What do you guys think would have happened if big Paul had of gone down for life in the Rico case (rather than being taken out). At 71 and had he been a well man, would it have gone to Neil and if so do any of you think he would have named john as his underboss, all leading to john taking over somewhere after 1990 and maybe leading a little longer on the streets than he obviously did.

Neil would never have made John his underboss. It would've gone to some old timer. Jimmy Brown probably

Tommy Billotti was already Underboss and Joe N. Gallo, Consligiere. Paul would have run things from inside with Tommy as acting Boss.

I think it would have gone to an old-timer, but it would be the one who did not mind the pressure the position would bring. I believe I believe quite a few would have not wanted it.

Jimmy Brown would have been the acting boss IMO if Castellano somehow didn't choose to go to Sparks and went to the slammer.

Interesting points everyone. I’m wondering if Paul had gone down for life if he would have given up his position much the same way ducks did with buddy and ultimately vic and gas. In the hypothetical that Neil was well and still on the streets surely the power would have moved to him, and as john was his protege surely he would have had john as some kind of street boss. To the other point that a lot of the old timers at that point wouldn’t have wanted the position, as not everyone is naturally a number 1, then yeah I think John’s hunger perhaps would have seen him in a street boss role with Neil calling the shots overall. I’m not sure bilotti could have held the respect of the crews like John’s, but I do think they would have respected Neil to be boss. Difficult to say in a hypothetical situation I guess. What we do know is that the next generation after the old timers were very hungry for power. I do wonder if Neil had have been made boss in that situation if he would have stabilised the family into the mid 90s and kept guys like gotti under control. It would have been interesting to have seen Neil take over the family, I wonder how his relationship would have been with gigante and if he would have put up with vic and gas, or the early 90s Colombo war. I feel Neil would have steadied all of the 5 families to a degree, purely out of the respect everyone had for him.

IMHO, I don't think Neil had any desire to be Boss. He didn't need the heat,and he pretty much already was a Boss. He ran his own Family-within-a-Family,answered to nobody,and made a ton of money.
I think he would have thrown his support behind one of the more respected Captains and stayed on as Underboss, just like he did with Carlo and Paul. Bilotti would have been knocked down by the new (acting) Boss,and Paul would be given the courtesy title of Boss until he died in jail. Nobody liked or respected Bilotti,whereas Neil was well respected by many Family members,and feared by the rest.
Ideally,Failla becomes new Boss,takes over Paul's "white collar" rackets,Neil is Undeboss,running the same rackets he's always had.and Gotti becomes a powerful Capo and ferocious earner. Oh,and Billoti winds up in a meat grinder,because he won't stop squawking about the new administration.

Those saying Neil are forgetting that Dellacroce was a among those indicted in the Commission Case and would’ve gotten 100 years along with Paul had they both lived passed ‘85.

I think the most likely would’ve been:

Bilotti as acting boss…basically Paul’s mouthpiece

Jimmy Brown as boss/acting boss

Tommy Gambino as boss/acting boss

I remember reading somewhere that Paul was overheard on a wire discussing his possible successor bc of the indictments and I believe he discussed the option to be Tommy Gambino. A relative and white collar racketeer and that’s the direction Paul wanted the family to continue with.

Holy cannoli.You are correct sir! I totally forgot about Neil's indictment. That's why I love this board. The combined info and insights of so many members makes it a never ending (and enjoyable) learning experience.

When Paul Castellano realized he was facing conviction and jail time for the 1985 trial he planned for Thomas Gambino to be Acting Boss and for Tommy Billotti to remain Underboss and Joe N. Gallo as Consligiere.

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(When Paul Castellano....) This much is true.