Vito Marcantonio

Vito Marcantonio
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 18th district
In office January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1951
Preceded by	Martin J. Kennedy
Succeeded by	James G. Donovan
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 20th district
In office January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1937
Preceded by	James J. Lanzetta
Succeeded by	James J. Lanzetta
In office January 3, 1939 – January 3, 1945
Preceded by	James J. Lanzetta
Succeeded by	Sol Bloom
Personal details
Born	Vito Anthony Marcantonio December 10, 1902 New York, New York
Died	August 9, 1954 (age 51) New York, New York
Nationality	American
Political party	American Labor Republican
Spouse(s)	Miriam A. Sanders (m. 1925)
Alma mater	New York University
Religion	Roman Catholic

Vito Anthony Marcantonio (December 10, 1902 – August 9, 1954) was an Italian-American lawyer and democratic socialist politician. Originally a member of the Republican Party and a supporter of Fiorello LaGuardia, he switched to the American Labor Party. Later in his life, as politics in the USA became more right-wing and neo-liberal, Marcantonio grew to seem more towards the far left of the American political spectrum, and was nationally known for his support from Communists in the 1940s.

Representing East Harlem, New York City, which had many ethnic Italians and Puerto Ricans, Marcantonio was extremely popular. He spoke both Spanish and Italian. He was elected to numerous terms in the House of Representatives from the 1930s until his defeat in the 1950 election.

An Italian American, the son of an American-born father with origins in the region of present-day Basilicata and an Italian-born mother, Marcantonio was born in the impoverished Italian Harlem ghetto of East Harlem, New York City. He attended the public schools there, and eventually graduated from New York University with a law degree.

Marcatonio began practicing law. From 1930 to 1931, he worked as an assistant United States attorney.

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