A little obfuscation in that narrative. Always has been. There for a reason - so you don't see the 💰.
Here is the truth: Lansky was the more dangerous of the 2. And the brains.
(I'll get to their side-kicks, Bugsy & Capone, in a sec)
Want to know how La Cosa Nostra really began?
Here is the truth: Lansky was the more dangerous of the 2. And the brains.
(I'll get to their side-kicks, Bugsy & Capone, in a sec)
Want to know how La Cosa Nostra really began?
Of course you do.
It began with a pre-lude, on October 24, 1918 – when 16-yr-old Meyer Lansky was walking home from work at a tool & dye shop - tools in hand.
Meyer - born Maier Suchowljansky in Grodno, Russia (once part of Poland) was good with his hands. GREAT w/ machines...
It began with a pre-lude, on October 24, 1918 – when 16-yr-old Meyer Lansky was walking home from work at a tool & dye shop - tools in hand.
Meyer - born Maier Suchowljansky in Grodno, Russia (once part of Poland) was good with his hands. GREAT w/ machines...
... and the tools that fixed them. A natural.
So, he has his tools - he's walking home thru the lower East Side - and he hears a woman scream from inside a deserted house. Then, a man yell in Italian. Then more screams.
"Perhaps he was bored, perhaps just curious..."
So, he has his tools - he's walking home thru the lower East Side - and he hears a woman scream from inside a deserted house. Then, a man yell in Italian. Then more screams.
"Perhaps he was bored, perhaps just curious..."
16-yr-old Meyer Lansky walked thru the door & onto quite the scene. A teenage Benjamin Siegel lying on the floor - pants at his ankles - scared out of his mind.
A woman next 2 him - the source of the screams, who is now laughing, "I didn't mean anything. He was so cute."
And...
A woman next 2 him - the source of the screams, who is now laughing, "I didn't mean anything. He was so cute."
And...
The young woman's husband, & the man she's speaking to: 21-yr-old Salvatore Lucania. Later to be known as Lucky Luciano.
He kicks his wife.
Siegel pulls up his pants and finds a couch.
What does Lansky do?
He opens his toolbox. Grabs a crowbar. And charges Luciano.
He kicks his wife.
Siegel pulls up his pants and finds a couch.
What does Lansky do?
He opens his toolbox. Grabs a crowbar. And charges Luciano.
That's when the cops arrived. Sent the wife to the hospital, Ben Siegel home -
And arrested Luciano & Lansky.
Because of the crowbar, Lansky was charged with assault.
At Meyer's hearing 3 weeks later, Ben Siegel testified on his behalf.
And a thoroughly amused Judge Mancuso...
And arrested Luciano & Lansky.
Because of the crowbar, Lansky was charged with assault.
At Meyer's hearing 3 weeks later, Ben Siegel testified on his behalf.
And a thoroughly amused Judge Mancuso...
Fines Meyer $2 & says something that will live on in infamy:
"You boys have bugs in your heads. Go & sin no more."
Meyer & Ben were then known in the neighborhood as "The Two Bugs."
The nickname didn't last long with Meyer, but it stuck hard with Ben.
"Bugsy" Siegel was born.
"You boys have bugs in your heads. Go & sin no more."
Meyer & Ben were then known in the neighborhood as "The Two Bugs."
The nickname didn't last long with Meyer, but it stuck hard with Ben.
"Bugsy" Siegel was born.
Lots of stuff was happening with the old Camorra capos during this time (men like Masseria that Luciano called the "Mustache Petes").
It was all very localized, but they had a grip. Still, they couldn't quite see the promise that prohibition could bring.
Luciano saw it...
It was all very localized, but they had a grip. Still, they couldn't quite see the promise that prohibition could bring.
Luciano saw it...
Luciano was "New World" entrepreneurial. Young. Ambitions. Ruthless.
I'm not trying to glamorize him. It is what it is.
But he needed a brain. He was smart enough to know he wasn't smart enough to realize his vision without one. He didn't even know what his vision really was...
I'm not trying to glamorize him. It is what it is.
But he needed a brain. He was smart enough to know he wasn't smart enough to realize his vision without one. He didn't even know what his vision really was...
But he'd been keeping his eye on Lansky. He watched him for the 2 years since the kid burst into his home and came at him with a crow bar.
Lansky was prone to those fights. To trouble. Little guy, big brain, big balls stuff.
So Luciano waits 4 Meyer outside a courthouse...
Lansky was prone to those fights. To trouble. Little guy, big brain, big balls stuff.
So Luciano waits 4 Meyer outside a courthouse...
Tells Meyer not to worry about the past. And invites him over for a hours-long convo.
Those two young men sat down and plotted out how to take over the distribution routes for what would become the boot-legging era of prohibition.
They identified who their crews would be...
Those two young men sat down and plotted out how to take over the distribution routes for what would become the boot-legging era of prohibition.
They identified who their crews would be...
And Luciano's plan was to just start killing the Mustache Petes, and take over their business.
That's when Meyer dropped the game-changer on the table: the automobile.
Meyer - the guy who could build & fix any machine with his hands - saw the real opportunity. The vision.
That's when Meyer dropped the game-changer on the table: the automobile.
Meyer - the guy who could build & fix any machine with his hands - saw the real opportunity. The vision.
Here's was Meyer's plan - and it was f*cking brilliant...
Luciano convinced the old world Camorras to let them drive liquor from Canada to key destinations where familia were imbedded, like NYC & Chicago.
He convinced them to let his & Meyer's crews take over running the ports..
Luciano convinced the old world Camorras to let them drive liquor from Canada to key destinations where familia were imbedded, like NYC & Chicago.
He convinced them to let his & Meyer's crews take over running the ports..
- where liquor from overseas was being shipped in.
They were the "operations" crew. And they'd even take care of troublesome players if need be (this is what "Murder Inc." was, btw. Just a service on the overall menu).
Why was this so f*cking brilliant? B/c the destinations...
They were the "operations" crew. And they'd even take care of troublesome players if need be (this is what "Murder Inc." was, btw. Just a service on the overall menu).
Why was this so f*cking brilliant? B/c the destinations...
- the familia partners - began to trust Meyer-Luciano over the Mustache Petes.
Meyer helped them set up their carpet rooms (early "casinos" - gambling & entertainment around the liquor). He showed them how to run their books. He had a great mentor for this, Arnold Rothstein.
Meyer helped them set up their carpet rooms (early "casinos" - gambling & entertainment around the liquor). He showed them how to run their books. He had a great mentor for this, Arnold Rothstein.
And Luciano ran the muscle - skimming his men from the Mustache Petes along the way. Building "loyalty."
Not to say Lansky wasn't a f*cking murderous sociopath. There's a story where he sent poisoned stew to one of his own crew - just to f*ck with his head...
Not to say Lansky wasn't a f*cking murderous sociopath. There's a story where he sent poisoned stew to one of his own crew - just to f*ck with his head...
I'm sure the guy would have eaten at McDonald's after that too, if it were around. 😏
Anyway, when they had a lock on the distribution partners & the routes & the ports... the real war began.
Luciano took out the old capos.
americanmafiahistory.com/joe-masseria/
Anyway, when they had a lock on the distribution partners & the routes & the ports... the real war began.
Luciano took out the old capos.
americanmafiahistory.com/joe-masseria/
Luciano Italian crew became "family" heads in La Cosa Nostra - with Luciano himself securing the most power as "Genovese" boss.
Meyer's boys broke/secured new territories. Expansion. Casinos - Vegas - Florida - Caribbean.
THIS SHIT GOT ORGANIZED.
Meyer's boys broke/secured new territories. Expansion. Casinos - Vegas - Florida - Caribbean.
THIS SHIT GOT ORGANIZED.
Lansky was Chairman of the Board. Literally.
He established HQ in Chicago (heart of distribution routes). This was THE OUTFIT - where the money flowed in & out. Lansky was always on top of the money.
And then Luciano's hand at HQ, his cousin Al Capone, got popped....
He established HQ in Chicago (heart of distribution routes). This was THE OUTFIT - where the money flowed in & out. Lansky was always on top of the money.
And then Luciano's hand at HQ, his cousin Al Capone, got popped....
Right in the mob's heart.
Tax evasion. The "feds" shifted focus from the murders, drugs, gambling & prostitution - and went after the money.
Oops.
It was... unexpected.
That's when Lansky, Chairman of the Board, came up with the next brilliant plan. ⬇️
Tax evasion. The "feds" shifted focus from the murders, drugs, gambling & prostitution - and went after the money.
Oops.
It was... unexpected.
That's when Lansky, Chairman of the Board, came up with the next brilliant plan. ⬇️
https://x.com/LincolnsBible/status/956221993782796289
Lansky created the next framework - the one that allowed the mob to hide, share, & launder all that money.
I am skimming over A LOT. But, I hope you're seeing the underlying plot now. Because this is the origin.
And Lansky's role has always been under-played...
I am skimming over A LOT. But, I hope you're seeing the underlying plot now. Because this is the origin.
And Lansky's role has always been under-played...
Which is exactly how he wanted it.
- END -
- END -
CODA. For those of you catching up.
You can read up and down this attached thread, but don't miss the tweet within the tweet within this tweet.
You can read up and down this attached thread, but don't miss the tweet within the tweet within this tweet.
https://x.com/LincolnsBible/status/967288439124107264
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