:08:01
For years many of my constituents
have been of Italian descent.
:08:06
I've come to know them well.
:08:08
They have honoured me
with their support and their friendship.
:08:13
I can proudly say that some of my
very best friends are Italian-Americans.
:08:19
However, Mr. Chairman, unfortunately
I have to leave these proceedings,
:08:24
in order to preside over a very important
meeting of my own committee.
:08:29
Before I leave, I do want to say this,
:08:32
that these hearings on the Mafia
are in no way whatsoever
:08:37
a slur upon the great Italian people.
:08:40
I can state from my own knowledge
and experience
:08:43
that Italian-Americans are among
the most loyal, most law-abiding,
:08:48
patriotic, hard-working
American citizens in this land.
:08:53
It would be a shame, Mr. Chairman,
if we allowed a few rotten apples
:08:58
to give a bad name to the whole barrel.
:09:00
Because from the time of Christopher
Columbus to the time of Enrico Fermi,
:09:06
right up to the present day,
:09:08
Italian-Americans have been pioneers
in building and defending our nation.
:09:13
They are the salt of the earth, and
one of the backbones of this country.
:09:24
I'm sure we all agree
with our esteemed colleague.
:09:28
Mr. Corleone, you have been advised
as to your legal rights.
:09:33
We have testimony from
a previous witness, one Willi Cicci.
:09:39
He stated that you are head of the most
powerful Mafia family in the country.
:09:44
- Are you?
- No, I'm not.
:09:46
He testified that you are personally
responsible
:09:49
for the murder of a New York
police captain in 1947,
:09:53
and with him a man
named Virgil Sollozzo.
:09:57
- Do you deny this?
- Yes, I do.