James Hugh Joseph Tate
James Hugh Joseph Tate | |
---|---|
92nd Mayor of Philadelphia | |
In office February 12, 1962 – January 3, 1972 Acting: February 12, 1962 – January 6, 1964 | |
Preceded by | Richardson Dilworth |
Succeeded by | Frank Rizzo |
President of the Philadelphia City Council | |
In office January 20, 1955[1] – January 6, 1964 | |
Preceded by | Himself[b] |
Succeeded by | Paul D'Ortona |
President pro tempore of the Philadelphia City Council | |
In office January 4, 1954 – January 20, 1955 | |
Preceded by | James Finnegan[c] |
Succeeded by | Himself |
Member of the Philadelphia City Council from the 7th District | |
In office January 7, 1952 – January 6, 1964 | |
Preceded by | John F. Byrne |
Succeeded by | Joseph J. Hersch |
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the Philadelphia County district | |
In office January 7, 1941 – November 30, 1946 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | April 10, 1910
Died | May 27, 1983 Somers Point, New Jersey | (aged 73)
Political party | Democratic |
a.^ Acting Mayor from February 12, 1962 through January 6, 1964 b.^ As President of the City Council c.^ As Council President |
James Hugh Joseph Tate (April 10, 1910 – May 27, 1983) was an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 92nd Mayor of Philadelphia from 1962 to 1972. He was also a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the Philadelphia City Council. He was the first Roman Catholic to serve as mayor of Philadelphia.
Biography[]
Early life and career[]
He was born on April 10, 1910 in Philadelphia. He received his LL.B. from Temple University in 1938 and clerked for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.[2][3]
He was active in Democratic Party politics and, in 1941, won a seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to an at-large seat for Philadelphia County. He won re-election to the House in 1943 and 1945. In 1951, he won a seat on the Philadelphia City Council and became the President pro tempore in 1954, which became the council president in 1955. He held that position for nearly 10 years.[2]
Mayor of Philadelphia[]
Mayor Richardson Dilworth resigned his post in 1962 in order to make a second run for Governor in that fall’s general election. As the city council president, Tate became acting mayor upon Dilworth’s resignation. He went on to win two terms in his own right, in 1963 and 1967.[3] As a result, he is to date the longest serving mayor.
In 1963, he defeated Republican James McDermott with 54% of the vote.[4] He fended off a protest by the Congress of Racial Equality by stopping construction of the Philadelphia Municipal Services Building until more black workers were hired.[3]
In 1967, he appointed Frank Rizzo as the police commissioner.[5] He defeated District Attorney Arlen Specter in 1967 by less than 12,000 votes.[4]
Towards the end of his life, Tate lived in Longport, New Jersey.
Death[]
Tate died of an apparent myocardial infarction in Somers Point, aged 73.[6]
References[]
- ^ "Administration of James H. J. Tate". Mayor's Correspondence and Files. The City of Philadelphia: Department of Records. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "JAMES H. J. TATE". Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 2018-06-17.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "James Tate of Philadelphia; Held Mayor's Post in 1962-72". New York Times. May 29, 1983.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Mayors of Philadelphia". City of Philadelphia. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
- ^ "Rizzo Resigns to Run for Mayor of Philadelphia". New York Times. 1971-02-03.
- ^ Kennedy, Shawn G. (May 29, 1983). "James Tate of Philadelphia; Held Mayor's Post in 1962-72". The New York Times. p. 1.32.
External links[]
- Description of James H. J. Tate archives at City of Philadelphia website
- 1910 births
- 1983 deaths
- Mayors of Philadelphia
- People from Longport, New Jersey
- Philadelphia City Council members
- 20th-century American politicians
- Pennsylvania Democrats
- Presidents of the United States Conference of Mayors
- Pennsylvania mayor stubs