The Havana Conference Part 2

On December 22, 1946, The Havana Conference kicked off. The conference had attendees from New York City, New Jersey, Buffalo, Chicago, New Orleans and Florida. The largest delegation of bosses was from the New York-New Jersey area. Several major bosses from the Jewish Syndicate were also present to discuss joint La Cosa Nostra-Jewish Syndicate business. The Jewish delegates had no voting power on Cosa Nostra rules or policies, but there input was much welcomed on any joint business ventures, such as the Flamingo Hotel.

The Havana Conference was opened by Luciano with the topic of “Capo di tutti Capi” which translates into “Boss of all Bosses” and was a position that would greatly affect his authority within the American Mafia. The last person to officially hold this title was Salvatore Maranzano who was murdered in early September 1931. In the last quarter of 1931 Luciano abolished the title of “Capo di tutti Capi” and replaced it with the Commission, a board of directors who would oversee criminal activities of the mafia, control rules and set policies. Luciano and the commission turned La Cosa Nostra into the most powerful criminal organization in the United States.

Luciano could have easily named himself “Capo di tutti Capi” after Maranzano’s death, but he decided to abolish the position and run things from behind the scene with the help of the commission. He was content with this arrangement until Vito Genovese came back from exile in Italy. Genovese was previously the acting boss of the Luciano family, while Luciano was in prison, but he had to run off to Italy to avoid a murder charge. In his absence Frank Costello became the acting boss of the family and when Genovese came back Costello was still the acting boss and Genovese was left to be just a capo regime, a title he was not satisfied with. Genovese had made it clear that he wanted to take control of the Luciano family. As a result of Genovese’s hunger for power, tension started to fester between Costello and Genovese factions. Luciano, who had no intention of retiring and stepping down as boss of the Luciano family, knew he had to do something about Genovese. Not only was Genovese acting like a nuisance and creating tension in the Luciano family, he was also becoming a continuing threat with support from other bosses to Luciano’s power, authority and influence within the American mafia. Therefore, Luciano decided to resurrect the position of “Capo di tutti Capi” and crown himself the “Boss of all Bosses”. Luciano hoped the other bosses would support him, either by officially affirming the title and accepting him as the “Capo di tutti Capi” or at least by acknowledging that he was still “First Amongst Equals”.

Luciano, after first thanking the delegates for the envelopes of cash, presented the motion for him to be crowned “Capo di Tutti Capi” and retain his position as the top boss in La Cosa Nostra. Albert “The Mad Hatter” Anastasia, a Luciano ally then seconded the motion. He, Anastasia stood up and while glaring over at Genovese stated “For me, you are the Big Boss, whether you like it or not. That’s the way I look at it, and I would like to hear from anybody who don’t feel the same way.” After Anastasia’s statement there was silence in the room. Albert Anastasia’s vote for Luciano was a result of Anastasia being threatened by Genovese, which was caused by Genovese’s attempts to muscle in on Anastasia’s waterfront rackets in New York. This move solidified Luciano’s position at the top of the Mafia food chain and also quashed Genovese’s ambitions for the time being. Adding to Genovese’s woes, Luciano made Genovese and Anastasia sort out their outstanding issues and shake hands in front of the other bosses, thus further humiliating Genovese. This gesture was for retaining peace in New York City and avoiding another war like the Castellammarese War.

Freedom and Deportation

In 1942, during World War II, the American government, particularly the Office of Naval Intelligence believed that Luciano could be helpful in the war effort through his strong connections in the Sicilian and Italian mafia. The U.S Navy at the time  was getting increasingly frustrated by unstable labor conditions and sabotage on the New York waterfront, so when the luxury liner Normandie blew up in New York harbor, the navy decided to approach Luciano. Luciano considered himself to be loyal American, who was devoted to Sicily, the Mafia and the United States alike, so when the American government offered him a deal which would free him from prison and see him deported to Rome for his aid in the war effort, he gladly took it.

On 12 May 1942, Luciano was moved to Great Meadow Prison, a far more pleasant penitentiary, as a show of good faith by the American government in order for him to help the U.S Naval Intelligence by influencing the mafia in Sicily.

Luciano’s help was needed in providing Mafia assistance during Operation Avalanche, by helping countering possible Axis infiltration on U.S. Waterfronts and his connections in Italy and Sicily were tapped to provide intelligence and ensure an easy passage for U.S. forces involved in the Italian Campaign. Luciano also controlled the longshoreman’s union so he arranged through Albert Anastasia, who controlled the docks that no dockworkers strikes would arise. Luciano’s Mafia connections were also reportedly used to root out communist influence in labor groups and local governments, during and after the war.

In 1946, as a reward for his wartime cooperation, Luciano was paroled and deported to Rome. Luciano was deeply hurt for having to leave New York. He said that he was native to New York City and therefore should not be subject to deportation. Ironically it was Governor Dewey, who originally prosecuted Luciano, that signed off on Luciano’s release and deportation.