Originally posted by Boss_of_bosses:
When Sollozzo hears that the Don is alive, you say he was on the verge of killing Tom? He would only create more problems for himself if he did that. Plus if Sonny went for the deal they would have no political connections if the Don died
Right! It was in Sollozzo's interest to keep Tom alive, since he saw that
both Sonny and Tom were hot for his deal. With Tom alive, he'd have an advocate for his deal. With Tom dead, he'd provide more fuel for Sonny's vengeance.
Another reason: Sollozzo had to know that Tom was an advocate for diplomacy, not violence ("I know you're not in on the muscle end of the family, Tom"). Sollozzo knew that Tom would continue to be a voice for negotiation, not retaliation--which would give Sollozzo more time to plan another attack on the Don.
As for the Don's political connections: Not all of them would have disappeared if he'd died. As Puzo pointed out in the novel: they still had houses to build, kids to put through college...they still needed Mob payoffs. If the Don had died, Sonny still would have held some political connections--and Sollozzo
might have been able to negotiate for them in a stronger position than if the Don were alive.
