Henry Helstoski Archives

Flashback: New Jerseyans on Nixon resignation in 1974

August 9, 2020 8:21 pmAugust 9, 2020 8:26 pm

Richard M. Nixon resigned as President of the United States 46 years ago today, just as the U.S. House of Representatives was about to impeach him for his role in the Watergate scandal: “I have never been a quitter. To...

Freedom Rider Byron Baer spent 34 years in the NJ legislature — and 45 days in a Mississippi prison

July 29, 2020 12:10 amJuly 29, 2020 12:59 pm

Today is the 59th anniversary of the arrest of Freedom Rider Byron Baer, a longtime New Jersey legislator who was charged with attempting to desegregate a blacks-only waiting room at the Greyhound bus terminal in Jackson, Mississippi. He spent 45...

Veterans: Two N.J. congressmen who placed patriotism above politics

May 25, 2020 12:01 amNovember 8, 2020 9:37 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...

78% of successful House challengers were political unknowns

May 11, 2020 3:16 pmMay 14, 2020 10:25 am

In a race for Congress, New Jerseyans are historically more likely to vote for someone they had never really heard of against an incumbent Member of Congress than they are to go with someone who has been winning elections for...

Trump names GOP donor as postmaster general. Could that mean the return of local postmasters as congressional picks?

May 8, 2020 1:50 pmJuly 21, 2020 10:39 am

President Donald Trump named a top Republican contributor as the new Postmaster General, returning the post to a political appointee for the first time in 48 years. Post offices were once the ultimate patronage pits for political organizations, some of...

Bergen conventions around since 1976

March 23, 2020 8:55 pmMarch 23, 2020 9:09 pm

The Bergen County Republican Organization was one of the first counties in the state to award their organization line based on an open vote of the full county committee in 1976. The convention process was the brainstorm of Cassius Daly,...

Six Bergen Democratic legislators endorse Gottheimer

March 3, 2020 5:00 pmMarch 3, 2020 6:19 pm

Democratic legislators representing two Bergen County districts have endorsed Rep. Josh Gottheimer for re-nomination in the Democratic primary against Glen Rock councilwoman Arati Kreibich. The six Democrats – Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck), State Sen. Joseph Lagana (D-Paramus), Assembly...