When Corruption Was King: How I Helped the Mob Rule Chicago, Then Brought the Outfit Down

Bought for husband, who isn’t much of a reader but likes reading in principle. He stayed up all night reading until he finished it. And there went my New Year’s Eve …

I'm a mob afficiandado and live close to Chicago, so this book drew my attention the moment I found out about it. If you want to know the way Chicago works (still works, by the way) this book will tell you. Bob Cooley was a mob lawyer who got in over his head and saved himself by ratting on the Outfit. The evidence he gave the feds sent a lot of made men previously untouchable to prison. Frankly, I don't like Cooley at all. He rode the mob gravy train until it was about ready to run him over, then jumped off and let it wreck. I think most mob lawyers are worse than mobsters, because the lawyers dishonor their sworn oath to uphold the law by ignoring their clients' known crimes. But Cooley, slime though he may be, has fascinating information to give about the Outfit, and Hillel Levin does a terrific job of presenting it. The writing is dynamic and Levin puts his reader into every mob hotspot and Chicago wiseguy hangout in a way that makes that reader feel as if he's there, and brings along plenty of Windy City politicians and judges for the sleazy ride (many of whom are still lining their pockets with crminals' money). Spellbinding reading, with lots of great photographs. This is not just a Chicago mob book; it's a book for anybody who finds the underworld an interesting place.

Makes me ashamed to be a Chicagoan, honestly. The Mob running our Government across the street from City Hall!?, Courts, Politicians, Judges, Cops, Unions and Police Departments. What a sad joke. It's true. AND, even more sadly...it persists today. It's pretty much been THE MOST CORRUPT American city at least 50 years in the making where anything including Acquittal for Murder is for Sale at the Right Price. Bob Cooley has Real Balls for what he did and this book is insanely good!!! A+++

I am a former assistant prosecutor, and for the last 18 years, have been doing criminal defense. This book...I couldn't put it down. The story flows like a river. When I'd turn a page, all I could do is mutter, "yup!" It's written so well that I could picture all these clowns. Great job Mr. Levin, and Bob? I'd drink with him any time, anywhere.

I read this in an inter-library loan a few years ago. I wanted to read it again, so I bought it as a Kindle download. I found it to be well-written and believable, although mildly self-serving (not a problem). It also sheds light on a part of organized crime that is overlooked - political corruption. Sure, everyone has heard of Capone, Giancana, Accardo, and Lombardo. But how many people know of the importance of Pat Marcy and Fred Roti and Al D'Arco to the Outfit? SMDH at Illinois corruption.

This is amazing that someone can be under the radar and accomplish so much. If more people that know something would speak up,it would be a better country. I am sure there are others that know just as much but remain silent.

I was in those courtrooms as a prosecutor beginning in the early 80s, both the police station branches and later at 26th and California. The book is interesting and I think probably most of what he describes happened. But a few (important) things he is wrong about. 1. He accuses Ed Genson of selling out his clients and getting them killed by tipping off the mob if they were thinking of cooperating. No way. That wasn’t Genson, who would whack you with his cane if you accused him of something like that. Genson worked for a long long time with Terry Gillespie and Jeffrey Steinback, two very smart guys who would have figured that out and threw him out of the firm if that was the case. 2. All lawyers think they are great on trial, but if this guy was someone known for his skills then that was the best kept secret at 26th Street. There were about 10 defense attorneys who had that reputation (ex. George Howard, Skip Gant, Howard Gillman) but he wasn’t one of them. He was known as Dennis’ brother. He really wasn’t known that much except in Gambling or Narcotics court. 3. He has been on the talk circuit claiming that Mike Ficaro, a former prosecutor supervisor, was the mob’s guy. I don’t remember if he’s named in this book but he definitely says that on various Youtube archivals. I am no Ficaro fan, far from it, but that is impossible. Terry Hake, the Greylord Mole, went to Ficaro, told him what was going on, and Ficaro put him in touch with the FBI. That operation snared mostly First Ward judges. It would have stillborned if Ficaro was dirty. If the mob was paying Ficaro for information they better get their money back. Outside of that I enjoyed the book, but personally I can’t get past those things so I arbitrarily give 3 stars. If he’s wrong about those serious things what else is he wrong about? I don’t believe the Ed Burke stuff frankly. And I don’t care if the author was doing coke or gambling, (he denies the drugs but others make that claim). If anything that makes him more credible. I don’t discount his claim that he did this to clean things up because of his conscience. As a side note this is definitely 1970s lingo, with “swanky” apartments and “beautiful sweethearts” and “swinging discos.”

It is crime that Bob's career was halted. On the other hand he made the bed and then moved on. His conscious was more powerful than his dark side..Unlike the bosses that rat out underlings while under indictment, Bob was never under indictment. Bob had his conscience drive e him to the Federal building.Thank You Robert Cooley

Bon livre ! Je le conseille dommage qu’il n’ai pas plus long . Bisous j’aimerais trouverai des livres à lire que kindle sur accardo