I think Columbo was fairly small-time compared with the other Dons. I think his influence was exaggerated by his ultra-high-profile activities re. Italian-American Civil Rights League: browbeating the FBI and New York Times to stop using "Mafia" and "Cosa Nostra"; ditto Al Ruddy for "The Godfather" movie--and, collecting huge amounts of money for the League, including donations from fellow Dons. But, my understanding is that Columbo was always more or less under Gambino's thumb. Gambino made him a Don after Columbo, as a capo in Magliocco's family, ratted out Magliocco's and Bonanno's plot to whack Gambino and Lucchese.