Succession
Planning

[Speaking softly, stroking the cat on his lap.] I want to thank everyone for coming. Family is everything. Business is family. Today we discuss the future of Corleone Enterprises.

[Opening leather-bound notebook.] I have the agenda prepared. Item one: leadership succession. Item two: market expansion. Item three: competitive landscape — the Five Families. Item four: Sonny’s anger management update.

I DON’T HAVE AN ANGER MANAGEMENT PROBLEM!

Editor's note: He has an anger management problem.

Santino. Sit down. We will get to that item.

Moving to item one. Don Corleone, you’ve expressed interest in transitioning day-to-day operations over the next three to five years. We need to identify a successor.

I’m the obvious choice. I’ve been running operations for years. I know every part of this business.

Sonny, your operational knowledge is not in question. Your temperament is. You punched a man at last quarter’s board meeting.

He disrespected the family!

He asked if we had Q3 projections.

Santino, a man who cannot control his temper cannot control a business. What about Fredo?

Me? Oh, uh, yeah! I’ve been doing great things on the West Coast. I set up that deal with Moe Greene in Las Vegas. The hotel is doing… numbers.

The hotel is losing $2 million a quarter, Fredo.

But the entertainment numbers are up!

Entertainment revenue does not cover a $2 million quarterly loss. You also approved a renovation budget that was three times the estimate.

The pools needed a refurbish. Moe said—

Fredo, you let Moe Greene slap you in front of everyone at the casino! You can’t run this family!

He didn’t slap me. He… firmly patted my face.

[Long sigh.] What about Michael?

[Sitting quietly in the corner, in his Marine Corps uniform.] Pop, I’m not part of this business. I told you. I’m going to Dartmouth. I’m going to go straight. I want nothing to do with the family business.

Editor's note: Narrator: He would have everything to do with the family business.

That’s what I’m saying! Mike doesn’t want it! Give it to me!

Michael, I had hoped you would be a senator. A governor. Someone legitimate. But this family needs—

The family needs me to go to business school and get a real job, Pop. That’s what the family needs.

We will revisit this. Tom, item two.

Item two: market expansion. Virgil Sollozzo has approached us about a partnership in the narcotics trade. He’s offering financing through the Tattaglia family. Projected revenue is substantial.

I am not interested in narcotics. Narcotics is a dirty business. Our politicians — the judges, the councilmen we do business with — they will not tolerate drugs. We lose their protection.

Pop, there’s a lot of money in narcotics. If we don’t get into it, somebody else—

Editor's note: Sonny just showed his hand in front of Sollozzo's people. This is why the Don is worried about his temperament.

[Slowly raises his hand.] Santino. Never tell anyone outside the family what you are thinking. [Pause.] This is a closed meeting. But the principle stands.

Noted. Moving past narcotics. Alternative expansion opportunities: olive oil distribution in the Northeast, real estate in Las Vegas — if Fredo’s hotel stops hemorrhaging money — and political consulting ahead of the ’56 elections.

The hotel is going to turn around! I have a plan!

What is the plan, Fredo?

More… entertainment?

[Puts head in hands.]

Item three: competitive landscape. The Five Families. The Barzini family has been making moves in our territory. Tattaglia is pushing narcotics with Sollozzo. The Cuneo and Stracci families are neutral for now.

Barzini is the one to watch. Tattaglia is a pimp. He never could have outfought Santino. But I didn’t know until this day that it was Barzini all along.

Editor's note: The Don sees things others don’t. This is why he’s the chairman.

So what do we do about Barzini?

We do nothing. For now. A man who is too eager to fight will eventually fight the wrong person. We wait. We watch. We keep our friends close and our competitors closer.

[Still sitting in the corner.] This is exactly why I want nothing to do with this business.

Item four: Sonny’s anger management update. Sonny, you were assigned to complete a six-week conflict resolution course after the incident at the Tattaglia negotiation.

I did the course.

You attended one session and then, quote, ‘threw a chair and left.’

The instructor was disrespectful!

She asked you to role-play a scenario where someone disagrees with you.

Exactly. Disrespectful.

Santino, you will complete the course. This is not a request.

Final item. Any other business?

[Entering the room.] Pop, Carlo says he wants a bigger role in the business. He says you never give him any responsibility.

Carlo will be given responsibilities appropriate to his abilities.

[Writing in notebook.] Carlo: no responsibilities. Got it.

Editor's note: Tom Hagen takes perfect notes.

Is there anything else? [Silence.] Good. Then I am going to make everyone an offer they can’t refuse.

[Tenses up.]

Lunch. Catered by Genco Imports. The cannoli are from Ferrara’s. Meeting adjourned.

[Under his breath, leaving the room.] I will never be part of this business.

Editor's note: He will become the most ruthless head of this business in its history.

Draft succession planning document with three candidate profiles (Sonny, Fredo, Michael)

Status: In progress — Tom takes perfect notes

Complete the anger management course (all six sessions)

Status: Attended 1 of 6 — threw a chair

Submit revised Vegas hotel turnaround plan (with actual numbers, not just “more entertainment”)

Status: Fredo is thinking about it

Consider returning to the family business

Status: Refuses — going to Dartmouth (plans will change)

Monitor Barzini family movements. Take no action yet.

Status: The Don sees things others don’t

Decline Sollozzo’s narcotics proposal formally

Status: Drafted — awaiting Don’s signature

Receive responsibilities appropriate to his abilities

Status: Responsibilities: none