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Richard Leone

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Richard C. Leone
Treasurer of New Jersey
In office
1974–1977
GovernorBrendan Byrne
Preceded byWilliam Marfuggi
Succeeded byClifford Goldman
Chairman of thePort Authority of New York and New Jersey
In office
1990–1994
Preceded byPhilip D. Kaltenbacher
Succeeded byKathleen Donovan
Personal details
Born(1940-04-30)April 30, 1940
Webster, New York
DiedJuly 16, 2015(2015-07-16)(aged 75)
Hopewell, New Jersey
Spouse(s)Anita Osper (div.); Meg Cox
RelationsSanto Leone (father); Lucy Penello Leone (mother); Sandra Brooks (sister)
ChildrenKate Leone (daughter); Max Leone (son)
Alma materUniversity of Rochester;Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International AffairsofPrinceton University

Richard Carl Leone(April 30, 1940 - July 16, 2015) was an AmericanDemocratic Partypolitician who served as New Jersey State Treasurer from 1974 to 1977 and as Chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey from 1990 to 1994. Leone also worked forLyndon B. Johnson,Robert F. KennedyandEdmund Muskie.

Early life

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Leone was born inWebster, New Yorkon April 30, 1940, the son of Santo Leone, who was the operations director forPage Airwaysand Lucy Penello Leone. He was a 1965 graduate of theUniversity of Rochesterand later earned masters and doctoral degrees from theWoodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairsat Princeton University.[1]

Political career

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Staffer and operative

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From 1965 to 1967, Leone served on the staff of GovernorRichard J. Hughes.[2]He served in the administration of PresidentLyndon Johnsonas Executive Director of the White House Task Force on the Cities.[1]Leone was the New Jersey Coordinator for the campaign ofRobert F. Kennedyfor the Democratic nomination for President in 1968. He was the Director of the Center for the Analysis of Public Issues, a consumer research think tank, from 1970 to 1972. In 1972, he was part of the policy team for the campaign ofEdmund Muskiefor the Democratic presidential nomination.[2]

In 1973, Leone became the campaign manager forBrendan Byrne,who won the Democratic nomination forGovernor of New Jerseyand defeated Republican CongressmanCharles W. Sandman Jr.by 721,000 votes (66.4%).[3]

Leone returned to the Byrne campaign in the spring of 1977 when the Governor faced competitive primary and general election campaigns.[4]

In 1984, Leone was a senior advisor to the presidential campaign ofWalter Mondale.[5]AfterJon Corzinewas elected Governor in 2005, Leone became Chairman of the Governor-elect's transition team.[6]

New Jersey State Treasurer

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On December 14, 1973, Byrne appointed Leone to his cabinet to serve as State Treasurer. At age 33, he became one of the youngest persons to ever serve as New Jersey State Treasurer.[2]He took office on January 14, 1974, following his confirmation by the New Jersey State Senate.[7]He held the post until resigning in 1977 to become a lecturer at Princeton University.[8]

Campaign for U.S. Senator

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In 1978, RepublicanClifford Case,74, was seeking re-election to a fifth term in theUnited States Senate.On January 28, 1978, Leone announced that he would seek the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination. With the "tacit" support of the Democratic Governor, Leone began to win endorsements from key Democratic county organizations. One potential rival, two-term CongressmanAndrew Maguirewithdrew from the race and endorsed Leone. So did Jersey City MayorThomas F.X. Smith,Hudson County Democratic ChairmanFrank Guariniand Camden MayorAngelo Errichetti.[9]He also had the backing of Mercer County Democratic ChairmanRichard J. Coffee.FormerNew York KnicksstarBill Bradleyentered the race on February 16[10]On February 22, former State SenatorAlexander J. Menzajoined the race. Menza later alleged that allies of Leone tried to get him out of the race with the offer of a state appointment; Leone denied that.[11]

A poll conducted by the Associated Press and WNBC-TV in mid-May showed Bradley ahead by a 37%-9% margin, with 3% for Menza. Leone charged Bradley with running an "arrogant" and "phony" campaign, and called Bradley, who moved to New Jersey while playing basketball, a carpetbagger.[12]

Bradley won the Democratic primary by a wide margin, 58.9% to 26.5% for Leone, a plurality of 119,835 votes. Menza finished third with 9%, followed by 3% for Kenneth G. McCarthy, 2% for Stafford Township MayorWesley Bell,and 1% for Ray Rollinson.[13]Case lost the Republican primary to conservative Jeffrey Bell, and Bradley won the Senate seat in the general election.

Port Authority Commissioner and Chairman

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GovernorThomas Kean,a Republican, appointed Leone to serve as a Commissioner of thePort Authority of New York and New Jersey.In 1990, Leone was named Chairman of the Port Authority by the newly elected Governor, DemocratJames Florio.He replacedPhilip Kaltenbacher,who had held the post under Kean.[14]Gov. Byrne has twice sought to get Leone appointed as Executive Director of the Port Authority, but he was blocked by New York GovernorHugh Carey.[15]

Private sector

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Leone was president of theNew York Mercantile Exchangefrom 1980 to 1982 and managing director ofDillon, Read & Co.,a New York City investment bank, from 1985 to 1989. From 1989 to 2011, he served as President of the Twentieth Century Fund (now calledThe Century Foundation), a progressive think tank that focused on issues of inequality, voting rights, civil liberties and opposition to the privatization of Social Security. He retired in 2011.[1]

Death

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Leone died of prostate cancer in 2015.[1]

References

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  1. ^abcdRoberts, Sam (21 July 2015)."Richard Leone, 75, Dies; Port Authority Chairman and Force in N.J. Politics".New York Times.Retrieved24 March2016.
  2. ^abcSullivan, Joseph F. (14 December 1973). "Leone Is Named by Byrne As New State Treasurer".New York Times.
  3. ^"NJ Governor".New Jersey Division of Elections.State of New Jersey.Retrieved24 March2016.
  4. ^Sullivan, Joseph F. (8 June 1977). "BYRNE IS RENOMINATED BY JERSEY'S DEMOCRATS; BATEMAN DEFEATS KEAN; GOVERNOR OUTRUNS 9 Roe Only Challenger to Pull Votes All Over State Tax on Income Key Issue BYRNE AND BATEMAN NOMINATED IN JERSEY".New York Times.
  5. ^Pizarro, Max (17 July 2015). "Richard 'Dick' Leone, served as Treasurer in the Byrne Administration, has Died". PolitickerNJ.com.
  6. ^Sherman, Ted (22 July 2015)."Richard Leone, former N.J. treasurer and political adviser, dead at 75".Newark Star-Ledger.Retrieved25 March2016.
  7. ^"New Jersey Briefs; Deputy State Treasurer Named".New York Times.15 January 1973.
  8. ^Sullivan, Joseph F. (19 April 1977). "Byrne Slated to Announce Today That He Will Run for a 2d Term".New York Times.
  9. ^Sullivan, Joseph F. (14 February 1978). "Maguire Backs Leone as Nominee for U.S. Senate; Support by Camden's Mayor".New York Times.
  10. ^Sullivan, Joseph F. (16 February 1978). "Bradley Enters U.S. Senate Race, Aided by Byrne's 1977 Manager".New York Times.
  11. ^Sullivan, Joseph F. (26 April 1978). "Menza Tells of Overtures to Aides To Get Him Out of Race for Senate; Leone Denies Overtures".New York Times.
  12. ^Sullivan, Joseph F. (19 May 1978). "Leone, Trailing in New Poll, Calls Bradley's Ad Campaign 'Insulting'; Acknowledges He Is 20 Points Behind Specifics Demanded Brock Endorses Case".New York Times.
  13. ^"NJ US Senate - D Primary".OurCampaigns.com.Retrieved21 March2016.
  14. ^Barron, James (12 April 1990)."Port Authority Set to Name Ex-Byrne Aide as Chairman".New York Times.Retrieved24 March2016.
  15. ^Witkin, Richard (22 April 1977). "Ronan Is Reported Ready to Quit; Goldmark Advanced for Port Post; Ronan Tells Carey He Wants to Resign Port Post".New York Times.
[edit]
Political offices
Preceded by
William Marfuggi
 Treasurer of New Jersey
1974–1977 		Succeeded by
Clifford Goldman
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