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Al Capone
"He stood five feet ten and a half, and weighed about two hundred pounds, with a powerful chest and hands as big as a grizzly's" (pg.4, Eig) is how the famous mob boss of Chicago is first described at twenty one years old. Many people have heard of Al Capone and have a good general basis of what he did but no one knows how he came to power, the detailing of how he runs his organizations, and so on. Alfonso Capone was hired by Johnny Torrio in 1920. As a side job he owned a business as a decorator in the Levee District. John Torrio organized the assassination of Jim Colosimo, the city's top crime boss. With Jim Colosimo out of the way, John Torrio moved to the top with Capone as his second in command. By opening more businesses and bribing the city council and other politicians, Capone and Torrio gained control of the city. After an assassination that nearly killed him, Torrio decided he no longer wanted to run any gang related organizations in Chicago, so he left Al Capone in charge, and thus, making Al Capone the head of all organized crime in Chicago, (Colbert, 360-363)
Capone was a man who believed in the American system. He thought of it to be the greatest opportunity any citizen of America could get. He states his personal opinion of the American system, "call it Americanism, call it Capitalism, call it what you would like, gives to each and every one of us a great opportunity if we only seize it with both hands and make the most of it," (Colbert, 363).
Capone was a man who never picked a particular political party. During the time he was with Torrio, he would do business with both the democratic and republican party, but never chose a particular one to vote for,(Eig).
Capone had to keep an eye on all other opposing gangs to make sure he would stay in power. He would have the assassinations of many mob bosses, leaders, and important members in them to keep his throne. Capone had many tactics for how he would go about dealing with other gang organizations. He would go as light-hearted as to make peace treaties with other organizations, but only if he knew he had the upper hand against them, to something as pure slaughtering of many opposing members such as the St. Valentines day massacre. Capone always made sure he would have respect shown towards him at all times. Those that lightened up on this would be silenced, no matter the person. Members from his organization, civilians, and members from other gangs would feel his wrath if they dared questioned or opposed him. Because he was so strict on family togetherness and the laws of La Costra Nostra being upheld at all times, made him a very family loving man. He would always show respect to others who were good family figures and role models. He would show both kind and tough love when needed. Al Capone would also be generous in certain fundraisings. He would host weddings, dinner parties, and even opened up a soup kitchen for the homeless,(Eig).
Al Capone would always make sure that he was seen as the innocent in every situation and that he would do nothing to upset the authorities or the American public, but one thing he did not make sure of was his taxes. In 1931 he was arrested for income tax evasion and lost all power that he worked for in Chicago,(Eig 318).
Alfonso Capone was a man of high respect, lethal tendencies, and a personality that was new to all that met him.
Capone was a man who believed in the American system. He thought of it to be the greatest opportunity any citizen of America could get. He states his personal opinion of the American system, "call it Americanism, call it Capitalism, call it what you would like, gives to each and every one of us a great opportunity if we only seize it with both hands and make the most of it," (Colbert, 363).
Capone was a man who never picked a particular political party. During the time he was with Torrio, he would do business with both the democratic and republican party, but never chose a particular one to vote for,(Eig).
Capone had to keep an eye on all other opposing gangs to make sure he would stay in power. He would have the assassinations of many mob bosses, leaders, and important members in them to keep his throne. Capone had many tactics for how he would go about dealing with other gang organizations. He would go as light-hearted as to make peace treaties with other organizations, but only if he knew he had the upper hand against them, to something as pure slaughtering of many opposing members such as the St. Valentines day massacre. Capone always made sure he would have respect shown towards him at all times. Those that lightened up on this would be silenced, no matter the person. Members from his organization, civilians, and members from other gangs would feel his wrath if they dared questioned or opposed him. Because he was so strict on family togetherness and the laws of La Costra Nostra being upheld at all times, made him a very family loving man. He would always show respect to others who were good family figures and role models. He would show both kind and tough love when needed. Al Capone would also be generous in certain fundraisings. He would host weddings, dinner parties, and even opened up a soup kitchen for the homeless,(Eig).
Al Capone would always make sure that he was seen as the innocent in every situation and that he would do nothing to upset the authorities or the American public, but one thing he did not make sure of was his taxes. In 1931 he was arrested for income tax evasion and lost all power that he worked for in Chicago,(Eig 318).
Alfonso Capone was a man of high respect, lethal tendencies, and a personality that was new to all that met him.
Sources
- Eig, Jonathan. Get Capone: The secret plot captured America's most wanted gangster. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2010.
- Colbert, David. Eyewitnesses to America 500 years of American history in the word of those who saw it happen. New York: Vintage Books, 1998.
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