Charles Poletti

Charles Poletti
US Army Signal Corps · Public domain · source
Name	Charles Poletti
Order	46th
Office	Governor of New York
Term start	December 3, 1942
Term end	December 31, 1942
Lieutenant	Vacant
Predecessor	Herbert H. Lehman
Successor	Thomas E. Dewey
Office1	37th Lieutenant Governor of New York
Governor1	Herbert H. Lehman
Term start1	January 1, 1939
Term end1	December 3, 1942
Predecessor1	M. William Bray
Successor1	Joe R. Hanley
Birth date	02 July 1903
Birth place	Barre, Vermont, U.S.
Death date	08 August 2002
Death place	New York City, U.S.
Party	Democratic
Spouse	Catherine B. McCarthy, 1934, 2002
Education	Harvard University (BA, JD)
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Army
Serviceyears	1943–1945
Rank	Colonel
Unit	Allied Military Government
Battles	World War II

Charles Poletti served as the 46th governor of New York for the shortest term in the state's history, holding office for just 29 days in December 1942. A member of the Democratic Party, he had previously been the 37th Lieutenant Governor of New York under Governor Herbert H. Lehman. Following his brief governorship, he played a significant role in the Allied Military Government for Occupied Territories during World War II and later had a distinguished career in law and international business.

Early life and education

He was born in Barre, Vermont, to Italian immigrant parents. After graduating from Barre City Elementary and Middle School, he attended Harvard University, where he earned both his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees. At Harvard Law School, he served as an editor of the Harvard Law Review and demonstrated early academic promise. His education provided a foundation for his future careers in state government and international affairs.

Political career

His initial foray into politics was as counsel to the New York State Power Authority in the early 1930s. He first gained significant political appointment in 1937 when Governor Lehman named him to the New York Supreme Court. In the 1938 New York state election, he was elected Lieutenant Governor of New York on a ticket with Lehman, taking office in 1939. During his tenure, he also chaired the New York State Temporary Commission on the Condition of the Urban Colored Population, addressing issues of racial inequality.

Governorship of New York

He ascended to the governorship on December 3, 1942, following Lehman's resignation to accept a position with the United States Department of State during the war. His 29-day administration was primarily focused on continuity during the wartime transition. Key actions included granting clemency to several individuals and overseeing the routine operations of the New York State government. He did not seek election in his own right and was succeeded on January 1, 1943, by the newly elected Thomas E. Dewey.

World War II service

Immediately after leaving the governorship, he joined the United States Army as a colonel. Assigned to the Allied Military Government for Occupied Territories (AMGOT), he served with distinction in Sicily and mainland Italy. Following the Liberation of Rome, he was appointed the senior civil affairs officer for the Lombardy region. Later, he was transferred to the Pacific Theater, where he served on the staff of General Douglas MacArthur in the Philippines and Japan.

Later life and death

After the war, he returned to the practice of law in New York City with the firm Poletti Freidin Prashker Feldman & Gartner. He also held prominent positions in the corporate world, serving as vice president for international relations at the Fifth Avenue Coach Company and later as a senior executive with the Commonwealth Associates engineering firm. He remained active in civic affairs, including roles with the American Red Cross and the New York City Board of Higher Education. He died in New York City in 2002 and was interred at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York. Category:1903 births Category:2002 deaths Category:Governors of New York (state) Category:Lieutenant Governors of New York (state)