Mario Biaggi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mario Biaggi
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York
In office January 3, 1969 – August 5, 1988
Preceded by	Paul A. Fino
Succeeded by	Eliot Engel
Constituency	24th district (1969–1973) 10th district (1973–1983) 19th district (1983–1988)
Personal details
Born	(1917-10-26)October 26, 1917 New York City, U.S.
Died	June 24, 2015(2015-06-24) (aged 97) New York City, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Other political affiliations	Conservative (1973)
Spouse	Marie Wassil ​ ​ (m. 1940; died 1997)​
Children	4
Relatives	Alessandra Biaggi (granddaughter)
Education	New York Law School (LLB)

Mario Biaggi (October 26, 1917 – June 24, 2015) was an American politician, lawyer, and police officer. He represented New York State in the United States House of Representatives from 1969 to 1988.

Before becoming a politician, Biaggi was a highly respected police officer. He was one of the most decorated officers in the history of the NYPD. He was injured 11 times while on duty. After his police career, he became a lawyer at age 49. He was first elected to Congress in 1968 as a Democrat from the Bronx. He was re-elected nine times, often winning with more than 90% of the votes.

In 1987 and 1988, he faced legal challenges related to his actions in office. Because of these issues, he chose to resign from Congress in 1988.

Early Life and Education

Mario Biaggi was born in a small apartment building in East Harlem, New York City. His parents were poor immigrants from Italy. His father, Salvatore Biaggi, worked with marble. His mother, Mary, cleaned buildings for a living. Mario had two younger brothers.

He went to P.S. 171 in East Harlem. In 1934, during the Great Depression, he graduated from Haaren High School in Manhattan. In 1940, he married Marie Wassil, and they moved to the Bronx. They had four children: two daughters, Barbara and Jacqueline, and two sons, Richard and Mario Jr.

Career Highlights

Working as a Mailman

Before his police career, Mario Biaggi worked as a shoeshine boy and in a factory. At 18, he became a substitute mail carrier for the United States Postal Service. He earned 65 cents an hour. Later, he became a regular mail carrier. His route included the home of New York City Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, one of his heroes. He worked for the Post Office for almost six years. He also became active in the mail carriers' union.

Serving in the New York City Police Department

In 1942, at age 25, Biaggi joined the New York City Police Department (NYPD). He wanted to join the US Army, but police officers were not allowed to join the military then. Also, his two brothers were already serving in the armed forces. His police career lasted 23 years, until 1965.

He was injured 11 times during his service. Biaggi received many awards for his bravery. These included the police department’s Medal of Honor, which is its highest award. He also received the National Police Officers Association of America’s Medal of Valor. He became one of the NYPD's most decorated officers. In 1946, he rescued a girl on a runaway horse. The horse dragged him 90 feet and hurt his right leg. This injury caused him to limp for the rest of his life, and he used a cane. He retired from the NYPD in 1965 as a Detective Lieutenant.

Becoming a Lawyer

Near the end of his police career, at age 45, Biaggi decided to go to law school. The American Bar Association made a special exception for him. He was allowed to study law because of his amazing police career, even though he had not gone to college. Usually, a college degree is required for law school. The dean of New York Law School offered him a full scholarship. In 1965, he earned his law degree. In 1966, at age 49, he became a lawyer in New York State. He then started his own law firm.

Representing New York in Congress

In 1968, Mario Biaggi ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. The seat was open because the previous representative had resigned. Biaggi ran as a Democrat and also had support from the Conservative Party. He won the election with 60.5% of the votes. He was 51 years old when he first joined Congress.

Many people admired Mario Biaggi. He was easily re-elected many times. He often won with more than 90% of the votes. His district changed numbers and areas over the years. It included parts of the Bronx, Queens, and Westchester County. From 1972 onwards, he was also supported by the Republican Party.

Biaggi was known as a "law-and-order" Democrat. This meant he was tough on crime. He helped pass a federal ban on special bullets that could pierce police armor. He also strongly supported older people, labor unions, and people with intellectual disabilities. He was in favor of gun control and supported Israel and peace in Northern Ireland.

He was known for helping people in his district. A former New York State Assemblyman, John C. Dearie, said that Biaggi would help people with many problems. These included finding a nursing home bed for a mother or solving a Social Security issue.

During his time in Congress, he led several important committees. He was Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Navigation. He also chaired the Subcommittee on Human Services for the elderly. He led the Ad Hoc Congressional Committee for Irish Affairs.

Department of the Army Order 31-3

In 1975, Biaggi helped pass a law to give George Washington the highest military rank in U.S. history. This made Washington the highest-ranking officer in the U.S. military forever. This law was approved by President Gerald Ford in 1976.

Biaggi also started the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. This fund helped create the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. This memorial honors all U.S. law enforcement officers who have died while on duty.

Later Life and Legacy

Mario Biaggi resigned from Congress on August 5, 1988. He was 70 years old at the time. Even after resigning, his name remained on the ballot for the 1988 election. He did not campaign, and Eliot Engel won the election.

Biaggi faced health issues later in life. He was released from a period of public service in 1991 due to heart problems, arthritis, and other injuries. He was 73 years old.

In 1992, at age 74, Biaggi tried to return to Congress. He ran against Eliot Engel, who had taken his old seat. He was supported by many police and firefighter unions. However, Engel won the election easily.

Mario Biaggi passed away at his home in the Bronx on June 24, 2015. He was 97 years old. He is buried in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York. His granddaughter, Alessandra Biaggi, became a member of the New York State Senate in 2019.

Awards and Honors

Mario Biaggi received many honors throughout his life.

• In 1961, he was the first police officer in New York State to join the National Police Officers Hall of Fame.
• In 1976, he was inducted into the National Italian American Hall of Fame.
• In 2000, he joined the National Safe Boating Council’s Boating Safety Hall of Fame.

He also received numerous awards, including:

• The New York City Police Department's Medal of Honor (1960)
• The Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity from Italy (1961)
• The National Law Officers Distinguished Service Award (1968)
• The Jewish Identity Center Award for his work for Jewish causes (1978)
• The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) Bonner Award (1978)
• The Ancient Order of Hibernians (1980)
• He was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 1982 for his efforts to stop violence in Northern Ireland.
• The American Merchant Marine Achievement Award (1983)
• The United Seamen's Service Admiral of the Ocean Sea Award (1983)
• The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund's Distinguished Service Award (1998)
• The Grand Council of United Emerald Societies Presidents Award (2001)
• The NYPD Shomrim Society Otto Raphael Award (2005)
• The Ancient Order of Hibernians Friend of the Irish Award (2011)

Fordham University gave him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1984. They recognized him for being "widely respected as a Representative of unparalleled responsiveness to his constituents." New York Law School also started the Inaugural Mario Biaggi Lecture in 1985.

Images for kids

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  Mario Biaggi, 1973