I'm trying to wrap my head around what kind of people would see a man as fit to lead our country with multiple criminal actions and decades-long records of deceit.
This may be instructive. Source: ChatGPT
Al Capone was extremely popular and infamous during his heyday in the 1920s and early 1930s. He was a prominent figure in organized crime, particularly during the Prohibition era in the United States when the sale and consumption of alcohol were illegal. Capone was a key figure in the illegal alcohol trade and controlled much of the bootlegging operations in Chicago.
His notoriety extended beyond just his criminal activities. Capone was known for his flashy lifestyle, including his luxurious homes, expensive cars, and flashy clothing. He was often in the media spotlight, and his criminal activities and persona were widely covered in newspapers and magazines of the time.
Capone's popularity also stemmed from his ability to avoid conviction for many of his criminal activities, despite being a target of law enforcement. He became a symbol of defiance against the authorities and was seen by some as a Robin Hood-like figure who provided people with access to alcohol during Prohibition.
However, it's essential to note that while Capone was popular among certain segments of the population, he was also reviled by others for his violent and ruthless methods in consolidating his criminal empire. His activities resulted in numerous deaths and violent conflicts in Chicago, earning him a reputation as a dangerous gangster.
Ultimately, Al Capone's popularity was a complex mix of admiration and condemnation, and he remains one of the most iconic figures in American criminal history. He was eventually convicted of tax evasion in 1931 and sentenced to prison, which marked the decline of his criminal career and public prominence.