Robert Torricelli Explained

Robert Torricelli
Jr/Sr:United States Senator
State:New Jersey
Term Start:January 3, 1997
Term End:January 3, 2003
Predecessor:Bill Bradley
Successor:Frank Lautenberg
Office1:Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
Leader1:Tom Daschle
Term Start1:January 3, 1999
Term End1:January 3, 2001
Predecessor1:Bob Kerrey
Successor1:Patty Murray
State2:New Jersey
Term Start2:January 3, 1983
Term End2:January 3, 1997
Predecessor2:Harold Hollenbeck
Successor2:Steve Rothman
Birth Name:Robert Guy Torricelli
Birth Place:Paterson, New Jersey, U.S.
Birth Date:27 August 1951
Party:Democratic
Education:Rutgers University, New Brunswick (BA)
Rutgers University, Newark (JD)
Harvard University (MPA)
Signature:Robert Torricelli signature.gif

Robert Guy Torricelli[1] (born August 27, 1951) is an American attorney and former politician. A Democrat, Torricelli served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 9th district from 1983 to 1997 and as a United States senator from New Jersey from 1997 to 2003.

He is notable for his tenure as chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. In September 2002, Torricelli ended his Senate re-election campaign after having been formally admonished by the U.S. Senate in connection with a campaign finance scandal. He later founded Rosemont Associates and Woodrose Properties. Rosemont is an international consulting firm and Woodrose has developed and managed commercial and multi family real estate in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida.

Early life and education

Torricelli was born in Paterson, New Jersey, the son of Betty (Lotz), a school librarian, and Salvatore Torricelli, a lawyer.[2] After graduation from Storm King School in Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York, Torricelli attended Rutgers University, New Brunswick where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1974. He then earned his J.D. degree in 1977 from Rutgers Law School in Newark. He was admitted to the New Jersey bar in 1978 and later attended Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, earning a master's in public administration in 1980.[3]

Career

Torricelli was an assistant to the Governor of New Jersey, Brendan Byrne, from 1975 to 1977. In 1978, he served as associate counsel to Vice President Walter Mondale,[2] and managed the Carter-Mondale campaign in the Illinois primary. At the 1980 Democratic National Convention, he served as the director of the Rules Committee.[4]

U.S. House of Representatives

In 1982, Torricelli ran for U.S. Congress, defeating incumbent Republican Harold Hollenbeck.[5] Torricelli served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1983 until 1997 representing New Jersey's 9th congressional district.

Torricelli was a resident of New Milford, New Jersey during his first term in Congress.[6] [7]

Torricelli was Democratic floor leader in the Persian Gulf War discussion regarding the adoption of the "Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution" in 1991 and gave the closing speech.[8]

In 1988, Torricelli visited Cuba and stated, "Living standards are not high, but the homelessness, hunger and disease that is witnessed in much of Latin America does not appear evident."[9] He sponsored the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 which prohibits U.S. trade with Cuba.[10] Torricelli stated that the act would "wreak havoc on that island."[11] Academic Helen Yaffe writes that between Toricelli's 1988 visit and the 1992 Act, he received significant campaign contributions from the Cuban American National Foundation.

He was chairman of the House subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.[12]

Senate

Torricelli was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1996, defeating Republican Congressman Dick Zimmer to obtain the seat vacated by the retirement of Democratic Senator Bill Bradley. It was later found that six donors had made illegal contributions to Torricelli's campaign.[13] In 2000, he headed the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee which regained the Democratic majority in the Senate.[14] Torricelli was responsible for recruiting Senate candidates including Hillary Clinton.[15]

A federal criminal investigation into Torricelli was dropped in early 2002.[16] [17] In the summer of 2002, however, Torricelli received a formal letter of admonishment from the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics following an investigation into his alleged receipt of improper gifts from campaign donor David Chang, who had pleaded guilty to violating federal election laws.[18] [19] [20] Torricelli apologized to voters for his behavior and delivered a speech in which he promised to take "'full personal responsibility'" for his actions. On September 30, 2002, Torricelli ended his 2002 re-election campaign after Republicans "successfully made the incumbent's ethics troubles -- stemming from illegal 1996 campaign donations and questionable gifts -- a campaign issue..."[18] Shortly thereafter, the New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the Democratic Party could legally replace Torricelli's name on the ballot with that of former U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg.[21] [22]

In 2007, Torricelli drew public criticism despite federal rules allowing retired officials to give leftover campaign funds to political parties, candidates and charities when his leftover campaign funds, given to the Rosemont Foundation, were not funneled back to his political party.[23] [24]

During his time in the Senate, Torricelli was a member of the Governmental Affairs Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Rules Committee.[25]

Post-congressional career

In 2003, Torricelli was appointed by the U.S. Federal District Court as special master overseeing the environmental cleanup project of the Mutual Chemical site in Jersey City, New Jersey, owned by the Honeywell Corporation.[26]

Torricelli founded business and government affairs consulting firm Rosemont Associates.[27] [28] [29] He is a partner in real estate firm Woodrose Properties, which is invested in over 50 multi family or commercial properties in 10 states.[30] [31] Torricelli has represented the Iranian opposition group, the MEK.[32] [33]

Personal life

Torricelli was married to Susan Holloway[34] and has dated Bianca Jagger.[35]

Bibliography

See also

External links

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Notes and References

  1. News: Torricelli Will Not Primary Menendez in 2018. The Observer. Alfaro. Alyana. November 16, 2017. December 18, 2019.
  2. Web site: Focused and Passionate Campaigner. Jennifer Preston. November 6, 1996. The New York Times. June 1, 2016.
  3. News: Bob Torricelli. Washington Post. June 1, 2016.
  4. Battle Over Convention Rules Begins. Mary Thronton. July 3, 1980. The Dispatch. June 1, 2016.
  5. Web site: A 3-Term Congressman Woos New Constituency. Samuel G. Freedman. October 30, 1982. The New York Times. June 1, 2016.
  6. Parisi, Albert J. "Return of Body Expected", The New York Times, January 30, 1983. Accessed June 2, 2017. "A body that may be that of a missing New Jersey freelance journalist is expected to be shipped to the United States this week at the request of Representative Robert Torricelli, a freshman Democrat from New Milford."
  7. [Michael Barone (pundit)|Barone, Michael]
  8. Congressional Record. January 12, 1991. U.S. Congress - Congressional Record. H424.
  9. Book: Sanctions as War: Anti-Imperialist Perspectives on American Geo-Economic Strategy . 2023 . 978-1-64259-812-4 . 134 . 1345216431 . Davis . Stuart .
  10. Web site: Timeline. Frontline. June 1, 2016.
  11. Web site: The politics behind Clinton's Cuba policy . 2023-01-25 . Baltimore Sun. 30 August 1994 .
  12. Book: Unfinished Business: American and Cuba After the Cold War. 1989-2001. Morris Morley, Chris McGillion. September 16, 2002. Cambridge University Press.
  13. News: Kocieniewski. David. As Bush Rises, Torricelli Cools Partisan Fire. 8 October 2014. New York Times. 6 January 2001.
  14. Web site: Tribute to Departing Senators. November 20, 2002. Congress.gov. June 1, 2016.
  15. Book: Living History. Hillary Clinton. 2003. Simon Schuster. 495–496.
  16. Web site: Charges Ruled Out As U.S. Concludes Torricelli Inquiry. David Kocieniewski, Tim Golden. January 4, 2002. The New York Times. June 1, 2016.
  17. Web site: N.J. Senator Torricelli cleared in federal probe. January 3, 2002. CNN. June 1, 2016.
  18. Web site: CNN.com - Torricelli drops out of N.J. race - Sep. 30, 2002. www.cnn.com.
  19. http://www.ethics.senate.gov/downloads/pdffiles/torricelli.pdf Senate.gov: Letter of Admonishment
  20. Web site: Torricelli Throws in Towel In New Jersey Senate Race. John Harwood, Shailagh Murray. September 30, 2002. The Wall Street Journal. June 1, 2016.
  21. Web site: Supreme Court of New Jersey A-24 September Term 2002. Find Law. June 1, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304022932/http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/nytimes/docs/torricelli/njdpsmsn100202scord.pdf#. 2016-03-04. dead.
  22. Web site: Rivals feud over Senate debates Frank R. Lautenberg wants to add third-party candidates. Douglas Forrester sees a ploy to evade a direct encounter.. Tom Turcol. October 10, 2002. Philly.com. June 1, 2016.
  23. News: Now a Lobbyist, an Ex-Senator Uses Campaign Money. . 2008-04-23 . 2007-08-24 . Raymond . Hernandez . David W. . Chen.
  24. Web site: Political donations from ex-senator's coffers questioned. August 25, 2007. Las Vegas Review-Journal. June 1, 2016.
  25. Web site: Interview with Robert Torricelli. Rutgers. June 1, 2016.
  26. Torricelli to Oversee Honeywell Toxic Cleanup. Laura Mansnerus. The New York Times. May 24, 2003.
  27. Web site: Former New Jersey Sen. Robert Torricelli has job lobbying government for owners of Bayonne Medical Center, who are in deal to buy Hoboken University Medical Center. Charles Hack. August 12, 2011. NJ.com. June 1, 2016.
  28. News: Hernandez. Raymond. Chen. David W. . NOW A LOBBYIST, EX-SENATOR USES CAMPAIGN MONEY. The New York Times. 24 August 2007.
  29. News: A Politician's Favorite Charity Is.... Mary Ann Akers. Paul Kane. May 1, 2008. Washington Post. December 18, 2016.
  30. Web site: Former Sen. Torricelli buys Trenton landmark Lorenzo's, plans $20M office complex. Erin Duffy. February 19, 2013. NJ.com. June 1, 2016.
  31. Web site: Political watering hole in Trenton to be razed. February 19, 2013. Newsworks. June 1, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160624175531/http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/the-latest/51199-political-watering-hole-in-trenton-to-be-razed-#. 2016-06-24. dead.
  32. Web site: Ex-Sen. Torricelli: MEK Has Done 'Wrong' In Past But Is Useful Now. Eric Lach. February 3, 2011. TPM. June 1, 2016.
  33. Web site: Long March of the Yellow Jackets. Ali Gharib, Eli Clifton. February 26, 2015. The Intercept. June 1, 2016.
  34. News: Torricelli's Wide-Reaching Goals Inspire and Enrage . BRETT PULLEY . New York Times . October 31, 1996 . 3 September 2012.
  35. Web site: Senator Robert Torricelli: Suburban Boy Patriot, Bianca Jagger Boyfriend, Flaming Partisan. Michael Gross. Michael Gross. June 1, 2016.