Henry Cianfrani
Encyclopedia
Henry J. "Buddy" Cianfrani (born March 19, 1923 – July 3, 2002) was the Pennsylvania
state senator for the first district
.
Prior to holding elective office, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II
where he won the Purple Heart
and the Silver Star
. He was a delegate to Democratic National Convention
in 1956 and 1960.
He was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
in 1963, where he served until his election to the Pennsylvania State Senate
in 1966. He eventually attained the chairmanship of the powerful Appropriations Committee from which position he worked closely with Speaker of the House Herbert Fineman
to appropriate money to Philadelphia.
In 1977 he was convicted on federal charges of racketeering and mail fraud for padding his Senate payroll. He was sentenced to five years in federal prison. After serving 27 months, he was released in 1980.
In the mid 1970s, he began dating political reporter Laura Foreman of the The Philadelphia Inquirer
. The two moved in together and she reportedly accepted money and gifts from him while she was reporting on him for the newspaper. After the affair became public in 1977 she was fired by her new employer, The New York Times
. She and Cianfrani married in 1980 after his divorce from his first wife was finalized and he was released from federal prison.
Years after his release from prison, his political career enjoyed a resurgence. In 1988 Cianfrani won back his old position as Philadelphia ward leader and regained a measure of clout within Philadelphia politics.
He was considered a mentor to many Philadelphia politicians, including Congressman Bob Brady
and Senator Vince Fumo
.
Cianfrani died of a stroke in Hahnemann University Hospital
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 3, 2002.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
state senator for the first district
Pennsylvania Senate, District 1
The 1st Pennsylvania Senate District is located in Philadelphia County and includes the following areas:* City of Philadelphia ** Ward 01** Ward 02** Ward 05** Ward 08** Ward 14** Ward 15...
.
Prior to holding elective office, he served in the U.S. Army during 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...
where he won the Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
and the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
. He was a delegate to Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
in 1956 and 1960.
He was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
in 1963, where he served until his election to the Pennsylvania State Senate
Pennsylvania State Senate
The Pennsylvania State Senate has been meeting since 1791. It is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such...
in 1966. He eventually attained the chairmanship of the powerful Appropriations Committee from which position he worked closely with Speaker of the House Herbert Fineman
Herbert Fineman
Herbert Fineman is a former Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.Fineman was first elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1955 . Before being elected Speaker, he was the floor leader for the Democratic party in the Pennsylvania House.-References:...
to appropriate money to Philadelphia.
In 1977 he was convicted on federal charges of racketeering and mail fraud for padding his Senate payroll. He was sentenced to five years in federal prison. After serving 27 months, he was released in 1980.
In the mid 1970s, he began dating political reporter Laura Foreman of the The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer is a morning daily newspaper that serves the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area of the United States. The newspaper was founded by John R. Walker and John Norvell in June 1829 as The Pennsylvania Inquirer and is the third-oldest surviving daily newspaper in the...
. The two moved in together and she reportedly accepted money and gifts from him while she was reporting on him for the newspaper. After the affair became public in 1977 she was fired by her new employer, The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
. She and Cianfrani married in 1980 after his divorce from his first wife was finalized and he was released from federal prison.
Years after his release from prison, his political career enjoyed a resurgence. In 1988 Cianfrani won back his old position as Philadelphia ward leader and regained a measure of clout within Philadelphia politics.
He was considered a mentor to many Philadelphia politicians, including Congressman Bob Brady
Bob Brady
Robert A. "Bob" Brady is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1998, and the ranking Democrat on the United States House Committee on House Administration since 2007...
and Senator Vince Fumo
Vincent Fumo
Vincent Joseph "Vince" Fumo is a former politician, lawyer and businessman from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A Democrat, he represented a south Philadelphia district in the Pennsylvania Senate from 1978 to 2008. On March 16, 2009, he was convicted of 137 federal corruption charges...
.
Cianfrani died of a stroke in Hahnemann University Hospital
Hahnemann University Hospital
Hahnemann University Hospital, established in 1885 and named after Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, is a hospital in Center City, Philadelphia. It is affiliated with Drexel University College of Medicine and serves as its Center City Hahnemann campus.-History:In 1993 Hahnemann...
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 3, 2002.