Joe Bonanno couldn't shine Gambino's shoes...IMO

Based on how Bonanno puts Gambino down in his book there was obviously some bad blood between them, but Bonanno was powerful and smart enough to stay alive.

It's funny to me how Bonanno basically tries to take credit for Gambino becoming boss of his family, but I highly doubt that is accurate. He may have gave his blessing but it was probably more of him seeing what the cards were and realizing it was inevitable.

Read in ray patriarcas files hes on the wiretap talking about how joe b father was a boss i dont know if he means in italy or the black hand days but he states it alot. Meaning there was nepotism way back then. Always wonder why joe became a boss of his family at like 25 or so.

Bonannos dad was killed back in Italy. LCN was in Joe's blood. He was left a nice amount of money, he went to the maritime academy, something happened back home, then he came to the US. The history is obviously more detailed than that but his dad was not in the US.

In Bonanno's book he claims his father was a leader in Sicily, and there are suggestions he was a leader of the Castellammarese in Brooklyn in the 1910's before the family went back home after, I think, Bonnano's uncle died.

So, like Gambino, he did have a mafia pedigree.

Bonnano's family was in the US from around 1910 for a few years. That's why he was apparently known as the American when he went back home.

My memory has gone to shit. My apologies.

Because he was the real deal !!

Joe Bonanno uncle Giuseppe Bonanno, who had no children was the boss before he was murdered, then his other uncle Stefano Bonanno (who descendants are still involved in the mafia in Castellammare del golfo and father of Francesco Bonanno) was killed, but not before Stefano made sure the last brother Giovanni Bonanno went to Tunisia to be safe. Salvatore Bonanno is said to have been the head of the Brooklyn Castellammare community, but I really think it was actually Francesco Garofalo father as he was married to one of Salvatore Bonanno sisters. Once Salvatore Bonanno came back to Sicily, he became head of the clans, with Stefano Magaddino (father of Stefano Magaddino of Buffalo), Carmelo Coppala, and Giovanni Bonventre (uncle to the Bonventre brothers in the states) blessings. He was drafted and died from illness, not murdered. That scene in the Bonanno movie where it shows Salvatore being killed in bed with a mistress, was actually Stefano Bonanno, who had many children out of wedlock, which would explain why Joe Bonanno said Stefano Bonanno had no children.

During the Castellamarese war, there was a attempt made on Carlo Gambino's brother by Maranzano guys. i suspect Bonanno could've been involved, this left some bad blood with Gambino.
on Bonanno's side, Joe slightly supported Gambino at a commission meeting after Anastasia was clipped against Albert's loyalist Tommy Rava and Neil Dellacroce. then Gambino used his power with Luchesse against him.

Joe Bonanno just couldn't see what was going under his nose. Looks like he had no problem with Luciano's allies getting clipped. I wonder, whether he came up with an idea to take over the commission before or after attempt on Costello's life. From what I understand, Joe B didn't take Carlo seriously, calling him squirrel, like, it's easier to kill a squirrel like Gambino than lion like Anastasia.
What I can't really understand, why he used Profaci's men, not someone of his own.

Because Joe Magliocco was just as involved, if not more on the plot to kill Luchesse and Gambino. Magliocco used Joe Colombo who outed the plan.

Had not Joe B tipped FBI Luciano's whereabouts, his life would've been much easier

Bonanno's book covers this

he was part of the alliance of old mustaches ruling the commission and Gambino/Genovese wanted to take power

the moment Bonanno went to Italy Anastasia got wacked IIR and the entire thing became public not long after when Vito had Chin try to wack Costello

Once Anastasia was gone, Costello had no protection, and bitched up. Lucchese/Gambino/Genovese would dominate the commission after this.

Hey Tony. Chin tried to rub out Costello before Anastasia was killed. I don't know if you made a typing mistake or didn't know. Forever, I thought Anastasia was killed first. A side note, if you read the newspaper articles after he was killed, a lot of them speculate that Costello was behind the hit. Which we know wasn't true.

People say Bonnano's book is BS then wtf is Raabs

yes thank you for correcting my mistake I am a few drinks into the evening also in Bonanno's book he talks about the Anastasia/Costello/Genovese/Lucchese/Gambino drama