Word: sapio
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...system had done its work. New roots had grown. Tammany's favor-doing had become socialized by the incipient welfare state. The Irish Tammany bosses lived on sentimental memories of past grandeur, and were puzzled and hurt when the Tiger's roar made no man cringe. De Sapio had far more modest and realistic views of the new Tammany's scope...
...began with a success so small that his predecessors would have been humiliated to stoop to it. Forming a coalition with Republicans, he ousted Red-lining Vito Marcantonio from his congressional seat. But De Sapio also took another step -and fell flat on his face. In the 1950 mayoralty race, De Sapio backed Ferdinand Pecora, a born loser, against Vincent Impellitteri, who won easily. Tammany's impotence was measured by the fact that it could not even beat Impy, an insurgent organization man with no machine...
...from the Picket Line. That world is one that Carmine De Sapio, at 46, has good reason to view realistically. The son of Italian-born parents, he grew up on Manhattan's lower West Side (where he lives today in a four-room apartment with his wife and daughter). His father ran a two-truck hauling outfit for which Carmine worked-in the office, carefully keeping the accounts...
...hanging around the club, was given some errands to run, moved up to precinct captain and deputy sheriff under Sheriff Daniel E. Finn-whose family had ruled the First Assembly District West for more than 70 years. In 1939, taking advantage of a factional split in the district, De Sapio ran against Finn for district leader. He won-but Tammany Hall refused to recognize him. Insurgent De Sapio and his followers picketed Tammany Hall. When De Sapio's men tried to argue their case at a Tammany meeting, the lights were promptly switched off. The De Sapio people left...
...Sapio soon became the leader of a group attempting to loosen the strangle lock held on Tammany for generations by Irish-Americans. He got his break in 1949, when three incumbent leaders quit in "rapid succession under fire from Mayor William O'Dwyer. De Sapio was elected Tammany leader. But it was hardly an honor...