Martin C. Ansorge
Encyclopedia
Martin Charles Ansorge was a United States Representative from New York
.
, Steuben County
, New York
on January 1, 1882 to Mark Perry Ansorge and Jennie Bach. He attended the public schools and the College of the City of New York
. He graduated from Columbia College of Columbia University
in 1903 and from the Columbia Law School
in 1906. It is rumored that Ansorge was also a founding member of the Columbia University Bowling Team.
Ansorge was admitted to the bar in 1906 and commenced practice in New York City
. He then pursued a political career which resulted in his election to the 67th United States Congress
. After his political career, he resumed his activity as a lawyer.
Ansorge died in New York City, February 4, 1967 and was interred in Temple Israel Cemetery, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York
.
candidate for election to Congress in 1912, 1914, and 1916. In his bid for the 21st Congressional Seat in 1916, Ansorge's campaign slogan was "Feed America First", advocating the necessity of an embargo upon shipment abroad of foodstuffs needed for the consumption of American people, taking a stand on international trade negotiations and import tariffs post WWI. He declined the Republican nomination for Congress in 1918.
During the First World War Ansorge enlisted in the Motor Transport Corps. He was the first chairman of the Triborough Bridge
Committee, position that he held from 1918 to 1921. A magazine once referred to Ansorge as "The father of the Triborough Bridge
".
Ansorge was elected as a Republican
to the 67th United States Congress
(March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1923). Ansorge unsuccessfully contested the election of Royal H. Weller
to the 68th United States Congress
in 1922, where he was defeated by 345 votes. He fought in court and after decision of Judge Learned Hand
to dismiss an injunction by Weller to prevent the opening of the ballot boxes, obtained a votes recount but, in spite of a plurality of valid ballots recognised to him, Weller retained his seat by 10 votes.
As a Congressman, Ansorge was influential in the passing of the first-ever anti-lynching legislation. His writing of legislation on the matter was eventually included into the ultimately successful Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill
, which prohibited lynching in America. Shortly after Ansorge's much heralded speech on the floor of Congress in support of the controversial Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill
, Butler wrote to Ansorge "You are making a fine and highly patriotic record in the House, and your friends are proud of you". As founder of the Young Republicans at Columbia University, Ansorge was a protoge, close friend, and political ally of then Columbia University President Nicholas Murray Butler. The two remained very close for years, and Ansorge was staff to Butler at the Republican Convention. Ansorge spoke on behalf of Butler at a number of political rallies in New York.
Ansorge was co-author of the original Port Authority
Bill, which he shepherded successfully through Congress. He was an active leader in efforts to develop "the greatest port in the world" connecting New York and New Jersey. He presented the bill to President Calvin Coolidge
to sign into law. The pen stayed in the Ansorge family for some years until it was given to the City Museum of New York.
In great controversy, Ansorge nominated the first African-American to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis in 1922.
Ansorge was unsuccessful candidate for judge of the court of general sessions of New York City in 1924 and unsuccessful candidate for justice of the supreme court of New York in 1927 and in 1928.
The New York Times made mention of Ansorge as a candidate for Mayor of New York City in 1949.
in the Aaron Sapiro
libel lawsuit, which resulted in Ford's apologies and agreement to pay court costs.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Life
Ansorge was born in CorningCorning (city), New York
Corning is a city in Steuben County, New York, United States, on the Chemung River. The population was 10,842 at the 2000 census. It is named for Erastus Corning, an Albany financier and railroad executive who was an investor in the company that developed the community.- Overview :The city of...
, Steuben County
Steuben County, New York
Steuben County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 98,990. Its name is in honor of Baron von Steuben, a German general who fought on the American side in the American Revolutionary War, though it is not pronounced the same...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
on January 1, 1882 to Mark Perry Ansorge and Jennie Bach. He attended the public schools and the College of the City of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
. He graduated from Columbia College of Columbia University
Columbia College of Columbia University
Columbia College is the oldest undergraduate college at Columbia University, situated on the university's main campus in Morningside Heights in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded in 1754 by the Church of England as King's College, receiving a Royal Charter from King George II...
in 1903 and from the Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
in 1906. It is rumored that Ansorge was also a founding member of the Columbia University Bowling Team.
Ansorge was admitted to the bar in 1906 and commenced practice in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He then pursued a political career which resulted in his election to the 67th United States Congress
67th United States Congress
The Sixty-seventh United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1921 to March 4, 1923, during the first two years...
. After his political career, he resumed his activity as a lawyer.
Ansorge died in New York City, February 4, 1967 and was interred in Temple Israel Cemetery, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York
Hastings-on-Hudson, New York
Hastings-on-Hudson is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in the southwest part of the town of Greenburgh. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 7,849. It lies on U.S. Route 9, "Broadway" in Hastings...
.
Political career
Ansorge was the unsuccessful RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidate for election to Congress in 1912, 1914, and 1916. In his bid for the 21st Congressional Seat in 1916, Ansorge's campaign slogan was "Feed America First", advocating the necessity of an embargo upon shipment abroad of foodstuffs needed for the consumption of American people, taking a stand on international trade negotiations and import tariffs post WWI. He declined the Republican nomination for Congress in 1918.
During the First World War Ansorge enlisted in the Motor Transport Corps. He was the first chairman of the Triborough Bridge
Triborough Bridge
The Robert F. Kennedy ' Bridge, formerly known as the Triborough Bridge , is a complex of three separate bridges in New York City, United States...
Committee, position that he held from 1918 to 1921. A magazine once referred to Ansorge as "The father of the Triborough Bridge
Triborough Bridge
The Robert F. Kennedy ' Bridge, formerly known as the Triborough Bridge , is a complex of three separate bridges in New York City, United States...
".
Ansorge was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the 67th United States Congress
67th United States Congress
The Sixty-seventh United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1921 to March 4, 1923, during the first two years...
(March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1923). Ansorge unsuccessfully contested the election of Royal H. Weller
Royal H. Weller
Royal Hurlburt Weller was a United States Representative from New York.Weller was born in New York City on 2 July1881. He attended the public schools and the College of the City of New York and graduated from the New York Law School in 1901...
to the 68th United States Congress
68th United States Congress
The Sixty-eighth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1923 to March 4, 1925, during the last months of...
in 1922, where he was defeated by 345 votes. He fought in court and after decision of Judge Learned Hand
Learned Hand
Billings Learned Hand was a United States judge and judicial philosopher. He served on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and later the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit...
to dismiss an injunction by Weller to prevent the opening of the ballot boxes, obtained a votes recount but, in spite of a plurality of valid ballots recognised to him, Weller retained his seat by 10 votes.
As a Congressman, Ansorge was influential in the passing of the first-ever anti-lynching legislation. His writing of legislation on the matter was eventually included into the ultimately successful Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill
Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill
The Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill, introduced by Representative Leonidas C. Dyer, a Republican from Saint Louis, Missouri, in the US House of Representatives in 1918, was directed at punishing lynchings and mob violence....
, which prohibited lynching in America. Shortly after Ansorge's much heralded speech on the floor of Congress in support of the controversial Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill
Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill
The Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill, introduced by Representative Leonidas C. Dyer, a Republican from Saint Louis, Missouri, in the US House of Representatives in 1918, was directed at punishing lynchings and mob violence....
, Butler wrote to Ansorge "You are making a fine and highly patriotic record in the House, and your friends are proud of you". As founder of the Young Republicans at Columbia University, Ansorge was a protoge, close friend, and political ally of then Columbia University President Nicholas Murray Butler. The two remained very close for years, and Ansorge was staff to Butler at the Republican Convention. Ansorge spoke on behalf of Butler at a number of political rallies in New York.
Ansorge was co-author of the original Port Authority
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bi-state port district, established in 1921 through an interstate compact, that runs most of the regional transportation infrastructure, including the bridges, tunnels, airports, and seaports, within the Port of New York and New Jersey...
Bill, which he shepherded successfully through Congress. He was an active leader in efforts to develop "the greatest port in the world" connecting New York and New Jersey. He presented the bill to President Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge
John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
to sign into law. The pen stayed in the Ansorge family for some years until it was given to the City Museum of New York.
In great controversy, Ansorge nominated the first African-American to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis in 1922.
Ansorge was unsuccessful candidate for judge of the court of general sessions of New York City in 1924 and unsuccessful candidate for justice of the supreme court of New York in 1927 and in 1928.
The New York Times made mention of Ansorge as a candidate for Mayor of New York City in 1949.
Next career
After his political career, Ansorge resumed the practice of law in New York City, was director of United Air Lines from 1934 to 1961, and was engaged in general practice of law. Ansorge represented car manufacturing magnate Henry FordHenry Ford
Henry Ford was an American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, and sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of mass production. His introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and American industry...
in the Aaron Sapiro
Aaron Sapiro
Aaron Leland Sapiro was a Jewish American cooperative activist and lawyer and major leader of the farmers' movement during the 1920s...
libel lawsuit, which resulted in Ford's apologies and agreement to pay court costs.
Sources
Most of this information is found in his memoirs, published by the Columbia University Oral History Project.External links
- Martin C. Ansorge at Find-A-Grave