The Godfather

 “The Godfather” By Mario Puzo
 
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pondered at its proper time. 
Again he prospered. But, more important, he acquired knowledge and contacts and 
experience. And he piled up good deeds as a banker piles up securities. For in the 
following years it became clear that Vito Corleone was not only a man of talent but, in 
his way, a genius. 
He made himself the protector of the Italian families who set themselves up as small 
speakeasies in their homes, selling whiskey at fifteen cents a glass to bachelor laborers. 
He became godfather t Mrs. Colombo’s youngest son when the lad made his 
confirmation and gave a handsome present of a twenty-dollar gold piece. Meanwhile, 
since it was inevitable that some of his trucks be stopped by the police, Genco 
Abbandando hired a fine lawyer with many contacts in the Police Department and the 
judiciary. A system of payoffs was set up and soon the Corleone organization had a 
sizable “sheet,” the list of officials entitled to a monthly sum. When the lawyer tried to 
keep this list down, apologizing for the expense, Vito Corleone reassured him. “No; no,” 
he said. “Get everyone on it even if they can’t help us right now. I believe in friendship 
and I am willing to show my friendship first.” 
As time went by the Corleone empire became larger, more trucks were added, the 
“sheet” grew longer. Also the men working directly for Tessio and Clemenza grew in 
number. The whole thing was becoming unwieldy. Finally Vito Corleone worked out a 
system of organization. He gave Clemenza and Tessio each the title of Caporegime, or 
captain, and the men who worked beneath them the rank of soldier. He named Genco 
Abbandando his counselor, or Consigliere. He put layers of insulation between himself 
and any operational act. When he gave an order it was to Genco or to one of the 
caporegimes alone. Rarely did he have a witness to any order he gave any particular 
one of them. Then he split Tessio’s group and made it responsible for Brooklyn. He also 
split Tessio off from Clemenza and made it clear over the years that he did not want the 
two men to associate even socially except when absolutely necessary. He explained 
this to the more intelligent Tessio, who caught his drift immediately, though Vito 
explained it as a security measure against the law. Tessio understood that Vito did not 
want his two caporegimes to have any opportunity to conspire against him and he also 
understood there was no ill will involved, merely a tactical precaution. In return Vito gave 
Tessio a free hand in Brooklyn while he kept Clemenza’s Bronx life very much under his 
thumb. Clemenza was the braver, more reckless, the crueler man despite his outward 
jollity, and needed a tighter rein. 

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