Robert Maestri
Encyclopedia
Robert Sidney Maestri was mayor of New Orleans from 1936 to 1946 and a key ally of Huey P. Long, Jr., and Earl Kemp Long.
, he was appointed to head the state’s Conservation Commission, which allowed him to control production quotas in the state’s oil industry. He served as conservation commissioner from 1929 to 1936, and was a powerful member of Long’s inner circle.
, and after his death, both sides were interested in ceasing hostilities. In 1936, an agreement was reached between Longite governor Richard Leche and Walmsley’s Regular Democratic Organization
, whereby Walmsley would resign as mayor before his term ended and Maestri would take his place as both mayor and as head of the powerful Old Regular political machine. In July 1936, Maestri was nominated as the Democratic candidate for mayor without opposition. After the Republican candidate withdrew in the face of almost certain defeat at the hands of a unified Longite-Old Regular machine, Maestri was acclaimed as mayor of New Orleans on August 17, 1936, without having to face election. A subsequent constitutional amendment was passed by the Longite state legislature cancelling the 1938 municipal election and extending Maestri's term to 1942.
After this easy victory, though, Maestri retreated from his accessible governing style in his second term in order to spend more time running his Old Regular machine, which allowed city services to erode. With the mayor’s attention elsewhere, the corruption and favoritism that already characterized his administration grew even further. Maestri and the Longites had reached a deal with mobster Frank Costello
whereby the city would ignore slot-machine laws in exchange for a cut of the proceeds, so prostitution and illegal gambling flourished in New Orleans under Maestri’s tenure. The growing problems of New Orleans in Maestri’s second term were too much for the Old Regular machine to handle, and allowed young reformer deLesseps Story Morrison, Sr., to defeat Maestri in the mayoral election of January 1946.
Morrison served until 1961.
at New Orleans’ famous Antoine's
Restaurant, when Maestri blurted “How ya like dem erstuhs, Chief?” in his characteristic thick New Orleans accent.
Early life
Robert Maestri was born in New Orleans on December 11, 1889, the son of two Italians, Francis Maestri and Angele (Lacabe) Maestri. He inherited his father’s furniture store at an early age, and quickly built it up into one of the city’s largest. After investing in real estate, Maestri was able to amass a considerable fortune. He also had political ambition, and after allying himself with governor Huey LongHuey Long
Huey Pierce Long, Jr. , nicknamed The Kingfish, served as the 40th Governor of Louisiana from 1928–1932 and as a U.S. Senator from 1932 to 1935. A Democrat, he was noted for his radical populist policies. Though a backer of Franklin D...
, he was appointed to head the state’s Conservation Commission, which allowed him to control production quotas in the state’s oil industry. He served as conservation commissioner from 1929 to 1936, and was a powerful member of Long’s inner circle.
Rise to Power
Maestri’s association with the Longite political faction brought him to even greater prominence after Huey Long’s death. Long had been involved in a lengthy and destructive feud with New Orleans Mayor T. Semmes WalmsleyT. Semmes Walmsley
Thomas Semmes Walmsley was Mayor of New Orleans from July 1929 to June 1936. He is best known for his intense rivalry with Louisiana Governor Huey P. Long.- Early life and career :...
, and after his death, both sides were interested in ceasing hostilities. In 1936, an agreement was reached between Longite governor Richard Leche and Walmsley’s Regular Democratic Organization
Regular Democratic Organization
The Regular Democratic Organization , or Old Regulars, or the New Orleans Ring, is a conservative political organization based in New Orleans. It has existed for 130 years and as of 2006 is still active. The symbol of the RDO is the rooster...
, whereby Walmsley would resign as mayor before his term ended and Maestri would take his place as both mayor and as head of the powerful Old Regular political machine. In July 1936, Maestri was nominated as the Democratic candidate for mayor without opposition. After the Republican candidate withdrew in the face of almost certain defeat at the hands of a unified Longite-Old Regular machine, Maestri was acclaimed as mayor of New Orleans on August 17, 1936, without having to face election. A subsequent constitutional amendment was passed by the Longite state legislature cancelling the 1938 municipal election and extending Maestri's term to 1942.
Maestri as Mayor
Lacking in any formal schooling beyond the third grade, Maestri was nonetheless a shrewd politician. He began the reintegration of New Orleans into the state’s political structure by reorganizing the city’s fiscal structure, ending the costly practice of borrowing money against anticipated tax revenue and streamlining purchasing and expenditures. He developed a popular personal governing style, going on daily tours of the city to pinpoint problems, and holding daily open sessions in which citizens could come to his office to explain their problems or request help. He used his connections with the Long machine in Baton Rouge to bring state and federal funds to the city, resulting in the construction of a new Charity Hospital and public housing projects for low-income New Orleanians. Once in City Hall, Maestri solidified his control by using spoils politics and patronage appointments, using Old Regular ward bosses to enforce loyalty and dispense patronage, and to guarantee votes for himself and for Longite candidates in local and state elections. With this powerful machine behind him, he was able to easily win reelection in 1942 against reform candidates Herve Racivitch and Shirley Wimberly, taking 75,713 votes out of a total of 137,000 votes cast.After this easy victory, though, Maestri retreated from his accessible governing style in his second term in order to spend more time running his Old Regular machine, which allowed city services to erode. With the mayor’s attention elsewhere, the corruption and favoritism that already characterized his administration grew even further. Maestri and the Longites had reached a deal with mobster Frank Costello
Frank Costello
Frank Costello was an Italian New York City gangster who rose to the top of America's underworld, controlled a vast gambling empire across the United States and enjoyed political influence.Nicknamed the "Prime Minister of the Underworld", he became one of the most powerful and influential Mafia...
whereby the city would ignore slot-machine laws in exchange for a cut of the proceeds, so prostitution and illegal gambling flourished in New Orleans under Maestri’s tenure. The growing problems of New Orleans in Maestri’s second term were too much for the Old Regular machine to handle, and allowed young reformer deLesseps Story Morrison, Sr., to defeat Maestri in the mayoral election of January 1946.
New Orleans mayoral election, 1946
The New Orleans mayoral election of 1946 was held on January 22, 1946. It resulted in the defeat of incumbent mayor Robert Maestri and the election of deLesseps Morrison as Mayor of New Orleans.- Background :...
Morrison served until 1961.
Personality
Maestri’s lack of education and earthy, unpolished manner of speaking made him a frequent subject of humor and ridicule. Maestri’s most famous utterance came when dining with President Franklin Roosevelt on Oysters RockefellerOysters Rockefeller
Oysters Rockefeller consists of oysters on the half-shell that have been topped with various other ingredients and are then baked or broiled.-History:...
at New Orleans’ famous Antoine's
Antoine's
Antoine's is a Louisiana Creole cuisine restaurant located at 713 rue St. Louis in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. It has the distinction of being the oldest family run restaurant in the United States, having been established in 1840 by Antoine Alciatore...
Restaurant, when Maestri blurted “How ya like dem erstuhs, Chief?” in his characteristic thick New Orleans accent.
Sources
- Haas, Edward F. “New Orleans on the Half-Shell: The Maestri Era, 1936-1946” Louisiana History, 13 (1972)
- Kurtz, Michael and Peoples, Morgan. Earl K. Long: The Saga of Uncle Earl and Louisiana Politics. LSU Press, 1990.
- Brasseaux, Carl, ed. A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography. Louisiana Historical Association, 1988.