Frank Hogan

Frank Smithwick Hogan (January 17, 1902 – April 2, 1974) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He served as New York County District Attorney for more than 30 years, during which he achieved a reputation for professionalism and integrity.[1]

Frank Hogan
District Attorney of New York County
In office January 1, 1942 – February 6, 1974
Preceded by	Thomas E. Dewey
Succeeded by	Richard H. Kuh
Personal details
Born	Frank Smithwick Hogan January 17, 1902 Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S.
Died	April 2, 1974 (aged 72) New York City, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic Party
Alma mater	Columbia College, Columbia University Columbia Law School

Early life and education

Hogan was born in Waterbury, New Haven County, Connecticut. He studied at and graduated from Columbia College, Columbia University in 1924. At first, Hogan planned on becoming a reporter and studied journalism. He decided to switch his focus to the law and graduated from Columbia Law School in 1928.[2] Hogan was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity at Columbia.[3]

Career

After law school, he entered into private practice for several years. In 1935, he began in the New York County District Attorney's office as an Administrative Assistant District Attorney under Thomas E. Dewey. In 1941, Dewey announced that he would not seek re-election. He suggested four prosecutors whom he believed should succeed him. Although Dewey's list included Hogan's name, his selection surprised Dewey. First Hogan, unlike Dewey, was a registered Democrat and his list was meant for the Republicans. In addition, Dewey did not expect the support of Tammany Hall for his preferred candidate, after he prosecuted some of their leaders. Not only did Tammany offer its support, but the Republicans and the American Labor Party endorsed Hogan, which guaranteed his election.[2] Thus, he became the new District Attorney on January 1, 1942.[4]

During his time in the New York County District Attorney's Office, Hogan conducted many widely publicized investigations. Corruption and racketeering were high on his list. He prosecuted high-profile crime figures Joseph Lanza, Joe Adonis and Frank Erickson, as well as corrupt politicians such as Manhattan borough president Hulan Jack and former deputy city controller Eugene Sugarman.[1]

In the late 1950s, his office investigated the rigging of television quiz programs, as well as 'fixed' college basketball games. He prosecuted the well-known Lenny Bruce obscenity case. Another high-profile case involved the exoneration of George Whitmore, Jr. in 1963, after his confession regarding the murder of two women in their upper east side Manhattan apartment was found to be false.

In 1949, he considered a run for Mayor of New York when William O'Dwyer announced that he would not seek re-election. Hogan ended the campaign after O'Dwyer changed his mind to run again.[1] He decided to run for the United States Senate in 1958 for the seat that Irving Ives was vacating. While Democratic leaders Averell Harriman and mayor Robert F. Wagner preferred a candidate with a larger statewide profile, Carmine DeSapio, the head of Tammany Hall pushed Hogan's candidacy. The move backfired on DeSapio with Kenneth B. Keating defeating Hogan and Nelson Rockefeller becoming Governor of New York.

In later years, some of assistants criticized his style as being too rigid and old-fashioned and that he may have been in office too long. They cited his prosecution of comedian Lenny Bruce in 1964 and anti-war protestors at Columbia University in 1968. In 1971, Governor Nelson Rockefeller appointed Maurice Nadjari over Hogan and the other New York City district attorneys to lead investigations under the Knapp Commission, which mayor John Lindsay established to investigate police corruption. Chairman Whitman Knapp said that Hogan did not properly investigate corruption in the New York City Police Department leading to Nadjari's appointment. The move left Hogan feeling humiliated and damaged his friendship with Knapp, one of his former assistants.[1][5]

The Knapp fallout and a primary challenge from William vanden Heuvel led to speculation that Hogan would not seek a ninth term in office. However, he surprised observers by running in the 1973 election. Vanden Heuvel's campaign message was that the city needed someone new in the district attorney's office. Several days before the election, the New York City Bar Association gave vanden Heuvel an "unqualified" rating, which may have affected his support. In the end, Hogan won with a two-to-one edge in votes.[1]

Personal life

Hogan served on the Board of Trustees of Columbia University from 1959 until his death in 1974.[6]

He was married to the former Mary Egan.

He had surgery for a lung tumor in 1973 and later suffered a stroke on August 10, 1973. Citing ill health, he resigned on December 26 and entered the hospital the following day.[7] Governor Malcolm Wilson appointed Richard Kuh to replace him; Kuh would be sworn in on February 13.[8] He died of cancer at St. Luke's Hospital in Manhattan on April 2, 1974.[1]

Legacy

The street address of the main office of the New York County District Attorney is One Hogan Place in his honor. Hogan Hall, a dormitory at Columbia University, is also named for him.

References

1. "Hogan, District Attorney 32 Years, Dies". The New York Times. April 3, 1974. Retrieved 2013-11-29. Frank S. Hogan, the shy, courteous lawyer who became a legend in 32 years as Manhattan's District Attorney, died yesterday at St. Luke's Hospital. Mr. Hogan was 72 years old and lived at 404 Riverside Drive.
2. "Hogan Candidacy a Political 'Bomb'; New District Attorney Was Little Known in City Until Tammany Backed Him". The New York Times. 1941-11-05.
3. Collins, Glenn (10 April 1981). "Columbia fraternities revive a rite of Spring". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
4. "HOGAN TAKES OATH; Dewey Witnesses Ceremony for His Successor". The New York Times. 1941-12-30. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-11-02.
5. "Hogan 'Still Bitter' Over Nadjari Post". The New York Times. 1972-10-12. p. 1.
6. McDaniel, Shawn (1 November 1977). "Crowd crams Ferris Booth for Hogan Hall dedication". Columbia Daily Spectator. CII (34). Retrieved 14 February 2016.
7. Goldstein, Tom (1974-02-06). "Kuh Appointed Manhattan Prosecutor; Scotti, Chagrined, Planning to Retire". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-11-02.
8. "Kuh Is Sworn In". The New York Times. 1974-02-14. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-11-02.

Further reading

• "Tammany Picks Dewey Aide; Action Blow to La Guardia; Selection of Hogan for Prosecutor Upsets Fusion Movement -- Dr. Nathan Ratnoff Is Named for Borough Head" in The New York Times on August 2, 1941 (subscription required)
• "Hogan Accepts Tammany's Bid; May Win Fusion; Dewey's Chief of Staff Says He Made No Commitments -- Wants Job Out of Politics Republicans Weigh Move Lockwood, Prosecutor's Choice, Is Believed Reluctant to Oppose Close Friend Hogan Accepts; May Win Fusion" in The New York Times on August 3, 1941 (subscription required)
• DANY Website
• "Hogan Has Had a Stroke And Lung-Tumor Surgery; Hogan Had Stroke; Tumor Removed"] in The New York Times on September 18, 1973 (subscription required)
• "Hogan Quits After Serving For 32 Years as Prosecutor; Close to Tears, Botein Reads Statement by District Attorney Citing Ill Health Dewey Successor Widely Praised Hogan Is Quitting, Citing His Health Scotti Mentioned"] in The New York Times on December 27, 1973 (subscription required)

External links

• Frank Hogan at Find a Grave
• Finding aid to Frank Smithwick Hogan papers at Columbia University. Rare Book & Manuscript Library.