Like Vito, Michael occupied a middle ground between the hot-headed Sonny and the gaffe-prone Fredo, and it was these similarities that made Vito's youngest son the ideal Corleone family successor.

Fredo Corleone: Sometimes I think I should have married a woman like you did, like Kay — have kids, have a family, for once in my life be more like Pop. Michael Corleone: It's not easy to be his ...