Joseph Margiotta
Encyclopedia
Joseph M. Margiotta was an American
political boss
who ran the Nassau County, New York
Republican Party
, considered "one of the most powerful political organizations in New York State",until his 1983 convictions on federal charges.
Margiotta represented Uniondale
in the New York State Assembly
from 1966 until 1976, when he was succeeded by Kemp Hannon
.
Margiotta became chairman of the Nassau Republican Party in 1967, exercising control over political appointments and patronage jobs, and playing an active role in issues including allocation of cable television
franchises and bridge tolls. Residents would often call a local Republican committeeman to deal with issues like broken streetlights instead of calling a county agency.
At a campaign rally held in 1972 with a crowd of 15,000 at the Nassau Coliseum
as part of Richard Nixon
's re-election campaign, Nixon's opening words were "This is the biggest and best rally, Joe Margiotta, I have ever seen".
He was convicted in 1981 for his involvement in a scheme in which a Long Island
insurance company would split its commissions with Republican politicians, with some $678,000 brought in over a decade. The government's case relied on the presumption that Margiotta's influence over county government made him a public official subject to federal extortion laws, even though he was not an elected official. Margiotta insisted that he had not broken any laws, stating that "I've been convicted because I’ve been a successful political leader". After his conviction on federal mail fraud and conspiracy charges as part of the municipal insurance kickback scheme, he was forced to resign from his post and spent 14 months in prison.
Among his most successful protégés were former United States Senator
Alfonse M. D'Amato, former New York State Republican Party chairman Joseph Mondello
, and Dean Skelos
, minority leader of the New York State Senate
.
He was an alumnus of Hofstra University
, which named its field house
Margiotta Hall in his honor in 1991.
Margiotta, a resident of Brookville, New York
, died at age 81 on November 28, 2008 at St. Francis Hospital
in Roslyn, New York
, where he had been hospitalized for nearly a week.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
political boss
Political boss
A boss, in politics, is a person who wields the power over a particular political region or constituency. Bosses may dictate voting patterns, control appointments, and wield considerable influence in other political processes. They do not necessarily hold public office themselves...
who ran the Nassau County, New York
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, considered "one of the most powerful political organizations in New York State",until his 1983 convictions on federal charges.
Margiotta represented Uniondale
Uniondale, New York
Uniondale is a hamlet as well as a suburb of New York City in Nassau County, New York, United States, on Long Island, in the Town of Hempstead. The population was 24,759 at the 2010 United States Census.-Geography:...
in 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...
from 1966 until 1976, when he was succeeded by Kemp Hannon
Kemp Hannon
J. Kemp Hannon is a member of the New York State Senate, from Nassau County. Sen. Hannon has represented the 6th District since 1989 which covers Levittown, Massapequa, Garden City, Uniondale, Hempstead, Farmingdale, Franklin Square, Old Bethpage, Salisbury, Garden City South, Plainview,...
.
Margiotta became chairman of the Nassau Republican Party in 1967, exercising control over political appointments and patronage jobs, and playing an active role in issues including allocation of cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
franchises and bridge tolls. Residents would often call a local Republican committeeman to deal with issues like broken streetlights instead of calling a county agency.
At a campaign rally held in 1972 with a crowd of 15,000 at the Nassau Coliseum
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Uniondale, New York, United States. Home to the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League, the Coliseum is located approximately east of New York City on Long Island...
as part of Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
's re-election campaign, Nixon's opening words were "This is the biggest and best rally, Joe Margiotta, I have ever seen".
He was convicted in 1981 for his involvement in a scheme in which a Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
insurance company would split its commissions with Republican politicians, with some $678,000 brought in over a decade. The government's case relied on the presumption that Margiotta's influence over county government made him a public official subject to federal extortion laws, even though he was not an elected official. Margiotta insisted that he had not broken any laws, stating that "I've been convicted because I’ve been a successful political leader". After his conviction on federal mail fraud and conspiracy charges as part of the municipal insurance kickback scheme, he was forced to resign from his post and spent 14 months in prison.
Among his most successful protégés were former United States Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Alfonse M. D'Amato, former New York State Republican Party chairman Joseph Mondello
Joseph Mondello
Joseph Nestor Mondello is an American politician who served as Chairman of the New York Republican State Committee until September 2009. Mondello continues to serve as the head of the Nassau County Republican Committee, a post he has held since 1983...
, and Dean Skelos
Dean Skelos
Dean G. Skelos is an American politician and the Republican Temporary President and Majority Leader of the New York State Senate. Skelos represents District 9 in the State Senate, which comprises the southwest region of Nassau County. He is the second Long Islander to hold the position of Majority...
, minority leader of the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
.
He was an alumnus of Hofstra University
Hofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
, which named its field house
Field House
Field House or Fieldhouse is a common name for indoor sports arenas and stadiums, mostly used for college basketball, volleyball, or ice hockey.-Colorado:*Balch Fieldhouse, University of Colorado...
Margiotta Hall in his honor in 1991.
Margiotta, a resident of Brookville, New York
Brookville, New York
The Village of Brookville is a village located within the town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York. As of the 2010 United States Census, the village population was 3,465....
, died at age 81 on November 28, 2008 at St. Francis Hospital
St. Francis Hospital (Roslyn, New York)
St. Francis Hospital and Heart Center is a hospital in Flower Hill, New York on Long Island. It was founded in 1922 by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary. As of 2008, it is New York State's only specialty designated cardiac center.- External links :*...
in Roslyn, New York
Roslyn, New York
Roslyn is a village in Nassau County, New York, on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2010 Census, the village population was 2,770...
, where he had been hospitalized for nearly a week.