Life as Al Capone's great-niece

During Prohibition, in the 1920s, Al Capone quickly became Chicago's biggest crime boss and was known as Public Enemy Number One.

Now, 65 years after his death, his grandniece, Deirdre Marie Capone, has written a book about growing up with Capone as her great-uncle, called "Uncle Al Capone."

On "CBS This Morning: Saturday," Capone's last descendant told co-host John Miller what the famed gangster was really like, and discussed the impact being a Capone has had on her.

Capone was, she said, a great family man, but the reality of what he did for a living was omnipresent.

In search of the real Al Capone

"It was normal for me," she said. "I kind of knew that something was a little different than the children that I went to school with. But it was normal. There was never a moment that I was ever afraid -- you know, feared for anything. It was after I left the Capone house that I became fearful. And afraid of who I was, because there were a lot of people out there that would love to kill the last Capone."

She says that time in American history was like living in the Wild West.

But, she added, her "grandfather swore to me on my father's grave no innocent person was ever hurt. No woman was ever made to do anything she did not choose to do. And no child's life was ever in danger. And I believe that. But, yes, they (Capone cronies) went into the business knowing full well that they needed to do their job."

And being a Capone cost her - she didn't get invited to birthday parties at school. She lost a job. Her father committed suicide.

Does she regret being a Capone?

"For a long time," Deirdre Capone replied, "Yes, I did."

To see the entire interview, click on the video in the player above.