Al D’Amato

Date of Birth: August 1, 1937

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Biography

Alfonse Marcello D’Amato, commonly known as Al D’Amato, is an American politician who served as a United States Senator from New York from 1981 to 1999. Born and raised in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, D’Amato’s career in politics began after he earned a law degree from Syracuse University College of Law in 1961. He initially worked as a public servant in various capacities, including as the Town Supervisor of Hempstead, New York, and as the Presiding Supervisor of Nassau County. D’Amato gained national prominence with his election to the U.S. Senate in 1980, representing the Republican Party. Throughout his Senate career, he was known for his staunch advocacy for New York interests, his work in financial regulation, and his role in several high-profile investigations, including the Senate Banking Committee’s probe into the Whitewater controversy. After leaving the Senate, D’Amato continued to be active in politics and business, founding a lobbying firm, Park Strategies, and frequently appearing as a political commentator.

5 Interesting Facts about Al D’Amato

1. Al D’Amato earned the nickname “Senator Pothole” for his attention to constituent services and local concerns.

2. He played a pivotal role in the passage of the National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act of 1993.

3. D’Amato was instrumental in the establishment of the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.

4. He was a vocal advocate for the deregulation of the telecommunications industry, which led to the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

5. Al D’Amato was the longest-serving Republican senator in New York’s history until his record was surpassed by Chuck Schumer.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Al D’Amato

1. “You can’t be a leader if you’re not a fighter.”

2. “Good government is good politics.”

3. “There are no limits to what can be accomplished if it doesn’t matter who gets the credit.”

4. “My job is to represent the people, and I will do it to the best of my ability.”

5. “Constituent service is not just a part of the job; it is the job.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At his peak, Al D’Amato’s net worth was estimated to be around $15 million, primarily from his work in politics, business, and his lobbying firm, Park Strategies.

Children

Al D’Amato has four children. He had three children with his first wife, Penelope D’Amato: Alfonse Jr., Chris, and Lisa D’Amato. He later had a daughter, Luciana D’Amato, with his second wife, Katuria D’Amato.