Robert Giaimo
Encyclopedia
Robert Nicholas Giaimo (October 15, 1919 – May 24, 2006) was a Democratic US Representative from Connecticut
. He co-sponsored the legislation creating the National Endowment for the Arts
and the National Endowment for the Humanities
. He helped create the Washington Metro
and sponsored legislation eliminating the loyalty oath
requirement for college students applying for a federal grant.
, Giaimo was the son of an immigrant from Sicily
who founded the city's Community Bank and Trust Company, which provided loans to many of his fellow immigrants. He attended North Haven
public schools and graduated from Fordham University
in 1941 and earned his law degree
at the University of Connecticut
in 1943.
He served in the United States Army
from 1943 until separated from the service as a first lieutenant in 1946 (he continued serving as a captain, Judge Advocate General Corps, United States Army Reserve
). He was admitted to the bar in 1947 and commenced practicing law in New Haven, Connecticut
. He became a member of North Haven Board of Education 1949-1955 and an assistant clerk to the Probate Court in New Haven between 1952-1954. He rose to chairman of the Connecticut Personnel Appeals Board for the period 1955-1958 and was third selectman, North Haven from 1955 to 1957.
Politically, he was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for election in 1956 to the Eighty-fifth United States Congress.
He succeeded in being elected as a Democrat
to the Eighty-sixth United States Congress and to the ten succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1959 - January 3, 1981). During the Ninety-fifth and Ninety-sixth United States Congresses he acted as chairman of the House Committee on the Budget
. He stood down and was not a candidate for reelection to the Ninety-seventh United States Congress in 1980.
He died in Arlington, Virginia of complications from heart and lung disease.
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. He co-sponsored the legislation creating the National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
and the National Endowment for the Humanities
National Endowment for the Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent federal agency of the United States established by the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. The NEH is located at...
. He helped create the Washington Metro
Washington Metro
The Washington Metro, commonly called Metro, and unofficially Metrorail, is the rapid transit system in Washington, D.C., United States, and its surrounding suburbs. It is administered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority , which also operates Metrobus service under the Metro name...
and sponsored legislation eliminating the loyalty oath
Loyalty oath
A loyalty oath is an oath of loyalty to an organization, institution, or state of which an individual is a member.In this context, a loyalty oath is distinct from pledge or oath of allegiance...
requirement for college students applying for a federal grant.
Early life and career
Born in New Haven, ConnecticutNew Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
, Giaimo was the son of an immigrant from Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
who founded the city's Community Bank and Trust Company, which provided loans to many of his fellow immigrants. He attended North Haven
North Haven, Connecticut
North Haven is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut on the outskirts of New Haven, Connecticut.North Haven is less than ten miles from downtown New Haven and Yale University. It is near Sleeping Giant State Park and home the Quinnipiac University School of Health Sciences, the School of Nursing,...
public schools and graduated from Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
in 1941 and earned his law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
at the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
in 1943.
He served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1943 until separated from the service as a first lieutenant in 1946 (he continued serving as a captain, Judge Advocate General Corps, United States Army Reserve
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
). He was admitted to the bar in 1947 and commenced practicing law in New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
. He became a member of North Haven Board of Education 1949-1955 and an assistant clerk to the Probate Court in New Haven between 1952-1954. He rose to chairman of the Connecticut Personnel Appeals Board for the period 1955-1958 and was third selectman, North Haven from 1955 to 1957.
Congressional career
He succeeded in being elected as a 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 the Eighty-sixth United States Congress and to the ten succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1959 - January 3, 1981). During the Ninety-fifth and Ninety-sixth United States Congresses he acted as chairman of the House Committee on the Budget
United States House Committee on the Budget
The U.S. House Committee on the Budget, commonly known as the House Budget Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress...
. He stood down and was not a candidate for reelection to the Ninety-seventh United States Congress in 1980.
He died in Arlington, Virginia of complications from heart and lung disease.