Vincent J. Curtis
28 Aug 2016
Pulled from the internet:
Al
Capone was a gangster who made a fortune during the prohibition though
bootlegging. He had a bit of the Robin Hood mystique by being charitable from
some of the money he made running his criminal enterprise, and because in
Prohibition anti-government sentiments were quite strong. Being a bootlegger
(made/distributed illegal alcohol) during Prohibition (the period in the USA
from 1920-1933 when alcohol was illegal) was seen as an acceptable, glamorous,
even brave thing to do by the public. But it’s well known that he had brutal
methods- murdering enemies, extorting local businesses, bribing public
officials, intimidating witnesses.
Al
Capone’s intentions were an effort to clean up his image. “120 000 meals are
served by Capone Free Soup Kitchen” the Chicago Tribune headlined on December
1931. Al Capone’s soup kitchen became one of the strangest sight Chicagoans had
ever seen. An army of ragged, starving men assembled three times a day beside a
storefront at 935 South State Street, feasting on the largesse of Al Capone.
Toasting his health. Telling the newspapers that Capone was doing more for the
poor than the entire US government. He was even offering some of them jobs.
Capone milked his good works for all the favorable publicity they were worth.
He came down and walked among the men, the wretched of the earth, offering a
handshake, a hearty smile, and words of encouragement from the great Al Capone.
During November and December, Al Capone’s coup kitchen kept regular hours,
serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Thanksgiving Day 1930 was a particular
public relations triumph for Capone. On that day he could boast that he fed
more than 5,000 hungry men, women, and children with a hearty beef stew.
Sound familiar? Just
like the good works of the Clinton Foundation!
-30-
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