Originally posted by Enzo Scifo:
Nowadays, 50 years after he died, people still see Salvatore "Lucky Luciano" Lucania as a Cosa Nostra-legend.
Will Gotti have the same status in 2050?
Great question Enzo!
Gotti will never have the same "legend" status as Charlie
"Lucky" Luciano.
Gotti took out a boss, took over the family, acheived the power that he desired, fed his ego and eventually drove everything onto the ground.
Lucky not only took out two of the most tougest bosses in La Cosa Nostra history, but he basically revolutionized the Mafia. He and Lansky were not so concerned with having the "power" over everyone else. They were smart enough to realize that by forming a "corporation" with "subsidiaries," they could make tons and tons of money while at the same time the others that were part of this "corporation" would also make more money than they've ever seen before. That in itself would bring Charlie Lucky power. Feeding the ego was secondary for Luciano, making money was primary.
John Gotti, with all his balls and charisma, was not a good businessman.
Lucky Luciano, along with the backing and advice of Meyer Lansky, was a ballsy guy, a guy with charisma, but most importantly he had a head for business and making money, which he put above everything else. Making money, doing business and creating partners was a priority for him.
Look at it this way. Let's say for a moment that both Charlie Luciano and John Gotti were legitimate people. Now you wanted to take on a partner to expand your business with you. are you bringing on John Gotti? Or Charlie Luciano?
A legitimate Luciano would be me partner any day over a legitimate John Gotti.
Luciano and Lanksy were like the Bill Gates and The Rothschilds of the underworld. I don't think that you could put Gotti in that category.
Don Cardi
