John A. Notte, Jr.

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John Anthony Notte, Jr.

In office
January 3, 1961 – January 1, 1963
Lieutenant Edward P. Gallogly
Preceded by Christopher Del Sesto
Succeeded by John Chafee

In office
January 6, 1959 – January 3, 1961
Governor Christopher Del Sesto
Preceded by Armand H. Cote
Succeeded by Edward P. Gallogly

Born May 3, 1909
Providence, Rhode Island
Died March 7, 1983 (aged 73)
Political party Democratic
Spouse Marie J. Huerth
Profession Lawyer
Religion Catholic

John Anthony Notte, Jr. (May 3, 1909 - March 7, 1983) was an American politician, a Democrat, best know for serving as Governor of Rhode Island.

A son of John Anthony Notte and Eva Theresa (Rondina) Notte, he was born in Providence, Rhode Island. He was married to Marie J. Huerth in 1934. The couple had two children together.

Notte graduated from the Boston University Law School in 1935. He went on to practice law and served as town solicitor in North Providence in 1937.

During the World War II he served in the US Navy and rose to the rank of lieutenant. Just after return to home he was elected Chairman of the Rhode Island Veterans’ Bonus Board.

He later served as a member of staff of Senator Theodore F. Green from 1948 to 1956, and as Chairman of the North Providence Democratic town committee.

Notte resigned from Green's staff after he was elected Secretary of State, a post he held from 1957 to 1958. He was a delegate to the 1960 Democratic National Convention and became Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island in 1959 and served until 1961 under Republican Christopher Del Sesto (Rhode Island Governor and his deputy are elected at the separate ballots).

Notte was elected Governor in 1960, defeating Del Sesto, and held this post from January 3, 1961 to January 1, 1963 - one single two-years term.

Under his administration, a family court was established and Rhode Island held its first one-day, one-place Democratic and Republican primaries

He was defeated for re-election by Republican John Chafee. His defeat was mainly caused by withdrawn support from labor union (he was the first Democratic Governor running without labor support), because of his support for a state income tax and his decision to legalize night horse racing.

After left office, he returned to his law practice and sought Democratic nomination in the special election to the United States House of Representatives in 1967 and lost primary.

He was a Catholic.

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Preceded by
Christopher Del Sesto
Governor of Rhode Island
1961–1963
Succeeded by
John Chafee