Alex Rose
Encyclopedia
Alex Rose was a labor leader in the American Hatters' Union, a co-founder of the American Labor Party
, and vice-chairman of the Liberal Party of New York
.
Rose, the son of a wealthy leather tanner, was born in Warsaw
, Poland
. After secondary school, Rose immigrated to the United States
, having been denied a Polish university education because he was Jewish
. However, the outbreak of the First World War forced Rose to abandon professional aspirations and take a job as a millinery worker; in 1914 he joined the Cloth Hat, Cap, and Millinery Workers' International Union (CHCMW) and became interested in organized labor. In 1918, Rose joined the British Army
, and upon returning to America in 1920 resumed union organizing activities. He worked his way through union leadership and was elected president of the Hatters' Union in 1950, where Rose sought to root out Communist
and gangster
influence from unions.
In 1936, Rose assisted in founding of the American Labor Party and the Liberal Party of New York, becoming its vice-chairperson in 1944. Under Rose's leadership, the Liberal Party was quite influential in New York politics, exercising power by endorsing Democratic
candidates. In 1966 Rose successfully lobbied Senator Robert F. Kennedy
to campaign on behalf of judge Samuel Silverman
to clean up corruption from the surrogate court.
Rose is considered by many to be one of the most brilliant political strategists of the 20th century. Perhaps his greatest triumph was in the New York City
mayoral
election of 1969. John V. Lindsay
was elected mayor as a fusion candidate (Republican
-Liberal) in 1965, but was denied the Republican nomination in 1969. He was reelected in 1969 as the Liberal candidate, with Rose directing his campaign against both Democratic and Republican opponents.
After Rose's death in 1976, the influence of the Liberal Party faded.
American Labor Party
The American Labor Party was a political party in the United States established in 1936 which was active almost exclusively in the state of New York. The organization was founded by labor leaders and former members of the Socialist Party who had established themselves as the Social Democratic...
, and vice-chairman of the Liberal Party of New York
Liberal Party of New York
The Liberal Party of New York is a minor American political party that has been active only in the state of New York. Its platform supports a standard set of social liberal policies: it supports right to abortion, increased spending on education, and universal health care.As of 2007, the Liberal...
.
Rose, the son of a wealthy leather tanner, was born in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. After secondary school, Rose immigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, having been denied a Polish university education because he was Jewish
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
. However, the outbreak of the First World War forced Rose to abandon professional aspirations and take a job as a millinery worker; in 1914 he joined the Cloth Hat, Cap, and Millinery Workers' International Union (CHCMW) and became interested in organized labor. In 1918, Rose joined the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, and upon returning to America in 1920 resumed union organizing activities. He worked his way through union leadership and was elected president of the Hatters' Union in 1950, where Rose sought to root out Communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
and gangster
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
influence from unions.
In 1936, Rose assisted in founding of the American Labor Party and the Liberal Party of New York, becoming its vice-chairperson in 1944. Under Rose's leadership, the Liberal Party was quite influential in New York politics, exercising power by endorsing Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
candidates. In 1966 Rose successfully lobbied Senator Robert F. Kennedy
Robert F. Kennedy
Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy , also referred to by his initials RFK, was an American politician, a Democratic senator from New York, and a noted civil rights activist. An icon of modern American liberalism and member of the Kennedy family, he was a younger brother of President John F...
to campaign on behalf of judge Samuel Silverman
Samuel Silverman
Samuel Joshua Silverman was a two-time New York State Supreme Court Justice and career litigator who was involved in several high-profile cases.-Background and early career:...
to clean up corruption from the surrogate court.
Rose is considered by many to be one of the most brilliant political strategists of the 20th century. Perhaps his greatest triumph was in the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
mayoral
Mayor of New York City
The Mayor of the City of New York is head of the executive branch of New York City's government. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and state laws within New York City.The budget overseen by the...
election of 1969. John V. Lindsay
John Lindsay
John Vliet Lindsay was an American politician, lawyer and broadcaster who was a U.S. Congressman, Mayor of New York City, candidate for U.S...
was elected mayor as a fusion candidate (Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
-Liberal) in 1965, but was denied the Republican nomination in 1969. He was reelected in 1969 as the Liberal candidate, with Rose directing his campaign against both Democratic and Republican opponents.
After Rose's death in 1976, the influence of the Liberal Party faded.