Thomas L. J. D'Alesandro III
Thomas L. J. D'Alesandro III
Thomas D'Alesandro III | |
|---|---|
| 43rd Mayor of Baltimore | |
| In office January 1, 1967 – January 1, 1971 | |
| Preceded by | Theodore R. McKeldin |
| Succeeded by | William Donald Schaefer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Ludwig John D'Alesandro III July 24, 1929 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Margie Piracci |
| Children | 5 |
| Parents | Thomas D'Alesandro Jr. Nancy Lombardi |
| Relatives | Nancy Pelosi (sister) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1952–1955 |
Thomas Ludwig John D'Alesandro III (born July 24, 1929) is an American attorney and former politician who was Mayor of Baltimore from 1967 to 1971.[1] He is the brother of Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi,[2] and son of former Baltimore Mayor Thomas D'Alesandro Jr., who served from 1947 to 1959.[1]
Thomas D'Alesandro III | |
|---|---|
| 43rd Mayor of Baltimore | |
| In office January 1, 1967 – January 1, 1971 | |
| Preceded by | Theodore R. McKeldin |
| Succeeded by | William Donald Schaefer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Ludwig John D'Alesandro III July 24, 1929 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Margie Piracci |
| Children | 5 |
| Parents | Thomas D'Alesandro Jr. Nancy Lombardi |
| Relatives | Nancy Pelosi (sister) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1952–1955 |
Biography
Early life and education
D'Alesandro was born in Baltimore to Annunciata (née Lombardi) and Thomas J. D'Alesandro Jr. He was the oldest of six children, of whom his youngest sister Nancy would become the first female Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. He attended Loyola College in Baltimore and studied law at the University of Maryland School of Law.[1] In 1952, he married Margaret "Margie" Piracci at the Baltimore Basilica; more than 5,000 people attended the wedding.[3] He served in the US Army from 1952 to 1955.
Career
D'Alesandro's one term as mayor was dominated by civil unrest and budgetary troubles.[1] In 1968 D'Alesandro ordered the relocation of the East-West Expressway, unstarted since 1941, to be rerouted through the Western Cemetery, then cancelled the project, then implemented a HUD program to finance 475 of the vacant homes abandoned after they were previously condemned to create "homes for the poor." The homes were demolished in 1974, with the Rouse Company creditors abandoning the project.[6][7]
D'Alesandro was unable to respond effectively to the Baltimore riot of 1968 that followed the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., and Maryland Governor Spiro Agnew called National Guard troops in to control the situation.[8] D'Alesandro would never run for another political office, choosing to go into private law practice. Years later, D'Alesandro insisted that the riots were not the reason that he walked away from politics. He said that the reason was simply that he had five children and his mayoral salary was not sufficient for him to support his family.[4]