Dean Alfange
Dean Alfange | |
---|---|
New York State Attorney General | |
Personal details | |
Born | December 2, 1897 Columbia University Law School |
Occupation | Politician |
Profession | Attorney |
Military service | |
Allegiance | USA |
Branch/service | United States Army |
Battles/wars | World War I |
Dean Alfange (December 2, 1897 – October 24, 1989)
He was a prominent liberal legal commentator who supported the notion of judicial activism and a Living Constitution. He ran for a number of offices, including Governor of New York, where his candidacy split the liberal vote, allowing Thomas E. Dewey to win the governorship. He also ran for the United States House of Representatives, but lost again. He is well remembered for a short piece he wrote entitled either "An American's Creed" or simply "My Creed". The Creed espouses the ideas of self-reliance and freedom.
Life
Early life and education
Alfange was born Constantine Alflangi in Constantinople in the Ottoman Empire, to two ethnic Greek parents.[2] His parents moved to New York in 1902, where they raised him in Utica, New York.[1][2] He graduated from Utica Free Academy in 1918, and joined the United States Army during World War I.
After the war, he attended
Later life
He was married to Thalia Perry, with whom he had one child, Dean Alfange Jr.,[2] who went on to become a professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts. Alfange died October 24, 1989, in Manhattan from cancer.[2]
Legal career
Alfange received his degree from Columbia University Law School, and was admitted to the
Later in his political career, Alfange served as the Deputy
Political career
Democratic Party
In 1940,
American Labor Party
Alfange served as head of the
Liberal Party
Alfange led a walkout against the Labor Party in 1944, when pro and anti-Communist factions within the organization came into increased conflict. This walkout led to the formation of the Liberal Party of New York.[2][13]
Republican
Then Governor
Activism
Alfange served in a number of activist and ethnic organizations, including heading the
Alfange headed the
An American's Creed
Alfange is remembered for a short statement he wrote in the 1950s entitled "An American's Creed" or simply "My Creed". The creed originally appeared in
"I do not choose to be a common man. It is my right to be uncommon. I seek to develop whatever talents God gave me—not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me. I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed. I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia. I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any earthly master nor bend to any threat. It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face the world boldly and say – 'This, with God's help, I have done.' All this is what it means to be an American."
Bibliography
- The Supreme Court and the National Will. Doubleday, Doran. 1937. p. 297.
References
- ^ a b c d e Rogan, Mary Ellen (July 1990). "Dean Alfange Papers" (PDF). New York City: New York Public Library. pp. iv. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-29. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Fowler, Glenn (27 October 1989). "Dean Alfange, Liberal Leader, Is Dead at 91". The New York Times. New York City. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
- Hamilton College. Archived from the originalon 6 June 2010. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
- Hamilton College. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7391-1417-9. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
- ^ Associated Press (12 March 1941). "Baldwin is Winner in Congress Election". The Day. New London, Connecticut: The Day Publishing Company. p. 4. Retrieved 13 April 2010.[permanent dead link]
- Sun Journal. Lewiston, Maine: James R. Costello Sr. p. 1. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
- The Schenectady Gazette. Schenectady, New York: The Daily Gazette Co. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
- ^ "U.S. At War: Tom Dewey Gets There". Time. Time Inc. 16 November 1942. Archived from the original on October 14, 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
- ISBN 0-405-05903-5. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
- ISBN 9780791400838. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
dean alfange.
- ISBN 9780521335737. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
- ^ "Dean Alfange; Helped Found Liberal Party". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. 31 October 1989. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
- ^ Associated Press (19 January 1948). "Committee Formed to Arm Palestine". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh: Block Communications. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
- ^ a b Medoff, Rafael (29 June 2003). "No Laughing Matter: Why World Jewry should be saluting Bob Hope". Jewish World Review. Archived from the original on 13 July 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
- ISBN 0-88029-768-9. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
dean alfange.