Bruce F. Caputo

Bruce Faulkner Caputo (born August 7, 1943) is an American lawyer and politician from New York. He is most notable for his service as a member of the New York State Assembly (1973 to 1976) and the United States House of Representatives (1977 to 1979).

Bruce F. Caputo
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 23rd district
In office
January 3, 1977  January 3, 1979
Preceded byPeter A. Peyser
Succeeded byPeter A. Peyser
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 87th district
In office
January 1, 1973  December 31, 1976
Preceded byThomas J. McInerney
Succeeded byThomas J. McInerney
Personal details
Born
Bruce Faulkner Caputo

(1943-08-07) August 7, 1943
New York City, New York
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Bonnie Caputo
EducationHarvard University (BA, MBA)
Georgetown University (JD)

Early life

Caputo was born in New York City on August 7, 1943, the son of Doris (Burke Caputo) and attorney Anthony Caputo.[1] He graduated from Deerfield Academy in 1961, Harvard University (Bachelor of Arts, 1965), and Harvard Business School (Master of Business Administration, 1967).[2] Caputo began his career in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, where the Systems Analysis Unit hired recent business school graduates to work on policy issues.[1] While working at the Defense Department, Caputo attended law school at night.[2] In 1971, he received his J.D. degree from Georgetown University Law Center.[2]

Start of career

Caputo was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1972, representing a district in Yonkers.[2] He was re-elected in 1974, and sat in the 180th and 181st New York State Legislatures.[2] Caputo served on the Assembly Ways and Means, Housing and Insurance committees.

In 1976, Republican Congressman Peter A. Peyser gave up his seat to challenge incumbent U.S. Senator James L. Buckley for the Republican Senate nomination. Caputo ran for the congressional seat and won, defeating Democratic Assemblyman J. Edward Meyer, a former Republican who became a Democrat in 1973. Caputo's district included Yonkers, three towns in lower Westchester and the Woodlawn, Wakefield, Williamsbridge, Edenwald, Eastchester and Baychester sections of the Bronx. Caputo served on the House Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs committee and the Ethics committee.

In 1978, Perry Duryea, the Republican leader of the State Assembly and front runner for the Republican nomination for governor, picked Caputo as his running mate for lieutenant governor.[3] The Republican state convention nominated them in the fall of 1978.[3] Incumbent Governor Hugh L. Carey, a Democrat, and his running mate Mario Cuomo, defeated the Duryea-Caputo ticket in the November general election.[3]

Following the 1978 elections Caputo served out his term in Congress and joined the management consulting firm Booz-Allen Hamilton in its mergers and acquisitions and banking departments.

U.S. Senate campaigns

1980 U.S. Senate race

In 1980, Caputo entered the Republican primary against U.S. Senator Jacob Javits, but withdrew after his main rival on the right, Alfonse D'Amato, secured the nomination of the Conservative party.[4] D'Amato defeated Javits in the Republican primary and won the general election in the fall. In his autobiography, "Power, Politics, and Pasta: The World According to Senator Al D'Amato" (1995), D'Amato bitterly criticized Caputo.

In 1981, President Reagan nominated Caputo as an alternate United States delegate to the United Nations General Assembly. The Senate confirmed the nomination and Caputo began serving in the spring of that year.

1982 U.S. Senate race

Early in 1982, Caputo announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate against incumbent Democrat Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who was seeking a second term in 1982.[5] Considered a young rising star in the Republican Party, Caputo raised money around the country but failed to get the support of key Republican and Conservative Party county leaders.[5] Caputo's early career became the subject of controversy during the campaign when several news sources reported that he had falsely described himself as a Vietnam-era draftee and Army lieutenant.[6] Caputo later corrected the record, but ultimately withdrew from the race.[6] Later that year, Assemblywoman Florence M. Sullivan of Brooklyn won the Republican primary; she was defeated by Moynihan in the general election.[7]

After leaving politics, Caputo worked as a lawyer and private investor in real estate and early stage privately held companies.

Personal life

Caputo is married to Bonnie Tiburzi Caputo, the first woman pilot for a major airline.[8] They have two children and reside in Manhattan.[9][10]

References

  1. Burks, Edward C. (June 19, 1977). "Caputo, a Freshman, Jogs the Old Guard". The New York Times. New York, NY. p. Section 22, page 1 via TimesMachine.
  2. United States Congress (2005). Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-2005. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. p. 784. ISBN 978-0-16-073176-1 via Google Books.
  3. Feron, James (November 12, 1978). "Caputo: Politics In Limbo". The New York Times. New York, NY. p. Section 22, page 1 via TimesMachine.
  4. New York Magazine, May 25, 1981, "Caputo Copies D'Amato Act" in PDF through Google Books
  5. Roberts, Sam (March 9, 1982). "Caputo Quits Senate Race". Daily News. New York, NY. p. 5 via Newspapers.com.
  6. Oreskes, Michael (February 18, 1982). "Was Never In Army, Caputo Says". The New York Times. New York, NY. p. A-1 via TimesMachine.
  7. NYState63 (May 27, 2016). "Race Details: New York U.S. Senate, 1982". Our Campaigns.com. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  8. Laneri, Raquel (March 22, 2017). "First female airline pilot took special 'strength tests' to get hired". New York Post. New York, NY.
  9. Fabio, Michelle (Spring 2018). "Flying High, Well Grounded: Bonnie Tiburzi Caputo First Woman Pilot for a Major U.S. Airline" (PDF). Ambassador Magazine. Washington, DC: National Italian American Federation. p. 31.
  10. Kurtz, Annalyn (August 16, 2016). "When the Pilot Is a Mom: Accommodating New Motherhood at 30,000 Feet". The New York Times. New York, NY. p. B-1.
New York State Assembly
Preceded by
Thomas J. McInerney
New York State Assembly
87th District

1973–1976
Succeeded by
Thomas J. McInerney
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Peter A. Peyser
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 23rd congressional district

1977–1979
Succeeded by
Peter A. Peyser
Party political offices
Preceded by
Ralph G. Caso
1974
Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of New York
1978
Succeeded by
James L. Emery
1982
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