William Sulzer

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42nd Governor of New York
William Sulzer
Image:William Sulzer.jpg
In office January 1 1913 – October 17 1913
Lieutenant(s)	Martin H. Glynn
Preceded by	John Alden Dix
Succeeded by	Martin H. Glynn
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 11th and 10th district
In office March 4 1895 – December 31 1912
Preceded by	Amos J. Cummings
Succeeded by	Herman A. Metz

Born	March 18 1863(1863-03-18) Elizabeth, New Jersey
Died	November 6 1941 (aged 78) New York City
Political party	Democratic

William Sulzer (March 18 1863 – November 6 1941) was a Governor of New York during the year 1913, as well as an assemblyman for and long-serving congressman from the same state. He is chiefly remembered as one of the few American governors to have been impeached and removed from office. His brother Charles August Sulzer served in congress as a delegate from the Territory of Alaska.

1 Early life and political career
2 Impeachment
3 Later life and political career
4 Sources

[edit] Early life and political career

Sulzer was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He attended the public schools and Columbia College, New York City, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1884 and commenced practice in New York City. He was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1889-1894; serving as speaker in 1893. He was also as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1892, 1896, 1900, 1904, 1908, and 1912. Sulzer was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-fourth United States Congress and served as a U.S. Representative from New York in the eight succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1895, to December 31, 1912. In the Sixty-second Congress he chaired the Committee on Foreign Affairs. He resigned from Congress effective December 31, 1912, having been elected Governor of New York for the term commencing January 1, 1913.

[edit] Impeachment

A few months into his term, Sulzer was alleged to have diverted campaign contributions to his own use and to have lied. Historians still debate whether the charges were well-grounded, or baseless and politically driven. Sulzer had enjoyed Tammany Hall support as the Democratic candidate for Governor in 1912, but he quickly drew the ire of the powerful leader of that New York City organization, Charles F. Murphy, by refusing to accept party instructions on appointments, by seeking primary elections rather than nominating by convention, and other actions. One of the appointments that Sulzer refused to make was that of James E. Gaffney, owner of the 1914 "Miracle" Braves, to state commissioner of highways. ^[1]Sulzer and many historians later challenged that the impeachment charges were due to political infighting rather than his real or perceived infractions.

On August 13, 1913, the New York Assembly voted to impeach Governor Sulzer, by a vote of 79 to 45. Sulzer was served with a summons to appear before the State Senate for a trial, and Lieutenant Governor Martin H. Glynn was empowered to act in his place pending the outcome of the Senate trial. However, Sulzer maintained that the proceedings against him were unconstitutional and refused to vacate his office. ^[2]. Both Sulzer and Glynn claimed to be Governor. Lt.Gov. Glynn began signing documents as "Acting Governor" beginning on August 21 ^[3].

The trial of Governor William Sulzer before the State Senate began in in Albany on September 18. The New York Senate convicted Sulzer on three of the Articles of Impeachment on the afternoon of October 16, finding him guilty of filing a false report with the Secretary of State concerning his campaign contributions, committing perjury, and advising another person to commit perjury before an Assembly committee ^[4]. The following day, the Senate voted on a resolution to remove Sulzer from office. On October 17, 1913, Sulzer was removed by the same margin, a vote of 43-12; Martin H. Glynn became the Governor Of New York. ^[5]

According to the hagiographic 1914 book, The Boss or the Governor, by Samuel Bell Thomas, a crowd of 10,000 gathered outside the Executive Mansion on the night Governor Sulzer left Albany, leading to an exchange as follows:

Mr. Sulzer: "My friends, this is a stormy night. It is certainly very good of you to come here to bid Mrs. Sulzer and me good-bye."

A voice from the crowd: "You will come back, Bill, next year."

Mr. Sulzer: "You know why we are going away."

A voice: "Because you were too honest."

Mr. Sulzer: "I impeach the criminal conspirators, these looters and grafters, for stealing the taxpayers' money. That is what I never did."

From the crowd: Cheers.

Mr. Sulzer: "Yes my friends, I know that the court of public opinion before long will reverse the judgement of Murphy's 'court of infamy.'"

From the crowd: Cheers.

Mr. Sulzer: "Posterity will do me justice. Time sets all things right. I shall be patient."

From the crowd: Cheers.

Some in Albany maintain that he was impeached unfairly, and there have been several pieces of legislation introduced in the New York State Assembly and Senate to have his political record repaired. None have been successful to date. William Sulzer's official portrait is the only one of a Governor of New York that does not hang in the "Hall of Governors," the main hallway leading to the Executive Chamber, located within the New York State Capitol in Albany.

[edit] Later life and political career

Sulzer was able to recover somewhat politically. He was subsequently elected as an independent to the New York State Assembly on November 4, 1913, just a month later. He stood as an independent candidate for Governor in 1914, and in 1916 declined the nomination for President of the United States by the American Party.

He engaged in the practice of law in New York City until his death there November 6, 1941, aged 78. Interment was in Evergreen Cemetery in Hillside, New Jersey.