Al D'Amato

After staying separately for 13 long years, D’Amato and Penelope finally got divorced in 1995.

The year 1995, also saw the release of D’Amato’s book ‘Power, Pasta and Politics’ based on the accounts of his trysts in the political world, was released.

D’Amato was born in a catholic family in Brooklyn city on August 1, 1937. He then grew up in the small village of Island Park, Long Island. The lad pursued his primary education at the ‘Chaminade High School’.

After high school, he moved to the ‘Syracuse University School of Business Administration’, and was conferred upon a degree from the university in 1959.

He later studied law at the prestigious ‘Syracuse University College of Law’, and graduated in 1961. He was a member of the ‘Alpha Chi Rho’ brotherhood during his tenure at the college. He was avowed into the ‘New York Bar Association’ the very next year.

Starting out as a Public administrator in the Nassau County, New York, he managed the assets of deceased residents who didn’t leave behind a will. He held the position from 1965 to 1968.

In 1969, he was elected as the tax assessor for the town of Hempstead, New York. He stepped down from this role after two years.

From 1971 to 1977 he held the office as the Town Supervisor in Hempstead. In 1977, he was also elected as the presiding supervisor to oversee the town board meetings.

During the period 1977-80, he was appointed as the Vice- Chairman of the ‘Nassau County Board of Supervisors’.

Despite being a lesser known contender in the primary elections of the ‘Republican Party’ held in the year 1980, D’Amato defeated Senator Jacob Javits by conceding 56% of the total votes. The general elections saw a stiff competition between democratic candidates Javits and Congresswoman Elizabeth Holtzman, which resulted in a divided vote bank. As a result D’Amato won the general elections through the plurality vote by a 1% margin.

This three time US senator has always been a crusader for the causes of poor and middle class families. During his tenure, he ensured the constituent services were delivered and even listened to the woes of individual citizens. Such was his dedication to his subjects that he would personally guarantee that things get done.