Rufus Elefante

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Rufus Pasquale Elefante
Chairman of the
Democratic
Committee
In office
1928–1980s
Personal details
Born(1903-04-11)April 11, 1903
DiedNovember 15, 1994(1994-11-15) (aged 91)
Occupation
trucker

Rufus Pasquale "Rufie" Elefante (April 11, 1903 – November 15, 1994) was an American political boss from Utica, New York.[1] Originally a Republican, who worked as a trucker, Elefante rose to power during the late 1920s. Though he never held public office,[2] he came to control the Democratic political machine in Utica, which dominated Utica politics from the 1930s through the 1950s. Although the machine oversaw a period of economic stability for Utica, its tolerance of organized crime led to widespread corruption and vice, giving Utica the nickname "Sin City".[3] Elefante was the most powerful figure in Oneida County during his time, and is still regarded as the Utica politician with the largest legacy. He remains a very controversial figure in Utica politics.[1]

Early life and career

Elefante was born in Utica on April 11, 1903, to Pasquale and Angela Marie Pacillio Elefante.[1] He did not complete high school. He claimed that his political career began at the age of 16, when he helped to get out the vote in East Utica.[4]

Most

anti-immigrant. Unlike in New York City with Tammany Hall, the largely-Irish Democratic establishment in Utica collaborated with Italians rather than resisting them.[5] Utica Italians gradually switched to primarily supporting Democrats through the course of '20s, and came to dominate Utica Democratic politics beginning in the early '30s.[6] Elefante switched parties in 1928.[1]

Boss of Utica

In 1928, Elefante organized a large rally in Utica for Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was running for Governor of New York. Roosevelt, who spoke at the event, seemed grateful to Elefante and other local Democrats such as M. William Bray and Charles S. Donnelley (who would be elected mayor the next year). Roosevelt would direct funds for public projects to Utica Democrats throughout his governorship and presidency. This was especially impactful as the Great Depression had devastated Utica's textile mills. Republican political boss and Elefante's former mentor Alfred Bertolini died in 1929, leaving a political vacuum that the Elefante, Bray, and Donnelley machine promptly filled.[6][7] Democratic political machines like in Utica were Roosevelt's islands of support in a largely Republican upstate New York.[8]

"

Mussolini, and so reaped the benefits of identity-building by Italian nationalists while avoiding the political repercussions experienced by other Italian political leaders when the United States joined World War II.[5]

Elefante and others worked out of Marino's Restaurant in downtown Utica, dubbed "Little City Hall" by the press. One visitor observed that different booths served different forms of patronage: one for jobs, one for welfare, one for contracts, and so on.[6] Marino's was razed in a 1972 urban renewal project.[10]

Utica's primary employer, the textile industry, had been in decline since

mob bosses were the Buffalo crime family leaders Salvatore Falcone and his brother Joseph.[11]

Decline

In 1949, Elefante and nine others were indicted on charges of vote buying, but none were convicted.[6][12][13]

Utica's newspapers the

obstruct justice.[6][14]

Although the Democratic machine in Utica was weakened,

mayor of Utica, but resigned seven months later, saying Hanna did not listen to his advice.[16][17]

Elefante died on November 15, 1994. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Utica.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Cardanelli, Malio J. (August 29, 2010). "Guest view: There's no denying that 'Rufie' left his mark on Utica". Observer-Dispatch. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  2. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived
    from the original on May 25, 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  3. ^ "Annette apologizes for calling Utica 'Sin City of the East'". Lakeland Ledger. October 27, 1983. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  4. OCLC 53826694
    .
  5. ^
    JSTOR 23183387
    .
  6. ^
    S2CID 145019677
    .
  7. ^ Tomaino, Frank (November 12, 2019). "Greeted by Great Depression during first term". Utica Observer Dispatch. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  8. JSTOR newyorkhist.95.1.41
    .
  9. ^
    OCLC 55751344
    .
  10. ^ Tomaino, Frank. "Mohawk Valley History: Train derails near Schuyler; landmark restaurant razed in Utica". Utica Observer Dispatch. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  11. ^ LaDuca, Rocco (May 6, 2009). "Day 4: The Mob Files". Utica Observer Dispatch. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  12. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  13. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  14. ^ LaDuca, Rocco (May 6, 2009). "Day 5: Mr. Fischer takes on Sin City". Utica Observer Dispatch. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  15. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  16. ISSN 0093-7673
    .
  17. ^ Dufresne, Debbie (March 14, 2009). "Timeline of the life and career of Edward A. Hanna". Utica Observer Dispatch. Retrieved January 28, 2023.

Further reading

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