Fredo was treated poorly, throughout by everyone

What could have been done to make him a worthy Corleone

With Vito's connections I'm sure he could have set Fredo up in a legit business or two, union,trucking company,etc. Fredo wouldn't need much in the way of brains,just show up and get a check, and steer some business to the Family now and then. I think that Vito's (and to lesser degree Sonny's) biggest sin was in not grooming Fredo for a better position, Sonny could have mentored his younger brother, and even Tom could have helped Fredo in gaining a more lucrative and less volatile life.

In the book Fredo becomes more-or-less legitimate, focusing on the hotel side of Moe's operation. It seems reasonable to assume at the end of the novel that Fredo will run the five or so Corleone hotels, and that he'll end up a respectable part of the Las Vegas power structure. The first movie drifts away from that, but Fredo in the first film is still pretty dissonant with the sleazy gangster we see in GF2.

It's been awhile since I read the book How did Fredo react to being stepped over for Donship by his kid brother? Thanks Pete

Also "Fredo will run the five or so Corleone hotels" but under Boss Michael though

Fredo to Michael: in Havana

Papa dismissing Fredo “And Fredo -- well -- Fredo was -- well --”

Poor Fredo had no chance Nobody...no no no Corleone family nobody bothered Fredo's all alone
Sure thing Lou their "biggest [own family] sin was in not grooming Fredo for a better position" indeed even if just face saving

"biggest [own family] sin also spousal abuse
Fontane treated better than Fredo

Fredo v. Michael isn't really an issue in the book. "Freddy" seems contented in Vegas, running the hotel side of Moe's operation and chasing cocktail waitresses. There is the "don't take sides" confrontation, but that's more that Freddy is identifying with Moe than with Freddy asserting some kind of authority among the Corleones.



Well, sure, that's where the money's coming from. Same as the people who actually worked for the olive oil company.

He was given an opportunity but he was chasing cocktail waitresses instead of learning the casino business
Fredo was drunk at Connie's wedding

Fredo needed minder to make him a worthy Corleone
Too much drinking Too much womanizing instead of learning the business like Michael did from Vito

Many thanks Pete I only have an old paperback! somewhere....Fair enough

Godfather II - Therein lies the issue?
Fredo put up with whatever was dished out by his Father Vito, older Brother Sonny and being straightened out / slapped around in public by "we're good friends, right Moe" but couldn't handle the kid brother, Michael being the Boss because it should have been Fredo

Fredo is not going to be content "running the hotel side of [Michael's] operation" and Fredo's good friend Moe murdered and of course there will be no more cocktail waitresses! either

Fredo to Michael: during his boathouse outburst -
If my memory serves me right, the book ends with all living happily for a hundred years! and apart from Vito's early years Godfather II was brand new material So what you say makes sense

This maybe of interest
Moe Greene meeting question

They knew being straightened out / slapped around in public but do nothing about it
still had a week before shooting starts but Tom left same night to "settle this business for Johnny."

Freddy not contented him not being the Boss

I reckon their move was to get rid of the useless and big liability Fredo, pack him off to Vegas away from them and it becoming the basis of their future legal gambling was a lucky by-product

The Corleones were “pretending that they were "weak" and ready to be knocked over” and continued their strategy by doing nothing when Fredo was being straightened out / slapped around in public by Greene and It worked!

As Greene [and everyone] believed -

At Carlo and Connie's wedding -
How so?

He was a good godson because he showed the family respect by coming to the wedding. And by asking for Vito's help.

first words, whispered into Vito's ear were, he wants to talk to him Then whines and cries Woltz won't give him the part

Would Fontane have come “all the way from California“ to the wedding if he wasn't “in trouble again” and needed Vito to do a bandleader on Woltz?

In the novel, Tom says, "He's probably in trouble again and needs your help." To which Vito replies: "And who should he turn to, if not his godfather?"

And who should Fredo turn to, if not his own father?" And who should help Fredo if not his own father?"

He has a sentimental weakness for all his children and spoils them except Fredo He was left rudderless

This maybe of interest
Vito and Fredo

My answer gonna be No

So what could be the face saving something in it for Fredo that wouldn't cause any resentment of his stepped over grievance

forward-thinking / planning that does not cause any family turmoil

For starters treat Fredo as equal and don't!
Whilst it is a delicate balancing act at least not exclude Fredo eg: The Godfather II - deleted scene
Sonny's daughter Francesca and fiancé Gardener Shaw
Sadly, it showed how Fredo was not part of Family matters nor Family business nor....And Fredo -- well -- Fredo was -- well --

Perhaps let Fredo sit in, at meetings Fredo knows to keep his mouth shut! unlike Sonny
Make Fredo feel important – even if as a figurehead....

Deanna big mistake

Poor Fredo gets shot down every time
1. Vegas welcoming party
2. getting Michael to see Pentangeli
3. ignored when he came back to Vito's room
4. excluded from Family matters and Family business

Gardener family give their blessing for marrying Gangster daughter

They haven't found poor Fredo in a barrel... yet...

Scuba divers who spent a year cleaning up Lake Tahoe’s entire 72-mile (115-kilometer) shoreline have come away with what they hope will prove much more valuable...

https://apnews.com/article/science-lakes-california-nevada-7e74aa67d25e37b272a3781e1bdc1499

It was as if he never went fishing with Neri