Franklin Roosevelt Archives - New Jersey Globe

New Jersey’s first Italian-American Speaker

October 14, 2019 11:50 am

One of the first Italian-born politicians to hold a major public office in New Jersey was Anthony Siracusa. Siracusa was born in Mesa, Italy in 1894, the son of naturalized Americans who were visiting Italy. His uncle was Anthony Ruffu,...

Labor: James Mitchell and Raymond Donovan

September 2, 2019 1:12 amSeptember 2, 2019 2:04 am

Two New Jerseyans have served as U.S. Secretary of Labor, both construction company executives named by Republican presidents for their close ties to organized labor. James P. Mitchell (1900-1964) grew up in Elizabeth and worked in the administration of President...

Most of the New Jersey delegation voted for Social Security 84 years ago

August 14, 2019 3:11 pm

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law 84 years ago on August 14, 1935 with the support of most of New Jersey’s congressional delegation. The House passed the bill on April 19 by a vote of...

Thomas Edison’s daughter couldn’t beat the line in congressional primary

August 4, 2019 7:00 pmAugust 5, 2019 9:56 am

In case you missed it: a 1938 congressional primary where Thomas Edison’s daughter couldn’t win off the line against the organization choice, a municipal court judge from East Orange. Two years earlier, in President Franklin Roosevelt’s re-election year, 33-year-old Edward...

Two NJ congressmen who placed patriotism above politics

May 27, 2019 12:01 amMay 26, 2019 1:40 pm

Most people in New Jersey politics today probably never heard of Albert Vreeland or Frank Osmers, two young New Jersey Congressmen who placed patriotism above politics and the security of our nation ahead of their own political careers. Vreeland first...

The time Frank Hague tried to take over Montclair

March 19, 2019 8:47 am

Most New Jerseyans involved in local politics are familiar with the Faulkner Act, aka the Optional Municipal Charter Law, which gives municipalities a smorgasbord of different forms of local government to pick from. Here’s the backstory. Back in 1934, Jersey...

The story of Hackensack Harry

March 3, 2019 11:54 pmMarch 4, 2019 10:00 am

Before Bill Bradley, there was Harry C. Harper. Known as “Hackensack Harry,” Harper spent ten seasons as a major league baseball pitcher. The big left-hander was the starting pitcher for the New York Yankees game six of the 1921 World...