Moore distinguishes two interpretations of organised crime in the US; one socio-economic, one conspiratorial. The latter was significantly and effectively promoted by Kefauver. In so doing the committee ignored the sociological literature on which the former perspective relied.
Moore observes that the Kefauver committee,s evidence did not support its conclusions: ‘Its work was a study in misdirection, the strengthening of old myths that should have been laid to rest.