A President, The Mafia, and a Lost Future (PART 1/2) - Louis Ferrante, Ex-Mafia #319
Feb 10, 2025
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Louis Ferrante, a former member of the Gambino crime family and author, shares his wild journey from organized crime to redemption. He vividly recounts his early days in Queens, detailing his descent into the Mafia and the rise of notorious figures like John Gotti. Ferrante discusses the intricate ties between the Mafia and the Kennedy family, unearthing the shadowy connections involving the CIA and political intrigue. He emphasizes the transformative power of literature during his prison time, reflecting on personal growth and the quest for a better future.
Luis Ferrante shares his journey from petty theft to becoming a major player in the Gambino crime family, reflecting on the allure of organized crime.
The podcast discusses the intricate ties between the mafia and the Kennedy family, emphasizing how these relationships influenced political dynamics during the presidency of JFK.
Ferrante highlights the fallout from the Bay of Pigs invasion, illustrating how it exacerbated tensions between JFK, the CIA, and organized crime, marking a turning point in their interactions.
The conversation reveals how various groups, including the CIA, mafia, and Cuban exiles, converged against JFK, creating a complex web of motives that contributed to the environment surrounding his assassination.
Deep dives
Luis Ferrante's Mafia Background
Luis Ferrante provides an insider's perspective on the Italian mafia in America, having once been deeply involved in it during the late 80s and early 90s. He details his entry into the criminal world, which began with petty theft and escalated into organized crime, where he became a significant player tied to prominent mob figures. Ferrante recounts how he rose through the ranks, eventually answering to high-level mafia bosses, and how this lifestyle ultimately led to his incarceration. His experiences shaped his understanding of the mafia's intricate operations and the gravity of the choices he made.
The Marked Connection With the Kennedy Family
Ferrante elaborates on the mafia's connection with the Kennedy family, exploring how organized crime played a role in political power dynamics. He specifically references the historical context in which Joe Kennedy, patriarch of the Kennedy family, had ties to the mob during Prohibition, which laid the foundation for ongoing relationships. The podcast discusses how these ties shifted public perception and involvement as the Kennedys entered the White House, particularly under Jack Kennedy's presidency. As tensions arose from Kennedy's policies and alleged abandonment of the mob, significant factions began to harbor resentment, leading to severe consequences.
The Bay of Pigs Invasion's Aftermath
The Bay of Pigs invasion serves as a pivotal moment with far-reaching repercussions for Kennedy's administration and mob relations. After the failed invasion attempt in Cuba, Kennedy faced immense criticism and internal conflict about the CIA's mishandling of the operation. The failure to provide necessary air support and funding further damaged the alliance between the government and the Cuban exiles, who felt betrayed. Consequently, resentment grew within the Cuban community, enhancing their motivations to align with the mafia against Kennedy.
The Escalating Tension Between JFK and the CIA
Following the Bay of Pigs debacle, JFK's relationship with the CIA deteriorated rapidly as he wrestled for control and accountability. While the CIA recommended aggressive military action to remove the Soviet missiles placed in Cuba, Kennedy opted for a more diplomatic approach with a naval quarantine. His refusal to commit to a military invasion alienated many within the intelligence community, particularly those who were accustomed to direct tactics. This friction ultimately set the stage for further distrust between the White House and the CIA.
Bobby Kennedy's Crusade Against Organized Crime
Bobby Kennedy's position as Attorney General magnified the conflict between his office and the mafia, leading to punitive actions against organized crime members. While initially a supporter of the mob's assistance in political campaigns, Bobby shifted gears to aggressively pursue mobsters, contributing to escalating tensions. His zealous approach made him increasingly unpopular among the mafia and emboldened their intentions to retaliate. Simultaneously, he faced criticism from within the government for pursuing a path that some viewed as politically reckless.
The Growing Hostility Towards the Kennedy Brothers
As the political landscape shifted, anti-Kennedy sentiments grew not just among the mafia but also within the Cuban exile community. These factions began to view the Kennedy brothers as obstacles to their ambitions, fueling their desires for revenge. The combination of perceived betrayals during the Bay of Pigs and the subsequent crackdown on Cubans further exacerbated hostilities. This enmity coalesced into a potent motivation for conspiracy theories surrounding Kennedy's assassination.
The Convergence of Rogue Elements
The podcast highlights how various rogue groups converged with unified hostility towards JFK, leading to a confluence of interests and motivations for conspiracy. With the CIA, the mafia, and the Cuban exiles all disillusioned with Kennedy's policies, there was fertile ground for calculating schemes against him. Luis Ferrante explores this intersection of criminal and political agendas where organized crime, intelligence agencies, and political motives intertwined. This confluence created a dangerous cocktail of interests that contributed to the chaotic turmoil surrounding Kennedy's presidency.
Shadows of Historical Legacy
Luis Ferrante reflects on the historical legacy of the mafia and its complicated relationships with the U.S. government throughout the years, especially during the Kennedy era. The podcast discusses pivotal moments that illustrate how organized crime operated in the shadows of politics, influencing decisions while often being overlooked by historical narratives. This examination reveals how the mafia utilized its connections and power to manipulate circumstances to its advantage, including events that reshaped modern American history. Such dynamics continue to inform our understanding of the interplay between power, crime, and political decision-making.
What’s still hidden inside the JFK files Trump has promised to release? Since the 1960s historians have been trying to assemble an accurate story that weaves together the shadowy trinity of cuban revolutionaries, secretive three letter agencies, and powerful organized crime families with the fate of JFK. With us for the discussion of what those files will reveal is Louis Ferrante, former member of the Gambino crime family. Check out his books on the history of the Mafia and their involvement with the Kennedy family below.
PART 2 of this interview: https://youtu.be/qvyoZCj3_AY
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SUBSTACK
https://substack.com/@UCqV4_7i9h1_V7hY48eZZSLw@demystifysci(00:00) Go! (00:05:02) Life of Lou Ferrante(00:08:15) The Business of Crime(00:13:21) Life in Prison and Reflection(00:21:24) The Rise of John Gotti(00:23:13) Challenges of Finding Direction in Youth(00:25:06) First Experiences in Crime(00:31:11) Education and Redemption(00:35:25) Reform and Helping Others(00:41:13) Forgiveness and Prison Experiences(00:47:02) Writing from Experience(00:52:20) Revealing Mob Histories(00:56:22) Mob and Government Interactions(00:59:46) Historical Mob Influence(01:01:41) Political Corruption and Mob Infiltration(01:05:11) Hoover vs. The Mob(01:09:28) Bobby Kennedy's Campaign Against the Mob(01:15:55) Frank Sinatra’s Failed Mediation(01:22:15) Hoover's Intelligence and Blackmail Strategy(01:25:58) Murder Plots and Political Tensions(01:27:41) The Bay of Pigs and Three-Front War(01:34:01) The Mob, CIA, and Castro's Survival(01:43:48) CIA's Historical Covert Operations(01:53:04) The CIA and the Kennedy Administration(02:02:12) The Cuban Missile Crisis and Political Pressure(02:07:02) The Complexity of Kennedy's Choices#mafia, #MobHistory, #JFKAssassination, #historylovers, #OrganizedCrime, #TrueCrime, #HistoricalAnalysis, #Mobster, #MobTies, #Underworld, #CrimeHistory, #MafiaStories, #philosophypodcast, #sciencepodcast, #longformpodcast Check our short-films channel, @DemystifySci: https://www.youtube.com/c/DemystifyingScience AND our material science investigations of atomics, @MaterialAtomics https://www.youtube.com/@MaterialAtomicsJoin our mailing list https://bit.ly/3v3kz2S PODCAST INFO: Anastasia completed her PhD studying bioelectricity at Columbia University. When not talking to brilliant people or making movies, she spends her time painting, reading, and guiding backcountry excursions. Shilo also did his PhD at Columbia studying the elastic properties of molecular water. When he's not in the film studio, he's exploring sound in music. They are both freelance professors at various universities. - Blog: http://DemystifySci.com/blog - RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/2be66934/podcast/rss- Donate: https://bit.ly/3wkPqaD- Swag: https://bit.ly/2PXdC2y SOCIAL: - Discord: https://discord.gg/MJzKT8CQub- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DemystifySci- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DemystifySci/- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DemystifySciMUSIC: -Shilo Delay: https://g.co/kgs/oty671
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