In the 1950s and ‘60s one of the most powerful organized crime bosses in America was Chicago’s Sam Giancana.
His crime career began when he joined a youth gang, and soon became a hit man and getaway driver under Al Capone.
By th e’50s Giancana had established himself at the top. And he enjoyed the perks of wealth and notoriety, frequently seen with celebrities like Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe – and Joseph Kennedy.
It’s been widely reported that Kennedy came to Giancana to ask for his help in getting his son John F. Kennedy elected president in 1960.
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But after Kennedy won, his administration went hard after the mob, and Giancana took it personally.
All this time Sam’s little brother Chuck never got into the crime business himself. In fact he distanced himself from it. As did his son, also named Sam.
And in 1992, Sam Giancana wrote a book about his Infamous uncle (with help from his father, Chuck). He called the book Double Cross, and it was a book that brought a startling new perspective to some of the most important historical events of the late 20th century.
I met Sam Giancana when he was on a book tour. So here now, from 1992, Sam Giancana.
Mobster Sam Giancana was killed at his home in 1975 at the age of 67. The murder remains unsolved.
