James M. Hanley

James Michael Hanley
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York
In office January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1981
Preceded by	R. Walter Riehlman
Succeeded by	George C. Wortley
Constituency	34th district (1965–71) 35th district (1971–73) 32nd district (1973–81)
Personal details
Born	(1920-07-19)July 19, 1920 Syracuse, New York
Died	October 16, 2003(2003-10-16) (aged 83) Geddes, New York
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Rita Ann Harrington (married 1950)
Children	Peter Christine
Residence	Syracuse, New York
Alma mater	St. Lucy's Academy (Syracuse, New York)
Occupation	Funeral Director

James Michael Hanley (July 19, 1920 – October 16, 2003) was an American businessman, World War II veteran, and politician who represented New York in the House of Representatives for eight terms from 1965 to 1981.

Biography

James M. Hanley was born in Syracuse, New York, on July 19, 1920. He attended local schools and graduated from St. Lucy's Academy in 1938. He was a funeral director, and the owner and operator of the Callahan-Hanley-Mooney Funeral Home.^[1]

World War II

Hanley enlisted for World War II and served in the United States Army from 1942 to 1946.^[2]

Tenure in Congress

In 1964 he was a successful Democratic candidate for a Syracuse-based congressional district, the first Democrat to hold this seat since 1915. He served eight terms, 1965 to 1981, and was Chairman of the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service in his final term. During his Congressional career, Hanley was known as a liberal, and supported the Great Society program of Lyndon B. Johnson, expansion of Medicare and Head Start, and the Equal Rights Amendment.^[3]

Later career and death

Hanley Federal Building in Syracuse

Hanley did not run for reelection in 1980; since then, no other Democrat has represented Syracuse in Congress for two consecutive terms. He worked as a government relations consultant in the Washington, D.C. area until 1990, afterwards retiring to upstate New York.^[4]

He died in Geddes, New York, on October 16, 2003, and was buried at the Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery.^[5][6][7]

Legacy

The federal building in Syracuse is named for him.^[8]

References

1. Williams Press, The New York Red Book, 1977, page 1070
2. U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946, entry for James M. Hanley, retrieved December 16, 2013
3. "James Hanley, 83; Congressman Was Liberal Democrat", Los Angeles Times, October 28, 2003
4. Terrance Kivalan (February 13, 1981), Newhouse News Service, "Hanley Joins Law Firm", Syracuse Herald-Journal
5. Eric Pace (October 27, 2003), James M. Hanley, 83, Dies; Served 8 Terms in Congress, The New York Times
6. U.S. Social Security Death Index, 1935-2013, entry for James M. Hanley, retrieved December 16, 2013
7. U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006, entry for James M. Hanley, retrieved December 16, 2013
8. James T. Walsh, United States House of Representatives, Tribute to Former Congressman James M. Hanley, February 10, 2004

External links

• United States Congress. "James M. Hanley (id: H000158)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• James M. Hanley at Political Graveyard

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by R. Walter Riehlman	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 34th congressional district 1965–1971	Succeeded by John H. Terry
Preceded by Samuel S. Stratton	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 35th congressional district 1971–1973	Succeeded by Barber B. Conable, Jr.
Preceded by Alexander Pirnie	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 32nd congressional district 1973–1981	Succeeded by George C. Wortley