Replies

Years ago when cosa nostra chirman of the commission Frank Costello was brought befor the Kefawver crime commission he asked if he sold illegal booze during prohibition. His answer was, "Everybody sold illegal booze during the 20s." Joe Kennedy was one of them. He also got exclusive license to import certain kinds of scotch later when it was legal usng his contacts. During the 20s there were three ethnic groups that were crime leaders. The first were Jews headed by Meyer Lansky and later Mickey Cohen. The Irish had their group known in some areas as the Westies who controlled their areas. The third was the Italians. Salvatore Luchiannia, better known as Lucky Luchiano, Meyer Lansky, Frank Costello, anf Buggsy Siegal grew up together. Lucky negotiated a peace between the Irish and Italian, with Costello's help. The Irish were allowed to go their own way in their own territories. The Jews and Italians formed a commision to prevent rogues such as Capone, and to prevent widespread violence that had been bringing trouble for the mob. Such things as illegal gambling became a well a well organized business with people such as Costello as chairman of the board of directors. Kennedy want his own way among the Irish and engaged in political corruption. At some point he entered the fringes of politics under Roosevelt in attempt to gain respectability. The ultimate goal was to get one or more of his kids in as president, which he did starting with the groundwork in the late 30s and early 40s. He had somewher between $200,000,000 and $400,000,000 to push buttons with and was successful in so doing.

I think you two will never resolve who the bigger crook was. The way I see it JFK became president with organized crime help, but Clinton was the bigger crook in office and on a personal basis.

To add to your info on Joe Kennedy. Joe solicited the mafia to help with the union vote. It was instrumental in the W VA primary, usually not a significant one. JFK beat Humphrey, who was the favorite up to that point.

When Bobby Kennedy went after the mafia, Joe was paid a visit to ask him to remind the boys that they were slapping the hand that fed them. Joe told them he would talk to them when the family got together for x-mas. Joe stroked out before then.

It is reputed that Joe and the mafia split the entire traffic in Scotch during prohibition and most of the 30s.

Joe was FDR's ambassador to, I think, England. He was soft and blind to Hitler. This lead to his recall and the end of his personal political career.

Wow! I forgot that there was the prohibition, and so I assume that would be the reason for the profit? Also, would Kennedy then be a member of the Irish mafia?

Francesco Castiglia changed his name to the Irish name of Costello to better work with the Irish politicians who dominated some big cities as New York and Boston.

www.murderinc.com/fam/costello.html