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Frank Rizzo
Rizzo Statue
BornOctober 23, 1920
Philadelphia
DiedJuly 16, 1991
Philadelphia

Frank Lazarro Rizzo (October 23, 1920 – July 16, 1991) was an Italian American noted for his contributions to the fields of law enforcement and politics in the United States. He began his career as a patrolman with the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) in 1943, and rose through the ranks of the police department to eventually become Philadelphia Police Commissioner in 1967. Rizzo retired as Police Commissioner, and campaigned for Mayor of Philadelphia in 1971, and was elected mayor in November. He was elected to a second term in November 1975. A term limit provision prevented Rizzo from running for a third consecutive term in 1979. Rizzo campaigned unsuccessfully for mayor in 1983 and 1987, and then hosted a radio talk show in 1988. He was campaigning for mayor, and had won the Republican primary election, when he died in July 1991.[1]

Early life edit

Frank Rizzo was born October 23, 1920 and raised in predominately Italian American South Philadelphia. His father, Raffaele Rizzo, was an Italian immmigrant to the United States who became a Philadelphia police officer in 1917.[2] His mother Theresa Erminio, an Italian American,[3] was a homemaker. Frank had three brothers, Raffaele Rizzo, Jr. born in 1922, Joseph Rizzo born in 1924, and Anthony Rizzo (1927 – 1961). Joseph would go on to serve as a Philadelphia firefighter, and he was appointed Fire Commissioner of the Philadelphia Fire Department in 1972 by Mayor Frank Rizzo.

Frank attended Southern High School in Philadelphia, but never graduated. In 1938 he enlisted in the United States Navy, and was assigned to the heavy cruiser USS Houston (CA-30).[4] He was discharged in November 1939 after being diagnosed with diabetes insipidus. He worked in the construction industry, and then worked at a blast furnace at Midvale Steel in the Nicetown neighborhood of Philadelphia.[4]

Marriage and children edit

In 1942 Frank Rizzo married Carmella Silvestri, a candy maker, and they had two children. Their son Frank L. Rizzo, Jr. (March 5, 1943 – ) is a Republican Philadelphia City Councilman. Their daughter Joanna Rizzo Mastronardo (1950– ) graduated Chestnut Hill College in 1972, and married noted sports bookmaker Joseph "Joe Vito" Mastronardo, Jr., in 1978.[5]

Police career edit

Rizzo was appointed to the Philadelphia Police Department in 1943. In 1950, Rizzo was made an acting police sergeant, and became his father's supervisor. In 1951, Rizzo passed a civil service exam, and was promoted to sergeant and assigned to the Philadelphia Highway Patrol. After a raid on a brothel that year, Rizzo arrested nine suspects after a fight. Rizzo's fellow officers gave him a new nickname because of the incident, "The Cisco Kid", after a popular cowboy.[6]

Rizzo was appointed Deputy Police Commissioner in 1963, and rose to local and national prominence during 1964 rioting in Philadelphia. The riot initially took place on only one street. Rizzo's initial plan to send police officers to remove everyone from Columbia Avenue, was overruled by his superior Police Commissioner Howard Leary, who feared officers would be injured by possible sniper fire.[7] Several hours later, the police were allowed by Commissioner Leary to respond, but by this time, the riot had expanded to several streets. After three days of rioting, 341 people were injured, 774 people were arrested, and 225 stores were damaged or destroyed. The Commissioner justified his actions by pointing out no one was killed.

As a result of notoriety gained during the riot, Rizzo was able to participate in plans to increase the effectiveness of police department. To improve transport, the police began to use buses for rapid deployment of officers. To protect police from snipers, Rizzo helped to develop a team of police sharpshooters.[8] To improve reconnaissance, the city leased a helicopter for police use.[8]

Police Commissioner edit

In February 1966 Police Commissioner Leary announced that he was leaving to take a job as Police Commissioner of the New York Police Department. Mayor James Hugh Joseph Tate chose to appoint Deputy Commissioner of Operations Edward J. Bell, head of the Detective Bureau, to replace Leary instead of Rizzo.[9] When Commissioner Bell fell ill, Mayor Tate appointed Rizzo to become Philadelphia Police Commissioner in May 1967.[10] [11] As a condition of Rizzo's appointment, Tate required that Rizzo change his voter registration from Republican to Democratic.[11]

The 1967 Newark riots in Newark, New Jersey and the 12th Street Riot in Detroit, Michigan that occurred in July concerned Mayor Tate. In order to prevent rioting, the mayor asked Philadelphia City Council to pass an emergency proclamation preventing citizens of Philadelphia from gathering in large groups.[12] Rizzo released crime statistics that helped persuade City Council to pass the legislation in August. During the summer in Philadelphia, there were no large riots, and an opinion poll in the Philadelphia Bulletin showed that Rizzo had an 84% approval rating among Philadelphians.[13]

Student Protest edit

In November 1967, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) organized a protest outside of the Philadelphia Board of Education administration offices on Benjamin Franklin Parkway to demand that school curriculum become more diverse. The 3,000 mostly African American students were a far larger crowd than police on the scene had expected, and the police called for reinforcements. Soon after Rizzo and hundreds of police reinforcements arrived on the scene by bus, the mostly white police officers and the students began to clash.[14] Two protesters said that as the melee started, they heard Rizzo say "Get their black asses!"[14] Rizzo denied that he had said this, but film shot by WFIL-TV (now WPVI-TV) showed that he had.[14]

Black Panther Party raid edit

During the summer of 1970, members of the African American civil rights group the Black Panther Party had been gathering in Philadelphia in preparation for their national convention at Temple University in September. On August 29, 1970, while stationed in a guardhouse in Cobbs Creek Park, Fairmount Park Police Sergeant Frank Von Colin was shot and killed in the line of duty by Russell Shoats, a member of the Black Unity Movement.[15][16] Officer James Harrington was shot and wounded in a separate incident that night.[16] Rizzo deployed the Philadelphia Highway Patrol to search the park, where they found booby traps near the guardhouse, hand grenades attached to tripwires.[16] On the following night, Philadelphia Police officers Thomas J. Gibbons, Jr. and John Nolen were shot and wounded while attempting to arrest suspected car thieves.[16]

Though these actions were not tied directly to the Panthers, these were used by Rizzo as a justification for the Philadelphia Police to raid the Black Panther Party headquarters in Philadelphia on August 30, 1970.[17] Following an exchange of gunfire, police led occupants of the headquarters into the street, where they were lined up against a wall and strip searched. Philadelphia Daily News photographer Elwood Smith took a photograph of the incident that was seen worldwide.[18] Thought he was not present at the scene, this photograph became associated with Rizzo.[19] The Black Panther Party convention was held in September without further incident.

Campaign for mayor edit

In 1971, Rizzo retired as Police Commissioner to campaign for mayor. He faced three opponents for the 1971 Democratic mayoral nomination, Congressman William J. Green, Pennsylvania State Representative Hardy Williams, and frequent Rizzo critic former City Councilman David Cohen.[20] Rizzo won the nomination of the Democratic Party and primary election, despite Cohen's withdrawal and subsequent endorsement of Green. In the November general election, Rizzo defeated former Councilman at Large and Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce President W. Thacher Longstreth with 71% of the vote.[21] Rizzo relied on the slogan "Firm but Fair" to explain his view of the mayor's job.

First mayoral term edit

Rizzo was sworn into office on January 3, 1972. Within a month of being sworn in, Rizzo endorsed President of the United States Richard Nixon for re-election. This helped the city receive more federal funds from Nixon's Republican administration, but it embarrassed the Democratic City Committee, which had supported Rizzo.

From the start of his first term in office, Rizzo faced many political problems. The Philadelphia Inquirer began running a negative series about the Philadelphia police department during Rizzo's tenure as police commissioner almost immediately after the election. The Evening Bulletin interviewed former Mayor and School Board President Richardson Dilworth about allegations of political spying using the police force that Dilworth had made to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Lie detector test edit

In 1973 Philadelphia Democratic Party Chairman Peter Camiel accused Rizzo of accosting him a bathroom of the The Bellevue Stratford Hotel and offering him patronage jobs in return for allowing Rizzo to name the candidates for District Attorney and City Comptroller.[22][23] Rizzo denied the allegations, and called Camiel a liar. A Philadelphia Daily News reporter challenged both Rizzo and Camiel to take a polygraph test, and each agreed to one.

Before taking his test, Rizzo said, "I have great confidence in the polygraph. If this machine says a man lied, he lied."[23] The test results indicated that Rizzo was lying, and that Camiel was not. The Philadelphia Daily News headline the following day read "Rizzo Lied, Tests Show",[23] and featured a photograph of Rizzo sitting in a chair undergoing the polygraph test. Rizzo held a press conference and denied the results of test, but they effectively ended Rizzo's chances of ever becoming Governor of Pennsylvania. Rizzo also ended his press conferences for about two years, as he tried to rebuild his public support on a personal basis, rather than through the media.

Police corruption probe edit

In 1974 the Pennsylvania Crime Commission issued a report that stated police corruption in Philadelphia was "ongoing, widespread, systematic, and occurring at all levels of the Police Department."[24] During a news conference on March 13, 1974, Andrea Mitchell asked Rizzo about the police corruption report. Rizzo did not answer the question, and stormed out of the news conference after only five minutes.[23] The events surrounding the police corruption probe were the basis for the 2000 television docudrama The Thin Blue Lie.[25]

Gulf Oil refinery fire edit

On the morning of August 17, 1975 a large fire, that eventually reached eleven alarms, broke out at the Gulf Oil refinery in Southwest Philadelphia. Fire Commissioner Joseph Rizzo directed the response until the fire was declared under control early on the morning of August 18, 1975.[26] Eight Philadelphia firefighters were killed extinguishing the fire, and four pieces of firefighting apparatus were destroyed. While running away from an oil pipeline explosion at the fire scene, Mayor Frank Rizzo fell and broke his hip after he collided with his bodyguard Tony Fullwood.[27] This was a far more serious injury than Mayor Rizzo had ever received as a police officer.[27]

Election to second term edit

In the 1975 Democratic primary, Rizzo had defeated State Senator Louis Hill, former mayor Richardson Dilworth's stepson, who was supported by Camiel.[10] In the November general election, Rizzo defeated independent candidate Charles Bowser, a leading African American attorney and former City Councilman at Large, and Thomas M. Foglietta, who later represented Pennsylvania's 1st Congressional District.

Second mayoral term edit

Rizzo had campaigned for months with the slogan "He held the line on taxes." Soon after the election, Rizzo and the Philadelphia City Council increased the city's wage tax from 3.31% to 4.31%, the highest increase in city history.[28] The juxtaposition of the campaign slogan, which had dominated the airwaves, mailboxes, and telephone polls of the city for months, with the record tax increase infuriated Rizzo's opponents and led fiscal conservatives to join them. Rizzo faced being voted out of the mayor's office in a recall election.

Recall election edit

The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter contained a provision for a recall election to be held if petitioned by 25% of the registered voters Philadelphia. Voters were upset when the wage tax was raised, and this resulted in an effort to remove Rizzo from office in 1976. The Americans for Democratic Action, a group that had played a role in moving Philadelphia from Republican to Democratic control in the late 1940s and early 1950s, took the lead in gathering of the needed signatures needed for the recall attempt.

The campaign to recall Rizzo attracted thousands of volunteers and millions of dollars in contributions. The committee to recall Rizzo methodically organized their supporters in the voting wards of the city, and shocked political professionals by gathering far more than the requisite number of signatures. Polls showed Rizzo losing by a wide margin, and he responded by challenging the validity of the signatures.[21]

The constitutionality of the recall procedure itself was challenged in a case heard before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. In September, the Court declared by a one vote margin that the recall provision of the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter was unconstitutional. The decision was written by Chief Justice Robert N.C. Nix, who was elected to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in 1971 with support from Rizzo. Rizzo opponents, while greatly disheartened by the decision, were able to rally in order to elect Ed Rendell as Philadelphia District Attorney in 1977.

1978 MOVE confrontation edit

Main article: MOVE

On August 8, 1978, there was an armed confrontation between the African American group MOVE and the Philadelphia Police Department in the Powelton Village neighborhood. Officer James Ramp was killed in the line of duty during an exchange of gunfire, and nine members of MOVE were forcibly arrested. Pictures in the Philadelphia media the next day showed Philadelphia police officers beating and kicking suspect Delbert Africa, who was lying unarmed on the ground.[29] Rizzo ordered the Powelton Village home of the MOVE organization demolished the following day.

City charter change referendum edit

Facing a two consecutive term limit under the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, Rizzo persuaded the Philadelphia City Council to place a Charter Change referendum on the ballot that would have allowed him to run for a third consecutive term in 1979. The proposed Charter change had a significant effect on Philadelphia politics. In a record turnout for a Philadelphia municipal election, Philadelphians voted two to one against the change, preventing Rizzo from running for a third mayoral term in 1979.[10]

The Charter defense organization that was built would support a partially successful "Clean Sweep" ticket for municipal offices in 1979. In November 1979, former Congressman William J. Green won the general election for mayor. In January 1980 Rizzo's second mayoral term ended, and Green was sworn in as mayor.

Post mayoral career edit

Rizzo ran for the Democratic mayoral nomination in 1983, and lost to W. Wilson Goode in the Democratic primary election. From 1983 to 1991, Rizzo served as a security consultant at The Philadelphia Gas Works. This was controversial because Rizzo was collecting a city pension while drawing a city salary.

In 1986, Rizzo changed party affiliation back to the Republican party. His switch from the Democratic party back to the Republican party spawned a new political term, "Rizzocrats", registered Democrats who would support Rizzo regardless of his party affiliation.

In the May 1987 Republican primary, Rizzo defeated John Egan, Jr. to become the first person in Philadelphia history to have won the mayoral nomination of both major political parties.[10] Rizzo opposed Democrat Goode in the November general election, and lost by only a slim margin.

Beginning in November 1988, Rizzo hosted the popular radio program "Frank Talk with Frank Rizzo" on Philadelphia radio station WCAU-AM (now WPHT-AM).[30] Frank Rizzo, Jr. took over as the host of the show after his father died.[31]

Death and afterward edit

Frank Rizzo died of a heart attack on July 16, 1991, shortly after his primary victory.[1] When once asked what he would like for his epitaph, Rizzo joked, "He's really dead."[23] Colleagues expressed great sorrow. Andrea Mitchell said that she wept when she heard the news of Rizzo's death.[23] Local television news anchor Larry Kane, who knew Rizzo well and reported about him extensively, said that he felt as if a member of his own family had died.[32]

Funeral edit

A funeral Mass celebrated by Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua was held for Rizzo at the Cathedral-Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, located on Benjamin Franklin Parkway. After the service, the funeral procession traveled along the Parkway to Philadelphia City Hall. Police officers from all 50 states of the United States were part of the cortege. Before proceeding to Rizzo's burial site at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania, the procession slowly circled City Hall. Mourners lined the entire route, and the ceremony and procession was broadcast live on local television. It was the largest funeral in Philadelphia in a century.[33]

Memorials edit

A statue in honor of Mayor Rizzo, with his right arm stretched out in greeting, stands in front of the Philadelphia Municipal Services Building. The statue, cast by the Laran Bronze Foundry in Chester, Pennsylvania and sculpted by artist Zenos Frudakis, is one of Philadelphia's most recognizable landmarks.[34] The statue was paid for by contributions from Rizzo's family, friends, supporters, and admirers. Rizzo's detractors have said the statue is a reminder of an era of police brutality.[35] A mural in honor of Rizzo is located at 9th Street and Montrose Street in the Italian Market neighborhood of South Philadelphia.[36] Residents of South Rosewood Street, where Rizzo spent a portion of his childhood, have informally renamed the street "Rizzo Street".[37]

Impact and legacy edit

Rizzo had a tremendous impact on Philadelphia politics. An extremely polarizing figure, Philadelphians either liked him or disliked him, and that broke down along racial lines. Even as a Democrat, Rizzo's politics were primarily in the conservative wing of the Democratic party. His political appeal transcended political parties because Rizzo related to the common Philadelphian.[1] Rizzo cared about the neighborhoods of Philadelphia, and gave the people two things they wanted, clean streets and safe streets.[38]

One notable accomplishment of the Rizzo administration was the construction of the Center City Commuter Connection, a commuter rail tunnel proposed by Rizzo to connect Suburban Station to Market East Station. Derided at the time as a boondoggle, the tunnel connected the commuter rail lines of the former Pennsylvania Railroad to the commuter rail lines of the former Reading Railroad, increasing transit efficiency.[39] Rizzo expanded Philadelphia International Airport and oversaw the development of downtown restaurants and hotels.[1] Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham, who was head of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority during Rizzo's administrations said, "He was as forward-thinking as anybody on urban revitalization."[31]


See also edit

External links edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Tom Waring (2001-07-18). "Remembering Mayor Rizzo, the lost legend". Northeast Times. Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  2. ^ Paolantonio, Sal (2003). Rizzo: The Last Big Man In Big City America. Philadelphia, PA: Camino Books. p. 24. ISBN 0-940159-27-9. {{cite book}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ Paolantonio, Sal (2003). Rizzo: The Last Big Man In Big City America. Philadelphia, PA: Camino Books. p. 25. ISBN 0-940159-27-9. {{cite book}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ a b Paolantonio, Sal (2003). Rizzo: The Last Big Man In Big City America. Philadelphia, PA: Camino Books. p. 31. ISBN 0-940159-27-9.
  5. ^ George Anastasia. "$3 million seized in gambling probe". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2006-05-19.
  6. ^ Paolantonio, Sal (2003). Rizzo: The Last Big Man In Big City America. Philadelphia, PA: Camino Books. pp. 46–47. ISBN 0-940159-27-9.
  7. ^ Harry, Margot (1987). "Attention, MOVE! This is America!". Chicago, IL: Banner Press. p. 93. ISBN 0-916650-31-6.
  8. ^ a b Harry, Margot (1987). "Attention, MOVE! This is America!". Chicago, IL: Banner Press. p. 94. ISBN 0-916650-31-6.
  9. ^ Paolantonio, Sal (2003). Rizzo: The Last Big Man In Big City America. Philadelphia, PA: Camino Books. p. 84. ISBN 0-940159-27-9.
  10. ^ a b c d "The Next Mayor". Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  11. ^ a b Paolantonio, Sal (2003). Rizzo: The Last Big Man In Big City America. Philadelphia, PA: Camino Books. p. 87. ISBN 0-940159-27-9.
  12. ^ Paolantonio, Sal (2003). Rizzo: The Last Big Man In Big City America. Philadelphia, PA: Camino Books. p. 88. ISBN 0-940159-27-9.
  13. ^ Paolantonio, Sal (2003). Rizzo: The Last Big Man In Big City America. Philadelphia, PA: Camino Books. p. 89. ISBN 0-940159-27-9.
  14. ^ a b c Paolantonio, Sal (2003). Rizzo: The Last Big Man In Big City America. Philadelphia, PA: Camino Books. p. 92. ISBN 0-940159-27-9.
  15. ^ Tom Bishop. "US court upholds nine-year solitary confinement of Philadelphia man". World Socialist Web Site. Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  16. ^ a b c d Paolantonio, Sal (2003). Rizzo: The Last Big Man In Big City America. Philadelphia, PA: Camino Books. p. 100. ISBN 0-940159-27-9.
  17. ^ Paolantonio, Sal (2003). Rizzo: The Last Big Man In Big City America. Philadelphia, PA: Camino Books. p. 101. ISBN 0-940159-27-9.
  18. ^ Deborah Bolling. "He's Seen It All". Philadelphia City Paper. Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  19. ^ Paolantonio, Sal (2003). Rizzo: The Last Big Man In Big City America. Philadelphia, PA: Camino Books. p. 102. ISBN 0-940159-27-9.
  20. ^ "Alumni: Obituaries UPenn 1934". University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  21. ^ a b "Frank Rizzo-1916-1991 Philly Mayor". AfriGeneas States Research Forum. Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  22. ^ Robert Hager. "Vanderbilt Television News Archive: Rizzo / Lie Detector Test (NBC)". NBC. Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  23. ^ a b c d e f Andrea Mitchell. "Me and Frank". Philadelphia Weekly. Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  24. ^ "The Daily Bleed". Recollection Used Books. Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  25. ^ "Plot Summary for The Thin Blue Lie (2000) (TV)". Internet Movie Database Inc. Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  26. ^ Mike Pence. "Gulf Refinery Disaster August 17, 1975". Phillyfirenews.com. Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  27. ^ a b Paolantonio, Sal (2003). Rizzo: The Last Big Man In Big City America. Philadelphia, PA: Camino Books. p. 191. ISBN 0-940159-27-9. {{cite book}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  28. ^ Paolantonio, Sal (2003). Rizzo: The Last Big Man In Big City America. Philadelphia, PA: Camino Books. p. 8. ISBN 0-940159-27-9.
  29. ^ "Philly Cops: A History of Brutality in Blue". Revolutionary Worker Online. Retrieved 2006-05-13.
  30. ^ Paolantonio, Sal (2003). Rizzo: The Last Big Man In Big City America. Philadelphia, PA: Camino Books. p. 331. ISBN 0-940159-27-9.
  31. ^ a b Edward J. Vassallo. "Friends, family gather to commemorate the anniversary of Rizzo's passing". News Gleaner. Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  32. ^ Kane, Larry (2000). Larry Kane's Philadelphia. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press. p. 126. ISBN 1-56639-806-1.
  33. ^ Paolantonio, Sal (2003). Rizzo: The Last Big Man In Big City America. Philadelphia, PA: Camino Books. p. 370. ISBN 0-940159-27-9.
  34. ^ Zenos Frudakis. "Sculptures - Frank Rizzo". Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  35. ^ "City Life - Biggest Waste of Bronze". Philadelphia City Paper. Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  36. ^ "Philadelphia Murals - Frank Rizzo". Retrieved 2006-05-01.
  37. ^ Marconi and Stella Maris. "The place where you live". South Philly Review.
  38. ^ Kane, Larry (2000). Larry Kane's Philadelphia. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press. p. 131. ISBN 1-56639-806-1.
  39. ^ Kane, Larry (2000). Larry Kane's Philadelphia. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press. p. 13. ISBN 1-56639-806-1.
Preceded by Mayor of Philadelphia
1972–1980 		Succeeded by

<!--Categories--> [[Category:1920 births|Rizzo, Frank]] [[Category:1991 deaths|Rizzo, Frank]] [[Category:American police chiefs|Rizzo, Frank]] [[Category:American politicians|Rizzo, Frank]] [[Category:Italian American politicians]] [[Category:Mayors of Philadelphia|Rizzo, Frank]] [[Category:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Philadelphia Police Department]] [[Category:Roman Catholics]]

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