During his bootlegging years, he was regarded as a weak personality, a follower. But weakness might have been just a facade. Gambino seems to have used assassination to advance himself in the ranks of the Mafia and to advance his liberal views of the crime organization.
He became prominent in the Mangano Family (which had been led by D'Aquila, Al Mineo and then Frank Scalise in the years leading up to the 1931 reorganization) after Vincent Mangano's disappearance in 1951. He was named underboss to Albert Anastasia in 1956. Anastasia was killed the next year, and Gambino took over family leadership.
Gambino is believed to have been at least partly responsible for inciting revolts within the conservative Mafia clans of Profaci and Bonanno. He was a one-time supporter and later opponent of both Joe Colombo and Joe Gallo, big names in the former Profaci Family. Colombo's assassination in 1971 looks to have been masterminded by Gambino. Gallo's death a year later also looks to have been his work.
Gambino died of a heart attack Oct. 15, 1976. His underboss Aniello Dellacroce had much support to take over the family but agreed instead to serve under Paul Castellano, who had apprenticed under Gambino.
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