Bruce Faulkner Caputo
Encyclopedia
Bruce F. Caputo was a member of the United States House of Representatives
from New York
.
Born in New York City
, he graduated from Deerfield Academy
in 1961, Harvard University
in 1965, and Georgetown Law School in 1971. He was elected to the New York State Assembly
in 1972, representing a district in lower Westchester County. He was re-elected in 1974, a tough year for Republicans in New York State and around the county. In 1976, liberal Republican Congressman Peter A. Peyser
gave up his seat to challenge conservative U.S. Senator James L. Buckley
for the Republican nomination. Caputo ran for the congressional seat and won, narrowly defeating Democratic Assemblyman J. Edward Meyer
, a former Republican who became a Democrat in 1973. Caputo's district included lower Westchester and a tiny portion of the Bronx. Caputo served only one term in Congress. In 1978, Perry Duryea
, the Republican nominee for governor, picked Caputo, as his running mate for lieutenant governor. Governor Hugh L. Carey, a Democrat who was elected in 1974, narrowly won re-election. Peyser, who became a Democrat, won his old seat back the same year.
In 1980, Caputo attempted to run against liberal Republican U.S. Senator Jacob Javits, but withdrew from the Republican primary after his main rival on the right, Alfonse D'Amato, secured the crucial nominations of the Conservative and Right to Life parties. D'Amato defeated Javits in the Republican primary and won the general election in the fall. In his autobiography, "Power, Politics, and Pasta: The World According to Senator Al D'Amato" (1995), D'Amato bitterly criticized Caputo.
In 1981, Caputo announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate against incumbent Democrat Daniel Patrick Moynihan
, who was seeking his second term in the 1982 mid-term election. Considered a young rising star in the Republican Party and in the conservative movement, Caputo raised money for his race around the country. Caputo withdrew from the race in March 1982. That year, Assemblywoman Florence M. Sullivan of Brooklyn won the Republican primary to win the nomination, but she was defeated in a landslide by Moynihan.
Since leaving politics, Caputo has worked as a lawyer. Caputo received attention in June 2008 after the death of NBC News
Washington bureau chief (and Meet the Press
moderator) Tim Russert
. A number of articles noted Russert's role in exposing Caputo in the 1982 Senate race. In May 2010, Caputo was compared to Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal
who falsely claimed to have served in Vietnam.
.
United 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
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
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...
, he graduated from Deerfield Academy
Deerfield Academy
Deerfield Academy is an independent, coeducational boarding school in Deerfield, Massachusetts, United States. It is a four-year college-preparatory school with approximately 600 students and about 100 faculty, all of whom live on or near campus....
in 1961, Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1965, and Georgetown Law School in 1971. He was elected to the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
in 1972, representing a district in lower Westchester County. He was re-elected in 1974, a tough year for Republicans in New York State and around the county. In 1976, liberal Republican Congressman Peter A. Peyser
Peter A. Peyser
Peter A. Peyser was a United States Representative from New York, serving from 1971 to 1977 as a Republican and from 1979 to 1983 as a Democrat.-Early life:He was born in Cedarhurst, Long Island and grew up there and in Manhattan...
gave up his seat to challenge conservative U.S. Senator James L. Buckley
James L. Buckley
James Lane Buckley is a retired judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, and previously served as a United States Senator from the state of New York as a member of the Conservative Party of New York from January 3, 1971 to January 3, 1977...
for the Republican nomination. Caputo ran for the congressional seat and won, narrowly defeating Democratic Assemblyman J. Edward Meyer
Edward Meyer (CT)
Edward Meyer is an American politician. Meyer, a Democrat, has been a state senator from Connecticut since 2005.-Early life:Meyer was born in New York City on April 15, 1935 and graduated from both Yale University and Yale Law School....
, a former Republican who became a Democrat in 1973. Caputo's district included lower Westchester and a tiny portion of the Bronx. Caputo served only one term in Congress. In 1978, Perry Duryea
Perry Duryea
Perry Belmont Duryea, Jr. was an American politician.-Life:His father ran a wholesale seafood business, Perry B. Duryea and Son, Inc., in Montauk...
, the Republican nominee for governor, picked Caputo, as his running mate for lieutenant governor. Governor Hugh L. Carey, a Democrat who was elected in 1974, narrowly won re-election. Peyser, who became a Democrat, won his old seat back the same year.
In 1980, Caputo attempted to run against liberal Republican U.S. Senator Jacob Javits, but withdrew from the Republican primary after his main rival on the right, Alfonse D'Amato, secured the crucial nominations of the Conservative and Right to Life parties. D'Amato defeated Javits in the Republican primary and won the general election in the fall. In his autobiography, "Power, Politics, and Pasta: The World According to Senator Al D'Amato" (1995), D'Amato bitterly criticized Caputo.
In 1981, Caputo announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate against incumbent Democrat Daniel Patrick Moynihan
Daniel Patrick Moynihan
Daniel Patrick "Pat" Moynihan was an American politician and sociologist. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected to the United States Senate for New York in 1976, and was re-elected three times . He declined to run for re-election in 2000...
, who was seeking his second term in the 1982 mid-term election. Considered a young rising star in the Republican Party and in the conservative movement, Caputo raised money for his race around the country. Caputo withdrew from the race in March 1982. That year, Assemblywoman Florence M. Sullivan of Brooklyn won the Republican primary to win the nomination, but she was defeated in a landslide by Moynihan.
Since leaving politics, Caputo has worked as a lawyer. Caputo received attention in June 2008 after the death of NBC News
NBC News
NBC News is the news division of American television network NBC. It first started broadcasting in February 21, 1940. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is...
Washington bureau chief (and Meet the Press
Meet the Press
Meet the Press is a weekly American television news/interview program produced by NBC. It is the longest-running television series in American broadcasting history, despite bearing little resemblance to the original format of the program seen in its television debut on November 6, 1947. It has been...
moderator) Tim Russert
Tim Russert
Timothy John "Tim" Russert was an American television journalist and lawyer who appeared for more than 16 years as the longest-serving moderator of NBC's Meet the Press. He was a senior vice president at NBC News, Washington bureau chief and also hosted the eponymous CNBC/MSNBC weekend interview...
. A number of articles noted Russert's role in exposing Caputo in the 1982 Senate race. In May 2010, Caputo was compared to Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal
Richard Blumenthal
Richard Blumenthal is the junior United States Senator from Connecticut and a member of the Democratic Party. Previously, he served as Attorney General of Connecticut....
who falsely claimed to have served in Vietnam.
Personal life
Caputo is married to Bonnie Caputo, the first woman pilot for a major airline. They have two children. He is currently a resident of Bronxville, New YorkBronxville, New York
Bronxville is an affluent village within the town of Eastchester, New York, in the United States. It is a suburb of New York City, located approximately north of midtown Manhattan in southern Westchester County. At the 2010 census, Bronxville had a population of 6,323...
.