The Mafia - Historum

pruittj744 · April 27th, 2011, 06:46 AM

The Mafia in America was very fluential in politics up through around 90's. Does anyone thank that might have effected the way some things turned out in America because the mafia used to rig elections so their canditate would win, they even used intemidation at the polls.

**Vladd** · April 27th, 2011, 07:17 AM

Of course Money talks after all.

Patton · April 29th, 2011, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pruittj744

The Mafia in America was very fluential in politics up through around 90's. Does anyone thank that might have effected the way some things turned out in America because the mafia used to rig elections so their canditate would win, they even used intemidation at the polls.

During prohibition, the mafia were more interested in local elections then National. Getting the councilman, sheriff or mayor who would turn a blindeye to the "soda parlor" at the corner would have been paramount to running a successful family . Maifa strongholds were oftentimes mini war zones during these elections, complete with shootouts, kidnapping, bombing, backroom deals, these stories make for some interesting reading.

When the mafia became more organized and more big business in the 50s and 60s they gained influence beyond the local scale. Enough to radically alter things? I would doubt it.

**Carlisle Blues** · April 29th, 2011, 07:05 AM

Yes I beleive so, take a look at the 1960 presidential election....

Quote:

At the time, Chicago mafia boss Sam Giancana, who shared a mistress with Kennedy, bragged that Kennedy "wouldn't even be in the White House" without the use of intimidation at the polls in Illinois.Chicago mayor Richard Daley - the father of Al Gore's campaign manager, William Daley - famously told Kennedy late on election day: "With a little bit of luck, and the help of a few close friends, you're going to carry Illinois."
The turnout in Chicago was a staggering 89% - compared to the national figure of 62.8%. And despite losing 93 of Illinois's 102 counties, Kennedy was eventually declared the winner by 8,858 votes. As well as in Illinois, dirty tricks were alleged in several states including Missouri, Texas, New Jersey and West Viginia.

BBC News | AMERICAS | Flashback 1960: Kennedy beats Nixon

**beetle** · May 1st, 2011, 05:18 AM

There's a reason Joe Kennedy insisted his son JFK appoint his brother as attorney general. It's the only time in US history a president has appointed his brother as his chief criminal/judicial official.

Pappa Joe Kennedy is one of the most overlooked persons in US political history.

Until the RICO statutes of the 1980s, the Mafia played a strong role in certain unions and industries in the US.

Dwilma01 · August 21st, 2011, 07:08 PM

Despite Carlisle's unattributed quote organized crime or the Mafia or La Cosa Nostra did not get Kennedy elected in 1960 or any other president. Chicago was heavily Democratic and many republicans have complained that Dick Daley jammed the voting machines which is probably true and the popular vote was a little more than 100,000 difference, one tenth of a percentage point. But Kennedy won 303 to Nixon's 219 in the electoral college which is the constitutional measure.

There is no evidence that the wise guys had national influence. They did better by compromising local officials.