John Anthony Volpe

Volpe was one of the three Italian American governor of Massachusetts. He was the son of Italian immigrants and was born on December 8, 1908 in Wakefield, Massachusetts. His father Vito and his mother Filomena née Benedetto came from Pescosansonesco, Aburzzo. Volpe was a self-made businessman. He attended Wentwort Institute of Technology in Boston where he majored in architectural construction and built his own construction firm by 1930. He was so successful that by the onset of the 2^nd World War, his company was one of the nation’s leading business in that field.  Subsequently, his term of military service was a lieutenant commander training United States Navy Seabees who were builders, engineers, equipment operators, and steelworkers.

Volpe’s political life began in 1951 when he became the deputy chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party. The governor in 1953, appointed him as Commissioner of Public works. President Dwight D. Eisenhower followed this by appointing him as the first administrator of the Federal Highway Administration. This was in the early stages of the development of the United States Interstate Highway System—a defense system of which he was an important figure.

In 1960 he ran for governor of Massachusetts and won the election he served for two years 1961-1963. He ran again but lost. In 1965 he reentered the race and this time it was for the first four year term for the office. He won, consequently, serving until 1969. Foster Furcolo preceded him. Massachusetts initially had a one year term for governor, then to a two year term in 1918 and in 1965 it moved to a four year term.

During his tenure Volpe signed in to legislation a ban to racial imbalances in education, liberalized birth control, and increased public housing. He also served as the president of the National Governors Association from 1967 – 1968. In 1968 he was candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, however, he lost his bid to Nelson A. Rockefeller, the governor of New York. In Nixon’s election he came into consideration as a running mate along with Spiro Agnew; however, Nixon selected the latter.  Nixon, as a reward for his support appointed him as Secretary of Transportation. He resigned as governor to accept this cabinet post. He remained until 1973, when he accepted the nomination from Nixon as Ambassador to Italy. He had a significant interest in his parent’s homeland, and visited Italy often. He remained until 1977. In 1969 the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic awarded him the Knight of the Grand Cross. His tenure included some difficulty, the Italian elite did not hold him in high regard due to his southern Italian roots. He also upset the leftist elements for his negative statements against inclusion of the Communist Party in the Italian government. Volpe died in Nahant, Massachusetts on November 11, 1994 at the age of eighty-five. His family interred him at Forest Glade Cemetery in Wakefield. In honor of his service a number of building in Massachusetts bear his name, the National Transportation System Center in Cambridge, the Library at Wakefield High School, and Terminal E. at the Logan International Airport.

In 1934, Volpe married Giovannina Benedetto and the couple had two children, John Anthony, Jr. and Loretta Jean Volpe Rotondi.