Charles Anthony Buckley

Charles Anthony Buckley (June 23, 1890 – January 22, 1967) was a Democratic Party politician from The Bronx, New York. An Irish-American, he served as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Bronx County Democratic Party and a member of the United States House of Representatives, serving 15 terms from 1935 to 1965.

Early life and career Buckley was born in New York City. He was educated in the public schools, and became involved in the construction and contracting business. In 1911, at the age of 21, he became involved in party politics as a block captain in The Bronx. This led to his election to the Board of Aldermen, now the New York City Council, in 1918. He held his seat on the board until his appointment as a state tax appraiser in 1923. In 1929, Mayor Jimmy Walker appointed him as chamberlain, now a part of the city treasurer's office, to take succeed Edward J. Flynn, the Bronx party leader and a political mentor.

Congress and party leader

In 1934, Buckley won a seat in Congress where he served for 30 years. In 1953, he succeeded Ed Flynn as the "boss" or Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Bronx County Democratic Party, a post from which he derived at least as much influence as his position on Capitol Hill. He used his influence to marshal delegates for John F. Kennedy in his 1960 campaign and developed a friendship with the president. He also used his position to secure jobs for loyalists from The Bronx, helping him maintain power.

In his later years, he battled with reformist Democrats that sought to reduce the power of political bosses. He opposed Mayor Robert F. Wagner Jr. who, in 1961, was bidding for a third term in office and had broken with Tammany Hall.

The 1964 Democratic primary election was the beginning of the end of his career in politics. He faced Jonathan Bingham, whom Mayor Wagner supported in an effort to remove him from office. Robert F. Kennedy, who received the Democratic nomination, in part due to Buckley's support, and President Lyndon Johnson endorsed the incumbent. The race was bitter with Buckley charging that Bingham was anti-Semitic, having been a member of the America First Committee. Bingham fired back with allegations that Buckley received work from a contractor free of charge at his home in Rockland County. On Election Day, Bingham won by 4,000 votes, ending Buckley's career in Congress.

Personal life He was married to the former Marion Cowan and had two children, a daughter, Eileen Buckley, and a son, Charles Anthony Buckley, Jr. He died on January 22, 1967, at his home in The Bronx from lung cancer.