Mario Procaccino
Encyclopedia
Mario Angelo Procaccino (September 5, 1912 – December 20, 1995) was a lawyer
, comptroller
, and candidate for mayor of New York City
.
Procaccino was born in Bisaccia
, Italy
. When he was nine years old, his family relocated to the United States
, and despite poverty, he graduated from City College and Fordham Law School, becoming a lawyer during the 1930s. In the early 1940s, Mayor Fiorello La Guardia heard him address a war-bond
rally and arranged for an appointment to a $3,500-a-year post with the city's legal department. When La Guardia's administration ended, Procaccino became a party worker for Tammany Hall
and was eventually given a minor judgeship. In 1965, the New York Democrats
supported Procaccino, a candidate from the Bronx of Italian ethnicity, for comptroller, along with a Jewish mayoral candidate, Abe Beame of Brooklyn
, and an Irish-American from Queens, Frank O'Connor, for city council president. Procaccino and O'Connor were elected, but Beame was defeated by the Republican
and Liberal Party of New York
joint nominee, John Vlet Lindsay, a member of the United States House of Representatives
and a then ally of fellow New York liberal Republicans Governor
Nelson A. Rockefeller and United States Senator Jacob K. Javits
.
In 1969 Procaccino won the Democratic primary for mayor with 32.8 percent of the vote in a five-man contest, having defeated, among others, former Mayor Robert Wagner, Jr., liberal
novelist Norman Mailer
, and Bronx Borough President Herman Badillo
, who later defected to the GOP
. After briefly having a large lead in the general election race—a poll of June showed him leading Liberal Party
nominee Lindsay
by fourteen points—the mostly conservative Democrat soon lost public support, probably because he was unable to supplement his "law and order
" campaign rhetoric. His campaign was, according to journalist Richard Reeves
, "the worst political campaign in American history." According to Reeves, Procaccino "snatched defeat from the jaws of victory." When speaking before an African-American audience, Procaccino made a gaffe by saying, "My heart is as black as yours."
Procaccino lost the mayoralty to Lindsay in this three-way race.
The vote was divided accordingly: Lindsay (Liberal) 42 percent, Procaccino (Democrat) 36 percent, and John Marchi
(Republican),
a member of the New York State Senate
, 22 percent. For details, see New York City mayoral elections#1969. Following the election, Procaccino worked as a Tax Commissioner for Governor Rockefeller and later returned to private practice.
However, his campaign had several lasting effects on national and New York politics. One was his characterization of his opponents as "limousine liberal
s", a term that has become a part of the American political lexicon. The second effect was a change of New York City's election law. Because of Procaccino's slender plurality in the Democratic primary, if no candidate carries at least 40 percent of the vote, a runoff election must be organized.
Procaccino was living outside the city, in Harrison, New York
, Westchester County
, at the time of his death.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, comptroller
Comptroller
A comptroller is a management level position responsible for supervising the quality of accounting and financial reporting of an organization.In British government, the Comptroller General or Comptroller and Auditor General is in most countries the external auditor of the budget execution of the...
, and candidate for mayor of New York City
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...
.
Procaccino was born in Bisaccia
Bisaccia
Bisaccia is an Italian town and comune, population 4,382, situated in the province of Avellino. It borders the communes of Andretta, Aquilonia, Calitri, Guardia Lombardi, Lacedonia, Scampitella and Vallata.-Overview:...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. When he was nine years old, his family relocated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and despite poverty, he graduated from City College and Fordham Law School, becoming a lawyer during the 1930s. In the early 1940s, Mayor Fiorello La Guardia heard him address a war-bond
War bond
War bonds are debt securities issued by a government for the purpose of financing military operations during times of war. War bonds generate capital for the government and make civilians feel involved in their national militaries...
rally and arranged for an appointment to a $3,500-a-year post with the city's legal department. When La Guardia's administration ended, Procaccino became a party worker for Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
and was eventually given a minor judgeship. In 1965, the New York Democrats
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...
supported Procaccino, a candidate from the Bronx of Italian ethnicity, for comptroller, along with a Jewish mayoral candidate, Abe Beame of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, and an Irish-American from Queens, Frank O'Connor, for city council president. Procaccino and O'Connor were elected, but Beame was defeated by the 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...
and 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...
joint nominee, John Vlet Lindsay, a member of the United States 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...
and a then ally of fellow New York liberal Republicans Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Nelson A. Rockefeller and United States Senator Jacob K. Javits
Jacob K. Javits
Jacob Koppel "Jack" Javits was a politician who served as United States Senator from New York from 1957 to 1981. A liberal Republican, he was originally allied with Governor Nelson Rockefeller, fellow U.S...
.
In 1969 Procaccino won the Democratic primary for mayor with 32.8 percent of the vote in a five-man contest, having defeated, among others, former Mayor Robert Wagner, Jr., liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
novelist Norman Mailer
Norman Mailer
Norman Kingsley Mailer was an American novelist, journalist, essayist, poet, playwright, screenwriter, and film director.Along with Truman Capote, Joan Didion, Hunter S...
, and Bronx Borough President Herman Badillo
Herman Badillo
Herman Badillo is a Bronx, New York politician who has been a borough president, United States Representative, and candidate for Mayor of New York City. He was the first Puerto Rican to be elected to these posts and be a mayoral candidate in the continental United States.-Early years:Badillo was...
, who later defected to the GOP
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...
. After briefly having a large lead in the general election race—a poll of June showed him leading Liberal Party
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...
nominee 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...
by fourteen points—the mostly conservative Democrat soon lost public support, probably because he was unable to supplement his "law and order
Law and order (politics)
In politics, law and order refers to demands for a strict criminal justice system, especially in relation to violent and property crime, through harsher criminal penalties...
" campaign rhetoric. His campaign was, according to journalist Richard Reeves
Richard Reeves
Richard Reeves is a writer, syndicated columnist and lecturer at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.-Career:...
, "the worst political campaign in American history." According to Reeves, Procaccino "snatched defeat from the jaws of victory." When speaking before an African-American audience, Procaccino made a gaffe by saying, "My heart is as black as yours."
Procaccino lost the mayoralty to Lindsay in this three-way race.
The vote was divided accordingly: Lindsay (Liberal) 42 percent, Procaccino (Democrat) 36 percent, and John Marchi
John Marchi
John J. Marchi was a New York State Senator who represented Staten Island for a record 50 years. Marchi , a Republican, retired on December 31, 2006, from the seat that he had held since January 1, 1957....
(Republican),
a member of the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
, 22 percent. For details, see New York City mayoral elections#1969. Following the election, Procaccino worked as a Tax Commissioner for Governor Rockefeller and later returned to private practice.
However, his campaign had several lasting effects on national and New York politics. One was his characterization of his opponents as "limousine liberal
Limousine liberal
Limousine liberal is a pejorative American political term used to illustrate perceived hypocrisy by a political liberal of upper class or upper middle class status; including calls for the use of mass transit while frequently using limousines or private jets, claiming environmental consciousness...
s", a term that has become a part of the American political lexicon. The second effect was a change of New York City's election law. Because of Procaccino's slender plurality in the Democratic primary, if no candidate carries at least 40 percent of the vote, a runoff election must be organized.
Procaccino was living outside the city, in Harrison, New York
Harrison, New York
Harrison is a village and town in Westchester County, New York, United States, located approximately northeast of Manhattan. The population was 27,472 at the 2010 census.-Establishment:...
, Westchester County
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
, at the time of his death.