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{{Short description|American politician (1900–1981)}}
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'''Joseph Zaretzki''' (March 9, 1900—December 20, 1981) was an American lawyer and politician from [[New York (state)|New York]]. He was [[Majority Leader of the New York State Senate]] in 1965, the only [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] in this position since the adoption of the [[New York State Constitution]] of 1938 until [[Malcolm Smith (American politician)|Malcolm Smith]] attained the position in 2009.

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'''Joseph Zaretzki''' (March 9, 1900 – December 20, 1981) was an American lawyer and politician from [[New York (state)|New York]]. He was [[Majority Leader of the New York State Senate]] in 1965, the only [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] in this position since the adoption of the [[New York State Constitution]] of 1938 until [[Malcolm Smith (American politician)|Malcolm Smith]] attained the position in 2009.


==Early life, education, and military service==
==Early life, education, and military service==
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In November 1947, he was elected to the [[New York State Senate]], to fill the vacancy caused by the appointment of [[Alexander A. Falk]] as Civil Service Commissioner.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1947/11/18/archives/senator-zaretzki-is-sworn.html ''Senator Zaretzki Is Sworn''] in the ''[[New York Times]]'' on November 18, 1947</ref> Zaretzki represented the [[Washington Heights, Manhattan|Washington Heights]] area of [[Manhattan]] from 1948 to 1974, sitting in the [[166th New York State Legislature|166th]], [[167th New York State Legislature|167th]], [[168th New York State Legislature|168th]], [[169th New York State Legislature|169th]], [[170th New York State Legislature|170th]], [[171st New York State Legislature|171st]], [[172nd New York State Legislature|172nd]], [[173rd New York State Legislature|173rd]], [[174th New York State Legislature|174th]], [[175th New York State Legislature|175th]], [[176th New York State Legislature|176th]], [[177th New York State Legislature|177th]], [[178th New York State Legislature|178th]], [[179th New York State Legislature|179th]] and [[180th New York State Legislature]]s. He was the Democratic Minority Leader from 1957 to 1964, and from 1966 to 1974.
In November 1947, he was elected to the [[New York State Senate]], to fill the vacancy caused by the appointment of [[Alexander A. Falk]] as Civil Service Commissioner.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1947/11/18/archives/senator-zaretzki-is-sworn.html ''Senator Zaretzki Is Sworn''] in the ''[[New York Times]]'' on November 18, 1947</ref> Zaretzki represented the [[Washington Heights, Manhattan|Washington Heights]] area of [[Manhattan]] from 1948 to 1974, sitting in the [[166th New York State Legislature|166th]], [[167th New York State Legislature|167th]], [[168th New York State Legislature|168th]], [[169th New York State Legislature|169th]], [[170th New York State Legislature|170th]], [[171st New York State Legislature|171st]], [[172nd New York State Legislature|172nd]], [[173rd New York State Legislature|173rd]], [[174th New York State Legislature|174th]], [[175th New York State Legislature|175th]], [[176th New York State Legislature|176th]], [[177th New York State Legislature|177th]], [[178th New York State Legislature|178th]], [[179th New York State Legislature|179th]] and [[180th New York State Legislature]]s. He was the Democratic Minority Leader from 1957 to 1964, and from 1966 to 1974.


As a state senator, Zaretzki could be both "fiery and humorous"; he once called for Governor [[Nelson A. Rockefeller]] to be [[Impeachment|impeached]], but later admitted that "he had merely intended to capture the interest of spectators in the gallery."<ref name="NYTObit"/> ''New York Times'' editorial board member [[William V. Shannon]] said, "To call Zaretzki a hack, would be undue praise."<ref name="Newfield">Jack Newfield, ''RFK: A Memoir'' (Thunder's Mouth Press: 1969), 2003 ed., pp. 146-47.</ref> Zaretzki was allied to Mayor [[Robert F. Wagner Jr.]] and Tammany Hall leader [[J. Raymond Jones]]; he was opposed by the Reform Democrats and anti-Wagner Democrats, who sought to block Zaretzki from power in the state Senate.<ref name="Newfield"/>
As a state senator, Zaretzki could be both "fiery and humorous"; he once called for Governor [[Nelson A. Rockefeller]] to be [[Impeachment in the United States|impeached]], but later admitted that "he had merely intended to capture the interest of spectators in the gallery."<ref name="NYTObit"/> ''New York Times'' editorial board member [[William V. Shannon]] said, "To call Zaretzki a hack, would be undue praise."<ref name="Newfield">Jack Newfield, ''RFK: A Memoir'' (Thunder's Mouth Press: 1969), 2003 ed., pp. 146-47.</ref> Zaretzki was allied to Mayor [[Robert F. Wagner Jr.]] and Tammany Hall leader [[J. Raymond Jones]]; he was opposed by the Reform Democrats and anti-Wagner Democrats, who sought to block Zaretzki from power in the state Senate.<ref name="Newfield"/>


In 1965, the Democratic Party achieved for the only time since 1938 a majority in the State Senate, but the Democratic senators were divided in two factions, 15 senators allied with [[Mayor of New York City]] [[Robert F. Wagner Jr.]], and 18 senators allied with [[U.S. Senator]] [[Robert F. Kennedy]]. After a month of deadlock, Zaretzki—the long-time Minority Leader—was elected Temporary President on February 3 with the votes of the Wagner men and the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] who had voted for [[Earl W. Brydges]], but were urged by Governor [[Nelson A. Rockefeller]] to end the deadlock.<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,840524,00.html] His election to the majority leadership, in TIME Magazine on February 12, 1965</ref>
In 1965, the Democratic Party achieved for the only time since 1938 a majority in the State Senate, but the Democratic senators were divided in two factions, 15 senators allied with [[Mayor of New York City]] [[Robert F. Wagner Jr.]], and 18 senators allied with [[U.S. Senator]] [[Robert F. Kennedy]]. After a month of deadlock, Zaretzki—the long-time Minority Leader—was elected Temporary President on February 3 with the votes of the Wagner men and the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] who had voted for [[Earl W. Brydges]], but were urged by Governor [[Nelson A. Rockefeller]] to end the deadlock.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100715093910/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,840524,00.html] His election to the majority leadership, in TIME Magazine on February 12, 1965</ref>


Zaretzki's political career ended in 1974, when [[Franz S. Leichter]] defeated him in the Democratic [[primary election]].<ref name="NYTObit"/> Leichter, a state assemblyman, was from the Reform wing of the Democratic Party and was nearly three decades younger than Zaretzki.<ref>Linda Greenhouse, [https://www.nytimes.com/1974/09/11/archives/zaretzki-democratic-leader-in-state-senate-since-1957-is-defeated.html Zaretzki, Democratic Leader in State Since 1957, Is Defeated by Leichter], ''New York Times'' (September 10, 1974).</ref> After his defeat, Zaretzki returned to the private practice of law.<ref name="NYTObit"/>
Zaretzki's political career ended in 1974, when [[Franz S. Leichter]] defeated him in the Democratic [[Partisan primary|primary election]].<ref name="NYTObit"/> Leichter, a state assemblyman, was from the Reform wing of the Democratic Party and was nearly three decades younger than Zaretzki.<ref>Linda Greenhouse, [https://www.nytimes.com/1974/09/11/archives/zaretzki-democratic-leader-in-state-senate-since-1957-is-defeated.html Zaretzki, Democratic Leader in State Since 1957, Is Defeated by Leichter], ''New York Times'' (September 10, 1974).</ref> After his defeat, Zaretzki returned to the private practice of law.<ref name="NYTObit"/>


==Death==
==Death==
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[[Category:1900 births]]
[[Category:1900 births]]
[[Category:1981 deaths]]
[[Category:1981 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American politicians]]
[[Category:American politicians of Polish descent]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:Columbia College (New York) alumni]]
[[Category:Columbia College (New York) alumni]]
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[[Category:Majority leaders of the New York State Senate]]
[[Category:Majority leaders of the New York State Senate]]
[[Category:Military personnel from New York City]]
[[Category:Military personnel from New York City]]
[[Category:New York (state) Democrats]]
[[Category:Democratic Party New York (state) state senators]]
[[Category:New York (state) state senators]]
[[Category:Polish emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Politicians from Manhattan]]
[[Category:Politicians from Manhattan]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the New York State Legislature]]

Latest revision as of 00:45, 6 December 2024

Joseph Zaretzki (March 9, 1900 – December 20, 1981) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was Majority Leader of the New York State Senate in 1965, the only Democrat in this position since the adoption of the New York State Constitution of 1938 until Malcolm Smith attained the position in 2009.

Early life, education, and military service

[edit]

Zaretzki was born on March 9, 1900.[1] He was born in Warsaw and came to the United States in childhood.[2] He served in the U.S. Army during World War I.[2] He graduated from Columbia College and Columbia Law School.[2]

Career

[edit]

Zaretzki practiced law in Upper Manhattan and entered politics toward the end of the Great Depression, and rose within Tammany Hall, becoming a district leader.[2]

In November 1947, he was elected to the New York State Senate, to fill the vacancy caused by the appointment of Alexander A. Falk as Civil Service Commissioner.[3] Zaretzki represented the Washington Heights area of Manhattan from 1948 to 1974, sitting in the 166th, 167th, 168th, 169th, 170th, 171st, 172nd, 173rd, 174th, 175th, 176th, 177th, 178th, 179th and 180th New York State Legislatures. He was the Democratic Minority Leader from 1957 to 1964, and from 1966 to 1974.

As a state senator, Zaretzki could be both "fiery and humorous"; he once called for Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller to be impeached, but later admitted that "he had merely intended to capture the interest of spectators in the gallery."[2] New York Times editorial board member William V. Shannon said, "To call Zaretzki a hack, would be undue praise."[4] Zaretzki was allied to Mayor Robert F. Wagner Jr. and Tammany Hall leader J. Raymond Jones; he was opposed by the Reform Democrats and anti-Wagner Democrats, who sought to block Zaretzki from power in the state Senate.[4]

In 1965, the Democratic Party achieved for the only time since 1938 a majority in the State Senate, but the Democratic senators were divided in two factions, 15 senators allied with Mayor of New York City Robert F. Wagner Jr., and 18 senators allied with U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy. After a month of deadlock, Zaretzki—the long-time Minority Leader—was elected Temporary President on February 3 with the votes of the Wagner men and the Republicans who had voted for Earl W. Brydges, but were urged by Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller to end the deadlock.[5]

Zaretzki's political career ended in 1974, when Franz S. Leichter defeated him in the Democratic primary election.[2] Leichter, a state assemblyman, was from the Reform wing of the Democratic Party and was nearly three decades younger than Zaretzki.[6] After his defeat, Zaretzki returned to the private practice of law.[2]

Death

[edit]

Zaretzki suffered a series of strokes toward the end of his life. He died on December 20, 1981, in Beth Abraham Hospital in the Bronx.[2]

Sources

[edit]
  1. ^ University Libraries: Special Collections & Archives: Politics and Politicians, University at Albany, SUNY.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glenn Fowler, Joseph Zaretzki, Former Albany Leader, Dies, New York Times (December 21, 1981).
  3. ^ Senator Zaretzki Is Sworn in the New York Times on November 18, 1947
  4. ^ a b Jack Newfield, RFK: A Memoir (Thunder's Mouth Press: 1969), 2003 ed., pp. 146-47.
  5. ^ [1] His election to the majority leadership, in TIME Magazine on February 12, 1965
  6. ^ Linda Greenhouse, Zaretzki, Democratic Leader in State Since 1957, Is Defeated by Leichter, New York Times (September 10, 1974).
New York State Senate
Preceded by New York State Senate
23rd District
1948–1965 		Succeeded by
Preceded by New York State Senate
32nd District
1966 		Succeeded by
Preceded by New York State Senate
28th District
1967–1972 		Succeeded by
Preceded by New York State Senate
29th District
1973–1974 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Minority Leader in the New York State Senate
1957–1964 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Temporary President of the State Senate
1965 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minority Leader in the New York State Senate
1966–1974 		Succeeded by
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