Thomas M. Foglietta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tom Foglietta
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| United States Ambassador to Italy | |
| In office December 11, 1997 – October 1, 2001 |
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| President | Bill Clinton George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Reginald Bartholomew |
| Succeeded by | Mel Sembler |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 1st district |
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| In office January 3, 1981 – November 11, 1997 |
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| Preceded by | Ozzie Myers |
| Succeeded by | Bob Brady |
| Member of the Philadelphia City Council from the At-Large District | |
| In office January 2, 1956 – January 5, 1976 |
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| Preceded by | Seat Created |
| Succeeded by | Ethel D. Allen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 3, 1928 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | November 13, 2004 (aged 75) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Resting place | Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon, Pennsylvania |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Other political affiliations |
Republican (until 1980) |
| Alma mater | Saint Joseph's University |
Thomas Michael Foglietta (born December 3, 1928 – died November 13, 2004) was an important American politician and diplomat. He represented the state of Pennsylvania in the House of Representatives for many years. Later, he served as the United States Ambassador to Italy.
Contents
Early Life and Public Service
Tom Foglietta was born in South Philadelphia on December 3, 1928. He went to South Catholic High School in the city. His father, Michael, was also involved in politics. He was a Republican leader and later joined the Philadelphia City Council.
Tom Foglietta studied at Saint Joseph's University and then went to Temple University for law school. After becoming a lawyer in 1952, he started working in private practice.
Joining the Philadelphia City Council
In 1955, Foglietta decided to run for the Philadelphia City Council. He won the election and became the youngest person ever elected to that group. He served on the Council for 20 years, helping to make decisions for the city.
In 1975, he ran to become the mayor of Philadelphia. He finished in third place. After this, Foglietta worked for the U.S. Department of Labor as a regional director.
Serving in Congress
In 1980, Tom Foglietta ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. He ran as an independent candidate and won. He replaced a previous Congressman who had faced legal issues. After winning, Foglietta changed his political party and became a Democrat. He said he had always been part of the "progressive" side of the Republican Party, which he felt no longer existed.
Key Focus Areas in Congress
In Congress, Foglietta worked hard on two main areas. He focused on foreign affairs, which means how the United States interacts with other countries. He also worked to protect the Philadelphia Navy Yard, a large shipyard that was planned to close.
He became good friends with Kim Dae Jung, a leader from South Korea. In 1985, Foglietta was with Kim Dae Jung when a crowd gathered at Seoul Airport. Years later, in 1999, Foglietta received an award for supporting democracy in South Korea.
Foglietta also served on the House Appropriations Committee. This committee helps decide how federal money is spent. He used his position to get money to fix up historic places in Philadelphia, like Independence Hall and Washington Square. He also started the Congressional Urban Caucus, a group in Congress that focused on helping cities.
In 1984, Foglietta even helped catch a person who had stolen a purse from an 84-year-old woman. He saw the crime happen and chased the thief down!
Ambassador to Italy
Tom Foglietta served in the House of Representatives until 1997. Then, President Bill Clinton chose him to be the ambassador to Italy. An ambassador is a country's official representative in another country.
When he was chosen, a newspaper in Philadelphia wrote that he had made it "from a rowhouse at 7th and Clymer to the embassy in Rome on a smile and a trustworthy handshake." This showed how much people respected him.
Responding to a Tragedy
During his time as ambassador in Rome, a sad event happened in 1998 called the Cavalese cable car disaster. A U.S. military plane flew too low and cut a cable car line, causing 20 skiers to die. Foglietta went to the accident site. He knelt in prayer and said sorry on behalf of the United States. An Italian newspaper praised him for showing such respect and apology.
Tom Foglietta passed away in 2004 due to health problems after surgery.
See also
- History of the Italian Americans in Philadelphia
