James Riddle Hoffa
Jimmy Hoffa was an American labor union leader who served as the President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters from 1957 until 1971. He was one of the most powerful and controversial figures in American labor history, known for his ability to negotiate with management and his strong-arm tactics.
Hoffa was born in Brazil, Indiana in 1913. His father, a coal miner and union activist, died when Hoffa was just seven years old. Hoffa dropped out of school in the eighth grade and began working as a laborer. He soon became involved in union organizing and quickly rose through the ranks of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
Hoffa’s leadership of the Teamsters was marked by both triumphs and controversy. Under his leadership, the Teamsters became one of the largest and most powerful unions in the United States, with over 2 million members. Hoffa was known for his ability to negotiate lucrative contracts for his members and for his willingness to use strong-arm tactics to get what he wanted.
However, Hoffa’s tactics also made him many enemies, both within and outside of the labor movement. He was frequently accused of corruption and ties to organized crime, and his aggressive tactics led to numerous investigations by the federal government.
In 1964, Hoffa was convicted of jury tampering and sentenced to prison. He was released in 1971 after serving four years but was barred from participating in union activities for ten years. Hoffa continued to fight to regain control of the Teamsters but disappeared in 1975 under mysterious circumstances. His disappearance remains one of the most famous unsolved mysteries in American history.
In addition to his leadership of the Teamsters, Hoffa was also a major figure in Democratic Party politics. He was a close ally of President John F. Kennedy and played a key role in delivering the labor vote to Kennedy in the 1960 presidential election.
Resources
“Jimmy Hoffa”, Britannica
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