By early 1966, news leaked that the federal government was preparing to allow publication of a book written by imprisoned turncoat mafioso Joseph
#Valachi. The plan drew widespread opposition, as it was feared the book would "slur all Italian Americans" (Quote from Il Progresso editorial of Jan. 9, 1966). Many complaint letters were sent to officials and legislators.
#OTD (Feb. 1) in 1966, a delegation of Italian Americans, including four U.S. members of Congress, met with Attorney General Katzenbach and two aides to oppose publication of the unseen Valachi manuscript. The Lyndon Johnson Administration soon reversed itself and decided to block publication.
Journalist Peter Maas, initially brought into the project as Valachi's editor, was informed on Feb. 8 that publication would not be permitted. The government attempted to reach a cash settlement with
#Maas, but he refused. Maas decided to work around the government's obstacles and publish his own book based on Valachi's information.
Much more about Joseph Valachi is contained in The Treacherous World of Joseph Valachi (Informer, 2024), available as a hardcover, paperback and electronic book, and as a printed and electronic magazine. See:
https://informer-journal.blogspot.com/
#MafiaHistory #ValachiPapers
