Foglietta was born on December 3, 1928 in a house on 7th and Clymer Streets in South Philadelphia, and graduated from South Catholic High School in the city. Foglietta's father, Michael, was a Republican committeeman, ward leader and clerk of quarter sessions who was ultimately elected to the Philadelphia City Council in 1947. He received his bachelor's degree from Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia in 1949, and his Juris Doctor from the Temple Universitylaw school in 1952. After graduating from law school, he entered private practice.
In 1955, Foglietta ran for Philadelphia City Council. Foglietta won, becoming the youngest person ever elected to that body. Foglietta served on the Council for 20 years. In 1975, he ran for mayor of Philadelphia, coming in third place to Frank Rizzo. Following his defeat, Foglietta became a regional director for the U.S. Department of Labor.
Foglietta's official portrait in the 102nd Congress, 1991.
Congressional career
In the 1980 elections, Foglietta won in Pennsylvania's 1st Congressional District, running as an independent. Foglietta defeated Congressman Michael "Ozzie" Myers who had been convicted in the Abscam bribery scandal. Following his election, Foglietta switched parties and became a Democrat, stating "I belonged to the progressive faction of the Republican Party — a faction that is no longer in existence." In Congress, Foglietta concentrated his energies on foreign affairs and the preservation of the Philadelphia Navy Yard, which was slated for closure by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission. In 1985 a melee broke out at Seoul Airport when Foglietta accompanied South Korean dissident Kim Dae Jung back home.[2] The two formed a lifelong friendship and in 1999, Foglietta received a South Korean human rights award for supporting democracy there, while Kim received Philadelphia's Liberty Medal. Foglietta later served on the House Appropriations Committee where he worked to secure federal funding for the restoration of various Philadelphia historic Sites including Independence Hall and Washington Square. Foglietta was also well known for founding the Congressional Urban Caucus, a legislative service organization dedicated to promoting urban policy issues in the House.[3]
On election day in 1984, Foglietta successfully ran down a purse-snatcher after witnessing two boys rob an 84-year-old woman.[4]
As Ambassador to Italy
Foglietta served in the House until 1997, when he resigned and was appointed ambassador to Italy by PresidentBill Clinton. Upon his nomination, the Philadelphia Daily News published an editorial that stated: "In 68 years, Thomas Michael Foglietta will have made it from a rowhouse at 7th and Clymer to the embassy in Rome on a smile and a trustworthy handshake. Which, as it turns out, is an excellent way to travel." The 1998 Cavalese cable car disaster happened during his tenure in Rome; in the accident, a U.S. military aircraft flew too low, severing a gondola cable, resulting in the deaths of 20 skiers. Foglietta visited the accident site and knelt in prayer, offering apologies on behalf of the United States. An editorial in La Repubblica, an Italian newspaper remarked: "Yesterday it was up to Ambassador Thomas Foglietta to do something we Italians do less and less. Foglietta expressed his apologies on behalf of President Clinton and the American people for that terrible tragedy and kneeled down in prayer for the poor victims."
Foglietta died in 2004 following complications from surgery.[5]
^Fifield, Adam (November 21, 2004). "Foglietta remembered as a tireless advocate At a Funeral Mass". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
^Foglietta says melee at airport in South Korea unprovoked
^Foglietta, Tom. . Archived from the original on 1997-08-06.
thomas, foglietta, thomas, michael, foglietta, december, 1928, november, 2004, american, politician, diplomat, represented, pennsylvania, house, representatives, from, 1981, 1997, later, served, united, states, ambassador, italy, from, december, 1997, october,. Thomas Michael Foglietta December 3 1928 November 13 2004 was an American politician and diplomat He represented Pennsylvania in the House of Representatives from 1981 to 1997 and later served as United States Ambassador to Italy from December 1997 to October 2001 Tom FogliettaUnited States Ambassador to ItalyIn office December 11 1997 October 1 2001PresidentBill ClintonGeorge W BushPreceded byReginald BartholomewSucceeded byMel SemblerMember of the U S House of Representatives from Pennsylvania s 1st districtIn office January 3 1981 November 11 1997Preceded byOzzie MyersSucceeded byBob BradyMember of the Philadelphia City Council from the At Large DistrictIn office January 2 1956 January 5 1976Preceded bySeat Created 1 Succeeded byEthel D AllenPersonal detailsBornDecember 3 1928Philadelphia Pennsylvania U S DiedNovember 13 2004 2004 11 13 aged 75 Philadelphia Pennsylvania U S Resting placeHoly Cross Cemetery Yeadon PennsylvaniaPolitical partyDemocraticOther politicalaffiliationsRepublican until 1980 Alma materSaint Joseph s University Contents 1 Biography and early career 2 Congressional career 3 As Ambassador to Italy 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksBiography and early career EditFoglietta was born on December 3 1928 in a house on 7th and Clymer Streets in South Philadelphia and graduated from South Catholic High School in the city Foglietta s father Michael was a Republican committeeman ward leader and clerk of quarter sessions who was ultimately elected to the Philadelphia City Council in 1947 He received his bachelor s degree from Saint Joseph s University in Philadelphia in 1949 and his Juris Doctor from the Temple University law school in 1952 After graduating from law school he entered private practice In 1955 Foglietta ran for Philadelphia City Council Foglietta won becoming the youngest person ever elected to that body Foglietta served on the Council for 20 years In 1975 he ran for mayor of Philadelphia coming in third place to Frank Rizzo Following his defeat Foglietta became a regional director for the U S Department of Labor Foglietta s official portrait in the 102nd Congress 1991 Congressional career EditIn the 1980 elections Foglietta won in Pennsylvania s 1st Congressional District running as an independent Foglietta defeated Congressman Michael Ozzie Myers who had been convicted in the Abscam bribery scandal Following his election Foglietta switched parties and became a Democrat stating I belonged to the progressive faction of the Republican Party a faction that is no longer in existence In Congress Foglietta concentrated his energies on foreign affairs and the preservation of the Philadelphia Navy Yard which was slated for closure by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission In 1985 a melee broke out at Seoul Airport when Foglietta accompanied South Korean dissident Kim Dae Jung back home 2 The two formed a lifelong friendship and in 1999 Foglietta received a South Korean human rights award for supporting democracy there while Kim received Philadelphia s Liberty Medal Foglietta later served on the House Appropriations Committee where he worked to secure federal funding for the restoration of various Philadelphia historic Sites including Independence Hall and Washington Square Foglietta was also well known for founding the Congressional Urban Caucus a legislative service organization dedicated to promoting urban policy issues in the House 3 On election day in 1984 Foglietta successfully ran down a purse snatcher after witnessing two boys rob an 84 year old woman 4 As Ambassador to Italy EditFoglietta served in the House until 1997 when he resigned and was appointed ambassador to Italy by President Bill Clinton Upon his nomination the Philadelphia Daily News published an editorial that stated In 68 years Thomas Michael Foglietta will have made it from a rowhouse at 7th and Clymer to the embassy in Rome on a smile and a trustworthy handshake Which as it turns out is an excellent way to travel The 1998 Cavalese cable car disaster happened during his tenure in Rome in the accident a U S military aircraft flew too low severing a gondola cable resulting in the deaths of 20 skiers Foglietta visited the accident site and knelt in prayer offering apologies on behalf of the United States An editorial in La Repubblica an Italian newspaper remarked Yesterday it was up to Ambassador Thomas Foglietta to do something we Italians do less and less Foglietta expressed his apologies on behalf of President Clinton and the American people for that terrible tragedy and kneeled down in prayer for the poor victims Foglietta died in 2004 following complications from surgery 5 See also Edit Biography portal Philadelphia portal Politics portalHistory of the Italian Americans in PhiladelphiaReferences Edit Ambassador Thomas M Foglietta www usembassy it United States Department of State Archived from the original on 2001 01 28 Meet Tom Foglietta His Bio www house gov United States House of Representatives Archived from the original on June 14 1997 Thomas M Foglietta D CQ s Politics in America THE 104th CONGRESS Congressional Quarterly 1996 Archived from the original on June 14 1997 Fifield Adam November 21 2004 Foglietta remembered as a tireless advocate At a Funeral Mass The Philadelphia Inquirer Retrieved February 5 2012 Foglietta says melee at airport in South Korea unprovoked Foglietta Tom Congressional Urban Caucus Home Page Archived from the original on 1997 08 06 Politician races after suspect Former Congressman Thomas Foglietta diesExternal links Edit Media related to Thomas Foglietta at Wikimedia Commons Congressman Tom Fogiletta at the Wayback Machine archived April 28 1997 official congressional website archived United States Congress Thomas M Foglietta id F000235 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Thomas M Foglietta at Find a Grave The Political Graveyard Appearances on C SPANDiplomatic postsPreceded byReginald Bartholomew United States Ambassador to Italy1997 2001 Succeeded byMel SemblerU S House of RepresentativesPreceded byOzzie Myers Member of the U S House of Representatives from Pennsylvania s 1st congressional district1981 1997 Succeeded byBob BradyPhiladelphia City CouncilPreceded bySeat Created Member of the Philadelphia City Council for the At Large District1956 1976 Succeeded byEthel D Allen Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas M Foglietta amp oldid 1131537034, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
