Thomas F. X. Smith
Thomas F. X. Smith | |
|---|---|
| 38thMayor of Jersey City | |
| In office July 1, 1977 – May 12, 1981 | |
| Preceded by | Paul T. Jordan |
| Succeeded by | Gerald McCann |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 5, 1928 Jersey City, New Jersey |
| Died | May 31, 1996(aged 67) Jersey City, New Jersey |
| Resting place | Holy Name Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Jersey City, New Jersey |
| Profession | Educator |
Thomas Francis Xavier Smith(July 5, 1928 – May 31, 1996) was a reformist politician and author. He served as mayor ofJersey City, New Jersey,from 1977 to 1981.
Career
[edit]Smith was affectionately known as "The Mouth That Roared" due to his outspoken criticism of the politicalcronyismand corruption for whichHudson Countyhad long been infamous. Smith left the mayor's office for a bid forGovernor of New Jerseyin 1981, in which he finished sixth in a field of 13 candidates vying for theDemocraticnomination, and was unsuccessful in a subsequent bid for the mayoralty ofJersey Cityin 1989.[1]
Smith wrotePowerticians,a history ofJersey Citypolitics and the attempts to remove the city from the grip of thepolitical machinecreated byFrank Hague,Hudson Countypolitical boss and sometimes mayor ofJersey City.The book was published byLyle Stuart,Inc., ofSecaucus, New Jersey,in 1982. (ISBN0-8184-0328-4).[1]
Personal life
[edit]Smith attendedSt. Peter's Preparatory Schoolin Jersey City. He was a star basketball player atSaint Peter's College, New Jersey,where he earned an undergraduate degree with a major inEnglish,and received amaster's degreefromFordham Universityineducational psychology.He was director of placement at St. Peter's and a vice president ofHudson County Community College.[1]Smith played for theNew York Knicksbriefly in 1951.[2]
Smith died ofcancerin 1996, and is buried inHoly Name Cemetery, Jersey City.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abcGoodnough, Abby."Thomas Smith, 68, Ex-Jersey City Mayor, Dies",The New York Times,June 5, 1996. Accessed April 1, 2008. "During his term, he wrote" The Powerticians, "a history of Hudson County politics peppered with his own recollections.... Known for his scrappiness, Mr. Smith once confronted President Jimmy Carter with demands for more urban aid, an encounter that inspired White House aides to call him" the mouth that roared. "
- ^Goodnough, Abby (5 June 1996)."Thomas Smith, 68, Ex-Jersey City Mayor, Dies".The New York Times.
Bibliography
[edit]- Smith, Thomas F. X.(1982),The Powerticians,Secaucus, New Jersey:Lyle Stuart,ISBN0-8184-0328-4
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
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- 1928 births
- 1996 deaths
- 20th-century mayors of places in New Jersey
- Basketball players from Jersey City, New Jersey
- New York Knicks draft picks
- Saint Peter's Peacocks men's basketball players
- American athlete-politicians
- Deaths from cancer in New Jersey
- New Jersey Democrats
- Writers from Jersey City, New Jersey
- Burials at Holy Name Cemetery (Jersey City, New Jersey)
- American men's basketball players
- New Jersey mayor stubs