What I would add beyond TB's comments re: Gotti. He was derrogatorily referred to as "John Paul Gotti" by some members of the Gambino family. Gotti felt that his whims must be catered to at all times. Gotti was a man who could fly into a rage one minute and then be a complete gentleman the next. I would guess that a lot of his arrogance stemmed from the fact that he walked away from three trials, even though he cheated each time!

I think Gotti was simply more accessible to the press than the usual, tight-lipped mafia chiefs before him. He followed his own press and was as concerned about his public image as any politician.