what jumps out at me, in the excerpt of FBI files regarding my father, is the mention of the 'Italian from Boston, Known only as Johnny Williams'-- I recall a mysterious, disquieting episode from somewhere in the 1961/62 range when we had an important visitor to our home for dinner, an 'Italian' from Boston, i learned, somehow, i don't remember how. he was dark skinned, wore a dark suit, seemed very polite, but very professional and didn't say much. we all sat at table with him, and my mother made her best, and served him wine as well, which seemed exotic and way far out of our typical fare. he fascinated and mystified me. and, it was clear that his business there was professional, not personal, and his focus was entirely on my father. it was clearly about business of some kind, but i was never told what, only that he was there to 'speak to your father'...no explanation ever, and he left soon after dinner.
perhaps 40 or more years later, i was reminiscing with my mother, and she said she remembered it clearly, and that she came to realize, somehow (how exactly, she didn't say) that the visitor was actually John Gotti, Sr. and that he had advised my father, in light of his lovely wife and three kids that he should get out of the game, give it up and live a normal life. i do not know how she knew these things, and she would not say. i'd love to ask her more now, but she is gone.
re: Charles Meeker, there was a period where he was mentioned frequently in our home. he provided tickets to Dallas Summer Musicals so that my brother, sister and i could each be taken individually to see the shows, which for me was an exciting and glamorous event. he also gave my dad a stereo record player, and there were other favors as well. when i was 16, mr. meeker knew who to call to secure me a job working on the rides at six flags over texas, a job i held for two years. i also remember all the blather about Bottoms Up! and i recall we had an LP of the show music. long gone now.
this has been very helpful. i've got a lot of reading to do re: Brading.