James T. Molloy
Encyclopedia
James Thomas Molloy was elected Doorkeeper of the House of Representatives
during the 94th Congress
in 1974 and served through the 103rd Congress. As Doorkeeper, he introduced six Presidents, several heads of state and other dignitaries in joint sessions
and other congressional events. Molloy was the last Doorkeeper of the House of Representatives
.
in 1936 to Matthew Molloy and Catherine Hayden Molloy. Educated in Buffalo, New York
in Catholic schools, he worked in the grain elevators of Buffalo's waterfront and fought fires as a member of the city fire department. He worked his own way through Canisius College
, becoming a member of the AFL-CIO
, the International Brotherhood of Longshoremen
, and the International Association of Fire Fighters
.
cities of Buffalo
and Lackawanna
, and at the age of 27, became the youngest Democrat
to serve as Party Zone Chairman in the State of New York. He went to Washington, D.C.
in 1968 at the invitation of New York Congressman John Rooney
to work in the House Finance Office. During his years of work in that office, he oversaw the growth of legislative appropriations for the House from $75 million to $126 million. He was elected Doorkeeper of the House in 1974, and remained at that post through the 103rd Congress, serving as a primary aide to Speakers Carl Albert
, Tip O'Neill
, James Wright
, and Tom Foley
. He was the last of 30 people to hold the position of Doorkeeper from its establishment in 1789 to its elimination in 1994. Within this capacity, he introduced Presidents and heads of state to Congress, and coordinated 71 joint sessions and many other events within the House chamber.
|+ Terms served as the Doorkeeper of the House
! Term !! Years !! Start date
|-
| 93rd || (1973–1975) ||
|-
| 94th || (1975–1977) ||
|-
| 95th || (1977–1979) ||
|-
| 96th || (1979–1981) ||
|-
| 97th || (1981–1983) ||
|-
| 98th || (1983–1985) ||
|-
| 99th || (1985–1987) ||
|-
| 100th|| (1987–1989) ||
|-
| 101st|| (1989–1991) ||
|-
| 102nd|| (1991–1993) ||
|-
| 103rd|| (1993–1995) ||
|}
Congressional Credit Union, a position he held for 30 years. Molloy is the recipient of numerous honors for his life's work in public service. He has received the Outstanding Citizen Award from the New York State AFL-CIO, the President's Award from the New York State Federation of Police, and the United States Senate Youth Alumni Association Outstanding Service Award. He received an honorary Doctor of Laws from his alma mater, Canisius College
, as well as the Sid Yudain Congressional Staffer of the Year Award from Roll Call
.
Doorkeeper of the United States House of Representatives
An appointed officer of the United States House of Representatives from 1789 to 1995, the Doorkeeper of the United States House of Representatives was chosen by a resolution at the opening of each United States Congress. The Office of the Doorkeeper was based on precedent from the Continental...
during the 94th Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
in 1974 and served through the 103rd Congress. As Doorkeeper, he introduced six Presidents, several heads of state and other dignitaries in joint sessions
Joint session of the United States Congress
Joint sessions of the United States Congress are the gatherings together of both houses of the United States Congress...
and other congressional events. Molloy was the last Doorkeeper of the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
.
Early life
James T. Molloy was born in South Buffalo, Buffalo, New YorkSouth Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
South Buffalo is a neigborhood that makes up the southern third of the City of Buffalo, New York, USA. Traditionally known for its large Irish-American community, this once heavily industrialized district was home to many steel mills, automotive parts manufacturers, petroleum refineries, foundries,...
in 1936 to Matthew Molloy and Catherine Hayden Molloy. Educated in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
in Catholic schools, he worked in the grain elevators of Buffalo's waterfront and fought fires as a member of the city fire department. He worked his own way through Canisius College
Canisius College
Canisius College is a private Roman Catholic college in Buffalo, New York, United States. The college was founded in 1870 by members of the Society of Jesus from Germany and is named after St. Peter Canisius. The college is one of 28 institutions in the Association of Jesuit Colleges and...
, becoming a member of the AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
, the International Brotherhood of Longshoremen
International Longshoremen's Association
The International Longshoremen's Association is a labor union representing longshore workers along the East Coast of the United States and Canada, the Gulf Coast, the Great Lakes, Puerto Rico, and inland waterways...
, and the International Association of Fire Fighters
International Association of Fire Fighters
The International Association of Fire Fighters is a labor union representing professional firefighters in the United States and Canada. The IAFF was formed in 1918 and is affiliated with the AFL-CIO in the United States and the Canadian Labour Congress in Canada. The IAFF is headquartered in...
.
Career
Molloy worked as a schoolteacher in the New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
cities of Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
and Lackawanna
Lackawanna, New York
Lackawanna is a city in Erie County, New York, U.S., located just south of the city of Buffalo in the western part of New York state. The population was 18,141 at the 2010 census. The name derives from the Lackawanna Steel Company...
, and at the age of 27, became the youngest Democrat
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...
to serve as Party Zone Chairman in the State of New York. He went to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in 1968 at the invitation of New York Congressman John Rooney
John J. Rooney
John James Rooney was a Democratic politician from New York.Rooney was born in Brooklyn in 1903. In 1925, he graduated with a law degree from Fordham University and practiced law following his admission to the bar the next year...
to work in the House Finance Office. During his years of work in that office, he oversaw the growth of legislative appropriations for the House from $75 million to $126 million. He was elected Doorkeeper of the House in 1974, and remained at that post through the 103rd Congress, serving as a primary aide to Speakers Carl Albert
Carl Albert
Carl Bert Albert was a lawyer and a Democratic American politician from Oklahoma.Albert represented the southeastern portion of Oklahoma as a Democrat for 30 years, starting in 1947. He is best known for his service as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1971 to 1977...
, Tip O'Neill
Tip O'Neill
Thomas Phillip "Tip" O'Neill, Jr. was an American politician. O'Neill was an outspoken liberal Democrat and influential member of the U.S. Congress, serving in the House of Representatives for 34 years and representing two congressional districts in Massachusetts...
, James Wright
Jim Wright
James Claude Wright, Jr. , usually known as Jim Wright, is a former Democratic U.S. Congressman from Texas who served 34 years in the U.S. House of Representatives and was the Speaker of the House from 1987 to 1989.-Early life:...
, and Tom Foley
Tom Foley
Thomas Stephen Foley was the 57th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1989 to 1995. He represented Washington's 5th congressional district for 30 years as a Democratic member from 1965 to 1995....
. He was the last of 30 people to hold the position of Doorkeeper from its establishment in 1789 to its elimination in 1994. Within this capacity, he introduced Presidents and heads of state to Congress, and coordinated 71 joint sessions and many other events within the House chamber.
-
- {| class="wikitable" border="1"
|+ Terms served as the Doorkeeper of the House
Doorkeeper of the United States House of Representatives
An appointed officer of the United States House of Representatives from 1789 to 1995, the Doorkeeper of the United States House of Representatives was chosen by a resolution at the opening of each United States Congress. The Office of the Doorkeeper was based on precedent from the Continental...
! Term !! Years !! Start date
|-
| 93rd || (1973–1975) ||
|-
| 94th || (1975–1977) ||
|-
| 95th || (1977–1979) ||
|-
| 96th || (1979–1981) ||
|-
| 97th || (1981–1983) ||
|-
| 98th || (1983–1985) ||
|-
| 99th || (1985–1987) ||
|-
| 100th|| (1987–1989) ||
|-
| 101st|| (1989–1991) ||
|-
| 102nd|| (1991–1993) ||
|-
| 103rd|| (1993–1995) ||
|}
Legacy
Molloy continued to serve as Chairman of the Board of the Wright PatmanWright Patman
John William Wright Patman was a U.S. Congressman from Texas in Texas's 1st congressional district and chair of the United States House Committee on Banking and Currency .-Early life:...
Congressional Credit Union, a position he held for 30 years. Molloy is the recipient of numerous honors for his life's work in public service. He has received the Outstanding Citizen Award from the New York State AFL-CIO, the President's Award from the New York State Federation of Police, and the United States Senate Youth Alumni Association Outstanding Service Award. He received an honorary Doctor of Laws from his alma mater, Canisius College
Canisius College
Canisius College is a private Roman Catholic college in Buffalo, New York, United States. The college was founded in 1870 by members of the Society of Jesus from Germany and is named after St. Peter Canisius. The college is one of 28 institutions in the Association of Jesuit Colleges and...
, as well as the Sid Yudain Congressional Staffer of the Year Award from Roll Call
Roll Call
Roll Call is a newspaper published in Washington, D.C., United States, from Monday to Thursday when the United States Congress is in session and on Mondays only during recess. Roll Call reports news of legislative and political maneuverings on Capitol Hill, as well as political coverage of...
.
Links
- As of January 27, 2010 the majority of this article consisted of text from GovTrack, published under a "copyleft" license.
- Congressman Brian Higgans Western New York, Newsroom
- The House Bank; House's Top Officers Act As Adept Politicians, Too, The New York Times