James Tate | |
|---|---|
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| 92ndMayor of Philadelphia | |
| In office February 12, 1962 – January 3, 1972 [a] | |
| Preceded by | Richardson Dilworth |
| Succeeded by | Frank Rizzo |
| 28thPresident of the United States Conference of Mayors | |
| In office 1970–1971 | |
| Preceded by | Jack D. Maltester |
| Succeeded by | Henry Maier |
| 41stPresident of the National League of Cities | |
| In office 1968 | |
| Preceded by | Harold M. Tollefson |
| Succeeded by | Beverly Briley |
| President of thePhiladelphia City Council | |
| In office January 20, 1955[1] – January 6, 1964 | |
| Preceded by | himself[b] |
| Succeeded by | Paul D'Ortona |
| President pro tempore of the Philadelphia City Council | |
| In office January 4, 1954 – January 20, 1955 | |
| Preceded by | James A. Finnegan[c] |
| Succeeded by | himself |
| Member of thePhiladelphia City Council from the 7th district | |
| In office January 7, 1952 – January 6, 1964 | |
| Preceded by | John F. Byrne |
| Succeeded by | Joseph J. Hersch |
| Member of thePennsylvania House of Representatives from thePhiladelphia County district | |
| In office January 7, 1941 – November 30, 1946 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1910-04-10)April 10, 1910 |
| Died | May 27, 1983(1983-05-27) (aged 73) Somers Point, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Temple University (LLB) |
| a.^ Acting Mayor from February 12, 1962, through January 6, 1964. b.^ As President of the City Council. c.^ As Council President. | |
James Hugh Joseph Tate (April 10, 1910 – May 27, 1983) was an Americanpolitician. A member of theDemocratic Party, he served as the 92ndMayor of Philadelphia from 1962 to 1972.[2] He was also a member of thePennsylvania House of Representatives and thePhiladelphia City Council. He was the firstRoman Catholic to serve as mayor of Philadelphia.
He was born on April 10, 1910, inPhiladelphia. He received hisBachelor of Laws fromTemple University in 1938 and clerked for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.[3][4]
He was active in Democratic Party politics and, in 1941, won a seat in thePennsylvania House of Representatives to an at-large seat for Philadelphia County. He won re-election to the House in 1943 and 1945.In 1951, he won a seat on thePhiladelphia City Council and became the President pro tempore in 1954, which became the council president in 1955. He held that position for nearly 10 years.[3]
MayorRichardson Dilworth resigned his post in 1962 in order to make a second run forGovernor in that fall'sgeneral election. As the city council president, Tate became acting mayor upon Dilworth's resignation. He went on to win two terms in his own right, in1963 and1967.[4] As a result, he is to date the second longest serving mayor.
In 1963, he defeated Republican James McDermott with 54% of the vote.[5] He fended off a protest by theCongress of Racial Equality by stopping construction of the Philadelphia Municipal Services Building until more black workers were hired.[4]
In 1967, he appointedFrank Rizzo as the police commissioner.[6] He defeatedDistrict AttorneyArlen Specter in 1967 by fewer than 12,000 votes.[5]
In 1968, Tate served as president of theNational League of Cities.[7] From 1970 to 1971, he served as the president of theUnited States Conference of Mayors.[8]
Towards the end of his life, Tate lived inLongport, New Jersey.
Tate died of an apparentmyocardial infarction inSomers Point, aged 73.[9][10]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Mayor of Philadelphia1 1962–1972 | Succeeded by |
| Philadelphia City Council | ||
| Preceded by Himself as President pro tempore of the City Council | President of thePhiladelphia City Council 1955–1964 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President pro tempore of thePhiladelphia City Council 1954–1955 | Succeeded by Himself as Council President |
| Preceded by John F. Byrne | Member of thePhiladelphia City Council for the 7th district 1952–1964 | Succeeded by |
| Notes and references | ||
| 1. Acting Mayor from 1962 through early 1964 | ||
Mayors ofPhiladelphia (chronologically) | ||
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| Colonial era (1691–1776) |
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| Pre-Act of Consolidation (1789–1854) | ||
| Post-Consolidation (since 1854) | ||
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| National | |
| Other | |
