Thomas Jerome Curran (November 28, 1898 – July 29, 1958) was a lawyer and politician inNew York City.
Curran was born on the Lower East Side ofManhattan and grew up inGreenwich Village, where he lived for the rest of his life. After attending Xavier High School, he enteredFordham College, from which he graduated in 1920 after serving in theUnited States Army duringWorld War I and then in theNew York National Guard. Curran then studied law, graduating from theFordham University School of Law in 1923.
Curran began his law practice with the New York State Insurance Fund, followed by three years in private practice. In 1928, he became an AssistantUnited States Attorney in theSouthern District of New York. He left federal service in 1931 to run as aRepublican for theNew York City Board of Aldermen. He was unsuccessful in his first campaign, but was elected an alderman two years later and was chosen Minority Leader in 1934. In 1936, he was elected as Republican leader of his district, and in 1937 was elected as a delegate to theNew York State Constitutional Convention of 1938. He became leader of theNew York County Republican organization in 1940 and served in that post until his death. He ran unsuccessfully for theUnited States Senate in1944, losing the election to incumbentRobert F. Wagner.
Curran served asSecretary of State of New York from 1943 to 1955, appointed by GovernorThomas E. Dewey. As host of the state's 1944 meeting ofpresidential electors, he supported the elimination of theElectoral College. In his speech before the Democratic electors, he asserted that this would likely be the last such gathering, since so many Americans regarded the procedure as outmoded.
He was a delegate to the1944,1948, and1956 Republican National Conventions, and an alternate delegate to the1952 Republican National Convention. He was a member of theNew York State Republican Committee for several years.
He died of a heart ailment atSt. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan, at the age of 59.
His sonPaul J. Curran was a member of theNew York State Assembly and served asU.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 1973 to 1975.
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forU.S. Senator fromNew York (Class 3) 1944 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Secretary of State of New York 1943–1955 | Succeeded by |
