The Outfit
by Gus Russo
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Description
The never-before-told story of the great Chicago crime family called The Outfit. It is a common misperception that all the true-life organized crime stories have been written. Yet perhaps the most compelling gangster tale is one that has been, until now, too well-hidden. This is the story of the Outfit: the secretive organized crime cartel that began its reign in prohibition-era Chicago before becoming the real puppet master of Hollywood, Las Vegas, and Washington D.C. The Outfit recounts show more the adventures and exploits of its bosses, Tony 'Joe Batters' Accardo (the real Godfather), Murray 'The Camel' or 'Curly' Humphreys (one of the greatest political fixers and union organizers this country has ever known), Paul 'The Waiter' Ricca, and Johnny Rosselli (the liaison between the shadowy world and the outside world). Their invisibility was their strength, and what kept their leader from ever spending a single night in jail. The Outfit bosses were the epitome of style and grace, moving effortlessly among national political figures and Hollywood studio heads-until their world started to crumble in the 1970s. With extensive research including recently released FBI files, the Chicago Crime files of entertainer Steve Allen, first-ever access to the voluminous working papers of the Kefauver Committee, original interviews with the members of the Fourth Estate who pursued the Outfit for forty years, and exclusive access to the journals of Humphrey's widow, veteran journalist Gus Russo uncovers sixty years of corruption and influence, and examines the shadow history of the United States. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
A detailed history of the birth of organized crime in the 'Second City'. Filled with fascinating (if repellent) characters, Russo captures the pragmatic mentality of the upper echelons of crime. The Outfit (and its successors) still have quite a bit of influence today, and readers wanting to find out how mobs truly work could do worse than starting here.
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Author Information
8+ Works 526 Members
Common Knowledge
- Canonical DDC/MDS
- 364.1060977311
- Canonical LCC
- HV6452.I32
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, History, General Nonfiction, Politics and Government
- DDC/MDS
- 364.1060977311 — Society, Government, and Culture Social problems and social services Crime Criminal offenses Organized Crime Standard subdivisions History, geographic treatment, biography
- LCC
- HV6452 .I32 — Social sciences Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology Crimes and offenses
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 267
- Popularity
- 120,167
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (4.10)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 7
- ASINs
- 3
