New York (N.Y.). Mayor (1950-1953 : Impellitteri)

Vincent R. Impellitteri was the 101st mayor of New York, serving from 1950-1953. Born in Sicily on February 4, 1900, he was also the first Itailian Mayor of New York. He attended Fordham University and received his law degree in 1924. After 5 years in private practice he became an assistant district attorney of the County of New York from 1929-1937. Impellitteri was an obscure judicial clerk when the City's Democratic leadership chose him to run for City Council president with mayoral candidate William O'Dwyer in 1945. The ticket won in 1945 and 1949. As a political scandal grew, O'Dwyer resigned September 2, 1950 to accept appointment as ambassador to Mexico, making Impellitteri acting Mayor.

A special election was called to fill the 3 years left in O'Dwyer's term, and the Democratic establishment known as Tammany Hall passed him over for the nomination. In opposition, Impellitteri ran as part of the "Experience Party" and won a close three-way race, becoming the first Independent to win the Mayor's Office. In 1953, he was drafted in the Democratic Primary by Tammany candidate Robert Wagner. Wagner, who was subsequently elected, later appointed Impelletteri to the position of justice of the Court of Special Sessions in New York City. He died in 1987 of heart failure.

From the description of Scrapbooks, 1924-1950. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122313272