Thomas J. Curran
Encyclopedia
Thomas Jerome Curran was a lawyer and politician in New York City
.
and grew up in Greenwich Village
, where he lived for the rest of his life. After attending Xavier High School, he entered Fordham College, from which he graduated in 1920 after serving in the United States Army
during World War I
and then in the New York National Guard. Curran then studied law, graduating from the Fordham University School of Law
in 1923.
Curran began his law practice with the New York State Insurance Fund, followed by three years in private practice. In 1928, he became an Assistant United States Attorney
in the Southern District of New York. He left federal service in 1931 to run as a Republican
for the New York City Board of Aldermen
. He was unsuccessful in his first campaign, but was elected an alderman two years later and was chosen Minority Leader in 1934. In 1936, he was elected as Republican leader of his district, and in 1937 was elected as a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1938. He became leader of the New York County Republican organization in 1940 and served in that post until his death. He ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate
in 1944
, losing the election to incumbent Robert F. Wagner
.
Curran served as Secretary of State of New York
from 1943 to 1955, appointed by Governor Thomas E. Dewey. As host of the state’s 1944 meeting of presidential electors, he supported the elimination of the Electoral College. In his speech before the Democratic electors, he asserted that this would likely be the last such gathering, since so many Americans regarded the procedure as outmoded.
He was a delegate to the 1944
, 1948
, and 1956 Republican National Convention
s, and an alternate delegate to the 1952 Republican National Convention
. He was a member of the New York State Republican Committee for several years.
He died of a heart ailment at St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan, at the age of 59.
His son Paul J. Curran was a member of the New York State Assembly
and served as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 1973 to 1975.
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...
.
Life
Curran was born on the Lower East Side of ManhattanManhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
and grew up in Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
, where he lived for the rest of his life. After attending Xavier High School, he entered Fordham College, from which he graduated in 1920 after serving in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and then in the New York National Guard. Curran then studied law, graduating from the Fordham University School of Law
Fordham University School of Law
Fordham University School of Law is a part of Fordham University in the United States. The School is located in the Borough of Manhattan in New York City, and is one of eight ABA-approved law schools in that city.-Overview:According to the U.S. News & World Report, 1,516 J.D. students attend...
in 1923.
Curran began his law practice with the New York State Insurance Fund, followed by three years in private practice. In 1928, he became an Assistant United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
in the Southern District of New York. He left federal service in 1931 to run as a Republican
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...
for the New York City Board of Aldermen
New York City Council
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
. He was unsuccessful in his first campaign, but was elected an alderman two years later and was chosen Minority Leader in 1934. In 1936, he was elected as Republican leader of his district, and in 1937 was elected as a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1938. He became leader of the New York County Republican organization in 1940 and served in that post until his death. He ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate
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...
in 1944
New York state election, 1944
The 1944 New York state election was held on November 7, 1944, to elect a judge of the New York Court of Appeals and a U.S. senator, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate.-Nominations:...
, losing the election to incumbent Robert F. Wagner
Robert F. Wagner
Robert Ferdinand Wagner I was an American politician. He was a Democratic U.S. Senator from New York from 1927 to 1949.-Origin and early life:...
.
Curran served as Secretary of State of New York
Secretary of State of New York
The Secretary of State of New York is a cabinet officer in the government of the U.S. state of New York.The current Secretary of State of New York is Cesar A...
from 1943 to 1955, appointed by Governor Thomas E. Dewey. As host of the state’s 1944 meeting of presidential electors, he supported the elimination of the Electoral College. In his speech before the Democratic electors, he asserted that this would likely be the last such gathering, since so many Americans regarded the procedure as outmoded.
He was a delegate to the 1944
1944 Republican National Convention
The 1944 Republican National Convention was held in Chicago, Illinois, from June 26 to 28, 1944. It nominated Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York for President and Governor John Bricker of Ohio for Vice-President....
, 1948
1948 Republican National Convention
The 1948 Republican National Convention was held at the Municipal Auditorium, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from June 21 to 25, 1948.New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey had paved the way to win the Republican presidential nomination in the primary elections, where he had beaten Minnesota Governor...
, and 1956 Republican National Convention
1956 Republican National Convention
The 1956 Republican National Convention was held by the Republican Party of the United States at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, California, from August 20 to August 23, 1956. U.S. Senator William F. Knowland was temporary chairman and former speaker of the House Joseph W. Martin, Jr. served as...
s, and an alternate delegate to the 1952 Republican National Convention
1952 Republican National Convention
The 1952 Republican National Convention was held at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois from July 7 to July 11, 1952 and nominated the popular general and war hero Dwight D...
. He was a member of the New York State Republican Committee for several years.
He died of a heart ailment at St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan, at the age of 59.
His son Paul J. Curran was a member of 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...
and served as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 1973 to 1975.
Sources
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/curran.html Political Graveyard (giving wrong ending year of secretaryship)
- http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D01E2D8163BF93BA35751C1A963948260 His granddaughter's engagement, in NYT on December 8, 1985
- http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,932728,00.html Presentation of the candidate for the Senate, in TIME Magazine on August 21, 1944
- http://www.archives.nysed.gov/apt/magazine/archivesmag_fall04.shtml His view on the electoral college, at NYSED archives
- http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F5091EFF3F54127B93C2AA178CD85F4C8585F9 Obit in NYT on July 30, 1958 (subscription required)