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William Forte Willett Jr. (November 27, 1869 – February 12, 1938) was an American lawyer and politician who served two terms as a U.S. Representative from New York from 1907 to 1911 and fourteen months in Sing Sing for conspiracy and bribery shortly thereafter.
William Willett | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 14th district | |
| In office March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1911 | |
| Preceded by | Charles A. Towne |
| Succeeded by | John J. Kindred |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Forte Willett Jr. November 27, 1869 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | February 12, 1938 (aged 68) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Resting place | Evergreen Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | New York University (LLB) |
Early life and education
editWilliam Willett Jr. was born in Brooklyn, New York, on November 27, 1869. He attended the public schools of his native city and then graduated from the law department of New York University, New York City, in 1895. He was admitted to the bar the following year and commenced the practice of law in New York City.
Congress
editWillett was elected as a Democrat to the Sixtieth and Sixty-first Congresses (March 4, 1907 - March 3, 1911).
On January 18, 1909, Willett denounced President Theodore Roosevelt in a speech that was so outrageous that he was ordered to sit down, and the House voted 126 to 78 against allowing him to continue.[1] On January 27, the House, by voice vote, expunged the speech from the Congressional Record for "language improper and in violation of the privileges of debate".[2]
Willett did not stand for renomination in 1910.
Conspiracy and bribery
editWillett was indicted in 1912 on charges that he paid Democratic Party leaders for a seat on the State Supreme Court. In 1913, he was convicted of conspiracy and bribery.[2] After exhausting his appeals he served 14 months in Sing Sing.[3]
Real estate
editWillett then went into the real estate business.
Death
editWillett died in New York City on February 12, 1938, his body interred in Cemetery of the Evergreens, Brooklyn.
Electoral history
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | William Willett Jr. | 17,675 | 46.3% | |
| Republican | Frank E. Losee | 10,006 | 26.2% | |
| Independence | Charles E. Shober | 8,110 | 21.3% | |
| Socialist | Richard Morton | 2,328 | 6.1% | |
| Prohibition | Albert Wadhams | 40 | 0.1% | |
| Total votes | 38,159 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | William Willett Jr. (incumbent) | 21,643 | 52.2% | |
| Republican | Emanuel Castka | 14,189 | 34.2% | |
| Socialist | Phillip H. Schmitt | 3,055 | 7.4% | |
| Independence | Herbert Wade | 2,485 | 6.0% | |
| Prohibition | Joseph. H Ralph | 69 | 0.2% | |
| Total votes | 41,451 | 100% | ||
References
edit- ^ "Roosevelt Scored- Representative Willett Makes Sensational Attack", Washington Post, January 19, 1909, p.1
- ^ a b Mark Grossman, Political Corruption in America: An Encyclopedia of Scandals, Power, and Greed (ABC-CLIO, 2003), p.369
- ^ "Willett, William Forte Jr.." Political Corruption in America: An Encyclopedia of Scandals, Power & Greed. Amenia: Grey House Publishing, 2008. Credo Reference. Web. 15 August 2012.
- ^ The New York Red Book, 1907. 1907. p. 617. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
- ^ The New York Red Book, 1909. 1909. p. 638. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
- United States Congress. "William Willett Jr. (id: W000481)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress