John J. Dickerson
Encyclopedia
John J. Dickerson was an American Republican Party
politician
who served as Mayor of Palisades Park, New Jersey and Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
.
Republican organization. He served as Mayor of Palisades Park from 1939 to 1952. He was also a member of the county's Board of Chosen Freeholders
from 1940 to 1955, and its director for four years.
In 1946 he managed the successful campaign of Alfred E. Driscoll
for Governor of New Jersey
. After Driscoll's election he was named State Banking Commissioner. He also served briefly as State Treasurer in 1949, but resigned when he was selected by Driscoll as Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
. He also ran Driscoll's reelection campaign that year, while continuing to serve as mayor and freeholder.
In an investigation into Bergen County corruption following the Kefauver hearings
, Dickerson testified that he had helped Democrat John V. Kenny
in his 1949 campaign for mayor of Jersey City
as a way of disrupting the Hudson County
political machine of Frank Hague
. After Kenny's win over Hague's nephew Frank H. Eggers
in the Democratic primary, Kenny's Hudson County organization did not work hard for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Elmer H. Wene
, helping to ensure Driscoll's victory in the general election.
Dickerson further testified that the Republican State Committee had accepted a $25,000 "loan" from a friend of mob boss Abner Zwillman
and had kept no record of the cash repayment. Even more sensational was the claim by Genovese
underboss
Willie Moretti
, who ran gambling rings in Bergen County, that he had paid $286,000 to a New Jersey State House
aide with the understanding that $190,000 of it would go to Governor Driscoll for protection from the state. Dickerson denied that there was such a bribe but acknowledged that Moretti visited his house in November 1950, along with his brother Salvatore and associate Joe Adonis
. Moretti complained that he had received no protection as the result of the alleged bribe and warned Dickerson, "Tell the governor and the attorney general that I don't intend to take this laying down." Moretti was murdered the following year.
Dickerson did not seek reelection as party chairman and was replaced in 1953 by Samuel L. Bodine
. After an abortive run for Mayor of Palisades Park in 1958, Dickerson retired from politics and pursued a business career as a New York real estate executive. He died at his home in Palisades Park in 1966 at the age of 66.
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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served as Mayor of Palisades Park, New Jersey and Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
New Jersey Republican State Committee
The New Jersey Republican State Committee is the affiliate of the Republican Party in New Jersey. The Committee was founded in 1880. The party is led by Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee Sam Raia of Saddle River, New Jersey.-Membership:...
.
Biography
Dickerson was a powerful leader of the Bergen CountyBergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 905,116. The county is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack...
Republican organization. He served as Mayor of Palisades Park from 1939 to 1952. He was also a member of the county's Board of Chosen Freeholders
Board of Chosen Freeholders
In New Jersey, the Boards of Chosen Freeholders are the county legislatures in each of that state's 21 counties.- Origin :New Jersey's system of naming county legislators "freeholders" is unique in the United States...
from 1940 to 1955, and its director for four years.
In 1946 he managed the successful campaign of Alfred E. Driscoll
Alfred E. Driscoll
Alfred Eastlack Driscoll was an American Republican Party politician, who served in the New Jersey Senate representing Camden County, who served as the 43rd Governor of New Jersey, and as president of Warner-Lambert .-Biography:He was born on October 25, 1902 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
for Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
. After Driscoll's election he was named State Banking Commissioner. He also served briefly as State Treasurer in 1949, but resigned when he was selected by Driscoll as Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
New Jersey Republican State Committee
The New Jersey Republican State Committee is the affiliate of the Republican Party in New Jersey. The Committee was founded in 1880. The party is led by Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee Sam Raia of Saddle River, New Jersey.-Membership:...
. He also ran Driscoll's reelection campaign that year, while continuing to serve as mayor and freeholder.
In an investigation into Bergen County corruption following the Kefauver hearings
Kefauver hearings
The United States Senate Special Committee to Investigate Crime in Interstate Commerce was a special committee of the United States Senate which existed from 1950 to 1951 and which investigated organized crime which crossed state borders in the United States...
, Dickerson testified that he had helped Democrat John V. Kenny
John V. Kenny
John Vincent Kenny was mayor of Jersey City from 1949 to 1953.-Biography:He was born on April 6, 1893. In 1971, he was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey and convicted, along with the then-mayor Thomas J...
in his 1949 campaign for mayor of Jersey City
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
as a way of disrupting the Hudson County
Hudson County, New Jersey
Hudson County is the smallest county in New Jersey and one of the most densely populated in United States. It takes its name from the Hudson River, which creates part of its eastern border. Part of the New York metropolitan area, its county seat and largest city is Jersey City.- Municipalities...
political machine of Frank Hague
Frank Hague
Frank Hague was an American Democratic Party politician who served as the mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey from 1917 to 1947, Democratic National Committeeman from New Jersey from 1922 until 1949, and Vice-Chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1924 until 1949.Hague has a widely-known...
. After Kenny's win over Hague's nephew Frank H. Eggers
Frank H. Eggers
Frank Hague Eggers was an American attorney, jurist, and Democratic Party politician who served one term as the mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey from 1947 to 1949...
in the Democratic primary, Kenny's Hudson County organization did not work hard for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Elmer H. Wene
Elmer H. Wene
Elmer H. Wene was an American Democratic Party politician who represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1937 to 1939 and again from 1941 to 1945.-Biography:...
, helping to ensure Driscoll's victory in the general election.
Dickerson further testified that the Republican State Committee had accepted a $25,000 "loan" from a friend of mob boss Abner Zwillman
Abner Zwillman
Abner "Longie" Zwillman , known as the "Al Capone of New Jersey," was an early Prohibition gangster, founding member of the "Big Seven" Ruling Commission and a member of the National Crime Syndicate, who was also associated with Murder Incorporated.-Biography:According to the Social Security Death...
and had kept no record of the cash repayment. Even more sensational was the claim by Genovese
Genovese crime family
The Genovese crime family , is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The Genovese crime family has been nicknamed the "Ivy League" and "Rolls Royce" of organized crime...
underboss
Underboss
Underboss is a position within the leadership structure of Sicilian and American Mafia crime families. The underboss is second in command to the boss...
Willie Moretti
Willie Moretti
Guarino "Willie" Moretti was an underboss of the Genovese crime family and a cousin of family boss Frank Costello.-Life:...
, who ran gambling rings in Bergen County, that he had paid $286,000 to a New Jersey State House
New Jersey State House
The New Jersey State House is located in Trenton and is the house of government for the U.S. state of New Jersey. After the Maryland State Capitol in Annapolis, it is the second oldest state house in continuous legislative use in the United States...
aide with the understanding that $190,000 of it would go to Governor Driscoll for protection from the state. Dickerson denied that there was such a bribe but acknowledged that Moretti visited his house in November 1950, along with his brother Salvatore and associate Joe Adonis
Joe Adonis
Joe Adonis , also known as "Joey A", "Joe Adone", "Joe Arosa", "James Arosa", and "Joe DiMeo", was a New York mobster who was an important participant in the formation of the modern Cosa Nostra crime families.-Early years:Adonis was born Giuseppe Antonio Doto in the small town of Montemarano,...
. Moretti complained that he had received no protection as the result of the alleged bribe and warned Dickerson, "Tell the governor and the attorney general that I don't intend to take this laying down." Moretti was murdered the following year.
Dickerson did not seek reelection as party chairman and was replaced in 1953 by Samuel L. Bodine
Samuel L. Bodine
Samuel Louis Bodine was an American Republican Party politician who served in the New Jersey Senate and as Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee.-Biography:...
. After an abortive run for Mayor of Palisades Park in 1958, Dickerson retired from politics and pursued a business career as a New York real estate executive. He died at his home in Palisades Park in 1966 at the age of 66.
External links
- Biographical information for John J. Dickerson from The Political GraveyardThe Political GraveyardThe Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 224,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information.-History:...