In 1968, a new U.S. presidential election comnced.
The Democratic candidate was Michael Corleone. After more than a decade of cleaning up their image, the Corleone family had fully transford into a political family.
Even the old Italian Mafia families, under Hardy’s guidance, shifted toward legitimate businesses, gradually abandoning so of their illegal activities.
In truth, as long as the Mafia refrained from robbery, murder, or oppressing the public, people didn’t really care. Even drug trafficking was just another business.
The world offered countless opportunities. With the right approach, legitimate businesses could be far more profitable than illegal ones. Hardy led their transformation. Now, the Italian Mafia had beco more discreet, with many evolving into corporations and conglorates.
Michael Corleone’s opponent was a Republican candidate nad Rudolph Ford. Ford was backed by the Rockefeller family and other forces.
From the very beginning, both sides engaged in fierce competition, launching large-scale publicity campaigns. Newspapers covered daily reports about the candidates. Each city visit involved speeches, and the increasingly developed television industry allowed for live broadcasts.
Hardy and the head of the Rockefeller family often sat together, chatting over tea about the future direction of the U.S. economy.
For these power players, the presidential election didn’t impact their friendship. They were the financial backers. Regardless of who won, the president would serve as their representative, with the only question being how the benefits would be divided.
During Nixon’s administration, the Rockefeller, Morgan, and other major families also had their proxies in the cabinet.
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In this world, no one could monopolize everything.
Those who acted selfishly would inevitably face collective opposition.
Thus, while each family put forward their own proxies, it didn’t strain their relationships. Whoever’s candidate succeeded, a share of the profits would always be allotted.
During the campaign, a major event occurred in the U.S.: the death of Edgar Hoover, the powerful and feared FBI Director, at his own ho.
The cause of death was determined to be a heart attack.
Historically, Hoover lived several years longer than in this world. As for his real cause of death, no one truly knows.
Hardy closed the newspaper and remained silent for a while.
Hoover had risen to power during Roosevelt’s era, eventually becoming an untouchable figure. With secrets about presidents, senators, officials, and tycoons in his grasp, no one dared challenge him.
Neither Johnson nor Eisenhower could deal with Hoover during their presidencies.
Even under Nixon, Hoover’s position remained secure.
But this ti, Hardy decided to act.
Through informants close to Hoover, Hardy learned that Hoover had allied with Michael’s rival, intending to expose Michael’s family dark past.
Although Michael Corleone had no personal scandals, his Mafia family background posed a significant vulnerability. The public remained unaware of the Italian Mafia’s existence at the ti. It wasn’t until the 1970s, when a key Mafia mber was arrested and revealed the organization’s details, that the world truly recognized the Mafia.
If Hoover exposed Michael’s background, Michael’s opponent would surely exploit it, putting Michael in an awkward position.
Previously, Hardy had tolerated Hoover’s existence.
But now, Hardy decided it was ti to take action.
Another identity of his (Clyde Tolson) was that of "the man behind Hoover."
Historically, after Hoover’s death, Tolson succeeded him as FBI director. However, in this world, such a scenario would never occur. Tolson was imdiately taken into custody for investigation.
The official reason for the investigation was embezzlent of FBI funds.
The real reason, however, was that Tolson held the secret files Hoover had collected over the years. Hoover’s untouchable status and the fear he inspired stemd from his use of the FBI’s investigative powers to gather compromising information on presidents, high-ranking officials, and influential figures.
Anyone who dared challenge him risked severe retaliation. In many cases, Hoover could remain in power while his adversaries, including sitting presidents, might be forced to resign in disgrace.
Now that Hoover was dead, his "inheritance" was left to Tolson. Hardy could not allow Tolson to consolidate power further.
The person who arrested Tolson was George, one of the FBI’s eight deputy directors. Each deputy managed several departnts, and George had previously been in charge of the Internal Affairs Committee within the FBI—a position with little real authority.
Tolson was enraged that George had arrested him. He initially tried to resist, but George gave him no chance. Producing well-prepared evidence, George laid it directly before Tolson.
It was worth noting that Henry (Hardy’s intelligence chief) had been monitoring Tolson for over a decade, and the evidence was watertight.
"You must release , or many people will suffer the consequences. I promise you," Tolson threatened George.
George smiled and leaned close to Tolson, whispering, "Are you referring to the docunts hidden in the safe at your villa in the suburbs?"
Tolson froze, staring at George in disbelief.
He never imagined that his opponent even knew about those matters.
At that mont, his trump card was gone.
Not long after, Tolson "committed suicide" in prison. As for the docunts, they mysteriously disappeared. Very few people knew of their existence.
Five days after Hoover’s death, Nixon appointed George as the new FBI director. To the outside world, the internal struggle within the FBI remained a secret.
George, however, was a man Henry had strategically placed within the FBI, aning he was effectively Hardy’s agent.
As the presidential election drew closer, public anticipation for the next president reached its peak.
Naturally, Las Vegas opened betting lines once again. Although dia reports portrayed the two candidates as being evenly matched, many believed Michael Corleone had the upper hand. As a result, Michael’s odds were the lowest.
In the U.S., under Hardy’s years of effort in developing the gambling industry, over 30 states had now legalized lotteries. Betting pools were considered a part of the lottery system.
With the public buying lottery tickets, interest in the election soared.
This election was set to be broadcast live in its entirety.
By now, the color TV era had fully arrived. ABC Television, the first network to launch TV programming, had, under Hardy’s deliberate guidance, transford Arican television into a vibrant dium of entertainnt. It had beco the most popular form of leisure for Aricans.
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