Big Paul Castellano

Beginning in the1970s the organization had been under siege on all sides. Its leaders falling before the onslaught of the law. Its street soldiers running for cover, its discipline crumbling, its code of silence, honor, and respect disintegrating. It seemed like the decline would be halted. No new leaders were rising from the ranks; increasingly, the men at the top were simple thugs-killers and drug dealers who focused their energies solely on raking in a pile of money before the other ethnic gangs got to it. Organization and planning seemed to be things of the past.

To make matters worse by 1976 Carlo Gambino was dead and the question as to whom should assume leadership of the largest of the New York Families was viewed as a turning point in the organization's possibility to survive. Carlo had been a lieutenant to Albert Anastasia and had learned his lessons well as evidenced by his survival through years of power struggles within and outside of his Family. The Family was also viewed as the largest and most powerful in the United States allowing the head of this Family to sit at the head of the Commission's meeting table. The leader of the Commission would have nation-wide interests and an opportunity to form associations with any or all of the 24 Family throughout the country.

Excellent leadership would be required since the RICO statute had been making a large dent in mob enterprises as well as potential leadership and expansion. This threat to Family security caused many members of the organization to break with the codes of honor and silence and provide testimony to save their own skins. Many organization members believed that a return to a stable type of leadership was needed that placed emphasis on the old binds of honor, discipline, organization, and total loyalty. It appeared that a member of the old guard was needed to return the Family to its former position of power. The second in command since the ascension Don Carlo to power had been "Neil" Dellacroce, a man who had worked his way up through the ranks and had maintained his connections with the street soldiers. Dellacroce was familiar with street crime and had formed bonds with many of the up and coming criminals who hoped one day to acquire admittance into the organization as a full-fledged member. At the time of Don Carlo's death Dellacroce was in prison on a charge of income tax evasion. He was still, however, the second in command and it was assumed that he would assume the position of power held by Don Carlo. Many young street toughs had hitched their wagons on to Dellacroce and expected to rise up through the ranks through his rise to power. Yet, on his death bed Don Carlo, who appeared to trust no one ( maybe that's why he lived to 74 and died in bed ) chose not Dellacroce, but his nephew Paul Castellano.

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