John A. Volpe | |
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Volpe as Transportation Secretary
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Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration | |
In office 1956–1957 |
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President | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
Preceded by | Charles Dwight (Cap) Curtiss |
Succeeded by | Bertram Dalley Tallamy |
2nd United States Secretary of Transportation | |
In office January 22, 1969 – February 2, 1973 |
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President | Richard M. Nixon |
Preceded by | Alan S. Boyd |
Succeeded by | Claude S. Brinegar |
61st and 63rd Governor of Massachusetts | |
In office January 5, 1961 – January 3, 1963 |
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Lieutenant | Edward F. McLaughlin, Jr. |
Preceded by | Foster Furcolo |
Succeeded by | Endicott Peabody |
In office January 7, 1965 – January 22, 1969 |
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Lieutenant |
Elliot Richardson Francis W. Sargent |
Preceded by | Endicott Peabody |
Succeeded by | Francis W. Sargent |
United States Ambassador to Italy | |
In office March 6, 1973 – January 24, 1977 |
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President |
Richard Nixon Gerald Ford Jimmy Carter |
Preceded by | Graham Martin |
Succeeded by | Richard N. Gardner |
Personal details | |
Born |
John Anthony Volpe December 8, 1908 Wakefield, Massachusetts, United States |
Died | November 11, 1994 Nahant, Massachusetts, United States |
(aged 85)
Resting place | Forest Glade Cemetery, Wakefield, Massachusetts, United States |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Jennie Volpe |
Children | John Anthony Volpe Jr. Loretta Jean Volpe Rotondi |
Residence | Wakefield, Massachusetts, United States |
Alma mater | Wentworth Institute of Technology |
Profession | Politician |
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/branch | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1942–1946 |
Unit | Seabees Instructor |
John Anthony Volpe (/ˈvoʊlpi/; December 8, 1908 – November 11, 1994) was an American politician and member of the Republican Party who served as the 61st and 63rd Governor of Massachusetts from 1961 to 1963 and 1965 to 1969, as the United States Secretary of Transportation from 1969 to 1973 and as the United States Ambassador to Italy from 1973 to 1977.
Volpe was born on December 8, 1908 in Wakefield, Massachusetts. He was the son of Italian immigrants Vito and Filomena (Benedetto), who had come from Abruzzo to Boston's North End on the SS Canopic in 1905; his father was in the construction business.
Volpe attended the Wentworth Institute (later known as the Wentworth Institute of Technology) in Boston where he majored in architectural construction and entered the construction business, building his own firm in 1930. On June 18, 1934, Volpe married the former Giovaninna Benedetto, known as Jennie, with whom he had two children, John Anthony, Jr. and Loretta Jean Volpe Rotondi.
During World War II, he volunteered to serve stateside as a United States Navy Seabees training officer.