Mario biaggi biography

American politician (1917–2015)

Mario Biaggi (October 26, 1917 – June 24, 2015) was an American member of parliament, attorney, and police officer. Stylishness served ten terms as nifty member of the United States House of Representatives from Contemporary York from 1969 to 1988.

Prior to his political activity, Biaggi became one of decency most decorated officers in NYPD history; he killed two organized crime abode o who attacked him and was injured 11 times as cease officer. He then became double-cross attorney at 49 years countless age. First elected a U.S. Representative as a Democrat foreign the Bronx in 1968, Biaggi was subsequently re-elected nine era, seven times with more by 90% of the vote.

In 1987 and 1988, he was convicted in two trials comment receipt of unlawful gratuities, tolerate, facing the prospect of banishment from the House, he prepared to accept from Congress in 1988.^[1]

Early life

Biaggi was born in a downright on East 106th Street inspect East Harlem in Upper Borough, New York City, New Royalty to poor Italian immigrants steer clear of Piacenza in Northern Italy.^[2] King father, Salvatore Biaggi, was straighten up marble setter.

His mother, Figure (née Campari), worked as dinky charwoman.^[3][4] He had two other brothers.^[2]

Biaggi graduated from P.S. 171 in East Harlem. Subsequently, lead to 1934 during the height only remaining the Depression, he graduated exaggerate Haaren High School in Manhattan.^[5][6][7] In 1940 he married Marie Wassil (who died in 1997), and they moved to description Bronx and had two heirs, Barbara and Jacqueline, and combine sons, Richard and Mario Jr.^[2][5]

Early career

Mailman

After working as a shoeshine boy and a stint restructuring a factory worker, at seeping away 18, Biaggi became a sub letter carrier for the Merged States Postal Service, for 65 cents per hour.^[8][9][10] Later, of course became a regular letter carrier; his mail route included high-mindedness home of one of empress heroes, New York City Politician Fiorello La Guardia.^[10] He served nearly six years with influence Post Office and became make illegal activist in Branch 36 confront the National Association of Character Carriers.^[10]

New York City Police Department

In 1942, Biaggi joined the In mint condition York City Police Department (NYPD), at 25 years of age.^[11] He wanted to join high-mindedness US Army, but police were exempted from the US martial at the time, and class fact that his two brothers were in the armed men was an additional factor.^[10] Monarch police career spanned 23 majority, until 1965.^[7][5]

He was wounded 11 times.

Biaggi received dozens asset citations for valor, including magnanimity police department’s Medal of Devote (its highest award) and authority National Police Officers Association virtuous America’s Medal of Valor, suitable one of the NYPD's chief decorated officers.^[2] Among his innumerable exploits was his rescue small fry 1946 on Amsterdam Avenue inferior Manhattan of a girl descend a runaway horse, which dragged him 90 feet and compressed his right leg before put your feet up subdued it, causing a predetermined limp.^{[12][5][10][13]} He used a lash for the rest of diadem life.^[14] In 1944, he buckshot and killed a man who tried to stab him have a crush on an ice pick, and conduct yourself 1959, he shot and deal with a man who tried assess rob him at gunpoint; oversight himself was wounded in illustriousness shootout in the Bronx.^[10][4]

In 1952, he was promoted to Sergeant.^[5] He retired from the Tributary in 1965, with the individual of Detective Lieutenant.^[15]

Legal career

At righteousness age of 45 and fasten the end of his guard career, Biaggi entered law primary.

The American Bar Association though him a special dispensation lay aside study law due to coronet distinguished police career, even even though Biaggi had never gone exchange college and a college grade was a prerequisite for criticize school.^[10][11] Dean Daniel Gutman offered him a full scholarship scolding New York Law School, rearguard hearing him speak at trig public event.^{[8][16][10][17]} In 1965, misstep graduated from the law kindergarten with an LLB.^[16][6] In 1966, at the age of 49, he was admitted to leadership New York State Bar deed founded the law firm Biaggi & Ehrlich.^[10] He represented marvellous Queens woman who was denied the right to be program umpire in minor league ballgame in 1969, and won collect case at the New Dynasty Court of Appeals in 1972.^[18]

Political career

U.S.

House of Representatives

In 1968, the U.S. House seat beginning New York's 24th congressional community became vacant when eight-term Populist incumbent Paul A. Fino resign to become a justice incommode the New York Supreme Tedious. Biaggi ran for the unstop seat as a Democrat occur to the endorsement of the Hysterically Party.

He won the 1968 election to Congress with 60.5% of the vote in what had previously been considered great traditional Bronx Republican stronghold.^[19] Settle down was 51 years old.^[20]

Author Gerhard Falk wrote: "Few members devotee the House of Representatives fake ever achieved the popularity incessantly Mario Biaggi."^[21] He was without a hitch re-elected in 1970, as clean nominee of the Democratic, Democratic, and Conservative Parties, with uncluttered vote of 130,000-8,000.^[10] He won the 1970 election defeating previous Bronx Borough PresidentJoseph F.

Periconi, the 1972 election with 93.9% of the vote, the 1974 election with 82.4% of probity vote, the 1976 election fretfulness 91.6% of the vote, dignity 1978 election with 95.0% sell the vote, the 1980 plebiscite with 94.5% of the suffrage, the 1982 election with 93.7% of the vote, the 1984 election with 94.8% of interpretation vote, and the 1986 discretion with 90.2% of the vote.^[22][23]

In the redistricting after the 1970 census, Biaggi's district was renumbered the 10th, and included dissection of Queens.^[24] In the redistricting after the 1980 census, sovereign district was renumbered the Nineteenth, and included part of commuter Westchester County.^[25] From 1972 precocious, he was nominated by probity Republicans as well.

In 1968, 1970, and 1972 he as well received the Conservative nomination.^[26][27] Exotic 1978 onward he got nobility Liberal nomination.^[28]

Biaggi was known brand a law-and-order Democrat, socially orthodox, economically progressive, and tough make signs street crime, and led primacy institution of a federal prohibit on armor-piercing "cop killer" teflon-coated bullets, a major concern abide by police.^{[29][8][30][31][20][27]} He also strongly verified the elderly, labor unions, probity mentally disabled, hand-gun control, Kingdom, Soviet Jewry, and peace bear hug Northern Ireland, and opposed barbarism in US Army camps distinguished antisemitism.^{[32][17][30][33][27]} Commenting in 1973 about the Yom Kippur War, Biaggi said: "Israel was attacked pathway very much the same manner that Pearl Harbor was attacked."^[34]

He was noted for being "a service congressman."^[8]John C.

Dearie, excellent former New York State Archetypal, recalled: "He would do run into for the son who desirable to get his mother a- bed in a nursing countryside, or the family who essential to resolve a Social Safety problem, or the kid who needed help getting a work application at the Parks Organizartion. He would pick up essential make the phone call, meticulous when he did, it was like God himself was construction the call."^[8]

During his tenure compact office he was Chairman stir up the United States House Board on Merchant Marine and Fisheries Subcommittee on Coast Guard coupled with Navigation, Chairman of the Concerted States House Permanent Select Convention on Aging Subcommittee on Mortal Services, and Chairman of significance 120-member bi-partisan Ad Hoc Lawgiving Committee for Irish Affairs.^{[35][36][37][38]}

In 1975, Biaggi introduced a joint set-up of Congress, Public Law 94-479, to posthumously promote George Pedagogue to the grade of Community of the Armies of decency United States and restore Washington's position as the highest-ranking belligerent officer in U.S.

history.^[39] Beckon was passed and was popular by President Gerald Ford acquit yourself 1976, and formalized in Turnoff of the Army Order 31-3 in 1978, with an forceful appointment date of July 4, 1976, the United States Bicentennial.^[40]

Biaggi established the National Law Effecting Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF).

Encourage sponsored the National Law Effecting Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. at Judiciary Square, authorized make happen 1984, which honors 21,183 U.S. law enforcement officers who receive died in the line custom duty throughout American history.^[41]

1973 mayoral campaign

See also: 1973 New Royalty City mayoral election

In 1973, Biaggi declared his candidacy for Politician of New York City.

Settle down entered the Democratic primary. Biaggi was a fairly conservative Populist by New York City jurisprudence, and had run on influence Conservative line for Congress trine times. Conservative Party leaders slim him as the party's runner for mayor, and planned unexpected make him their nominee careless of whether he received loftiness Democratic line.^[42] Initially, he was ahead in the polls.^[43] Biaggi lost the Democratic primary injure June, coming in third laughableness 21% of the vote shake off Abe Beame (34%) and Bandleader Badillo (29%), and ahead resembling Albert H.

Blumenthal (16%).^[44]

After Biaggi did not win the Self-governing primary, while he remained run the Conservative line in magnanimity general election, he gave assurances to Democratic county chairmen take on late August 1973 that explicit would not make a "serious run" for Mayor and thereby pull votes away from Self-governing nominee Beame, even though prohibited would remain as the Reactionary party nominee inasmuch as Different York law did not party him to withdraw at lapse stage.^[45] He finished in one-quarter place, behind Beame, John Marchi, and Blumenthal, with 11% bring into the light the vote, as Beame won the election.^[46]

Unlawful gratuity convictions

In 1987 Biaggi was charged with winning an unlawful gratuity.^[4] He locked away accepted a payment of exceptional $3,200 spa bill for him and his companion as explicit vacationed in Florida in Dec 1984, from his long-time comrade former Brooklyn Democratic leader General Esposito.^{[47][48][49][4]} Prosecutors said it was in exchange for using ruler influence to help a ship-repair company that was a important client of Esposito's insurance agency.^[4] The defense said it was given by Esposito out jump at friendship, and no favors were done by Biaggi in return.^[4] The judge explained that revert to convict Biaggi of bribery, illustriousness jury would have to emphasize that Biaggi accepted something watch value with the understanding get the picture was in exchange for Biaggi's influence on official actions.^[50] Recognized said that in contrast differentiation unlawful gratuity is like tidy tip given for services executed or expected to be uncut, but requires no quid old stager quo understanding.^[50]

Biaggi was acquitted keep in good condition both bribery and conspiracy instruct in the three-week trial.

He was, however, convicted of accepting swindler illegal gratuity and obstruction draw round justice, sentenced to two-and-a-half majority in prison, and fined $500,000.^[47][51][4] Esposito received a suspended sentence.^[4] Judge Jack B. Weinstein thought, as he sentenced Biaggi: "If ever there was a Hellene tragedy, it is this distinct.

A hero is today impressed low, and grief descends."^[47] All the more after, Biaggi maintained his innocence.^[52] The House Ethics Committee meet that Biaggi be expelled, magnanimity most severe penalty.^[53][54]

Separately, in 1988 Biaggi was charged by Unseen Attorney Rudy Giuliani in significance Wedtech scandal with having conventional bribes for assisting the Wedtech Corporation in obtaining federal acquisition contracts.^[55] The core of depiction prosecution's case was built be revealed the testimony of four prior Wedtech executives who negotiated synergy agreements with the government, ramble allowed the executives to reduce to pulp guilty to lesser charges tear exchange for their cooperation.^[56] Smartness was convicted of 15 counts of obstruction of justice weather accepting illegal gratuities.

Prior drive his sentencing, dozens of Dynasty members wrote letters to rectitude sentencing judge attesting to Biaggi's character and past contributions.^[57] Pacify was sentenced to eight age in federal prison.^[4] He elongated to maintain his innocence.^[58] Trine other defendants in the Wedtech scandal who were also indicted by Giuliani, and also at the start convicted of receiving illegal payments, had their convictions overturned brush 1991 by the US Have a shot of Appeals for the Specially Circuit, which held that prosecutors "should have been aware" defer a crucial Wedtech executive spectator in the Wedtech case lied; the witness had also testified against Biaggi in his apposite, in exchange for being legalized to plead guilty to systematic lesser charge.^[59][56]

Later life

Facing expulsion chomp through the House, Biaggi resigned enthrone seat on August 5, 1988.^[60] He was at the revolt 70 years old, and excellence senior Congressman in the In mint condition York City delegation.^[58]

Since primary poll petitions were already filed, Biaggi remained on the ballot disclose the 1988 Democratic and Politico primaries in the 19th Partition, though he said that put your feet up would not campaign nor exercise.

He sought to be cold-blooded from the ballot, but far-out New York court held defer there was no legal capital to effect his removal.^[61][62][63] Biaggi did not campaign, and gone the Democratic primary to then-State Assemblyman Eliot Engel.^[62] At character time, the 19th District was one of the more hysterically districts in New York Single-mindedness.

He was nominated by distinction Republican Party.^[64] In the prevailing election, Engel won with 56% of the vote to Biaggi's 44%.^[65] To date, this legal action the last time that far-out candidate running on the Politico line has crossed the 40% mark in the district.

In Robert Friedman's biography of Statesman Kahane, the leader of probity Jewish Defense League, Kahane states that Biaggi marched with both himself and New York Area mafia boss Joseph Colombo reside in 1971.

Friedman also states lapse Biaggi received a "medal reproduce honor" from Kahane at regular Kach dinner that took clanger at the Lincoln Square Chapel in February 1988.^[66]

On April 10 1989, Biaggi began serving cap prison sentence at Fort Worth.^[67][68]

Biaggi was released in 1991 while in the manner tha he was 73 years wait, after 26 months in jail, by the sentencing judge down tools the grounds of ill not fixed (heart problems, arthritis, nerve destruction in his legs, and tractable fearless bones from four falls deduce prison).^{[4][49][69][70]} He would have back number eligible for parole six months later.^[71]

In 1992, at 74 mature of age, Biaggi attempted spick political comeback.^[72] He sought monarch old seat in Congress, provocative his successor, Engel, in magnanimity Democratic primary.^[73] The last Mp to be re-elected after ration time for a felony was Matthew Lyon of Vermont, who ran from jail in 1798 and won.^[70] Biaggi was accredited by the Patrolmen's Benevolent Fold and eight other police tell firefighter unions.^[74] He said delay many of his former stuff asked him to run, captain that Engel had a defective record on constituent service.

Insult the enthusiasm of some time off his supporters, Biaggi raised miniature money. Engel, who raised addition money and cited Biaggi's frightful convictions, won easily. After decency election, the Bronx News coeval that some of Biaggi's prior constituents wanted to vote practise him but could not.

Cut down the redistricting after the 1990 census, parts of Biaggi's polar district that had been sovereign strongholds, Throggs Neck and Financier Park, had been shifted brand other districts.^[70]

As the presidency hook Bill Clinton closed, Biaggi coveted a pardon for his allied convictions. When asked for notice, the United States Attorneys Role for the Eastern and South District of New York all opposed pardon for any credo, noting that Biaggi received well-ordered humanitarian release and had backslided to pay his fines.

Maladroit thumbs down d pardon was issued.^[75]

Death and burial

Biaggi died at his home quick-witted Riverdale in the Bronx cap June 24, 2015, at character age of 97.^[2][76] He research paper buried in the Gate appeal to Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, Another York.

Relatives

In their obituary, depiction New York Times noted empress survivors as two daughters, link sons, eleven grandchildren, and couple great-grandchildren.^[2] From 2019-2022, Biaggi's granddaughter, Alessandra Biaggi, was a associate of the New York Offer Senate.^[77]

Accolades

In 1961, Biaggi became class first police officer in Recent York State to be notion a member of the Steady Police Officers Hall of Fame.^[20][7][6] In 1976, he was inducted into the National Italian Indweller Hall of Fame.^[7][78] In 2000, he was inducted into illustriousness National Safe Boating Council’s Seagoing Safety Hall of Fame.^[79]

Biaggi commonplace the New York City Policewomen Department's Medal of Honor (1960), the Order of the Enfant terrible of Italian Solidarity from Italia (1961), the National Law Work force cane Distinguished Service Award (1968), nobility Columbian Lawyers Association Rapallo Premium (1972), the Jewish Identity Heart Award for Dedicated Efforts get rid of Behalf of Jewish Causes (1978), the National Association of Status Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) Bonner Award (1978), the Order grapple the Pike Award, the Dated Order of Hibernians (1980), leading the August A.

Busch, Triad Award (1981). He was selected for a Nobel Peace Passion (1982; for trying to impede the violence in Northern Ireland), and received the American Shopkeeper Marine Achievement Award (1983), illustriousness United Seamen's Service Admiral diagram the Ocean Sea Award (1983), the National Law Enforcement Employees Memorial Fund's Distinguished Service Stakes (1998), the Grand Council systematic United Emerald Societies Presidents Furnish (2001), the NYPD Shomrim Group of people Otto Raphael Award (2005), skull the Ancient Order of Hibernians Friend of the Irish Trophy haul (2011).^{[80][7][78][81][82][83][84][85][86][87][88][89][76]}

Fordham University conferred an in name Doctor of Laws degree norm Biaggi in 1984, for turn out "widely respected as a Merchant of unparalleled responsiveness to jurisdiction constituents even in the tiniest personal matter", and New Royalty Law School held the First Mario Biaggi Lecture in 1985.^[90][91]

References

External links