New York political boss of the 1950s and 1960s and the last kingpin of New York City's Tammany Hall. He revived Tammany Hall after World War II, successfully promoted the election of Robert Wagner as mayor in 1953 and W. Averell Harriman as governor in 1954. His influence as a power broker caused Time magazine to put him on its cover; political writers speculated on his influence over the Democratic presidential nominee in the 1950s. The son of Italian immigrants, he was a Democrat who pushed a progressive agenda and named the first Puerto Rican district leader in Manhattan and backed Manhattan's first black borough president; also supported legislation such as the Fair Employment Practices Law and endorsed rent control and lowering the voting age to 18. Began as a messenger boy for the Huron Democratic Club political captains and worked his way up; he was eventually denounced as corrupt and authoritarian and in 1969 was convicted of petty bribery and was later sent to prison. Died in Manhattan, New York.
New York political boss of the 1950s and 1960s and the last kingpin of New York City's Tammany Hall. He revived Tammany Hall after World War II, successfully promoted the election of Robert Wagner as mayor in 1953 and W. Averell Harriman as governor in 1954. His influence as a power broker caused Time magazine to put him on its cover; political writers speculated on his influence over the Democratic presidential nominee in the 1950s. The son of Italian immigrants, he was a Democrat who pushed a progressive agenda and named the first Puerto Rican district leader in Manhattan and backed Manhattan's first black borough president; also supported legislation such as the Fair Employment Practices Law and endorsed rent control and lowering the voting age to 18. Began as a messenger boy for the Huron Democratic Club political captains and worked his way up; he was eventually denounced as corrupt and authoritarian and in 1969 was convicted of petty bribery and was later sent to prison. Died in Manhattan, New York.
Bio by: Fred Beisser
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