In his meeting with Michael, Moe Greene states "The Godfather is sick, you're being driven out of New York by Barzini." By this point, Vito was out of the hospital, out of his sickbed and seemed to be recovered--recovered enough to help organize and attend the meeting of the Commission and for the fish tank scene. Was Vito really sick--did he perhaps have an ailment like cancer or something; was he declining in health? Or did he only simply make it appear so to outsiders?

MICHAEL: I'm working for my father now, Kay. He's been sick -- very sick.

Vito had recovered, physically. But the Five Families War, Michael's involvement in the family business by killing Sol and Mac, Sonny's assassination, and Apollonia's murder, had taken a lot out of him. He wasn't the man he used to be.

Of course, as the novel states, around the time of Nino's death Vito had a heart attack. Apparently, the past was catching up with him.

During the meeting of the families, it was visible for everybody how Vito had changed physically, compared to 1945 when he danced with his wife and his daughter.

No question getting hit by five shots, and then losing his son took an enormous toll on Vito, and everyone could see it. At the meeting of the heads of the families Hagen instinctively tried to help him stand up, but Vito brushed him aside as if to hide his poor health from the others.

The Corleones put their own spin on it by saying in public that he was "semi-retired."

DT, I disagree. Vito begins to stand up, but his chair does not move. Vito very briefly motions to Tom to assist him which Tom does simply by pulling the chair back.

I stand corrected Oli ( and I do so without Tom Hagen's help)

Well, don't do so again or there will be sanctions.

The deadly Rule 11.

What do you mean he's sick? He's been DEAD!!!

Are you mocking this court, sir?

Order Order int he Court. The honerable J. Geoff Malta will preside over this matter. As well the U.S. Attorney A. Saul Cohen straight out Brooklyn now in Long Island.