billion dollars a year. In 1983 after he suffering a massive heart attach Bonnano released his autobiography "A Man of Honor", a story on the history of the Mafia in the early years. As a result he would later be subpoenaed by a grand jury to discuss his book.
We can write a custom research paper on Mafia for you!
Unfortunately, to the despair of the grand jury he exercised his right of the fifth amendment of the American constitution. Joe Bonnano lived a long life; a life where looking over his shoulder was an everyday occurrence. Joe lived longer than any other Mafia boss did in history; he lived through several attempts on his life and a constant shadow from the F.B.I. He finally died on Sunday May 12 2002 at the age of 97; some say his death marked the end of an era.
Vito Genovese (1897-1969) was born in Rosiglino Italy, he arrived in the United States in 1913 and roughly seven years later quickly became one of lucky lucianoТs right hand men. Years later following a detailed investigation of murder by the FBI and the police all signs pointed to Vito Genovese as the only suspect. As a result Genovese was forced to hide out in Italy during the Second World War where he quickly became exceptionally good friends with the fascist leader Bennito Musolini.
Following the war Italy was forced to deport Genovese to the United States authorities where he would face long over due murder charges. Shortly after the governments star witness was cleverly murdered; the government was forced to drop all charges involving Genovese. His most recognizable accomplishment throughout the underworld was his involvement in the assignation of all the old bosses. As a result Genovese quickly gained a reputation in the underworld as one of the most important bosses in the New York era. Vito's last stand came when a tip arrived from other anonyms Mafia officials involving Vito and his drug smuggling; the authorities arrested Genovese for smuggling and distribution of drugs. The following year Vito was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years. Genovese eventually died in a prison hospital on the 14th of February 1969.
Carlo Gambino "The Boss of All Bosses" (1902-1976), Gambino's outside persona was one of a gentle non-confrontational figure. An older gentleman who bought fruit from the corner store and stayed by his home to keep his ties to his neighborhood. On the inside, he was a survivor, a cunning executive who believed in the old way of doing things. He was a bundle of contradictions and most of the detectives that were assigned to follow him often said it was difficult to read what was going on inside his head. This was Carlo Gambino, probably the most powerful Mafia boss this country has ever known; Carlo, along with his brother in-laws Peter and Paul Castellano where soldiers under Joe "The Boss" Masseria. After Masseria's death, Carlo took over the family and he didn't stop after that. Carlo Gambino was considered by many to be the boss of all bosses. Carlo was in charge of placing the leaders of the rest of the families, when the bosses were placed he made certain those he did place where at one time or another loyal to him. Carlo was at one time one of the most powerful figures this country has ever seen. When Carlo arrived in 1921 on the SS Vinenzia he brought with him an old school way of the Mafia, the way in theory the Mafia was supposed to be organized and ran. The FBI also claims that he was one of the most difficult men to ever pin anything on. Every time there was a charge that was trumped up by the FBI, from gambling, murder or even deportation, Carlo would mysteriously become ill of a heart attach or wind up in the hospital for some reason. Although he was well respected by his peers and the members of his family, when he passed in (1976) he made one mistake in the eyes of his people. The Successor (Paul Castellano) Carlo Gambino's brother-in-Law was appointed instead of Aniello Dellacroce. Dellacroce was an old timer from the streets whose reputation preceded him on the street and with his fellow crewmembers. Most felt that Castellano rode the coat tails of his brother-in-law to power.
Things remained quite in the underworld for several years after Gambino's passing. In the late seventies and through the eighties perhaps the most powerful family was Gambino's. Before Carlo Gambino passed, to the anger and disappointment of his men, he appointed his brother-n-law Paul "Big Pauly" Castellano boss, instead of the family favorite Aniello Dellacroce. Aniello had the respect of his men and he had more than earned the street credibility. Many felt Paul had rode the coattails of Carlo to power, he had zero credibility on the street. Paul's vision was to legitimize the Gambino family; he kept company with high-class white-collar workers and always read the wall street journal. Instead of living with his men in the city, Paul lived in a glorious, high priced and high profile mansion in Long Island. This style of leadership combined with the road the family was headed down angered just about everyone in the family, especially a young hot-tempered captain in the Gambino family, John Gotti. After the passing of Aniello Dellacroce, Gotti was now free to take over operations from Castellano in the Gambino family, and he did just that, in typical Gotti style. Gotti along with others assonated Castellano while he was getting out of his car for a late dinner in Manhattan at the now famous Sparks Steak House. Gotti was an old school street guy with strong ties to the street and his men. Gotti's biggest downfall was not his leadership style or his moneymaking abilities; it was his big mouth and his flashy style. While John was serving the tenth year of his life sentence he died of throat cancer on June 10 2002, he was 61 years old.
An intense scrutiny from the media and the government started in the fifties. In the past, anyone connected to the Mafia would choose death before turning states witness on their bosses. It was not until the Valachi trials that things for the Mafia would begin to change forever. Out of pure fear for his life Joseph Valachi (1903-1964), a top lieutenant in the Genovese family turned states witness in 1964. Better know in the underworld, as a "Rat" Valachi handed not just the Genovese family to the government but the rest of the families also. Joe laid down the entire operation to the government, starting with all the bosses and their dealings. He even laid down the complete structure from the heads of the families, the lieutenant to the captains down to the soldiers. This would turn out to be a crushing blow to the mob and a window of opportunity for the FBI; it would eventually open the door for others to do the same. This would eventually open the door years later for the highest-ranking official in mafia history. Out of fear for his life or taking the rap for everything himself, Sammy "The Bull" Gravano who was the under boss to John Gotti in the Gambino family turned states witness in the early 90's. The FBI also let Gravano hear Gotti on tape bad mouthing Sammy to a mutual friend; Gotti secretly fingered Sammy for everything. In an interview with journalist Howard Blum a reporter for Court Room Television Gravano tells Blum - All John had to do was come to me once during the eleven months we were together and say, Sammy, I'm sorry. My big fucking mouth got you indicted, number one. Number two, lets try to get a severance for you, and so you can fight your own case. Fuck the public. Let's try to fight this so that one of us, some of us, a couple of us, get out of this mess. If he had done that I would have never cooperated with the government, never!" Sammy lived in the witness protection program in sunny Arizona; that lasted until the 1999. Sammy was convicted along with his wife and two kids of running an ecstasy ring.
To conclude, the Mafia and all of its tradition has been around since the end of the 1800's and up until present time. As a society, we must embrace it as a part of our life and recognize the traditional significance of this secret underworld. As cold and calculated as a the Mafia can be at times, one can't help to become an admirer of the money and the power this "secret" society brings to our culture. In the last century, it has been a major factor in our economy as well as in our culture. From Don Vito Casio Ferro to John Gotti, these men and others have injected a piece of their culture in to American society and will continue to do so for years to come.
- CAUTION! Free research paper samples & examples of research papers on Mafia topics are 100% plagiarized!!!
At EssayLib.com - professional research writing service - you can buy custom research papers on Mafia topics, 100% written from scratch. EssayLib.com employs top-rated Ph.D. and Master's experts only to write superior-quality custom research papers, term papers, essays, research proposals, thesis papers & dissertations at affordable rates. EssayLib.com knows HOW effectively to help high school, college & university students with writing the highest grade custom papers online.
Enjoy our Professional Research Paper Writing Service!
