Joe Valachi was the first “pentito” in the history of the Italian-American mafia, he was the first to reveal the name of Cosa Nostra to the world. His collaboration can be considered a turning point for the Department of Justice led by Robert Kennedy. In October 1963 his deposition on live TV was seen by tens of millions of American television viewers. It was a media event that we can define as historic for the activity of the federal government in the fight against organized crime. For the first time, during television broadcasts the American public heard a mafioso talk about commissions and godfathers.

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