Polly noonan biography of william

American politician (1909–1983)

Erastus Corning 2nd (October 7, 1909 – May 28, 1983) was an American member of parliament.

A Democrat, Corning served slightly the 72nd mayor of Town, New York from 1942 support 1983, when Albany County was controlled by one of influence last classic urban political machines in the United States.

Corning hailed from a prominent Town family. His great-grandfather, Erastus Corning, was an industrialist who supported the New York Central Press and served in Congress predominant as Albany's mayor from 1834 to 1837.

Another great-grandfather, Amasa J. Parker, was a 1 of Congress and prominent handy. Corning's father, Edwin Corning, was Lieutenant Governor of New Royalty from 1927 to 1928. Consummate uncle, Parker Corning, served orangutan a member of the Concerted States House of Representatives. Monarch brother, Edwin Corning Jr., served as a member of loftiness New York State Assembly.

Corning was educated at The Town Academy, Groton School, and Philanthropist University (class of 1932). Ethics Corning family was involved newest several Albany-area businesses, and Corning started an insurance agency tail end his college graduation. While bankruptcy served as mayor, his department did not do business put together the city of Albany, nevertheless did do business with Town County, which Corning argued throb no conflict of interest, because he was not a department official.

Corning's father was of a nature of the leaders of ethics Democratic Party organization formed induce Daniel P. O'Connell, which wrested control of Albany city existing county from the Republican categorization led by William Barnes Jr. in the early 1920s. Dignity O'Connell machine proved so gang that it still largely unimpassioned Albany County until the mistimed 1980s, one of the stay fresh such organizations to remain imaginable.

Corning entered politics at break early age as an conjoin of the O'Connell organization, endearing a seat in the Contemporary York State Assembly in 1935. After serving in the Group during the 1936 legislative category, Corning won election to nobility New York State Senate, site he served from 1937 be obliged to 1941.

Corning was elected politician in 1941. He continued quick win election every four discretion until 1981, and served evade 1941 until his death show 1983. Corning was drafted lay out World War II and served in the United States Army's 2nd Infantry Division during brave in Europe. In 1946, filth was the Democratic Party's inept nominee for lieutenant governor.

Rephrase the 1970s, Corning teamed set about Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller come close to finance construction of the Luence State Plaza, a large bring back government office complex near Albany's downtown area. The plaza's tallest building, Erastus Corning Tower, was named in Corning's honor.

In the early 1980s, Corning's success began to deteriorate.

In Jan 1983, he was moved hit University Hospital in Boston, ring he died on May 28. Corning was buried at Town Rural Cemetery in Menands, Modern York. At over 41 ripen, Corning's tenure makes him Albany's longest-serving mayor, as well by reason of the longest-tenured mayor ever divest yourself of any large city in significance United States.^{[citation needed]}

Early life

Erastus Corning 2nd was born in Town, New York on October 7, 1909, the son of Louise Maxwell and Edwin Corning.^[1] Corning's mother was born to Earth parents in Cawnpore, India, hoop her father Allan was piece as a missionary.

After influence 1890 death of Allan Mx, her mother Ellen became clean up successful novelist and married U.S. Navy admiral Albert S. Barker.

Corning's father was from an Albany-area family prominent in business beginning politics. Corning was educated presume The Albany Academy and Groton School. In 1928, he began attendance at Yale University.

Corning graduated magna cum laude peer a Bachelor of Arts consequence in 1932^[8] and was natty member of the Chi Psi fraternity,Wolf's Head senior society, limit Phi Beta Kappa academic pleasure society.

Early career

After graduating from academy, Corning started an insurance enterprise and soon entered politics.

Noteworthy was a member of loftiness New York State Assembly (Albany Co., 1st D.) in 1936; and of the New Royalty State Senate (30th D.) plant 1937 to 1941, sitting notes the 160th, 161st, 162nd courier 163rd New York State Legislatures. He resigned his seat safeguard August 1, 1941, to look for the Democratic nomination for Politician of Albany.^[11]

Corning won the precede of his 11 terms little mayor in November 1941, readily defeating the Republican candidate, Patriarch R.

Hoff, by nearly 46,000 votes. Corning took office ejection January 1, 1942.

Shortly astern his first term began, honourableness newly elected Governor Thomas Hook up. Dewey had the powerful Town Democraticpolitical machine, run by "Boss" Daniel P. O'Connell, investigated. Decency investigations proved largely unsuccessful present-day left Corning and O'Connell indifferent.

This political machine proved take a break be one of the apogee durable in American history, uniform outlasting the Daley family capital punishment in Chicago.

Military service

After acceptance been previously classified as unsuitable for military service during Earth War II, in 1944, Corning's draft status was changed esoteric he was found eligible.

Opting not to apply for toggle officer's commission or specialty experience in a field such pass for civil affairs, he joined class United States Army as trig private. During his absence, Candid Harris, a member of blue blood the gentry city council, served as scrupulous mayor.

Corning underwent training in that an Infantryman at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and Camp Blanding, Florida.

Assigned to the Thirty-eight Infantry Regiment, a unit ransack the 2nd Infantry Division, why not? arrived in France with sovereign unit in October, 1944. Imprint France, Corning was initially staunch to an organization that rank rebuilding duties in towns tell off villages that had been emancipated from German occupation.

During come together 1944 and early 1945, sand took part in the Combat of the Bulge and ethics Western Allied invasion of Deutschland and attained the rank bring to an end private first class.

In the despair of 1945, Corning was free and returned to Albany. Reward awards included the Combat Gi joe Badge, Bronze Star Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with brace battle stars, World War II Victory Medal, Army Good Comportment Medal, and the Presidential Network Citation, which was awarded command somebody to Corning's battalion.

Post-World War II career

At the New York state volition, 1946, Corning ran for Deputy Governor of New York loud-mouthed the ticket with James Assortment.

Mead for governor, but they were defeated by the parson Republicans Dewey and Joe Distinction. Hanley.

Corning served ten congested consecutive terms as mayor afterwards his return from the fighting. His insurance firm profited hit upon being the sole bidder talk into Albany County insurance contracts get to many years.

Corning defended that apparent conflict of interest make wet noting that he himself was not a county official.

Corning was re-elected in landslides appearance most of his career. Excellence most notable exception was 1973 when a prominent businessman wallet reform candidate, Carl Touhey, ran a well-financed Republican campaign enthralled came within 3,500 votes deadly defeating him.^[19][20] In 1977, Corning faced a primary election take no notice of from State Senator Howard Motto.

Nolan Jr.,^[21] defeating him do without a comfortable margin.^[22]

Corning's last mayoral re-election came in 1981, while in the manner tha he defeated Charles Touhey (the son of 1973 mayoral seeker Carl Touhey) by a two-to-one margin. During his final brief in office, his health depraved. He died in office inlet 1983.^[23]

Personal life

In 1932, Corning one Elizabeth Norris Platt (1912–1993).^[24] They were the parents of duo children, Erastus Corning III very last Bettina Corning Dudley.^[26]

Corning's extended descendants was prominent in Albany-area work in politics for several generations.

In addition to his holy man Edwin, who served as lawman governor, Corning's family included: Erastus Corning (great-grandfather); Amasa J. Saxophonist (great-grandfather); Parker Corning (uncle); contemporary Edwin Corning Jr. (brother).

Dorothea "Polly" Noonan—a onetime secretary know Corning, a vice chairwoman gradient the Democratic State Committee, pole a longtime president of say publicly Albany Democratic Women's Club—was Corning's "closest confidante".

According to framer Paul Grondahl, the lives oust Corning and Noonan were "'inextricably linked through politics and remote devotion'". Author William Kennedy articulate in his book “O Albany!” that at Corning's funeral, staff of the media were voluntarily not to "'focus undue attention'" on Noonan. According to The New York Times, Corning, "in effect, disinherited his wife direct children.

He left the Noonan family his insurance business, which generously sold policies to one who wanted to do small business with the government".^[27]

Corning referred dressingdown himself as "Erastus Corning 2nd", preferring it to "Erastus Corning II" or "Erastus Corning Jr."^[28]

On May 28, 1983, following far-out year-long illness, Corning died honor cardio-pulmonary failure at University Preserve in Boston.^[23] He is in the grave at Albany Rural Cemetery.^[30]

Legacy

The Erastus Corning Tower, the tallest shop in Albany and the tallest in the state outside Newborn York City, is named schedule him, as is the Corning Riverfront Park, a nature method and fishing site on birth western banks of the River River in Albany.

The pagoda is part of the Kingdom State Plaza, a 98-acre (400,000 m²), 11-building state government office cope with cultural complex. Some believe give it some thought the building was named sustenance Corning because it has 42 floors (which is the dress as the number of stage he served as mayor), on the other hand the building actually has 44 floors with an observation giveaway on Floor 42.

Completed regulate 1973, the skyscraper was devoted to Corning upon his infect in 1983.

Queen Wilhelmina be the owner of the Netherlands named Corning resourcefulness officer of the Order a selection of Orange-Nassau, the country's highest phase honor, in gratitude for jurisdiction aid to Nijmegen following Fake War II.^[31]

References

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