How did lucky Luciano change history?

Answer 1

While likely credited more than he probably was solely responsible for (some think he was the one who divided NYC into 5 families, which is incorrect), Salvatore "Lucky" Luciano was instrumental in not only changing the dynamics of Italian organized crime in the US, but is the only member of the supposed secret group known as Cosa Nostra ('this thing of ours') that the US Government actually approached for HELP during WWII.

The Comission:Many with any sort of mafia interest have probably heard of the title capo di tutti cappi - boss of all bosses. The person with this title was not only the boss of his own family, but the boss of every other family as well (hence 'boss of all bosses). This made one person the most powerful mob boss in the entire country, and made one person able to basically control every racket in the US. In theory, this sounds great if you have the title, but heavy is the head that wears the crown, and not only are you talking about a title that dozens of other guys would love to put a bullet in the back of your head to take for themselves, but you also automatically become the FBI's #1 target. Why go after just anyone when you can go for the boss of ALL THE BOSSES? And you could have several bitter heads of other families, believing themselves more deserving, helping hit squads and the law track you down. Luciano realized the potential for problems, and decided on another angle.

The Comission consisted of a representitive of each of the USA's crime families (NYC's 5 Families, The Chicago Outfit, Florida, Philly Mob, LA Mob, No Orleans Mob, etc etc) meeting - much like a board of directors would, with the goal being to resolve issues there peacefully, while ensuring everyone got an equal opportunity to be heard, and treated with the same level of respect. Its believed that despite Meyer Lansky succesfully getting Benjamin 'Bugsy' Segul's life spared several times, when the final decision fell before the comission - Lansky, a member of the Jewish Mafia, thus carrying no vote with the Italians - could do nothing to change the fact that the majority felt was that Bugsy had to go.

This was a major development for organized crime for several reasons. First, it established a set of rules that applied to everyone, allowing the National Crime Syndicate (which was the comission's many members from accross the country) to move to a structure that resembled a large corporation, rather than the commonly accepted idea that they were little more than street thugs who operated independently. It also allowed the various families to pool their resources, discuss ways they could make more money together, decide upon proper solutions for problems, seek advice from one another, and openly say whatever they wanted to (so long as nobody openly disprespected or insulted another member of the commission) if they had something they needed to clear the air about.

Not to be overlooked, one of the most important rules agreed upon was that the act of killing another boss without approval from the entire commission was punishable by death. For many, many years, nobody was really safe, and underlings often tried to overthrow their boss, figuring taking them out ensured they were handed the reigns of power. Killing your superior had become a fast track to the top, but Luciano saw the big problem with it: it was bad publicity, which was bad for business, which costed people money. There were times when somebody needed to go, it was frankly the cost of doing business, but a regular made guy that nobody outside of Cosa Nostra knew anything about might make a small blurb on the back page; a BOSS is usually somebody well known that will draw lots of attention from the media and law enforcement; two entities you dont want sniffing around your business.

This also gave the commission an active role in assigning a new boss when one family lost one, ensuring that the opinions of everyone would play a part in selecting a guy that was not only popular amongst his crew, but would also (hopefully) be a beneficial choice for everyone.

This concept of Cosa Nostra, as a whole, making decisions together, rather than each family doing as they pleased, allowed them to operate a little further below the radar of the public, and spare themselves any more bloody fueds. Instead of losing money with infighting and bad publicity they could now make even more money working together, and the boss of each family was able to voice their complaints and concerns without having to fear retaliation for doing so.

John Gotti directly violated this rule by having Big Paulie Castellano whacked and taking over the Gambino Family. While some chose to look the other way, Vincent 'The Chin' Gigante was said to have made at least one attempt at Gotti's life, and several others were thought to have endorsed taking him out. They really should have, because Gotti was everything the mafia didnt want; he was constantly flaunting who he was to the media and public, he wasnt be nearly as careful as he shouldve been when discussing business, and he was arrested several times with his brief stint as Don, and while 'teflon' for many of those charges, he was eventually handed a lifetime sentence after 7 years on top, which also caused his underboss (then the highest ranking Mafia figure to do so) to turn state's evidence after hearing repeated audio recordings of Gotti badmouthing him, and trying to blame him for everything Gotti was accused of. Gotti severly hurt the Gambino rackets, as well as the other families interests, and I have to think him being immediately whacked in 1985 might have changed their fortunes.

WWIIWith Lucky Luciano sitting in a prison cell, the US Government thought they might have the leverage they needed. It was well known that the NYC Ports were controlled by the Mafia, and despite which family had which parts of it, they knew talking to Luciano was as good of better than talking to a dozen others. They approached Meyer Lansky, and asked him if he could see if Lucky would be interested in hearing what they had to offer. Shortly thereafter, Lansky gave them the news they wanted to hear: Luciano will entertain them long enough to hear what they wanted, though ensured them that if they were looking for a rat or informant, they were asking the wrong guy.

What they government really wanted was security on the ports. This wasnt about what the Italians were doing; it was about what they hoped to stop the Germans from doing. A corrupt port, easy to sneak in what you want for the right price sounded like a potential dissaster if Germany was able to get whatever they wanted onto American soil, unnoticed. They wanted Luciano to ensure that no spies, troops, weapons, explosives, etc got through. Basically, they needed him to ensure that the ports would be safe from any infiltration by Germany or Japan, and that he could make contacts in Italy to make sure nothing headed from there was dangerous or contained anything they needed to worry about.

Lucky, with a cold stare that few other than he possed, looked at the men momentarily, told them he could do all of that and more, but then got to the real issue; what was his motivation in all this? Eventually a deal was worked which allowed him his immediate release, with the only condition being that he would be immediately deported back to Sicily, stripped of his American citizenship.

That wasnt great news, but you know what? A comfy bed with food from a fancy resturant in Rome, Palermo, Naples, or anywhere else in the old country, sounded a whole hell of a lot better than a jail cell, so the deal was made.

A man of his word, the docks were never comprimised, and a German boat hiding off the coast a few miles away was also discovered and destroyed. Never once did a security breach of any kind occur.

When it came to staying in Italy, though - he went along with it, departed the plane in Naples, and shortly thereafter, found himself going back over the Atlantic to Cuba. In Havana, a mafia-run casino stronghold, he was close to America, and able to keep in touch with his American contacts. Eventually, the US caught wind and he was forced to go back to Italy, but that happens when you have Frank Sinatra and dozens of know Cosa Nostra mafioso visit you...

Just a reminder - for as high and mighty as anyone in this country ever wants to be, just remember that we asked one of the most reputed mobsters in history for help during WWII. This wasnt the first time, and it wont be the last time, that we sleep with the devil to get rid of the demons.