Charles Poletti

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Charles Poletti bigraphy, stories - American judge

Charles Poletti : biography

July 2, 1903 – August 8, 2002

Charles Poletti (July 2, 1903 – August 8, 2002) was an American lawyer and politician. He was the 46th Governor of New York in 1942, and was the first Italian-American governor in the United States.

Early life and education

Aldo Charles Poletti was born in Barre, Vermont to Dino Poletti (April 28, 1865, Pogno, Italy—February 12, 1922, Barre, Vermont) and Carolina (Gervasini) Poletti. Dino Poletti worked as a stonecutter in a Barre granite quarry.State of Vermont Death certificate, Dino Poletti1920 US Census entry, Dino Poletti family, Italy America Society News Bulletin, Number 34 (May, 1924), page 6

Poletti intended to manage a bakery after graduating from high school, but was encouraged by his principal to attend college.New York Red Book: An Illustrated State Manual, published by Williams Press, 1940, page 19 He attended Harvard University on a scholarship, and worked at a variety of part-time jobs to finance his studies, including waiting tables, washing dishes, and tutoring.Italian Americana: Volume 25, Issue 2, page 138 He received his bachelor’s degree in 1924, was admitted to Phi Beta Kappa, and then studied at the University of Rome, the University of Bologna and the University of Madrid.New York Red Book: An Illustrated State Manual, published by Williams Press, 1942, page 61Vermont History, Proceedings of the Vermont Historical Society, Volumes 31-32, 1963, page 283 Poletti later served on Harvard’s Board of Overseers., New York Times, June 21, 1940

Awards and honors

Poletti received the Legion of Merit for his service in Italy., New York Times, September 13, 1945 In 1945 Poletti received the Order of Saint Gregory the Great from Pope Pius XII., New York Times, September 24, 1945 In addition, Italy’s government named him a Knight of the Grand Cross of the Crown of Italy., New York Times, September 28, 1945 Poletti was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1948., New York Post, July 6, 1948 For his work at the World’s Fair Poletti received the Order of the Star of Jordan., New York Times, June 5, 1971 He also received the Grand Officer of the Order of Saint Agatha of San Marino.Who’s Who in the World, published by Marquis, 1978 The Charles Poletti Power Project (renamed in 1982 to honor him) was located in Astoria, Queens, across the East River from Manhattan in New York City. In 2002 it was scheduled to be closed, and it was shut down in February, 2010., New York Daily News, September 6, 2002, by Ken Belson, New York Times, January 28, 2009, New York Post, February 6, 2010

Post World War II

After leaving the Army as a colonel Poletti became the senior partner in a Manhattan law firm. From May, 1946 to June, 1947 he carried out an appointment as an arbitrator assigned to resolve labor disputes in New York City’s clothing industry., New York Times, November 15, 1945, New York Times, March 20, 1946, New York Times, June 3, 1947

In 1955 Poletti was appointed to the New York State Power Authority, serving until 1960, the period in which the St. Lawrence Project and Niagara Project were built., New York Times, March 2, 1955, New York Times, March 19, 1960

From 1960 to 1965 he was the executive responsible for foreign exhibits at the 1964 New York World’s Fair., New York Times, August 15, 1960, New York Times, June 13, 1964, New York Times, April 21, 1965

World War II

On Dec. 27, 1942 Poletti broadcast for the Office of War Information a radio address in the Italian language to the Italian people, urging them to "throw out both Hitler and Mussolini.", New York Times, December 28, 1942

In July, 1943 Poletti was assigned to serve as a U.S. Army civil affairs officer in Italy, selected largely because as a first-generation Italian-American who was fluent in Italian and had served as a state governor, he had an understanding of the local culture and had sufficient stature to earn the respect of the Sicilian people. Initially assigned to assist in restoring civil government in Palermo, he became responsible for rebuilding efforts throughout Sicily., Chicago Tribune, July 18, 1943, Los Angeles Times, July 19, 1943, New York Times, July 19, 1943