Word: zaretzki
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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...Joseph Zaretzki, State senate minority leader...
...battle in Albany for control of the recently elected Democratic legislature was not spontaneous. It did not begin as a revolt of upstate Assemblymen and Senators against their former minority leaders, Joseph Zaretzki and Anthony Travia, both of New York City. During the conflict this was the rhetoric; but at informal caucuses held shortly after the November election the legislators expressed their support of Zaretzki and Travia. In the ensuing months a revolt began, quietly at first and then more loudly in December until on January 4, when the legislature convened, it exploded into an almost successful coup...
Kennedy's silence during the activities of his associates contrasted sharply with his public position after Zaretzki and Travia had been elected with Republican help. A week after their victory he sent them a letter accusing them of distributing jobs on the basis of patronage, not ability. But the letter's tone was so unfriendly that its point was obscured, and even seemed mysterious. At the time only three jobs had been assigned--one to Bernard Ruggieri, a favorite Kennedy campaign assistant and a former assistant to Mayor Wagner; one to George Van Lengen, a graduate of Harvard Law School...
...Gracie mansion [Wagner's official residence]." Buffalo Democrat Frank Glinski roared: "Hitler burned down the Reichstag because he couldn't get majorities! Somebody may put a match to this place soon, too." All to no avail: with all 25 Republican senators joining 15 Democrats, the senate elected Zaretzki, 40 to 18. Zaretzki was as surprised as anyone by the sudden turn. Quipped he: "I'm glad somebody finally realizes the great job I was doing as minority leader here for eight years...
Split Wide Open. Democratic State Chairman William McKeon, whom Wagner had accused of bribery at one point during the battle, called a press conference, branded senators who had voted for Zaretzki "Wagner-fellers" and "Rocky-crats." Said McKeon: "At best it was a union between city hall and the Governor's mansion in the finest of shotgun-wedding traditions. The two guns held by each of these men were aimed at the eyes of the public." Mayor Wagner replied by again demanding that McKeon resign. That sort of bitterness seemed likely to keep New York Democrats split wide open...