Albert Rosellini | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chair of theNational Governors Association | |
| In office July 1, 1962 – July 21, 1963 | |
| Preceded by | Wesley Powell |
| Succeeded by | John Anderson Jr. |
| 15thGovernor of Washington | |
| In office January 16, 1957 – January 13, 1965 | |
| Lieutenant | John Cherberg |
| Preceded by | Arthur B. Langlie |
| Succeeded by | Daniel J. Evans |
| President pro tempore of theWashington Senate | |
| In office January 12, 1943 – January 14, 1945 | |
| Preceded by | George A. Lovejoy |
| Succeeded by | Carl C. Mohler |
| Member of theWashington Senate from the33rd district | |
| In office January 9, 1939 – January 14, 1957 | |
| Preceded by | James A. Murphy |
| Succeeded by | Frank Connor |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Albert Dean Rosellini (1910-01-21)January 21, 1910 Tacoma, Washington, U.S. |
| Died | October 10, 2011(2011-10-10) (aged 101) Seattle,Washington, U.S. |
| Resting place | Calvary Cemetery |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 5 |
| Education | University of Washington(BA,LLB) |
| Signature |  |
Albert Dean Rosellini (January 21, 1910 – October 10, 2011) was an American politician who served as the15th governor of Washington from 1957 to 1965 and was both the firstItalian-American andRoman Catholic governor elected west of theMississippi River.[1]
During a political career that spanned 40 years, Rosellini was an activist leader who worked to reform the state's prisons and mental health facilities, expand thestate highway system, create theUniversity of Washington'smedical anddental schools, and build thesecond floating bridge acrossLake Washington.
Rosellini holds the record as the longest-lived U.S. state governor in American history, having reached the age of 101 years, 262 days.
Born inTacoma, Washington, Rosellini was the only son of Italian immigrants, Annunziata (Pagni) and Giovanni Rosellini, a saloon operator.[2][3] He worked his way through college andlaw school at theUniversity of Washington, where he was a member ofTau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, graduating in 1933 with his classmateHugh J. Rosellini (no relation), a childhood friend and later state Supreme Court justice.[4][5]
At the age of 29, Rosellini was elected to theWashington State Senate as its youngest member, representing the 33rd district in south Seattle—the home of many Italian immigrants. ANew Deal Democrat supported by theWashington Commonwealth Federation,[6] Rosellini served from 1939 to 1957, and rose to the rank of majority leader. He was elected governor in the1956 Washington gubernatorial election, winning by 108,732 votes.[7]
As governor, Rosellini coupled personal charm with decades of political experience, developing a reputation for decisiveness and ability to move ahead on long-stalled projects. Don Hannula, longtime political columnist forThe Seattle Times, wrote in 1996, "He was not a man of empty rhetoric. He got things done. His legacy is everywhere."[8] In his 1997 biography,Rosellini, Immigrant's Son and Progressive Governor, author Payton Smith wrote: "He was attracted to issues where progress could be made and measured . . . Budget reform, economic development, transportation, higher education and institutions were the core matters to which he devoted his talent and governmental know-how."[9] Rosellini was narrowly re-elected in1960,[10] beating RepublicanLloyd J. Andrews by 17,865 votes.[11]
In order to promote economic development, Rosellini established a state Department of Commerce and championed theSeattle World's Fair in 1962. He shepherded construction of the former longestfloating bridge in the world, the originalEvergreen Point Floating Bridge, which opened in 1963 and carriedState Route 520 overLake Washington fromSeattle toMedina. It was renamed for Rosellini in 1988.[12] After 53 years of service, it was replaced bya new floating bridge at the same site in 2016, which also bears his name. In addition, he was a tireless supporter of higher education, strengthening the state university system and developing a system of junior colleges. During his time in office, Rosellini also reformed the state budget process and balanced the budget.
Rosellini was defeated in his bid for a third term in1964 by RepublicanDaniel J. Evans, astate legislator andcivil engineer.[13][14] Rosellini entered the primary unopposed by his ostensive rivals for the Democratic nomination, Lieutenant GovernorJohn Cherberg orAttorney General John J. O'Connell, but did encounter opposition from several unknown candidates who collectively garnered close to 50,000 votes.[13][15]
The general election campaign was marked by bruising attacks on the candidate's integrity from both the Republican and Democratic camps. Governor Rosellini attempted to portray Evans as a supporter ofBarry Goldwater and his record as antithetical to the interests of labor, welfare, and education.[15] Evans in turn charged Rosellini with financial impropriety and cronyism, alleging that the Governor solicited campaign funds from businesses under contract with the state government. Only one televised debate was agreed between the two candidates.[15] Thecoattails ofPresidentJohnson did not extend to this race,[14] as the 39-year-old Evans won by 148,564 votes.
Rosellini made a comeback bid eight years later in1972; he captured the Democratic nomination, but was again defeated by Evans.[16] Starting with a lead in the polls, Rosellini saw his support fall when he disparagingly referred to Governor Evans as "Danny Boy" and being accused of intervening on behalf of his friendFrank Colacurcio to obtain a club license inHawaii while in office.[17] A minority of Evans' supporters also began to sport bumper stickers on the back of their cars stating "We Don't Need AGodfather," described by his daughter Lynn Rosellini as extremely hurtful to her father given his pride over his Italian ancestry.[17] (The popularOscar-winning filmThe Godfather was released earlier that year.) Rosellini would later state his belief that the attack contributed to his loss, saying "That mafia crap really hurt, overnight I dropped 12 percent in the ratings. I don't think people believe it so much as it scared the hell out of them."[18]
After leaving office in 1965, Rosellini returned to the practice of law, and also became a political consultant, specializing in matters of the liquor and entertainment industries. Over the years, Rossellini served as an elder statesman of the state Democratic Party, mentoring political figures including Washington governorsChristine Gregoire andGary Locke.
In 2003, Rosellini was back in the news briefly when he was reported to have delivered campaign contributions toSeattle City Council members on behalf of strip-club owners, one of whom (the aforementioned Frank Colacurcio) was a convicted racketeer. Rosellini was never charged in the scandal that became known as "Strippergate."[19]
Until his death, Rosellini attended fundraisers for candidates and helped raise money for charities, particularly the Washington State Olympics Committee, which he chaired for many years.[20]
Danny Westneat, columnist forThe Seattle Times, wrote in 2005, "His record makes most governors after him look likeslackers."[21]
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Rosellini and his wife Ethel (1912–2002), whom he married in 1937, had five children. Ethel died in 2002, after 64 years of marriage. Albert and Ethel had a close, affectionate, and happy marriage, and the two were known for their devotion to each other. Rosellini was a practicing Catholic.[22]
Rosellini celebrated his 100th birthday in January 2010, becoming one of the fewU.S. state governors ever to reach theage of 100.[23] He died ofcomplications related topneumonia in Seattle on October 10, 2011, at the age of 101.[1][23] Rosellini's funeral was atSt. James Cathedral in Seattle,[24] and he was buried atCalvary Cemetery, alongside his wife.
Former Washington state Gov. Albert D. Rosellini, who served two terms from 1957 to 1965, died Monday from complications relations to pneumonia. He was 101. "Washington state lost one of its brightest stars today," Gov. Chris Gregoire said in a statement.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)| Washington State Senate | ||
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| Preceded by George A. Lovejoy | President pro tempore of theWashington Senate 1943–1945 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Washington 1956,1960,1964 | Succeeded by John J. O'Connell |
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Washington 1972 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of Washington 1957–1965 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chair of theNational Governors Association 1962–1963 | Succeeded by |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by | Oldest living American governor 2004–2011 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
