Killing the Mob Summary

What happens when outlaw romanticism intertwines with crime, and how does organized crime infiltrate every corner of society, from World War II strategies to Hollywood?

1. The Great Depression made criminals into unlikely folk heroes.

During the Great Depression, with banks seen as merciless villains, criminals like Bonnie and Clyde captured the public’s imagination. They became symbols of resistance against institutions that had seemingly abandoned the common man. Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were originally ordinary people, living lives of struggle during an unforgiving time. Their embrace of criminal activities like holding up gas stations and robbing banks reflected many Americans' anger toward the establishment.

The couple’s physical conditions might have made them seem unimposing. Clyde walked with a limp after amputating his toes in prison, and Bonnie’s legs were severely injured in a car accident. Yet their love and outlaw lifestyle added to their mystique. Photos of Bonnie, armed with a sawn-off shotgun, and Clyde, looking formidable but charming, branded them in the media as rebellious romantics rather than murderers.

Their crime spree, however, was far from harmless. Bonnie and Clyde were responsible for 13 deaths, compelling J. Edgar Hoover’s Bureau of Investigation to track and ambush them in 1934. The couple’s eventual death in a hail of gunfire marked not only the end of their spree but also underscored how crime could be glamorized despite its tragic cost.

Examples

• Photos of Bonnie and Clyde circulated widely, painting them as young rebels in love.
• Public resentment toward banks during the Great Depression amplified their legend.
• Their story ended in a violent shootout, shocking fans who had romanticized them.

2. John Dillinger became America’s first public enemy number one.

J. Edgar Hoover needed to put a face to the fight against crime, and John Dillinger fit the bill. Despite his reputation as a violent gangster and murderer, Dillinger’s charisma allowed him to charm people he met. The media sensationalized his actions, which included daring heists and prison escapes, elevating his infamy further.

The title of public enemy number one turned Dillinger into a target. After a failed FBI ambush in Wisconsin due to its agents' lack of qualifications—lawyers and accountants, not police officers—Hoover adapted his approach. Dillinger soon found himself cornered in a Chicago theater and shot just ten minutes after the movie he was watching had ended.

Even Dillinger’s efforts to disguise himself with plastic surgery couldn’t save him. His death was a victory for Hoover but also highlighted the public’s fascination with criminals who defied authority.

Examples

• Dillinger escaped from an Indiana jail and stole $50,000 in South Dakota soon after.
• The FBI's initial failure to catch Dillinger exposed the inexperience of its field agents.
• He was eventually killed outside a Chicago cinema, sealing his place in history.

3. The Mafia allied with the Allies during World War II.

The surprising cooperation between the Mafia and the Allies during World War II gives insight into how organized crime infiltrated politics and war. The Mafia’s animosity toward Fascism stemmed from Mussolini’s crackdown on their operations in Sicily during the 1920s, driving many mobsters to America.

When the FBI needed help protecting New York’s harbor from potential Nazi sabotage, its agents were stymied. Mafia-controlled longshoremen abided by codes of silence. In desperation, Hoover’s team turned to imprisoned mob boss Lucky Luciano, negotiating his assistance in exchange for his rumored freedom.

Luciano deployed his criminal network to gather intelligence and secure cooperation in Sicily. The Mafia’s help enabled the Allies to capture the island and strengthened the growing shadow of organized crime’s reach.

Examples

• The Mafia retaliated against Mussolini’s suppression by fleeing to the U.S.
• Luciano ensured there were no Nazi sabotage incidents at the harbor.
• His influence extended to supporting the Allied invasion in Sicily.

4. The drug trade reshaped the mafia’s operations.

Prohibition had once fueled the Mafia’s rise, but by 1946, the repeal of alcohol restrictions forced the mob to explore new revenue streams. The bosses of Cosa Nostra convened in Havana under Lucky Luciano’s leadership to discuss entering the heroin market, knowing the accompanying risks.

Luciano opposed drug trafficking, fearing it would tarnish his plans to return to the U.S. Nonetheless, the agreement passed, and heroin soon flooded American streets, escalating Mafia profits but inviting intense scrutiny from the Federal Bureau of Narcotics.

Luciano’s connections to the drug trade led to his deportation to Italy, ending his reign in U.S. organized crime and revealing how greed continued to expand the mob’s ambitions.

Examples

• The Havana conference symbolized the Mafia’s corporatized approach to decisions.
• Heroin smuggling began after the meeting, significantly increasing its revenue.
• Luciano’s deportation signaled growing federal awareness of Mafia activities.

5. Public hearings exposed organized crime to the masses.

The 1950s Kefauver Senate Committee televised America’s first deep dive into the Mafia, giving ordinary citizens a front-row seat to its criminal empire. Estes Kefauver subpoenaed hundreds of gangsters and their victims, creating a media spectacle that captivated millions.

Though J. Edgar Hoover claimed the Mafia didn't exist, evidence and testimony proved otherwise. For the first time, viewers saw wealthy mobsters defending themselves and victims recounting horrifying stories. Letters flooded the Senate, demanding the hearings continue.

Despite these revelations, Hoover refused to acknowledge evidence that could implicate the Mafia as an organized body, fueling speculation that he might have been blackmailed himself.

Examples

• The hearings were televised and watched by countless Americans nationwide.
• Mobsters became infamous not only for crimes but their stylish appearances.
• Hoover’s denial created theories of him being compromised by Mafia tactics.

6. A local cop forced Hoover to confront the Mafia.

Sergeant Edgar Croswell’s diligence changed the narrative of the fight against the Mafia. After discovering patterns around Joseph Barbara’s lavish mansion in upstate New York, he suspected a Mafia summit was underway.

Croswell led a blockade around Barbara’s home during the gathering. Mobsters, unprepared for detection, scattered when alerted, with many caught nearby. This sting detained 60 gangsters and provided undeniable proof of the Mafia’s existence.

The media outcry following this raid forced Hoover to admit organized crime was real, cementing Croswell’s importance despite his small-town role.

Examples

• Croswell identified Joseph Barbara’s mansion as a hub for Mafia activity.
• His raid on the estate unearthed crucial evidence about the Mafia’s structure.
• The arrests made headlines and eliminated Hoover’s ability to deny the Mafia.

7. Hollywood and the mob worked together.

In the 1960s, racial prejudice prevented Jewish film producers from securing bank loans. Turning to the Mafia for funding became a viable option, and in return, mobsters integrated themselves into Hollywood’s creative and labor sectors.

The Mafia used its influence to ensure film portrayals aligned favorably with its image. When producers of The Untouchables offended the organization, it pressured cast decisions and nearly resorted to violence to enforce its narrative.

The relationship between Hollywood and the mob exemplifies how deeply organized crime infiltrated legitimate industries, shaping media for generations.

Examples

• Jewish producers depended on Mafia loans due to denied bank credit.
• Labor unions under mob control further cemented their hold on production.
• The Mafia dictated on-screen portrayals, as in the case of The Untouchables.

8. The romanticization of crime shaped public perception.

Outlaws like Bonnie and Clyde or Dillinger became romantic icons because of narratives spun by Hollywood and media outlets. Their exploits captured a blend of fear, admiration, and rebellion, entertaining the masses even as they harmed society.

With cinema and TV, these myths grew further. Mob-affiliated unions, financial involvement, and imposed "good gangster" portrayals created deeply compelling stories, reinforcing their criminal underpinnings.

America’s collective cultural imagination remains fascinated by the duality of danger and charm in organized crime due to this imagery.

Examples

• Photographs turned robbers like Bonnie and Clyde into antiauthority symbols.
• Films like Scarface glamorized gang life while showing its excess.
• Television shows like I Love Lucy faced pressure to mythologize mob figures.

9. Organized crime became an invisible third party in the economy.

From controlling New York docks during World War II to extending its reach into global industries, the Mafia framed itself as an untouchable business entity. Unlike fleeting criminal individuals, an organized Mafia shaped legitimate institutions from within.

This blend of influence transformed isolated crimes into multilayered power plays, making enforcement incredibly difficult. Governments had to reckon with the Mafia’s capacity to overshadow or partner discretely with major systems.

Each step toward this control revealed the Mafia’s ability to adapt and entrench itself in vulnerabilities exploited by greed or circumstance.

Examples

• The docks in New York symbolized control over working-class environments.
• Luciano’s influence shaped international Mafia strategy on economic fronts.
• Global expansion affected industries like textiles, sugar, and even politics.

Takeaways

1. Stay informed about how popular narratives may distort the reality of serious issues; question what’s portrayed as glamorous or heroic.
2. Be wary of how organized systems—whether crime or otherwise—embed themselves within cultural and economic structures.
3. Recognize the impact historical events have on present industries and policies; moments from organized crime’s history still shape perceptions today.