Early Career
Ciancimino was born in Corleone, a village notorious for its powerful Mafia clans, such as the Corleonesi. Ciancimino's very poor childhood revolved around his father's barber shop in Corleone, giving him early contacts with the local Mafia bosses. He later broke off studying engineering at University of Palermo to work as an interpreter for Italy's post-war allied military government.
As a Christian Democrat politician, he became a protégé of Bernardo Mattarella, who supported his political and financial career. In 1950 Ciancimino obtained concessions for all railway transport inside Palermo. The three other firms that had made a bid were put out of the game, because Ciancimino's bid was accompanied by a letter of Mattarella, who was then Minister of Transports.
Read more about this topic: Vito Ciancimino
Famous quotes containing the words early and/or career:
“On the Coast of Coromandel
Where the early pumpkins blow,
In the middle of the woods
Lived the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
Two old chairs, and half a candle,—
One old jug without a handle,—
These were all his worldly goods:
In the middle of the woods,”
—Edward Lear (1812–1888)
“A black boxer’s career is the perfect metaphor for the career of a black male. Every day is like being in the gym, sparring with impersonal opponents as one faces the rudeness and hostility that a black male must confront in the United States, where he is the object of both fear and fascination.”
—Ishmael Reed (b. 1938)