Mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey. He came from a squalid Irish-immigrant slum area of Jersey City called the Horseshoe. A prizefighter in his youth, Hague turned to politics at the age of twenty-one. In 1917, he was elected Mayor of Jersey City, a position he would hold for 30 years. During that time, he became the most powerful politician in New Jersey. By organizing his political machine, he quickly took control of Hudson County politics, and by 1919, he had started to control state politics. Jersey City's A. Harry Moore served three terms as Governor. In 1924, Hague supported Mary Norton, the first Democratic women elected to the U.S. House of Representatives; she served 13 consecutive terms. "Boss" Hague was instrumental in getting out the vote for Franklin D. Roosevelt, which gained many New Deal projects and jobs for Hudson County, including the building of the Jersey City Medical Center. As the powerful leader of the Hudson County Democratic "machine"; he is famously quoted as saying "I am the law!" His political machine started to come apart in the late 1940's when Governor Charles Edison decided not to take orders from Hague. In 1947, at the age of 71, Hague stepped down as mayor, turning it over to his nephew. Hague was indicted for various crimes but never convicted. His days of power were numbered when in 1949 his successor was defeated for re-election by a former Hague ally, John V. Kenny. He died in his Park Avenue apartment in New York City leaving behind a legacy of political intrigue and corruption almost unparalleled in American political history.
Mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey. He came from a squalid Irish-immigrant slum area of Jersey City called the Horseshoe. A prizefighter in his youth, Hague turned to politics at the age of twenty-one. In 1917, he was elected Mayor of Jersey City, a position he would hold for 30 years. During that time, he became the most powerful politician in New Jersey. By organizing his political machine, he quickly took control of Hudson County politics, and by 1919, he had started to control state politics. Jersey City's A. Harry Moore served three terms as Governor. In 1924, Hague supported Mary Norton, the first Democratic women elected to the U.S. House of Representatives; she served 13 consecutive terms. "Boss" Hague was instrumental in getting out the vote for Franklin D. Roosevelt, which gained many New Deal projects and jobs for Hudson County, including the building of the Jersey City Medical Center. As the powerful leader of the Hudson County Democratic "machine"; he is famously quoted as saying "I am the law!" His political machine started to come apart in the late 1940's when Governor Charles Edison decided not to take orders from Hague. In 1947, at the age of 71, Hague stepped down as mayor, turning it over to his nephew. Hague was indicted for various crimes but never convicted. His days of power were numbered when in 1949 his successor was defeated for re-election by a former Hague ally, John V. Kenny. He died in his Park Avenue apartment in New York City leaving behind a legacy of political intrigue and corruption almost unparalleled in American political history.
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