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Al D'Amato

Alfonse Marcello D'Amato (born August 1, 1937) is an American attorney, lobbyist, and Republican politician who represented the state of New York in the United States Senate from 1981 to 1999. From 1995 to 1999, he chaired the Senate Banking Committee.

Al D'Amato
Official portrait, c. 1990s
Chair of the Senate Banking Committee
In office
January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1999
Preceded byDonald Riegle
Succeeded byPhil Gramm
United States Senator
from New York
In office
January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1999
Preceded byJacob Javits
Succeeded byChuck Schumer
Personal details
Born
Alfonse Marcello D'Amato

(1937-08-01) August 1, 1937 (age 87)
Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouses
Penelope D'Amato
​
​
(m. 1960; div. 1995)​
Katuria Smith
​
​
(m. 2004; sep. 2017)​
Children6
EducationSyracuse University (BS, LLB)

D'Amato was born in Brooklyn in 1937 and raised in Island Park, New York. He attended Syracuse University, receiving a law degree, before returning to Island Park and becoming involved in local Republican politics. Rising through the ranks, he held offices at the village, town, and county levels.[1]

In 1980, D'Amato defeated four-term Republican incumbent Jacob Javits in the primary election for United States Senator. D'Amato went on to prevail in the general election by defeating Javits, running on the Liberal Party ticket, and Democratic U.S. Representative Elizabeth Holtzman. He was re-elected in 1986 and 1992 but was defeated in 1998 by Chuck Schumer.[2][3] As of 2024, D'Amato is the last Republican to have represented New York in the U.S. Senate.[4]

Following his departure from the Senate, D'Amato founded Park Strategies, a lobbying firm.[5]

Early life and family

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D'Amato, of Italian ancestry, was born in Brooklyn and raised on Long Island, in the small village of Island Park.[6] He is the son of Antoinette (Ciofarri) and Armand D'Amato, an insurance broker.[7] D'Amato is a graduate of Syracuse University and Syracuse University College of Law.[8][9] He is an attorney.[10]

Early political career

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D'Amato began his career in politics in Island Park (Long Island). He was involved heavily in the Unity Party of Island Park, the local political party that ran village elections in the small village of Island Park. He was then appointed the village attorney. Later, as a member of the Nassau County Republican Party, he was appointed Public Administrator of Nassau County, where he was responsible for managing the assets of county residents who died without wills. He was first appointed and then elected Receiver of Taxes of Hempstead, New York. He left this office to become a town supervisor in Hempstead and in 1977 he was elected presiding supervisor. He was also vice chairman of the Nassau County Board of Supervisors from 1977 to 1980.[11][better source needed]

U.S. Senate

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President Ronald Reagan presenting Al D'Amato and other New York leaders with a check for Westway Project Funds, September 1981

Although a relatively obscure candidate, D'Amato defeated incumbent senator Jacob Javits by 56% to 44% in the 1980 Republican primary election following Javits' 1979 diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Javits nevertheless pursued the seat on the Liberal Party ticket, splitting the left-wing vote in ordinarily liberal New York with Democratic Congresswoman Elizabeth Holtzman and leading to D'Amato's 45% plurality victory.[12] D'Amato was re-elected in 1986 and 1992, but lost in 1998 to Democratic congressman Chuck Schumer, a future Senate Majority Leader.[13]

D'Amato drew the nickname "Senator Pothole"[14] for his delivery of "constituent services", helping citizens with their individual cases. While some New Yorkers meant the nickname as a pejorative, others saw it as a positive affirmation of his attention to getting things done.[15]

 
D'Amato with President Ronald Reagan in 1986

D'Amato holds the record for the second and eighth longest filibusters ever recorded in the United States Senate. He is remembered for his unique and rather comical filibusters. In 1986, in a filibuster against a military bill that lasted 23 1/2 hours, he read the District of Columbia telephone book. In 1992, D'Amato filibustered a bill that would have caused the loss of 750 jobs in upstate New York by singing "South of the Border (Down Mexico Way)".[16]

D'Amato is remembered for presenting a poster of a "Taxasaurus Rex", which he then stabbed with an oversized pencil.[17]

D'Amato voted in favor of the bill establishing Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a federal holiday and the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987.[18][19][20] D'Amato voted in favor of the nominations of Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Court.[citation needed]

D'Amato was a member of the President's Commission on Aviation Security and Terrorism (PCAST), which was set up in September 1989 to review and report on aviation security policy in light of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.[citation needed]

D'Amato was chair of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs and was a member of the Senate Finance Committee. As a member of the former, he became a leading critic of the Clinton administration regarding the Whitewater scandal, and during 1995 and 1996 he chaired the hearings-heavy Senate Special Whitewater Committee. As a member of the latter, he facilitated the lawsuit of Holocaust survivors trying to recover relatives' funds from accounts in Swiss banks.[citation needed]

D'Amato was influential in New York Republican politics and was considered the "boss" of the state party during his Senate years. For example, he played a leading role in recruiting George Pataki and in securing him the Republican nomination in the gubernatorial race of 1994.[21]

D'Amato was known for being fairly conservative, a reflection of then-strongly conservative Nassau County and Long Island. He strongly supported the conservative positions of his party on "law and order" issues such as capital punishment and harsh penalties for drug offenses. On some issues, he agreed with the opposition: in 1993, D'Amato was one of only three Republicans to vote in favor of allowing gays to serve openly in the U.S. military. While D'Amato voted for the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996,[22] he was among the minority of Republicans to vote for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act that year.[citation needed] In 1998, the LGBTQ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign endorsed D'Amato for re-election over socially liberal Democratic Congressman Chuck Schumer.[23]

 
D'Amato, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Pete Domenici, Jack Reed, Paul Sarbanes, and Daniel Patrick Moynihan announce an agreement on mass transit funding legislation in 1998

On labor issues, D'Amato frequently sided with Democrats.[citation needed]

D'Amato's 54% to 44% loss in 1998 was attributed to a lack of support among moderate voters in New York City, the site of opponent Schumer's U.S. congressional district.[24][25] His loss was also partially attributed to reports arising from D'Amato's use of the term "putzhead" (a Yiddish vulgarity) to refer to Schumer.[dubious – discuss][26]

Later career

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Columnist and analyst

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Shortly before leaving office, D'Amato published his book of recollections, Power, Pasta and Politics. After retiring from politics in 1999, he became a regular columnist for George magazine until it ceased publication in 2001.[27] He also emerged as an analyst for Fox News. A notable on-air incident occurred when D'Amato took offense at comments of GOP strategist Jack Burkman.[28] Saying he agreed with Burkman's suggestion that the Postal Service should be privatized; D'Amato slammed him for his characterizations of postal workers, which D'Amato said were offensively racist.[29]

As of 2023, D'Amato is a regular contributor at Red Apple Media’s 77WABC, hosted by John Catsimatidis.[30]

Poker Players Alliance

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As of 2007, D'Amato was chairman of the Poker Players Alliance, a nonprofit organization set up to help protect and fight for the rights of poker players in the United States.[31][better source needed]

Presidential politics

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2008

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Fred Thompson, Mike Long, and D'Amato in 2007.

On June 12, 2007, the former three-term Senator from New York endorsed one-time Senate colleague from Tennessee Fred Thompson for the Republican nomination for president in 2008.[32] In explaining his endorsement of Thompson, former Senator D'Amato called Thompson "a real conservative", not a candidate who adopted conservative positions in preparation for an election. D'Amato added, "Fred Thompson is the kind of candidate our party can unify behind and support wholeheartedly."[33][34] On January 22, 2008, after poor showings from Thompson, D'Amato threw his support to John McCain for the 2008 presidential election, saying: "If you want to win in November, John McCain is the man".[citation needed]

2012

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On March 14, 2012, D'Amato endorsed Mitt Romney for president.[35] He and Peter Kalikow appeared with Romney at fundraisers in New York leading up to the election.[36]

2016

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On August 26, 2015, D'Amato endorsed Ohio Governor John Kasich for president of the United States over Jeb Bush and former New York Gov. George Pataki.[37] While stating that the Republican Party needed to move past the Bush family, he credited Pataki as a "wonderful guy", but cited Kasich's experience in balancing the budget as a congressman in the 1990s and in Ohio.[37] Following Donald Trump's victory in the 2016 general election, D'Amato stated: "I am in great spirits. I feel great for the people of our country." He urged Trump to appoint Rudy Giuliani as Attorney General, stating: "I think one great appointment and someone who will follow the law and not bend the law as he or she sees fit as the attorney general is Rudy Giuliani..."[38]

2020

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In 2020, D'Amato supported Trump for re-election against Joe Biden. However, leading up to the 2024 election, he expressed that New York donors would be less willing to donate to his campaign. He also criticized Trump's post-election behavior, noting that Democrats outcampaigned Republicans.[39]

2024

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However, in 2024, D'Amato expressed his support for Trump despite his previous statements (he still always maintained that he believed Trump did a good job). He also expressed support for Tim Scott as the Republican Vice Presidential nominee.[40]

Personal life

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D'Amato married Penelope Collenburg in 1960.[41] The couple had four children[42] before divorcing in 1995.[43]

D'Amato dated Claudia Cohen in the 1990s.[43]

D'Amato married Katuria Smith in 2004.[44] The couple had one son, Alfonso Marcello D'Amato, born in 2008, and a daughter, Luciana Cioffari D'Amato, born in 2009.[42] Katuria D'Amato filed for divorce on October 3, 2017.[45] Al D'Amato won emergency custody of the couple's children, claiming that Katuria D'Amato was mentally ill following an episode in which she was detained by authorities.[46] In 2018, Katuria D'Amato released a video of Al D'Amato shouting obscenities at her while she was hospitalized.[47][48][49] In the midst of the couple's custody battle, Katuria D'Amato filed a $100 million lawsuit against Al D'Amato for alleged racketeering.[46]

On November 20, 2020, D'Amato was hospitalized with COVID-19.[50] Five days later, he was released from the hospital.[51]

In 2017, D'Amato made headlines when he was removed from a New York-bound JetBlue flight after reportedly trying to rally the passengers against the flight crew. The plane was delayed six times. He later issued a statement apologizing for his behavior.[52]

Electoral history

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Book

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  • D'Amato, Alfonse (1995). Power, Pasta, and Politics: The World According to Senator Al D'Amato. New York: Hyperion. ISBN 978-0-786-86045-6.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ The Almanac of American Politics 1996, by Michael Barone and Grant Ujifusa, National Journal Inc., 1995, pages 904 and 908
  2. ^ "Alfonse Marcello D'AMATO, Congress, NY (1937)". www.infoplease.com. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  3. ^ The Almanac of American Politics 1996, by Michael Barone and Grant Ujifusa, National Journal Inc., 1995, pages 904 and 908
  4. ^ "States in the Senate | New York Senators". senate.gov. United States Senate. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  5. ^ Rivlin, Gary; Richtel, Matt (March 5, 2007). "D'Amato Never Folds; Former Senator, a Poker Aficionado, Lobbies for Online Gambling". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 16, 2016. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  6. ^ "Alfonse M. D'Amato". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 25, 2009. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  7. ^ "New York Magazine". New York Media, LLC. November 13, 1989. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2020 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ "School of Management to give Alumnus of the Year Award, Dean's Citation for Exceptional Service". Syracuse University News. April 28, 2001.
  9. ^ Weiss, Philip (March 3, 1996). "The Senator Cannot Help Being Himself". The New York Times.
  10. ^ "Attorney Detail Report". New York Unified Court System. Archived from the original on May 31, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  11. ^ Senator Alfonse D'Amato's entry in The Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Archived January 20, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, retrieved January 26, 2011
  12. ^ "New York State Plurality Was 165,459 for Reagan". The New York Times. December 10, 1980. p. B24. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2017.
  13. ^ "Schumer topples D'Amato in New York Senate race - November 3, 1998". www.cnn.com.
  14. ^ Harden, Blaine (November 4, 1998). "New York's Veteran 'Senator Pothole' Gets Run Over by Schumer". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  15. ^ Lurie, Leonard (1994). Senator Pothole: The Unauthorized Biography of Al D'Amato. Carol Publishing Group.
  16. ^ Alfonse D’Amato, 1992 "U.S. Senate Filibusters: A History of Talk" The Daily Beast. April 20, 2010. Accessed January 25, 2013 Archived December 8, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ Pillifant, Reid (January 6, 2012). "Anti-tax entrepreneur Marc Cenedella wants to run against Kirsten Gillibrand and pay for it, too". Capital New York. Archived from the original on May 22, 2015. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  18. ^ "To Pass H.R. 3706. (Motion Passed) See Note(s) 19". Archived from the original on May 20, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  19. ^ "To Pass S 557, Civil Rights Restoration Act, A Bill to Restore the Broad Coverage and Clarify Four Civil Rights Laws by Providing That If One Part of and Institution Is Federally Funded, Then The Entire Institution Must Not Discriminate". Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  20. ^ "To Adopt, Over the President's Veto of S 557, Civil Rights Restoration Act, A Bill to Restore Broad Coverage and Clarify Four Civil Rights Laws by Providing That If One Part of and Institution Is Federally Funded, Then The Entire Institution Must Not Discriminate. Two-Thirds of the Senate, Having Voted in the Affirmative, Overrode the Presidential Veto". Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  21. ^ Perez-Pena, Richard (November 5, 1998). "The 1998 Elections: New York State – The Parties – New Order for New York's G.O.P. and Democrats". The New York Times.
  22. ^ "H.R. 3396 (104th): Defense of Marriage Act -- Senate Vote #280 -- Sep 10, 1996". GovTrack.us. Archived from the original on October 19, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
  23. ^ Nagourney, Adam (October 21, 1998). "D'Amato Wins Endorsement Of Gay Group". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 23, 2015. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  24. ^ Nagourney, Adam (November 4, 1998). "THE 1998 ELECTIONS: NEW YORK STATE -- THE SENATE; Schumer Uses D'Amato's Tactics To Win Senate Election Handily". The New York Times. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  25. ^ "About Chuck | U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York". www.schumer.senate.gov. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  26. ^ Rothenberg, Stuart (November 3, 1998). "Schumer topples D'Amato in New York Senate race". CNN. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  27. ^ "D'Amato to pen advice column - March 9, 1999". www.cnn.com. Archived from the original on November 19, 2019. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  28. ^ "Al D'Amato to GOP Strategist: "You are a Nasty Racist"". www.cbsnews.com. September 20, 2010. Archived from the original on February 21, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  29. ^ "WATCH: d'Amato FLIPS over Fellow Guest's 'Racist Bullsh-t' on Fox Business". HuffPost. September 17, 2010. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  30. ^ "WABC Adds Former Senator Alfonse D'Amato To Roster".
  31. ^ D'Amato, Alfonse (October 2007). "Report from the Chairman" (Press release). Poker Players Alliance.[permanent dead link‍]
  32. ^ Raymond J. Keating, "D'Amato could be right on Thompson", Newsday, June 18, 2007, Newsay.com Archived July 16, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  33. ^ "D'Amato explains his '08 pick", New York Daily News: "The Daily Politics" June 13, 2007 NYdailynews.com Archived September 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  34. ^ Fouhy, Beth (June 13, 2007). "Clinton Gets Endorsement From Spielberg – The Huffington Post". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  35. ^ Haberman, Maggie. "D'Amato for Romney". POLITICO. Archived from the original on August 8, 2012. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  36. ^ Haberman, Maggie. "Romney hits Nassau County with Kalikow, D'Amato". POLITICO. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  37. ^ a b "D'Amato Snubs Pataki to Endorse Kasich for President". The New York Observer. August 26, 2015. Archived from the original on March 28, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  38. ^ Nahmias, Laura. "Lobbyist Al D'Amato 'in great spirits' about Trump win". Politico PRO. Archived from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  39. ^ "Former Senator Has Bad News for Trump About New York Donors".
  40. ^ "Senator Al D'Amato: Tim Scott is my choice for Trump's VP".
  41. ^ Silver, Roy (February 5, 1978). "The Arrival of Al D'Amato". The New York Times.
  42. ^ a b Bratskeir, Anne (October 16, 2009). "D'Amato and wife welcome baby daughter". Newsday. Archived from the original on May 22, 2015. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  43. ^ a b Bumiller, Elizabeth (February 28, 1995). "Amore D'Amato: The Senator, The Rich Guy & His 2 Wives".
  44. ^ "Al D'Amato, Katuria D'Amato settle matrimonial battle, spokesman says". Newsday. January 24, 2020.
  45. ^ Marsh, Julia (October 10, 2017). "Ex-Sen. Al D'Amato's wife files for divorce". Archived from the original on December 24, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  46. ^ a b Brown, Stephen (March 12, 2019). "Al D'Amato's ex-wife sues him for $100 million amid cutthroat custody battle". New York Daily News.
  47. ^ "SEE IT: Al D'Amato curses at his wife while she's laid up in the hospital amid child care dispute". New York Daily News. March 29, 2018.
  48. ^ Herbert, Geoff (March 29, 2018). "Ex-NY Sen. Al D'Amato curses out wife in hospital (video)". Syracuse.com.
  49. ^ "Video shows Alfonse D'Amato cursing at wife in hospital bed". Newsday. March 29, 2018.
  50. ^ Campanile, Carl (November 20, 2020). "Former New York Sen. Al D'Amato hospitalized with COVID-19". New York Post. Archived from the original on November 21, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  51. ^ "D'Amato released from hospital after COVID-19 stay". Newsday. Archived from the original on December 2, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  52. ^ "Ex-Sen. D'Amato kicked off flight after rallying passengers against crew".
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Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from New York
(Class 3)
1980, 1986, 1992, 1998 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Barbara A. Keating
 Conservative nominee for U.S. Senator from New York
(Class 3)
1980, 1986, 1992, 1998 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee
1995–1997 		Succeeded by
U.S. Senate
Preceded by U.S. Senator (Class 3) from New York
1981–1999
Served alongside: Pat Moynihan 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of the Joint Helsinki Commission
1985–1987 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Committee
1993–1995 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of the Senate Banking Committee
1995–1999 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of the Joint Helsinki Commission
1997–1999 		Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former US Senator Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Senator 		Succeeded byas Former US Senator
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