Dorn, Francis E. (Francis Edwin), 1911-1987

U.S. Representative from Brooklyn, 1952-1960.

From the description of Papers, 1955-1960, 1958-1960 (bulk) (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 155453445

Francis Edwin Dorn (1911-1987) was born in Brooklyn, New York, on April 18, 1911. His father, Jacob Joseph Dorn, was an attorney and his mother, Adelaide, a school teacher. The Dorns sent their son to St. Augustine and Bishop McLaughlin Memorial High School. At the age of 21, Francis earned his Bachelor's Degree from Fordham University, graduating 3 years later in 1935 from Fordham Law School. Admitted to the bar, he began the practice of law. Simultaneously, he took courses in government at New York University. The academic move proved beneficial; four years later in 1940 Dorn was elected to the State Assembly on the Republican-Labor party lines. However, with the advent of World War II, Dorn cut his legislative tenure short to enlist in the navy. Dorn served 4 years in the armed forces, most of the time overseas. In 1946 he was discharged from military service. A Lieutenant Commander, he was later promoted to Commander. While serving in the military, Francis Dorn married Dorothy McGann in 1944. Following the war the Dorns setteled in Park Slope, Brooklyn where they raised thier family of three sons (Thomas, Steve and Vincent) and two daughters (Theresa and Karen). Francis Dorn became active in his community, primarily in Veterans related organizations, such as the American Legion, Disabled War Veterans, Knights of Columbus, Park Slope Catholic War Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars as well as the St. Vincent DePaul Society. Francis Dorn was appointed Assistant Attorney General by Attorney General Nathaniel Goldstein. Dorn served from 1946-1950 and was in charge of the Security Fraud Division. Upon leaving his post, Dorn resumed his law practice as a partner in the firm Schuman, Giaccone, Dorn and Marcus at 150 Broadway in New York City. He launched his candidacy to succeed the late Democratic Congressman John Delany in a special election (February 1949) for the 9th Congressional District. Running in a heavily Democratic district, Dorn received 34% of the vote. But reapportionment two years laters created the snake shaped 12th Congressional District which tied central Brooklyn's Republican leading neighborhoods: Brooklyn Heights, Clinton Hill, Ditmas Park, East Flatbush, East Midwood, Marine Park, Park Slope and Windsor Terrace. With General Eisenhower leading the ticket, and a more receptive district, Dorn defeated veteran incumbent Donald O'Toole with 53% of the vote and became Brooklyn's first Republican Congressman in 32 years. Congressman Francis Dorn served four consecutive terms in Congress, from the 83rd to the 87th Congress (January 3, 1953-January 3, 1961). During the first two years he sat in the majority, while his remaining six found him in the minority. A supporter of the Eisenhower Administration, Dorn served as special envoy to Costa Rica, while in Congress. With a strong naval background, Dorn sat int he House Marine and Fisheries Committee. As a Member of Congress, Dorn handled affairs involving immigration and the U.S. State Department. Always dedicated to his constitutency, he was in his district office most Saturday mornings and toured the district. Representing Republican resurgence in Democratic Brooklyn, he faced political heavyweights such as Thomas Cuite in his reelection races, but easily overcome these challenges throughout the 1950s. Running for reelection in 1960, Dorn faced the challenges of a massive vote in his district for Democratic Presidential Candidate John F. Kennedy. The strong ethnic sentiments for Kennedy made a difference in the race between Dorn and his Democratic challenger, Hugh L. Carey. Election returns indicated Dorn's Republican vote overwhelming Carey's Democratic vote: 64,899 for Dorn, with 57,285 for Carey. But Carey's 8,711 votes on the liberal line placed him ahead of Dorn by 1,097 votes in what turned out to be the tightest 1960 congressional race in New York State. Francis Dorn attempted a comeback in 1962. The newly reapportioned district included heavily Republican Bay Ridge. But Carey's incumbency helped him overcome the challenges from his predecessor. Though running a close second, Dorn's 1962 defeat terminiated his political career, while making way for the gubernatorial ascendancy of Hugh L. Carey. Even after leaving politics, Dorn maintained a profile of humanitarian works and public service. He found "Appeal of Conscience Foundation, " an interfaith group conerned with global religious freedom especially in Communist ruled nations. In the summer of 1987, with his son Steve, Francis Dorn won the backing of Mayor Ed Koch to build and operate a city concrete plant on West 57th Street, in Manhattan. As a fitting tribute, the plant was named for Dorn. But, less than four weeks later, Francis E. Dorn succumbed to lung cancer at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital on Thursday, September 17, 1987.

From the description of The Papers of Francis E. Dorn, 195?-196? (Brooklyn College). WorldCat record id: 436149607