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:
“[My early stories] are the work of a living writer whom I know in a sense, but can never meet.”
—Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973)
“In time your relatives will come to accept the idea that a career is as important to you as your family. Of course, in time the polar ice cap will melt.”
—Barbara Dale (b. 1940)