Frank Hogan

Frank Smithwick Hogan
District Attorney of New York County
In office 1942–1974
Preceded by	Thomas E. Dewey
Succeeded by	Richard H. Kuh
Constituency	New York County, New York
Personal details
Born	January 17, 1902 Waterbury, Connecticut
Died	April 2, 1974 (aged 72) New York City, New York
Alma mater	Columbia College, Columbia University, 1924 Columbia Law School, 1928

Frank Smithwick Hogan (January 17, 1902 – April 2, 1974) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. Dubbed "Mr. Integrity" due to his perceived honesty and incorruptibility, he was D.A. of New York County for more than 30 years.

Life and career

Hogan was born in Waterbury, New Haven County, Connecticut. He studied at Columbia College, Columbia University as an undergraduate and subsequently graduated from Columbia Law School. Hogan was a member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity at Columbia.^[1] Prior to his 1941 election, Hogan served as Administrative Assistant District Attorney under his predecessor, Thomas E. Dewey. During his time in the New York County District Attorney's Office, Hogan conducted many high scale widely publicized investigations. Corruption and racketeering were high on his list. Concerning itself with both innocence and guilt, street crime and high-profile cases, the Hogan administration molded itself a national reputation based on resourcefulness, objectivity, and honesty.

Through the Knapp Commission, Hogan took on police corruption. In the late 1950s his office was involved with investigating the rigging of television quiz programs, as well as the regulation of 'fixed' college basketball games. He prosecuted the well known Lenny Bruce obscenity case. Another high-profile case involved the exoneration of George Whitmore, Jr. in 1963 after his confession regarding the murder of two women in their upper east side Manhattan apartment was found to be false.

In 1958, he ran on the Democratic and Liberal tickets for U.S. Senator from New York but was defeated by Republican Kenneth B. Keating.

Hogan served on the Board of Trustees of Columbia University from 1959 until his death in 1974.^[2]

After suffering a stroke on August 10, 1973, Hogan resigned on December 26. He died of cancer at St. Luke's Hospital in Manhattan on April 2, 1974.^[3]

Legacy

The street address of the main office of the New York County District Attorney bears the name, called One Hogan Place in his honor. Hogan Hall, a dormitory at Columbia University, is also named for him.

References

1. Collins, Glenn (10 April 1981). "Columbia fraternities revive a rite of Spring". New York Times. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
2. McDaniel, Shawn (1 November 1977). "Crowd crams Ferris Booth for Hogan Hall dedication". Columbia Daily Spectator (vCIIn34). Retrieved 14 February 2016.
3. "Hogan, District Attorney 32 Years, Dies". New York Times. April 3, 1974. Retrieved 2013-11-29. Frank S. Hogan, the shy, courteous lawyer who became a legend in 32 years as Manhattan's District Attorney, died yesterday at St. Luke's Hospital. Mr. Hogan was 72 years old and lived at 404 Riverside Drive.

External links

Frank Hogan at Find a Grave

Further reading

• Tammany Picks Dewey Aide; Action Blow to La Guardia; Selection of Hogan for Prosecutor Upsets Fusion Movement -- Dr. Nathan Ratnoff Is Named for Borough Head in NYT on August 2, 1941 (subscription required)
• Hogan Accepts Tammany's Bid; May Win Fusion; Dewey's Chief of Staff Says He Made No Commitments -- Wants Job Out of Politics Republicans Weigh Move Lockwood, Prosecutor's Choice, Is Believed Reluctant to Oppose Close Friend Hogan Accepts; May Win Fusion in NYT on August 3, 1941 (subscription required)
• Hogan Candidacy a Political 'Bomb'; New District Attorney Was Little Known in City Until Tammany Backed Him in NYT on November 5, 1941 (subscription required)
• DANY Website
• Hogan Has Had a Stroke And Lung-Tumor Surgery; Hogan Had Stroke; Tumor Removed in NYT on September 18, 1973 (subscription required)
• Hogan Quits After Serving For 32 Years as Prosecutor; Close to Tears, Botein Reads Statement by District Attorney Citing Ill Health Dewey Successor Widely Praised Hogan Is Quitting, Citing His Health Scotti Mentioned in NYT on December 27, 1973 (subscription required)