William Sulzer
Encyclopedia
William Sulzer was an American lawyer and politician, nicknamed Plain Bill Sulzer. He was the 39th Governor of New York and a long-serving congressman from the same state. He was the first and so far only New York Governor to be impeached. His brother Charles August Sulzer
served in Congress as a delegate from the Territory of Alaska.
. Then he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1884, and commenced practice in New York City
.
He was a member from New York County of the New York State Assembly
from 1889 to 1894, and was Speaker
in 1893. He was also as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
s in 1892, 1896, 1900, 1904, 1908 and 1912.
Sulzer was elected to the Fifty-fourth United States Congress, and served as a U.S. Representative from New York
in the eight succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1895, to December 31, 1912. In the Sixty-second United States Congress he chaired the Committee on Foreign Affairs. He resigned from Congress effective December 31, 1912, having been elected Governor of New York in November 1912 for the term beginning on January 1, 1913.
support as the Democratic candidate for Governor in 1912, but he quickly drew the ire of the powerful leader of that New York City
organization, Charles F. Murphy, by refusing to accept party instructions on appointments, by seeking primary elections rather than nominating by convention, and other actions. One of the appointments that Sulzer refused to make was that of James E. Gaffney, owner of the 1914 "Miracle" Braves, to State Commissioner of Highways. Sulzer and many historians later affirmed that the impeachment charges were made under instructions from Murphy, to remove him as an obstacle to Tammany Hall's influence in state politics.
On August 13, 1913, the New York Assembly voted to impeach Governor Sulzer, by a vote of 79 to 45. Sulzer was served with a summons to appear before the Court for the Trial of Impeachments
, and Lieutenant Governor
Martin H. Glynn
was empowered to act in his place pending the outcome of the trial. However, Sulzer maintained that the proceedings against him were unconstitutional and refused to vacate his office. Both Sulzer and Glynn claimed to be Governor. Lt.Gov. Glynn began signing documents as "Acting Governor" beginning on August 21.
The trial of Sulzer before the Impeachment Court began in Albany
on September 18. Sulzer had called upon Louis Marshall to head his defense team and Marshall agreed, telling his wife that he was not enthusiastic about the outcome. The trial did not go well; Sulzer didn't even testify in his own defense. The court convicted Sulzer on three of the Articles of Impeachment on the afternoon of October 16, finding him guilty of filing a false report with the Secretary of State concerning his campaign contributions, committing perjury, and advising another person to commit perjury before an Assembly committee. The following day, the court voted on a resolution to remove Sulzer from office. On October 17, 1913, Sulzer was removed by the same margin, a vote of 43–12, and Lt. Gov. Glynn succeeded to the governorship.
According to the hagiographic 1914 book, The Boss or the Governor, by Samuel Bell Thomas
, a crowd of 10,000 gathered outside the Executive Mansion on the night Governor Sulzer left Albany, leading to an exchange as follows:
Some in Albany
maintained that he was impeached unfairly, as he had been the first person ever to have been impeached for acts committed before taking office. There have been several pieces of legislation introduced in the New York State Assembly and Senate to have his political record repaired. None have been successful to date.
Sulzer's official portrait is one of several Governors of New York that do not hang in the "Hall of Governors," the main hallway leading to the Executive Chamber, located within the New York State Capitol
in Albany.
on November 4, 1913, just a month later. He stood as the Prohibition and American Parties' candidate for Governor in 1914, and in 1916 he declined the nomination for President of the United States
by the American Party
.
He engaged in the practice of law in New York City until his death there November 6, 1941, aged 78. He was interred at the Evergreen Cemetery
in Hillside, New Jersey
.
film The Great McGinty
(1940).
Charles August Sulzer
Charles August Sulzer was a delegate to the United States House of Representatives from the Territory of Alaska. He was born on February 24, 1879 in Roselle, New Jersey in Union County...
served in Congress as a delegate from the Territory of Alaska.
Early life and political career
Sulzer attended the public schools and graduated from Columbia CollegeColumbia College of Columbia University
Columbia College is the oldest undergraduate college at Columbia University, situated on the university's main campus in Morningside Heights in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded in 1754 by the Church of England as King's College, receiving a Royal Charter from King George II...
. Then he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1884, and commenced practice in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
He was a member from New York County of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
from 1889 to 1894, and was Speaker
Speaker of the New York State Assembly
The Speaker of the New York State Assembly is the highest official in the New York State Assembly, customarily elected from the ranks of the majority party....
in 1893. He was also as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
s in 1892, 1896, 1900, 1904, 1908 and 1912.
Sulzer was elected to the Fifty-fourth United States Congress, and served as a U.S. Representative from 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...
in the eight succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1895, to December 31, 1912. In the Sixty-second United States Congress he chaired the Committee on Foreign Affairs. He resigned from Congress effective December 31, 1912, having been elected Governor of New York in November 1912 for the term beginning on January 1, 1913.
Impeachment
A few months into his term, Sulzer was alleged to have diverted campaign contributions to his own use and to have lied. Sulzer had enjoyed Tammany HallTammany 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...
support as the Democratic candidate for Governor in 1912, but he quickly drew the ire of the powerful leader of that New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
organization, Charles F. Murphy, by refusing to accept party instructions on appointments, by seeking primary elections rather than nominating by convention, and other actions. One of the appointments that Sulzer refused to make was that of James E. Gaffney, owner of the 1914 "Miracle" Braves, to State Commissioner of Highways. Sulzer and many historians later affirmed that the impeachment charges were made under instructions from Murphy, to remove him as an obstacle to Tammany Hall's influence in state politics.
On August 13, 1913, the New York Assembly voted to impeach Governor Sulzer, by a vote of 79 to 45. Sulzer was served with a summons to appear before the Court for the Trial of Impeachments
New York Court for the Trial of Impeachments
The Court for the Trial of Impeachments, and the Correction of Errors was established by the New York State Constitution of 1777. It consisted then of the Lieutenant Governor of New York , the Chancellor, the justices of the New York Supreme Court and the members of the New York State Senate...
, and Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of New York
The Lieutenant Governor of New York is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the government of New York State. It is the second highest ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four year term...
Martin H. Glynn
Martin H. Glynn
Martin Henry Glynn was an American politician. He was the 40th Governor of New York from 1913 to 1914, the first Irish American Roman Catholic head of government of what was then the most populated state of the US....
was empowered to act in his place pending the outcome of the trial. However, Sulzer maintained that the proceedings against him were unconstitutional and refused to vacate his office. Both Sulzer and Glynn claimed to be Governor. Lt.Gov. Glynn began signing documents as "Acting Governor" beginning on August 21.
The trial of Sulzer before the Impeachment Court began in Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
on September 18. Sulzer had called upon Louis Marshall to head his defense team and Marshall agreed, telling his wife that he was not enthusiastic about the outcome. The trial did not go well; Sulzer didn't even testify in his own defense. The court convicted Sulzer on three of the Articles of Impeachment on the afternoon of October 16, finding him guilty of filing a false report with the Secretary of State concerning his campaign contributions, committing perjury, and advising another person to commit perjury before an Assembly committee. The following day, the court voted on a resolution to remove Sulzer from office. On October 17, 1913, Sulzer was removed by the same margin, a vote of 43–12, and Lt. Gov. Glynn succeeded to the governorship.
According to the hagiographic 1914 book, The Boss or the Governor, by Samuel Bell Thomas
Samuel Bell Thomas
Samuel Bell Thomas was a New York lawyer who defended William Sulzer during his impeachment in 1913. He was the Commonwealth Land Party candidate for Justice of New York Supreme Court 1st District in 1924. He died on October 11, 1943....
, a crowd of 10,000 gathered outside the Executive Mansion on the night Governor Sulzer left Albany, leading to an exchange as follows:
- Mr. Sulzer: "My friends, this is a stormy night. It is certainly very good of you to come here to bid Mrs. Sulzer and me good-bye."
- A voice from the crowd: "You will come back, Bill, next year."
- Mr. Sulzer: "You know why we are going away."
- A voice: "Because you were too honest."
- Mr. Sulzer: "I impeach the criminal conspirators, these looters and grafters, for stealing the taxpayers' money. That is what I never did."
- From the crowd: Cheers.
- Mr. Sulzer: "Yes my friends, I know that the court of public opinion before long will reverse the judgement of Murphy's 'court of infamy.'"
- From the crowd: Cheers.
- Mr. Sulzer: "Posterity will do me justice. Time sets all things right. I shall be patient."
- From the crowd: Cheers.
Some in Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
maintained that he was impeached unfairly, as he had been the first person ever to have been impeached for acts committed before taking office. There have been several pieces of legislation introduced in the New York State Assembly and Senate to have his political record repaired. None have been successful to date.
Sulzer's official portrait is one of several Governors of New York that do not hang in the "Hall of Governors," the main hallway leading to the Executive Chamber, located within the New York State Capitol
New York State Capitol
The New York State Capitol is the capitol building of the U.S. state of New York. Housing the New York State Legislature, it is located in the state capital city Albany, on State Street in Capitol Park. The building, completed in 1899 at a cost of $25 million , was the most expensive government...
in Albany.
Later life and political career
Sulzer was able to recover somewhat politically. He was subsequently elected as an independent to the New York State AssemblyNew York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
on November 4, 1913, just a month later. He stood as the Prohibition and American Parties' candidate for Governor in 1914, and in 1916 he declined the nomination for President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
by the American Party
American Party (1914)
The American Party was a short-lived minor political party during the early 20th century. It was "formed by a number of disgruntled Democrats and admirers of William Sulzer." The party was incorporated on April 13, 1914 at Albany.-Background:...
.
He engaged in the practice of law in New York City until his death there November 6, 1941, aged 78. He was interred at the Evergreen Cemetery
Evergreen Cemetery, Hillside
Evergreen Cemetery and Crematory is a cemetery and crematorium located at 1137 North Broad Street, Hillside, New Jersey. Parts of it are in Hillside, Elizabeth, and Newark. The cemetery is listed on both the New Jersey Register and the National Register of Historic Places, since 1991.Notable graves...
in Hillside, New Jersey
Hillside, New Jersey
Hillside is a township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 21,404.Hillside was incorporated as a township on April 3, 1913, from portions of Union Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 29, 1913.The town...
.
In popular culture
William Sulzer's story is said to be the basis for Preston SturgesPreston Sturges
Preston Sturges , originally Edmund Preston Biden, was a celebrated playwright, screenwriter and film director born in Chicago, Illinois...
film The Great McGinty
The Great McGinty
The Great McGinty is a 1940 political satire comedy film written and directed by Preston Sturges, starring Brian Donlevy and Akim Tamiroff and featuring William Demarest and Muriel Angelus. It was Sturges's first film as a director; he sold the story to Paramount Pictures for just $10 on condition...
(1940).
External links
- Men of Mark in America Biography & Portrait