Thomas E. Mulligan papers,
- Author:
- Mulligan, Thomas E., 1918-1985.
- Call Number:
- MSS APAP-090 local
- Abstract:
- Direct correspondence, between Mr. Mulligan and others and also third-party correspondence, between other persons about Mulligan, dated between 1946 and 1971; campaign promotion materials, including scripts of radio programs, political advertisements, leaflets, buttons and photos, which represent a large portion of the papers but are undated; newspaper clippings about Mulligan dating from 1952 to 1967; various subject files composed mainly of investigations conducted by Mulligan into city corruption. The subject files contain personal memorabilia, candidate lists, Albany Public School Citizens Committee information, Salvation Army promotional materials, information on the Republican Committee, grievances against city agencies, Pine Bush Land Grab Story, sales tax delinquency, snow removal contract deals, Contains:Albany Housing Authority, and Andrew M. Pickney Resignation, 1972-1973.
- Historical Note:
- Thomas "Ed" Mulligan, Jr. was an Albany Republican who made two unsuccessful attempts to become elected to political office. He hoped to eventually overthrow the reigning O'Connell/ Corning Democratic Political Machine. In his first race, in 1953, he ran for Mayor of Albany against the long-standing Democratic favorite Erastus Corning and surprised the city with a powerful campaign that drew more votes than any previous Republican candidate running for that position against Corning. Born on March 6, 1918, in Albany, New York, Mulligan attended St. Theresa's Parochial School, Christian Brothers Academy and Siena College. Prior to entering the United States Air Force in 1940, Mulligan worked for radio stations WOKO and WABY and as a staff reporter for the Knickerbocker News. During World War II, he served as a B-17 bomber pilot until he was shot down and taken prisoner by Germany in 1943. In 1951, Mulligan served as Chair of the Publicity Committee for the Salvation Army Drive. In 1952, he founded the Albany County Eisenhower Committee and was appointed to the New York State Merit Award Board and the New York State Personnel Relations Board by Gov. Thomas E. Dewey. When nominated by the Republican Party to run for Mayor in 1953, Mulligan was employed as a publicity agent for the New York Department of State. He resigned from this position in order to campaign on July 30, 1953, the day his nomination was announced. He lost the race to Mayor Corning by over thirty-four thousand votes. Mulligan returned to his state publicity job until Edward S. Conway fired him.
- Physical Description:
- 1.0 cu. ft
- Access Terms:
- Access to the collection is unrestricted.
- Notes:
- Part of the Archives of Public Affairs and Policy Collection. local
- Subjects:
- Elections New York (State) Albany, Political parties New York (State) Albany, Elections, Political parties, and Politics and government
- Genres/Forms:
- Clippings (information artifacts) aat, Correspondence. aat, Speeches. aat, and Photographs. aat
- Names:
- Mulligan, Thomas E., 1918-1985, Conway, Edward S, Corning, Erastus, 1909-1983, Pickney, Andrew A, and Corning, Erastus, 1909-1983
- Corporate Names:
- Albany Housing Authority, Republican Party (N.Y.), Albany Housing Authority, and Republican Party (N.Y.)
- Geographic Terms:
- Albany (N.Y.) Politics and government, Albany Pine Bush Preserve (Albany, N.Y.), New York (State) Albany, and New York (State) Albany Albany Pine Bush Preserve
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