Conclusion
"Over the years the Outfit has learned that killing people brings too much heat from law enforcement. Today they might not even beat up a businessman who doesn't pay back a debt … Instead, they take a piece of his business, and then, over time, exercise more and more control over the company." |
Spanning from Prohibition to the assassination of Robert Kennedy, the mob and the government have had a fluctuating relationship. The role of the mafia in the White House has varied greatly; it has been viewed as one of the government’s greatest enemies, and also one of its closest allies. Crimes such as the illegal distribution of alcohol in the 20s swiftly transformed into more serious offenses. With the onset of World War II, a majority of the United State’s financial resources were put into foreign affairs, providing leeway for mob activity to flourish. As the Kennedy family began to control American government, their close ties with the mafia (through Joseph Kennedy) introduced a new relationship between the two. JFK enlisted mob bosses Sam Giancana and Jimmy Hoffa in the careful planning of the assassination of Fidel Castro. Although the plan was not enacted, a controversial affiliation was formed between the government and the mafia. After attempts from Attorney General Robert Kennedy to disband American organized crime, head mobsters carefully orchestrated the end of the Kennedy family’s dominance in American politics. The assassination of John F. Kennedy marked the official end of the role of the mafia in the government. Although Robert Kennedy continued to strive for an end to organized crime in America, he was quickly sought after and assassinated just five years after his brother. Today, the mob focuses on financial winnings rather than association with the government as in the past.