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Hugh J. Addonizio

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Hugh Joseph Addonizio
33rd Mayor of Newark
In office
July 1, 1962 – July 1, 1970
Preceded byLeo P. Carlin
Succeeded byKenneth A. Gibson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Jersey's 11th district
In office
January 3, 1949 – June 30, 1962
Preceded byFrank Sundstrom
Succeeded byJoseph Minish
Personal details
Born(1914-01-31)January 31, 1914
Newark, New Jersey
DiedFebruary 2, 1981(1981-02-02) (aged 67)
Red Bank, New Jersey
Political partyDemocratic Party
Alma materFordham University
AwardsSilver Star
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Rank Captain
Battles/warsWorld War II

Hugh Joseph Addonizio (January 31, 1914 in Newark, New Jersey – February 2, 1981 in Red Bank, New Jersey) was an Italian-American Democratic Party politician, who was the 33rd Mayor of Newark, New Jersey, from 1962 to 1970, and a U.S. Congressman for 13 years prior to that.

Biography

He graduated from Fordham University in New York City in 1939 and went to work for A&C Clothing Company in Newark where he became vice president in 1946.

During World War II he had served in the United States Army earning the Silver Star. He served in North Africa, Italy and France. Among the first Americans drafted in 1940 a year before Pearl Harbor, he rose from the rank of private and was discharged with the rank of captain and named to the Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame at Fort Benning.

In 1948, Addonizio ran for and won a seat in the United States House of Representatives as a Democrat, representing New Jersey's 11th congressional district. He resigned his seat on June 30, 1962, to run for mayor of Newark. He ran on a reform platform, defeating what he characterized as the corrupt political machine of Leo P. Carlin, who had been mayor since 1953.[1]

Addonizio served as mayor from 1962 until 1970 when he lost his reelection bid. A state investigation into his administration on the heels of the 1967 riots, which occurred during his tenure, led to the discovery that Addonizio and other city officials were taking kickbacks from city contractors. In December 1969, Addonizio and nine present or former officials of the municipal administration in Newark were indicted by a Federal grand jury; five other persons were also indicted.[2] In July 1970, the former mayor, and four other defendants, were found guilty by a Federal jury on 64 counts each, one of conspiracy and 63 of extortion.[3] In September 1970, Addonizio was sentenced to ten years in federal prison and fined $25,000 by Federal Judge George Herbert Barlow for his role in a plot that involved the extortion of $1.5 million in kickbacks, a crime that the judge said "tore at the very heart of our civilized society and our form of representative government".[4][5]

Addonizio was interred in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Newark: A Brief History". P.O.V. PBS. July 5, 2005.
  2. ^ Grutzner, Charles. "U.S. INDICTS MAYOR OF NEWARK, 9 PRESENT OR FORMER OFFICIALS ON $253,000 EXTORTION CHARGES; ADDONIZIO ON BAIL Evasion of Tax Also Charged -- Boiardo Among Accused Mayor Addonizio Is Indicted on Extortion Charge", The New York Times, December 18, 1969. Accessed November 13, 2016. "Mayor Hugh J. Addonizio and nine present or former officials of the municipal administration in Newark were indicted yesterday by a Federal grand jury with five other persons, among whom was Anthony (Tony Boy) Boiardo, a reputed member of the Mafia."
  3. ^ Brady, Thomas F. "Addonizio and 4 Convicted Of Extortion by U.S. Jury", The New York Times, July 23, 1970. Accessed November 13, 2016. "Hugh J. Addonizio, former Mayor of Newark, and four other defend ants were found guilty by Federal jury tonight on 64 counts each, one of conspiracy and 63 of extortion."
  4. ^ Sullivan, Ronald. "Addonizio Given a 10-Year Term", The New York Times, September 23, 1970. Accessed November 13, 2016. "Former Mayor Hugh J. Addonizio of Newark was sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined $25,000 in Federal Court here today for conspiracy and extortion. Convicted of sharing in the proceeds of extorted kickbacks totaling $1.5 million from contractors on city water and sewer lines, Addonizio stood impassively with his head bowed as Judge George H. Barlow declared that his crimes were of 'monumental proportion' that 'tore at the very heart of our civilized society and our form of representative government.'"
  5. ^ Barbanel, Josh. "HUGH J. ADDONIZIO, 67, EX-MAYOR OF NEWARK JAILED 5 YEARS, DEAD", The New York Times, February 2, 1981. Accessed April 7, 2015. "Hugh J. Addonizio, a former Congressman and two-term Mayor of Newark who was sentenced to 10 years in Federal prison and fined $25,000 for conspiracy and extortion died early this morning at Riverview Hospital in Red Bank, N.J."
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Jersey's 11th congressional district
1949–1962 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Newark
1962–1970 		Succeeded by
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