Not in the sense that he stood by Vito's side on a daily basis.


if only the turk had known fredo was helpless he could have knifed the don in broad day light since the don was indeed slipping. so maybe he did need a few more capos or someone to stand by his side on a daily basis. but i always figured he had lots of capos who for the sake of time did not appear in novel or film. pete and sal, other than being capos were his true friends, and were bonded to him forever. they were incapable of betraying him so long as he was don.(or maybe so long as he was alive, hence sal's betrayal at the funeral.)