Vito was the better don. Various reasons: Vito built the family business. Michael inherited it. Vito was ruthless, but fair. We get the sense Michael's just ruthless. Can anyone imagine Vito having a famiy member killed, as Fredo is? They both have equal amounts of cunning and ambition, but Vito has the edge here. Also get the sense that Vito's men felt more loyalty to their don than Michael's men did.
