He was first arrested at 17 (1925) for car theft. [8] On September 23, 1933, Giancana married Angeline DeTolve, the daughter of immigrants from the Italian region of Basilicata. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. Giancana clawed his way to the top of the Mafia hierarchy by starting as a hit man for Al Capone. Now we just want to do this, get the truth out, make it a little softer., Celozzi tells his cousins, Francine and Bonnie, If you believe in your faith, you believe that he [their father] is hearing you., Stitching together friends and foes, family memories and government allegiancesGiancana was tied to John F. Kennedys election and Fidel Castros attempted assassinationsLogothetis and Celozzi are creating a tapestry of a prominent man, a businessman but, perhaps above all, a family man. He partied with major stars such as Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe and did business with agents ranging from the CIA to the Vatican to the shah of Iran. They disclose information gained from conversations with the man himself on subjects such as Fidel Castro, JFK, Bobby Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe and more!!!! In fact, the book suppressed the existence of her two sisters, which was basically fine, Bonnie admits. The gang worked for Joseph Esposito, the politician known for extortion, prostitution, and bootlegging. Giancana's crew was also responsible for the August 4, 1952 murder of African-American gambling boss Theodore Roe. Usually, it takes me at least a couple of weeks to read a book, but I read this one in a week. Several authors discuss the role of the Outfit in the 1960 presidential election. That's. She professes to not only have witnessed Humphreys coordinating this effort, but to have worked alongside him as he directed Teamsters leaders from around the country Russo also alleges that the Outfit, through Murray Humphreys, made sure that union members nationally voted Democratic. A matinee performance features some of the studios students in one room, and two filmmakers, two sisters, two kids, a publicist, a photographer and a journalist are decamped in another. From the early 1940s through the 1950s, he controlled most of the illegal gambling, illegal liquor distribution, and numerous other political rackets in Louisiana through longtime friend H. A. OConnor discusses how Charlie Weber, the Democratic alderman of the 45th ward, openly opposed the Kennedys, having been influenced by his friend Murray Humphreys to take a dim view of Kennedys candidacy. Venerable old stuff: The Music Box alternative Christmas roster includes "Eyes Wide Shut," "Batman Returns" and "Edward Scissorhands;" and Siskel's Christmas cracker? [citation needed] In 1939 Giancana was convicted of bootlegging, and sentenced to four years in Leavenworth Prison and Terre Haute Federal Correctional Complex. Geraldo Rivera interviews Sam Giancana, the nephew, godson and namesake of legendary Mob boss of Chicago, Sam "Momo" Giancana. Therefore, the analysis in this article in no way negates the separate claims that the Daley Machine or Joseph Kennedy did everything possible to elect JFK president. Several of these accounts also discuss voting by labor union members, locally or nationally. DOUBLE CROSS By Sam and Chuck Giancana Warner 366 pages, $22.95 AT LEAST they haven't tried to pin the Abraham Lincoln and William McKinley assassinations on Sam Giancana. [34][35] He was arrested by Mexican authorities on July 19, 1974, and deported to the United States. It has become conventional wisdom that Chicago Outfit boss Sam Giancana put his criminal resources to work to get John Kennedy elected president in 1960, but a close examination of the election results does not support the claim. But did this really happen? After his prison term, he moved to Mexico (Cuernavaca). Written by their nephew and told in real time about the underbelly that pulled off this crime. More recently, these claims are prominent in the blockbuster movie The Irishman directed by Martin Scorsese. Aiuppa's nephew Sam Aiuppa is a member of the IATSE Projectionists Local 110 union and does not share how he became part of the union. He was released in 1932, after serving three years and nine months. According to a federal government report, in 1960 the Outfit controlled the (Democratic Party) political machinery in five of the 50 Chicago wards: the 1st, 24th, 25th, 28th and 29th. On this point, note that when Al Capones goons helped elect the Republican slate of candidates in Cicero in 1924, he needed to bring in additional men from Dean OBanions North Side Gang and others. Giancana was born on May 24, 1908, in the West side of Chicago, to Sicilian immigrant parents. May 24, 1908, is the birth date according to the Chicago Bureau of Vital Statistics, Birth Certificate Number 5915. Born and reared in Chicago's "Little Italy" on the near southwest side . . The case remained unsolved. In 1957, Giancana became the boss of the Chicago Outfit. Kennedy. Daleys efforts, more so than those of the Mob, boosted the turnout for Kennedy in Chicago in 1960. They never told me anything. Certainly, union leaders would have refused to conduct business with Humphreys if a woman or non-Outfit member were present. But so did Chicago, as well as the rest of the country in general, as evidenced by the other 45 wards in the city. A book on his life, Double Cross: The Explosive, Inside Story of the Mobster Who Controlled America, was published by his half-brother and nephew. A disbarred attorney who was a compulsive drinker and gambler, McDonnell borrowed heavily from loan shark Sam DeStefano, a Mob associate, to support his gambling habit. Chicago mobologist John Binder said Giancana was killed by his longtime driver and close confidante Butch Blasi, who had attended a small party at the Oak Park home, left and then returned. Now the young Sam Giancana tells all . They thought they were one better, hence 42. Supposedly the Outfit kept its end of the bargain, but it was double crossed by the Kennedys, who increased federal pressure on the Outfit locally and the Cosa Nostra generally. Having them around 24/7 made the neighborhood feel safer. Mob boss Sam Giancana was killed 40 years ago in his west suburban home and who did it is far more of a puzzle than why. , Dimensions Please try again. Therefore, they would have owed the Outfit nothing, even if there had been a pre-election agreement. Momo: The Sam Giancana Story, will be released this spring at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival and will play at the Chicago International Film Festival next fall. As a show of gratitude Mayor Daley and his family were the first people invited by the new president to stay at the White House. Therefore, the Outfit was quite capable of producing votes in certain areas when it wanted to. Giancana's crew is believed to have been responsible for convincing Eddie Jones to quit his racket and leave the country. We want to fill the back story of where he came from, his home life, his personality, what made him tick. Celozzi and Logothetis will incorporate anecdotes from FBI transcripts with hours of home movies, interviews and letters with family, friends and associates. Charles"Chuck" Giancana, younger brother of Chicago mob boss Sam "Mooney" Giancana indeed had a unique position to observe not just his older brother 's role in the "Outfit" ( as Chicago's branch of the Mafia is traditionally known in The Windy City, with varying overtones of respect or even fear, but never ever in jest), but the interface between American politics and organized crime. Giancana claimed that the Chicago area was "the safest place in the world" for a major underworld meeting because he had several police chiefs on his payroll. Angelinas parents were Italian immigrants. Let's just say that Sam should've remembered what happened to Bugsy Siegel. Both Jones and Roe were major South Side gambling bosses. Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web. The thriller King Kennedy (2012) also shows archival footage of Giancana. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Chicago Film Society double-features "Tangerine," and "All About My Mother." And Bobby Kennedy had already labeled organized crime as the greatest danger facing the country in his book The Enemy Within. The guests of honor, however, are two ladies named Francine and Bonnie, here to set the record straight. After his release from prison, Giancana fled to Cuernavaca, Mexico. While these figures (covering 863 paper ballot precincts), along with the claims about voting machine irregularities, support the contention the Outfit focus on defeating Adamowski resulted in some votes for Kennedy, more direct evidence can be obtained by further examination of the election results. Giancana went to Reese Elementary School but was expelled at 10. Very well written and interesting to read. : During the previous four years the Republican incumbent, Benjamin Adamowski, was a thorn in the side of the Outfit, raiding gambling joints in Cicero and strip clubs in Calumet City, and City Hall. In 1963, J.F. This book was very eye opening as to what people would do to each other if you crossed them. Let everyone else determine who all these bad guys were, says Logothetis. . Sam Giancana, Sam. She claims the Outfit delivered Teamsters Union votes at the national level. One of the most feared Chicago mobsters Sam Giancana clawed his way to the top of the Mafia hierarchy by starting as a hit man for Al Capone. Chuck Giancana, who passed away in 2001, was the brother of the late crime boss Sam "Momo" Giancana. He was a very gentle person, with my mother and me [and my sisters], Francine responds, camera rolling. While the statistical tests are by their very nature complicated, the flavor of the results can be obtained by looking at changes in the percentage of the vote cast for the Democratic candidate across presidential elections. Geraldo Rivera. Giancana was involved in many illicit businesses, including illegal gambling and liquor distribution. It simply was not interested in doing that for Kennedy. A very interesting book, although rather depressing. She died at home last week at age 89. [29] Giancana and McGuire, who had a long-lasting affair, were originally introduced by Frank Sinatra. Some suspected that Roselli was killed on Trafficante's orders.[45]. If the Outfit did not get out the vote for Kennedy in its own backyard, where it had control of the political apparatus, it is hard to believe it did so elsewhere. Kennedy was assassinated, and many suspected the involvement of the Outfit. However, nothing was proved. For example, in Hershs book Robert McDonnell alleges the Outfit pressured various unions (although it is unclear whether he means locally or nationally) to support Kennedy. In fact, legendary crime reporter Ray Brennan, writing the day after the election, described it as sissified and bland in comparison to the violent primary election of April 6, 1928. Were not trying to glorify or take away the obvious of what he [did], explains Celozzi. Controversial . Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. When the Mexican marines burst into El Chapo's apartment, the biggest drug dealer on earth was making breakfast for his beauty queen wife and their two-year-old twin girls, who had joined daddy and. Sam is a guest on a panel with. [2] Antonia died in 1910 and his father married Mary Leonardi. The section regarding on the alleged involvement of Giancana with the JFK assassination is interesting, although as with any JFK related material how much you believe is down to the reader. I'm sure there are some stories that were stretched to some degree, but nonetheless I think there's a lot of teeth behind many of the conspiracies. Unfortunately, that horse did not win, prompting one unhappy bettor to remark, Someone forgot to tell the horse.. While the rest of the office building on LaSalle Street remains quiet and deserted on a dreary Sunday afternoon in November, Act One Studios hums with the movement of an industry that never slows. Sam Giancana is the nephew of the late crime boss Sam "Momo" Giancana and son of Chuck Giancana, who passed away in 2001. Assassination of John F. Kennedy Encyclopedia However, the Outfit is not Joseph Kennedy. Most probably recognize the name as mid-century Chicago mob boss extraordinaire, but outside his public persona, he was a devoted husband, a caring father and a generous friend, they say. "He was killed the night before federal agents were to take him to Washington to testify.". In a book by his nephew and godson, also named Sam Giancana, Mooney is quoted as claiming credit for the assassinations of John and Robert Kennedy (in part, Money said, because they weren't going a long with the deals made with the mob by their bootlegger father - deals that helped get John elected president), the murder of Marilyn Monroe at the Not finished reading it yet, about half way through at the moment, if the second parts as good as the first, then I would be happy, great eye opener about the mafia, the power they had over everything, and I mean everything. These books, and associated television programs and media coverage, have received a great deal of attention. Sam Giancana was born Gilormo Giancana, on June 15 (some sources say May 24), 1908, in Chicago, Illinois. If McDonnells presence was not required at the meeting itself, why was it necessary that he be there at all? It is also hard to believe that Joseph Kennedy met with a notorious mobster who was investigated by a Senate committee his two sons were associated with. Mob boss Sam Giancana was killed 40 years ago in his west suburban home and who did it is far more of a puzzle than why. His various rackets, especially the lottery pay system, brought in a lot of money for the Outfit. Thus, when one of the top bosses, Tony Accardo, retired from the Outfit in 1957, Giancana took his place as the new boss. According to 'Double Cross', the biography of Giancana written by his brother Chuck and nephew Sam, the paterfamilias of one of the 20 th century's most famous political dynasties was the Cosa Nostra-approved boss of Boston's illicit liquor network during Prohibition, a protg of mafioso Frank Costello. Similarly, he did not share the profits he earned from his casinos in Iran and Central America. 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