"There is No Such Thing as an Italian Mafia"-- Gov. Mario Cuomo many years ago

Mario Cuomo, former Governor of NY State, recently died

Back when he was Governor, he was always complaining that people were trying to link him with the Mafia.

"There is no such thing as an Italian Mafia," he told reporters at the time.

I asked an acquaintance of mine, whom I shall call Pietro, about this-- Pietro reported from America for Il Mondo, a Milan newspaper.

" What is the word in Italy?" I asked him. " Is Mario Cuomo connected to the Mafia?"

"No," said Pietro. He paused, then said " the word is that his wife is, though."

Family ties...