Hague, Frank

Hague, Frank

(1876–1956) political boss; born in Jersey City, N.J. Initially running as a reformer, he was a Democratic Jersey City commissioner (1913–17) who created a political machine that allowed him to serve as mayor from 1917 to 1947. Despite charges of corruption, he controlled New Jersey Democrats, handpicking governors from 1919 to 1941; he also served as vice-chairman of the National Democratic Party (1924–52). Constitutional reforms ended his control of state elections and dissatisfied voters rejected his mayoral successor in 1947.

The Cambridge Dictionary of American Biography, by John S. Bowman. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995. Reproduced with permission.

Hague, Frank

(1876–1956) corrupt mayor of Jersey City, N. J., for 30 years. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 1173]

See: Demagoguery

Allusions—Cultural, Literary, Biblical, and Historical: A Thematic Dictionary. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.