Originally posted by AppleOnYa:
Well, unless you're talking about something indicated in the novel, I don't recall Vito mysteriously knowing that Tessio was the traitor.
All he did was to advise Michael that there WOULD be a traitor, and that it would be the person who approached him to set up the meeting that would result in Michael's assasination.
But again, the novel going into much more 'depth' as stated by all...I wouldn't be surprised to hear that Vito at some point would suspect a particular person.
Not even Vito could've predicted WHO the traitor would be. (In the novel) one day before Mike agreed to meeting with Barzini, Mike and Tom Hagen were discussing who they thought would set up the meeting (and thus be the traitor). Tom Hagen was ruled out because he was German-American (and thus not to be trusted by the other Families); Al Neri was ruled out because he used to be a cop, plus, both Hagen and Neri were TOO close to Michael (to be trusted by Barzini). It was decided Rocco Lampone wasn't close enough. It was figured to be Clemenza, Tessio or Carlo Rizzi.
To add something to the novel going into some more detail about Tessio being smarter (than Clemenza): the night of the meeting in which Tessio and Clemenza met with Vito, Tom Hagen, Mike and Vito, and when Mike announced that Tom Hagen "was out" (as consigliere), it was noted that Clemenza thought Mike was too "soft" to be a Don, but Tessio had a better opinion of Mike, sensing that Mike had some hidden force. Yet, still, Tessio discounted that "knowledge" and went against Mike (and Vito's) judgment.
