Vito Marcantonio
Encyclopedia
Vito Anthony Marcantonio (December 10, 1902 – August 9, 1954) was an American lawyer and democratic socialist politician. Originally a member of the Republican Party and a supporter of Fiorello LaGuardia, he switched
to the American Labor Party
.
immigrants, was born in New York City
and attended the public schools there. He graduated from New York University
with a law degree, and began practicing law. He was an assistant United States attorney from 1930 until 1931.
from New York in 1934 as a Republican. He served in the House from 1935 until 1937, after being defeated for reelection in 1936. In either 1937 or 1938 Marcantonio became a member of the American Labor Party. He was elected to the House again from New York in 1938, and served this time for six terms, from 1939 to 1951 being reelected in the elections of 1940, 1942, 1944, 1946, and 1948. In 1949 he ran for mayor
of New York City on the American Labor Party ticket, but was defeated. In 1950 he was defeated by Democrat James Donovan
, after a particularly vociferous campaign against him because of his refusal to vote for American participation in the Korean War
. Donovan had the broad-based popular support of the Democratic, Republican, and Liberal Parties in that election. The passage of the Wilson Pakula Act
in 1947 also played some part in his defeat. The law prevented candidates from running in the primaries of parties with which they were not affiliated. It was widely perceived as being directed against Marcantonio.
and Communist parties, and to labor unions. He was investigated by the FBI, as many were suspicious of him because of his alleged sympathy with communism
and ties to the Communist Party. In 1940, he helped form the American Peace Mobilization
, identified as a communist front group, to keep the U.S. from participating in World War II
, and served as its vice-chair. He appeared in a newsreel in 1940 denouncing 'the imperialist war', (the line taken by Joseph Stalin
and his supporters until the invasion of the Soviet Union
in June 1941). Marcantonio was also a Vice President of the International Workers Order
, a fraternal benefit society unofficially affiliated with the Communist Party.
Marcantonio's district was centered in East Harlem, New York City, which had many residents of Italian and Puerto Rican
origin. Fluent in Spanish as well as Italian, he was considered an ally of the Puerto Rican community and an advocate for the rights of the workers and the poor.
He was so popular in that district that he sometimes won the Democratic and Republican primaries, as well as the American Labor Party endorsement. Aside from Marcantonio, the only American Laborite congressman was Leo Isacson
, who served in Congress from 1948 to 1949, after winning a special election but being defeated in a general election. As the sole representative of his party for most of his years in Congress, Marcantonio never held a committee chairmanship. After his defeat in 1950 and the withdrawal of Communist Party support for the ALP, the party soon fell apart. At the time of his death in 1954, he was running for Congress as the candidate of a newly formed third party, the Good Neighbor Party.
Though he initially opposed US entry into World War II
, he became a supporter after the Nazis invaded the Soviet Union
. He later campaigned in 1942 to expand the U.S. military commitment to a second front in Europe
, a special interest of the USSR, which had ordered Communists throughout the world to promote the idea. He opposed American involvement in the Korean War, while suggesting that the Soviet-imposed regime in North Korea
had been the victim of an unprovoked attack by South Korea
, citing articles by the radical journalist I.F. Stone.
but he soon returned to New York City, where he died from a heart attack
after coming up the subway stairs, on Broadway by City Hall Park, August 9, 1954.
Marcantonio's collection of speeches, I Vote my Conscience edited by Annette Rubenstein had an effect on a generation of younger radicals. His defense of workers rights, his mastery of parliamentary procedure, his ability to relate to the workers in his district while also engaging in worldwide issues, made him a hero to a certain section of the left.
completed his play The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures
, whose main character is a fictional cousin of Vito Marcantonio. The play is scheduled to open in New York in 2011.
Marcantonio is referenced in the 2010 groundbreaking book A Renegade History of the United States by noted historian Thaddeus Russell in the section "Italian Americans: Out of Africa" as "one of the greatest champions of black civil rights during the 1930s and 1940s" (p188. He is also said to have "sponsored several civil rights bills, led the congressional fight against discriminatory poll tax in southern states, and worked to make lynching a federal crime" (188).
Party switching
Party-switching is any change in political party affiliation of a partisan public figure, usually one currently holding elected office.In many countries, party-switching takes the form of politicians refusing to support their political parties in coalition governments...
to the American Labor Party
American Labor Party
The American Labor Party was a political party in the United States established in 1936 which was active almost exclusively in the state of New York. The organization was founded by labor leaders and former members of the Socialist Party who had established themselves as the Social Democratic...
.
Early life
An Italian-American, the son of SicilianSicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
immigrants, was born 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...
and attended the public schools there. He graduated from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
with a law degree, and began practicing law. He was an assistant United States attorney from 1930 until 1931.
Congressional career
Marcantonio was first elected to the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from New York in 1934 as a Republican. He served in the House from 1935 until 1937, after being defeated for reelection in 1936. In either 1937 or 1938 Marcantonio became a member of the American Labor Party. He was elected to the House again from New York in 1938, and served this time for six terms, from 1939 to 1951 being reelected in the elections of 1940, 1942, 1944, 1946, and 1948. In 1949 he ran for mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of New York City on the American Labor Party ticket, but was defeated. In 1950 he was defeated by Democrat James Donovan
James Donovan
James Donovan may refer to:* James B. Donovan , lawyer and sailor* James G. Donovan , Democratic politician, former New York State Senator and United State congressman...
, after a particularly vociferous campaign against him because of his refusal to vote for American participation in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. Donovan had the broad-based popular support of the Democratic, Republican, and Liberal Parties in that election. The passage of the Wilson Pakula Act
Wilson Pakula
A Wilson Pakula is an authorization given by a political party to a candidate for public office in the State of New York which allows a candidate not registered with that party to run as its candidate in a given election....
in 1947 also played some part in his defeat. The law prevented candidates from running in the primaries of parties with which they were not affiliated. It was widely perceived as being directed against Marcantonio.
Political ideology and relationship with other political parties and movements
Marcantonio, who was arguably one of the more left wing Members of Congress, said that party loyalty was less important than voting his conscience (he was, however, usually the only member of his party in office). He was sympathetic to the SocialistSocialist Party of America
The Socialist Party of America was a multi-tendency democratic-socialist political party in the United States, formed in 1901 by a merger between the three-year-old Social Democratic Party of America and disaffected elements of the Socialist Labor Party which had split from the main organization...
and Communist parties, and to labor unions. He was investigated by the FBI, as many were suspicious of him because of his alleged sympathy with communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
and ties to the Communist Party. In 1940, he helped form the American Peace Mobilization
American Peace Mobilization
The American Peace Mobilization was a peace group, officially cited in 1947 by United States Attorney General Tom C. Clark on the Attorney General's List of Subversive Organizations for 1948, as directed by President Harry S...
, identified as a communist front group, to keep the U.S. from participating in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and served as its vice-chair. He appeared in a newsreel in 1940 denouncing 'the imperialist war', (the line taken by Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
and his supporters until the invasion of the Soviet Union
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
in June 1941). Marcantonio was also a Vice President of the International Workers Order
International Workers Order
The International Workers Order was a Communist Party-affiliated insurance, mutual benefit and fraternal organization founded in 1930 and disbanded in 1954 as the result of legal action undertaken by the state of New York in 1951...
, a fraternal benefit society unofficially affiliated with the Communist Party.
Marcantonio's district was centered in East Harlem, New York City, which had many residents of Italian and Puerto Rican
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
origin. Fluent in Spanish as well as Italian, he was considered an ally of the Puerto Rican community and an advocate for the rights of the workers and the poor.
He was so popular in that district that he sometimes won the Democratic and Republican primaries, as well as the American Labor Party endorsement. Aside from Marcantonio, the only American Laborite congressman was Leo Isacson
Leo Isacson
Leo Isacson was an American Labor member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.Isacson was born in New York City. He graduated from New York University in 1931 and New York University School of Law in 1933. He was member of the New York State Assembly from 1945 until 1946...
, who served in Congress from 1948 to 1949, after winning a special election but being defeated in a general election. As the sole representative of his party for most of his years in Congress, Marcantonio never held a committee chairmanship. After his defeat in 1950 and the withdrawal of Communist Party support for the ALP, the party soon fell apart. At the time of his death in 1954, he was running for Congress as the candidate of a newly formed third party, the Good Neighbor Party.
Though he initially opposed US entry into World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he became a supporter after the Nazis invaded the Soviet Union
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
. He later campaigned in 1942 to expand the U.S. military commitment to a second front in Europe
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in World War II during the North African Campaign, started on 8 November 1942....
, a special interest of the USSR, which had ordered Communists throughout the world to promote the idea. He opposed American involvement in the Korean War, while suggesting that the Soviet-imposed regime in North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
had been the victim of an unprovoked attack by South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, citing articles by the radical journalist I.F. Stone.
Later life
After his defeat in mayoral and congressional elections, Marcantonio continued to practice law. It was his law practice, maintained while in Congress, that gave him the money to substantially self-finance his political campaigns. At first he practiced in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
but he soon returned to New York City, where he died from a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
after coming up the subway stairs, on Broadway by City Hall Park, August 9, 1954.
Marcantonio's collection of speeches, I Vote my Conscience edited by Annette Rubenstein had an effect on a generation of younger radicals. His defense of workers rights, his mastery of parliamentary procedure, his ability to relate to the workers in his district while also engaging in worldwide issues, made him a hero to a certain section of the left.
In literature
In 2009 American playwright Tony KushnerTony Kushner
Anthony Robert "Tony" Kushner is an American playwright and screenwriter. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1993 for his play, Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, and co-authored with Eric Roth the screenplay for the 2005 film, Munich.-Life and career:Kushner was born...
completed his play The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures
The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures
The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures is a 2009 play by American playwright Tony Kushner. The world premiere was directed by Michael Greif at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, opening on May 15, 2009 in previews and running through June 28...
, whose main character is a fictional cousin of Vito Marcantonio. The play is scheduled to open in New York in 2011.
Marcantonio is referenced in the 2010 groundbreaking book A Renegade History of the United States by noted historian Thaddeus Russell in the section "Italian Americans: Out of Africa" as "one of the greatest champions of black civil rights during the 1930s and 1940s" (p188. He is also said to have "sponsored several civil rights bills, led the congressional fight against discriminatory poll tax in southern states, and worked to make lynching a federal crime" (188).