I will come out immediately and say that the subject of this note is Robert Wagner. He was born in Hesse in 1877 and he came with his parents to America in 1886. His father had difficulty earning a living in New York. He worked as a building superintendent for a free basement apartment and five dollars a week in wages. Robert, or Bobby, as he was called, was the youngest of seven children and had to help the family, which he did by delivering newspapers and groceries. His older brother, Gus, who worked as a cook, recognized talent in Bobby and helped him in his desire to gain an education. Bob was able to study at New York's City College. His parents though grew discouraged and returned to Germany.
After NYCC, Bob attended law school and was admitted to the Bar in New York. During an impromptu debate in a Democratic Club, he attracted the attention of politicians. Four years later he was a member of the Albany legislature. From 1908 to 1918 (age 31 to 41), he served as a New York State Senator, including serving as Minority Leader from 1911 on (age 34). In 1914 (age 37) he was Deputy Lt. Governor for a few months.
His philosophy was "to fulfill our social obligations". A factory fire that killed 200 workers in 1911 strengthened his resolve and he worked tirelessly to achieve safer working conditions, unemployment insurance, and restrictions on child labor. As a result of his activity, the labor unions announced that New York had the best labor laws in the US.
In 1919, Wagner was appointed Justice of the New York Supreme Court. In 1926, he was elected to his first term in the US Senate. He advocated, sometimes as a lonely sentinel, job security, unemployment support, and old age pensions. In 1932, he pushed through the Relief Construction Act, which showed, for the first time, that the Federal government had some responsibility for the unemployed.
When Roosevelt was elected President, Wagner became the legislative pilot of the New Deal. Some of his hopes were implemented, but others were rejected. Some say that from the beginning of the American nation no one had more impact on legislation, some of it revolutionary. No one doubted his honesty, humanitarian integrity, and dedication.
In 1947 (he was only 70), he resigned from his Senate seat because of health. His son, of the same name, followed in his political footsteps and served three terms as Mayor of New York City. The father died in 1953.
All of this from a nine-year-old boy who stepped ashore in New York with his impoverished parents and family.
(21 Jun 03)
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.