As far as people know, he's a businessman. Plenty of businessmen run for office. He was a war hero so people would vote for him. Being a senator would help him become legitimate
shareThe Mafia (or, as the newspapers in the movie describe it: 'The Syndicate) was an open secret in the U.S., just as it was in Sicily. Vito was known as a Syndicate boss, so every voter would assume that all of his sons were also involved. The voters would act like Bonasera, the undertaker: they would not want to be associated with the Mafia. Even if Michael could have garnered almost all of the Italian-American vote, that wouldn't have been enough to make him a senator or Governor. He would always have the taint of his family's corruption.
- Lord, have mercy on a country boy
I'd vote for him over Donald Trump.
Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Pantera, and My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic fan
I'll vote for him over Hillary ( Emails ) Clinton anyday.
shareNope. As soon as he pulled the trigger on Sollozzo and McCluskey, he was in a different world. Even if he was never found guilty in a court of law, there were too many people that 'knew' he was the one who killed them, just as all the people in Vito's neighbourhood 'knew' he had killed Fanucci, despite no-one having witnessed it.
shareJust like many of us "knew" that Ted Kennedy killed a woman on a bridge back in '69, but did that hinder his senatorial career?
"Senator ... we're both a part of the same hypocrisy."
Michael Corleone, Godfather II
The difference there is that Ted Kennedy was part of the political establishment, younger brother of a (very popular) former president and had loads of friends in high places who would vouch for him and protect him, no matter what awful *beep* went on behind closed doors.
Michael was an outsider, no friends of his own in politics (his fathers connections would only get him so far) he was the son of a known Mafia boss, he had an 'un-American' sounding surname. I can't imagine the disdain Senator Geary showed for him was an isolated opinion, this was in the 50s when it was a lot more acceptable in society to racially disparage people. He wouldn't have stood a chance, even if he never became involved in the family business.
Hmm ... I have to admit hat you may have a point. Now that I think about it, being Italian is what hindered Mario Cumo from running fro president, and he considered running during the 80s, a time when racial tolerance had "improved"
shareI suppose a GF parallel to that scenario would be that if Michael had kept his nose clean after the Sollozzo hit and became a respected, legitimate businessman in his own right, Anthony might have been in more of a position to embrace a more powerful position in American Government. Maybe not President, like Mr. Cumo, but maybe Senator or Governor.
The problem that he might have had would be if there was anyone left from the other families (assuming Sonny lived to be the Don) that had a grudge against Michael for the Sollozzo hit. It's all speculation of course, but I feel he would have had to take the same precautions as the rest of the family re - protection / bodyguards as the rest of his family......
Chappaquiddick may have prevented Ted Kennedy from having a real chance at the Presidency although it did not stop him being a Senator.
On the subject of Michael, ethnic prejudices and unproved suspicions would have been enough to prevent a significant political career. I think being a decorated war hero might have offset the family connection before he offed Sollozzo and McCluskey, so he might have had a small chance at a political career at that point, but definitely not after he saw their brains.
"Chicken soup - with a *beep* straw."
Not a chance in hell. At the time, a politician with an Italian name and no connection to crime at all was looked on askance. One who was actually a mob boss and a murderer?
It's not like no one knew he - and his family - were mobsters. What do you think those guys were doing writing down license numbers in the very beginning of the movie? Or what those Senate hearings were about in Godfather II? Everyone knew he was a criminal, even if they couldn't prove it.
Even if he hadn't been drawn into the mob (i.e. if the main elements of the movie's story hadn't happened), he wouldn't have had a shot at a political career, simply because of his association with Vito and Sonny. As Vito said, it was too soon.
In 2016 ... maybe. Of course he'd be over 90 years old, so that would be a problem.
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I think because he was more morals than a politician.
I think because he had more morals than a politician.
shareIf he was not involved in the family business and cooperated with authorities, he would be OK. Nobody can control who their parents are.
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