Vincent R. Impellitteri
Encyclopedia
Vincent Richard Impellitteri (February 4, 1900 – January 29, 1987) was an American politician, who served as the 101st Mayor of New York City
.
, Sicily
, and moved with his family to the United States
as an infant in 1901. They settled in Ansonia, Connecticut
, where Impellitteri spent most of his youth.
After a stint the Navy, Impellitteri attended Fordham Law School, where he received his law degree in 1924. He served as a New York
Assistant District Attorney from 1929 to 1938 before becoming a clerk to secretary to Tammany Supreme Court Justice Joseph A. Gavagan
. He was a close associate of Tommy Lucchese
who helped Impellitteri rise in power when he started his career in politics.
In 1945, Mayor William O'Dwyer
picked Impellitteri to run for President of the City Council on the Tammany Hall
slate. In 1945 he ran on the Democratic and American Labor Party lines, but when he was up for reelection in 1949 he ran on the Democratic Party line alone.
On August 31, 1950, O'Dwyer, pursued by both federal and state investigators, was suddenly appointed by President Harry S. Truman
as ambassador to Mexico
, where he would be beyond the reach of officials who wanted his public testimony in several matters on which he preferred not to speak. (He did not return to NYC for eleven years, long after his ambassadorship had ended, preferring to remain in Mexico).
Under the City Charter of the day, when O'Dwyer resigned, City Council President Impellitteri became acting mayor. The Tammany bosses didn't think he was Mayor material, and they refused to nominate him as the Democratic candidate for the special election in November 1950, which instead went to highly regarded New York State Supreme Court Judge Ferdinand Pecora
, who was also given the Liberal
line. "Impy" (as he was fondly known) was forced to run as an independent under the banner of the new “Experience Party”. He also popularized the phrase "unbought and unbossed" during his 1950 campaign.
Impellitteri was the first mayor since the consolidation of greater New York in 1898 who was elected without a major party’s ballot line, and his election was a populist uprising against the political system.
Impellitteri’s inauguration, held on November 14, 1950, absent either a band or a platform, was both swift and simple. Outside City Hall, he pledged to “do my level best to justify the confidence you have reposed in me.”
Shortly after Impellitteri's succession, the Brooklyn
District Attorney
arrested bookie Harry Gross and launched a corruption scandal that ultimately caused nearly 500 police officers of all ranks to resign, retire, or be fired. This famous scandal caused Impellitteri to vigorously support the Brooklyn District Attorney, Miles McDonald, and fire everyone who had been associated with former Mayor William O'Dwyer
.
Impellitteri is credited with trying to rein in the budget, raising the bus and subway fare to fifteen cents, establishing parking meters on city streets for enhanced revenue and increasing the sales tax. He aspired to be a new light in city politics, but his administration met with some resistance from the established order. At the time Robert Moses wielded significant influence, who, according to Robert Caro
(in his Robert Moses
biography The Power Broker), Impellitteri deferred to behind the scenes.
Impellitteri ran for reelection in 1953, but was defeated by then Manhattan Borough President Robert F. Wagner, Jr.
, who appointed him a criminal court judge in 1954. He served out his career in public office on the bench.
Following his wife's death he spent much of his time at the New York Athletic Club
"Impy" retired from the bench in 1965. He died of Parkinson's disease
on January 29, 1987, at Bridgeport Hospital
in Bridgeport, Connecticut
.
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...
.
Biography
He was born in IsnelloIsnello
Isnello is a comune in the Province of Palermo in the Italian region Sicily, located about 70 km southeast of Palermo....
, 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,...
, and moved with his family to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as an infant in 1901. They settled in Ansonia, Connecticut
Ansonia, Connecticut
Ansonia is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, on the Naugatuck River, immediately north of Derby and about northwest of New Haven. The population was 19,249 at the 2010 census. The ZIP code for Ansonia is 06401. The city is serviced by the Metro North railroad...
, where Impellitteri spent most of his youth.
After a stint the Navy, Impellitteri attended Fordham Law School, where he received his law degree in 1924. He served as a New York
New 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...
Assistant District Attorney from 1929 to 1938 before becoming a clerk to secretary to Tammany Supreme Court Justice Joseph A. Gavagan
Joseph A. Gavagan
Joseph Andrew Gavagan was a United States Representative from New York.Born in New York City, he attended the public and parochial schools and graduated from the law department of Fordham University in 1920...
. He was a close associate of Tommy Lucchese
Tommy Lucchese
Gaetano "Tommy" Lucchese , also known as "Tom Brown" or "Three-Finger Brown", was an American mobster who became the Boss of the Lucchese crime family in New York City...
who helped Impellitteri rise in power when he started his career in politics.
In 1945, Mayor William O'Dwyer
William O'Dwyer
William O'Dwyer was the 100th Mayor of New York City, holding that office from 1946 to 1950.-Biography:O'Dwyer was born in County Mayo, Ireland and migrated to the United States in 1910, after abandoning studies for the priesthood...
picked Impellitteri to run for President of the City Council on the 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...
slate. In 1945 he ran on the Democratic and American Labor Party lines, but when he was up for reelection in 1949 he ran on the Democratic Party line alone.
On August 31, 1950, O'Dwyer, pursued by both federal and state investigators, was suddenly appointed by President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
as ambassador to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, where he would be beyond the reach of officials who wanted his public testimony in several matters on which he preferred not to speak. (He did not return to NYC for eleven years, long after his ambassadorship had ended, preferring to remain in Mexico).
Under the City Charter of the day, when O'Dwyer resigned, City Council President Impellitteri became acting mayor. The Tammany bosses didn't think he was Mayor material, and they refused to nominate him as the Democratic candidate for the special election in November 1950, which instead went to highly regarded New York State Supreme Court Judge Ferdinand Pecora
Ferdinand Pecora
Ferdinand Pecora was an American lawyer and judge who became famous in the 1930s as Chief Counsel to the United States Senate Committee on Banking and Currency during its investigation of Wall Street banking and stock brokerage practices.-Early career:Ferdinand Pecora was born in Nicosia, Sicily,...
, who was also given the Liberal
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...
line. "Impy" (as he was fondly known) was forced to run as an independent under the banner of the new “Experience Party”. He also popularized the phrase "unbought and unbossed" during his 1950 campaign.
Impellitteri was the first mayor since the consolidation of greater New York in 1898 who was elected without a major party’s ballot line, and his election was a populist uprising against the political system.
- Impellitteri (Experience Party) 1,161,175 votes
- Ferdinand PecoraFerdinand PecoraFerdinand Pecora was an American lawyer and judge who became famous in the 1930s as Chief Counsel to the United States Senate Committee on Banking and Currency during its investigation of Wall Street banking and stock brokerage practices.-Early career:Ferdinand Pecora was born in Nicosia, Sicily,...
(Democratic/Liberal) 935,351 - Edward Corsi (Republican) 382,372
- Paul L. Ross (American Labor) 147,578
Impellitteri’s inauguration, held on November 14, 1950, absent either a band or a platform, was both swift and simple. Outside City Hall, he pledged to “do my level best to justify the confidence you have reposed in me.”
Shortly after Impellitteri's succession, the 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...
District Attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
arrested bookie Harry Gross and launched a corruption scandal that ultimately caused nearly 500 police officers of all ranks to resign, retire, or be fired. This famous scandal caused Impellitteri to vigorously support the Brooklyn District Attorney, Miles McDonald, and fire everyone who had been associated with former Mayor William O'Dwyer
William O'Dwyer
William O'Dwyer was the 100th Mayor of New York City, holding that office from 1946 to 1950.-Biography:O'Dwyer was born in County Mayo, Ireland and migrated to the United States in 1910, after abandoning studies for the priesthood...
.
Impellitteri is credited with trying to rein in the budget, raising the bus and subway fare to fifteen cents, establishing parking meters on city streets for enhanced revenue and increasing the sales tax. He aspired to be a new light in city politics, but his administration met with some resistance from the established order. At the time Robert Moses wielded significant influence, who, according to Robert Caro
Robert Caro
Robert Allan Caro is an American journalist and author known for his celebrated biographies of United States political figures Robert Moses and Lyndon B. Johnson...
(in his Robert Moses
Robert Moses
Robert Moses was the "master builder" of mid-20th century New York City, Long Island, Rockland County, and Westchester County, New York. As the shaper of a modern city, he is sometimes compared to Baron Haussmann of Second Empire Paris, and is one of the most polarizing figures in the history of...
biography The Power Broker), Impellitteri deferred to behind the scenes.
Impellitteri ran for reelection in 1953, but was defeated by then Manhattan Borough President Robert F. Wagner, Jr.
Robert F. Wagner, Jr.
Robert Ferdinand Wagner II, usually known as Robert F. Wagner, Jr. served three terms as the mayor of New York City, from 1954 through 1965.-Biography:...
, who appointed him a criminal court judge in 1954. He served out his career in public office on the bench.
Following his wife's death he spent much of his time at the New York Athletic Club
"Impy" retired from the bench in 1965. He died of Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
on January 29, 1987, at Bridgeport Hospital
Bridgeport Hospital
Bridgeport Hospital is a private, not-for-profit general medical and surgical hospital in Bridgeport, Connecticut. It is a member of the Yale New Haven Health System, and affiliated with the Yale University School of Medicine.-Description:...
in Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
.