Robert Torricelli

Robert Torricelli
Official portrait, 1997
United States Senator from New Jersey
In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Bill Bradley
Succeeded by	Frank Lautenberg
Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
In office January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2001
Leader	Tom Daschle
Preceded by	Bob Kerrey
Succeeded by	Patty Murray
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 9th district
In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1997
Preceded by	Harold Hollenbeck
Succeeded by	Steve Rothman
Personal details
Born	Robert Guy Torricelli (1951-08-27) August 27, 1951 (age 73) Paterson, New Jersey, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Susan Holloway ​ ​ (m. 1980; div. 2001)​
Education	Rutgers University, New Brunswick (BA) Rutgers University, Newark (JD) Harvard University (MPA)
Signature

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.^[4] At the 1980 Democratic National Convention, he served as the director of the Rules Committee.^[5]

U.S. House of Representatives

In 1982, Torricelli ran for U.S. Congress, defeating incumbent Republican Harold Hollenbeck.^[6] Torricelli served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1983 until 1997 representing New Jersey's 9th congressional district.^[7]

Torricelli was a resident of New Milford, New Jersey during his first term in Congress.^[8][9]

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.^[10]

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."^[11] He sponsored the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 which prohibits U.S. trade with Cuba.^[4][12] Torricelli stated that the act would "wreak havoc on that island.He defended the legislation as necessary to force democratic refirm on the island and halt Castro’s export of violent revolution in Latin America. After candidate Bill Clinton endorsed the legislation, President Bush signed it."^[13] 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.^[11]

He was chairman of the House subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.^[14]

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.^[7] It was later found that six donors had made illegal contributions to Torricelli's campaign.^[15] In 2000, he headed the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee^[7] which regained the Democratic majority in the Senate.^[16] Torricelli was responsible for recruiting Senate candidates including Hillary Clinton.^[17]as a Member of the Senate Finance Committee Torricelli amended the tax code to permit the partial deduction of college tuition for the first time. After 9/11, he amended legislation to authorize a new rail tunnel to NYC.

A federal criminal investigation into Torricelli was dropped in early 2002.^[18][19] 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.^[20][21][22] 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..."^[20] 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.^[23][24]

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.^[25][26] The Rosemont Foundation donates funds to animal welfare charities with particular emphasis on dog shelters.

During his time in the Senate, Torricelli was a member of the Governmental Affairs Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Rules Committee.^[27]

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.^[28]

Torricelli founded business and government affairs consulting firm Rosemont Associates.^[29][30][31] He is a partner in real estate firm Woodrose Properties, which is invested in over 50 multi family or commercial properties in 10 states.^[32][33] Torricelli has represented the Iranian opposition group, the MEK.^[34][35]

Personal life

Torricelli was married to Susan Holloway^[4] and has dated Bianca Jagger.^[7]

Bibliography

• Robert Torricelli Andrew Carroll (1999). In Our Own Words: Extraordinary Speeches of the American Century. WSP.
• Robert Torricelli (2000). Quotations for Public Speakers: A Historical, Literary, and Political Anthology. Rutgers University Press. ISBN 9780813528892.

See also

• List of federal political scandals in the United States

References

1. Alfaro, Alyana (November 16, 2017). "Torricelli Will Not Primary Menendez in 2018". The Observer. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
2. Jennifer Preston (November 6, 1996). "Focused and Passionate Campaigner". The New York Times. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
3. "Bob Torricelli". Washington Post. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
4. BRETT PULLEY (October 31, 1996). "Torricelli's Wide-Reaching Goals Inspire and Enrage". New York Times. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
5. Mary Thronton (July 3, 1980). "Battle Over Convention Rules Begins". The Dispatch. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
6. Samuel G. Freedman (October 30, 1982). "A 3-Term Congressman Woos New Constituency". The New York Times. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
7. Michael Gross. "Senator Robert Torricelli: Suburban Boy Patriot, Bianca Jagger Boyfriend, Flaming Partisan". Michael Gross. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
8. 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."
9. Barone, Michael; and Ujifusa, Grant. The Almanac of American Politics 1988', p. 755. National Journal, 1987.
10. "U.S. Congress - Congressional Record". Congressional Record: H424. January 12, 1991.
11. Davis, Stuart (2023). Sanctions as War: Anti-Imperialist Perspectives on American Geo-Economic Strategy. p. 134. ISBN 978-1-64259-812-4. OCLC 1345216431.
12. "Timeline". Frontline. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
13. "The politics behind Clinton's Cuba policy". Baltimore Sun. 30 August 1994. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
14. Morris Morley, Chris McGillion (September 16, 2002). Unfinished Business: American and Cuba After the Cold War. 1989-2001. Cambridge University Press.
15. Kocieniewski, David (6 January 2001). "As Bush Rises, Torricelli Cools Partisan Fire". New York Times. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
16. "Tribute to Departing Senators". Congress.gov. November 20, 2002. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
17. Hillary Clinton (2003). Living History. Simon Schuster. pp. 495–496.
18. David Kocieniewski, Tim Golden (January 4, 2002). "Charges Ruled Out As U.S. Concludes Torricelli Inquiry". The New York Times. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
19. "N.J. Senator Torricelli cleared in federal probe". CNN. January 3, 2002. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
20. "CNN.com - Torricelli drops out of N.J. race - Sep. 30, 2002". www.cnn.com.
21. http://www.ethics.senate.gov/downloads/pdffiles/torricelli.pdf Senate.gov: Letter of Admonishment
22. John Harwood, Shailagh Murray (September 30, 2002). "Torricelli Throws in Towel In New Jersey Senate Race". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
23. "Supreme Court of New Jersey A-24 September Term 2002" (PDF). Find Law. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
24. Tom Turcol (October 10, 2002). "Rivals feud over Senate debates Frank R. Lautenberg wants to add third-party candidates. Douglas Forrester sees a ploy to evade a direct encounter". Philly.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
25. Hernandez, Raymond; Chen, David W. (2007-08-24). "Now a Lobbyist, an Ex-Senator Uses Campaign Money". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-04-23.
26. "Political donations from ex-senator's coffers questioned". Las Vegas Review-Journal. August 25, 2007. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
27. "Interview with Robert Torricelli". Rutgers. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
28. Laura Mansnerus (May 24, 2003). "Torricelli to Oversee Honeywell Toxic Cleanup". The New York Times.
29. Charles Hack (August 12, 2011). "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". NJ.com. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
30. Hernandez, Raymond; Chen, David W. (24 August 2007). "NOW A LOBBYIST, EX-SENATOR USES CAMPAIGN MONEY". The New York Times.
31. Mary Ann Akers; Paul Kane (May 1, 2008). "A Politician's Favorite Charity Is..." Washington Post. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
32. Erin Duffy (February 19, 2013). "Former Sen. Torricelli buys Trenton landmark Lorenzo's, plans $20M office complex". NJ.com. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
33. "Political watering hole in Trenton to be razed". Newsworks. February 19, 2013. Archived from the original on 2016-06-24. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
34. Eric Lach (February 3, 2011). "Ex-Sen. Torricelli: MEK Has Done 'Wrong' In Past But Is Useful Now". TPM. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
35. Ali Gharib, Eli Clifton (February 26, 2015). "Long March of the Yellow Jackets". The Intercept. Retrieved June 1, 2016.

External links

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• CNN report on Torricelli dropping out of Senate race.
• Appearances on C-SPAN

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Harold Hollenbeck	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 9th congressional district 1983–1997	Succeeded by Steve Rothman
Party political offices
Preceded by Bill Bradley	Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from New Jersey (Class 2) 1996, 2002 (withdrew)	Succeeded by Frank Lautenberg
Preceded by Bob Kerrey	Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee 1999–2001	Succeeded by Patty Murray
U.S. Senate
Preceded by Bill Bradley	U.S. Senator (Class 2) from New Jersey 1997–2003 Served alongside: Frank Lautenberg, Jon Corzine	Succeeded by Frank Lautenberg
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by Ben Sasse as Former US Senator	Order of precedence of the United States	Succeeded by Mack Mattingly as Former US Senator