Thomas J. Whelan

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Thomas J. Whelan
In office
1963-11-13 – 1971-07-06
Preceded by Thomas Gangemi
Succeeded by Charles K. Krieger
Born January 28, 1922(1922-01-28)
Jersey City, New Jersey
Died July 31, 2002 (aged 80)
Naples, Florida
Political party Democratic
Residence Jersey City, New Jersey
Religion Roman Catholic

Thomas J. Whelan (1922-01-28-2002-07-31) was an Irish-American mayor of Jersey City. He served as mayor from 1963 to 1971.

Whelan was born on January 28, 1922 in Jersey City one of thirteen children to Joseph J. and Charlotte Vogel Whelan.

Whelan flew 63 missions in World War II as a pilot in the Army Air Force. He later became the chief security officer of New Jersey Bell Telephone Co.[1]

A Democrat, Whelan was appointed mayor in 1963 when his predecessor, Thomas Gangemi, was forced to resign over a question about his citizenship.[2] Whelan ran for mayor in 1965 and again in 1969, winning both times.[3][4]

In 1971, during his second term as mayor, Whelan, as indicted as a member of the "Hudson County Eight," and was convicted in federal court of conspiracy and extortion in a multi-million dollar political kickback scheme on city and county contracts.[5]

Convicted along with him was former mayor and political boss, John V. Kenny and former City Council president Thomas Flaherty.[6] Whelan served seven years of a 15-year sentence in the United States Penitentiary in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.[7]

Whelan died on July 31, 2002 in a nursing home in Naples, Florida, aged 80.[citation needed]

[edit] References

  1. ^ “Slide-Rule Caesar”, TIME, 1965-12-31 
  2. ^ Haff, Joseph (1963-11-13), “MAYOR IS NAMED BY JERSEY CITY; Whelan Replaces Gangemi After 47-Day Delay Jersey City's Council Appoints New Mayor After 47-Day Delay 3-Way Tie”, The New York Times: 1 
  3. ^ Waggoner, Walter (1965-05-12), “JERSEY CITY KEEPS WHELAN IN OFFICE; Mayor Is Re-elected Easily With Kenny's Backing”, The New York Times: 52 
  4. ^ Waggoner, Walter (1969-06-18), “Jersey City Re-elects Whelan By Margin of 5 to 3 in Runoff; Militant Black Clergymen in Newark Ousts Councilman After Recall Campaign”, The New York Times: 26 
  5. ^ Strumm, Charles (1991-12-19), “Another Milepost on the Long Trail of Corruption in Hudson County”, The New York Times 
  6. ^ Strumm, Charles (1991-12-19), “Another Milepost on the Long Trail of Corruption in Hudson County”, The New York Times 
  7. ^ “EX-MAYOR WHELAN IS GRANTED PAROLE; Ex-Council Head Also to Be Freed --Served Terms for Extortion Both Men 'Gratified'”, The New York Times: B15, 1978-07-21 
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Mayors of Jersey City, New Jersey
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