NJN Special Report; John V. Kenny

First person usually seen at this hour has been preempted to bring you this special news report. Here's Bette Adams. Good evening John Ritter Kenny undisputed ruler of the Democratic Party in Hudson County since 1959 has retired in his words irrevocably from all involvement in politics. This announcement followed Kenny severance from the extortion conspiracy trial which found seven of the Hudson County officials guilty Kenney former mayor of Jersey City was severed because of ill health. There was no verdict either for or against him. In an interview prior to the start of that trial John V Kenny talked with me about his rise to political power and about his career as one of the strongest forces in politics in New Jersey and the nation. My first question how do you. Know I have to speak for itself. Because I'm.

Not too much. I don't know very well. That's what I know. I don't know either. That's right. Yes. About Henderson's imagine that I was proud of that. How does it work. How could you establish the base of power all over the city. I don't know why whether they had a good sort of become and talk politics

and so forth. How did you get in. Well I got I had a brother who was sort of the other brother. I was left with this to take care of. And did you. Sure if it's. A lot of little favors from time to time. John who is committed to you.

But I put up the money and he later on I took over the committee and I think it was after 20 and I became the second city. In. The depression and depression to. Success for you as a leader during the Depression. Well we were very successful. We're of the best. Democratic Broady. How did you help especially as I mentioned before about the craft. And again about that for 200. I have grown into the group. And struck up with going to two of them on

the premise that the political was there to help them and in return I would like to put the people of that section of the city to work in the plants because it would wreck the neighborhood and it would be better than getting parts of the hood and that particular iceberg of crap warning I got a look at 20 women that had put 200 people away 100 hundred women and there was 200 people represented votes for the Democratic Party right. Represent more than 200 people. And I had to record a particular section they could

look up such an address before an election would you. Would you get word to people and say Oh definitely. And you say remember this is the man we were going to let me ask you about one specific man Governor rather minor. Did I understand you really made him. I. Really couldn't. Two percent of the general election between Christmas and I didn't go. I thought it was a bad time. And so I decided I was going to get rid of him which I didn't like you didn't you wouldn't vote for him for dog catcher.

That's right. And is that really what was behind the whole thing. Well I never brought it. Over here was. I forget I represent middle sex once was you know with a heart attack. Of the. Fellow. We have a candidate of. Richmond. And I said well that's good enough for them and then he got instead of.

He said let's consider some of the candidates. Mind your candidate. They said you put it to me and I said you're satisfied you can go fly a kite. And how much later was it that he said let's get rid of that there's a general election just as we have the primaries and he was nominated by the votes of course and won by 12 35 and were frightened at the same time of war how to counter that how was it. Did you feel badly to break with the break up with me. He did why I thought you were the rebel when I met him after the election and when I'm in Florida for a singer someone to

pick. He said and I said well you have to do is pick up the phone I didn't want to run but you're forced. And after he declared the war on me my son and they're out of the deputy warden ship of the battle and said he was the fellow who was responsible for Mr. Van Riper. Investigator and the warden of the penitentiary which was true but that is where you start the fight and I kept still didn't say a word and I used to be on the corner every 7 about noon for dinner up a place of business combat or for the stairs you know go across the park and come back to the club. 7:00 or 7:30 and maybe turn the 11 12 o'clock that you know

what would you do on the corner I've heard about you in the corner would you come in. Those that didn't go to work which we put together when we were really successful. Someone told me that you also go to quite a few funerals. I go to 10 politicians. Why do you think you go to people when I know the people. But I understand you go to somewhere that you don't even know the people go. And why do you go there is because of its good politics because the people never forget it. You'd be surprised at the number and shake and say you know what I do for your poor Brothers way more this way than with me and like.

You say Never again I want to ask you again about this business of loyalty. Remember your man name he ran with you all. It's crazy. Well they tell you how to break it all really. Yeah. Well now you you and he broke up after you ran the same search for well how did you punish him for his disloyalty poorish him because I have ever served information out here in another commission. Mr. Mori. Going back to the growth and plans to take over the number I guess. And learned from the sheriff who was a friend of the fellows. The fellow that they were going to the next morning and left them home because it was the capital of the place bracing. And I was up at the

right place at the federal level. And I said I said that was his mother or his wife I said this fellow. She said that's that was no nickname. I forget what you know but I would getting that would you punish him and you'd demote him from the commission. You know we took him with I think how many employees. You know what coast are pretty bad smear campaign against you though didn't after that. They're still campaigning but it isn't one reason that the Commission for example got you down to Washington. I think it was a group of them. What about other investigations didn't would cause all that I had here

something from one of the newspapers it says it was said that the mayor has been after me to throw the town wide open to gamblers and this is I assume the directorship of the police department. That is yeah absolutely. But he said that oh well I can't you know responsible for what somebody else why did you get out of politics active. Well because that was Michael Moore morning with private business. I was hours in as well was letting 50000 go by a lot of private business. I never could understand why you never did why you didn't have an office at city hall. You were going away from there. But afterward you were always at the hospital. Right. So what would your office be in. Your office originally and then up to a second ward and you were out of the club and even.

When I have a rule for some sort of medical center but I never use them. Why in the medical center. Well that was it was your office just personal character along with a lot of other things. Oh yeah. You said your private business. How long you've been out of business. Since 1968. You glad that you quit then. Well we quit because we were looking for ways from running away. And strange she said. Look at it. So that was a profit and for us to stay in business. This is cleaning railroad cars. We had the job of taking care of the different flow.

So you've been out of business in 68 68. But you and actively you're supposedly not in politics but you still really in politics are ready for the hospital floor. No but seriously don't people still call you. I don't believe that mayors and there's a good there's good will take over. And you want to tell me that they still don't ask. They don't read the papers i guess. How do you feel about these names that people have given you the little guy from. Guys like Jessica who is a 6. And how about the word political boss does that bother you. Does it please you. You know some people call you.

Yeah that's my middle initial push. How do you like to be called Jimmy. Is that what the people in the street in Jersey City most of them. Somebody said once the reason they said it was a J.J. let's run with Conan for four years but he got over it and precious than somebody else. So so one other took over and did one of BackTalk where we were at that time had a great record for of course what you say at that time. Yes. So that's Diego 67 whenever the election was. To happen to that county leader that got so ambitious. Well he's retired. He took a pension. It was by invitation or any of the rest. Getting back to this number that back a couple months ago it was a effort to get rid of mail Whalen and the person making the effort I

understand was the petitions which the court yesterday. Is that what you call political loyalty. That's how how are you going to fix that. I don't know how you fix it but I'm sure that Mr. Gannon will be the successful candidate or anybody else. And yet you did run support him right on from there. Yeah. And the regular citizen we found out regularly. So then that's where I'm going. That's how this is what confuses me. You sort of don't have any problem switching party lines or personalities in the business of politics for example. You when you voted for. OK but you or your organization got him elected didn't like. The way the press says they says it. Your organization really put him in.

Well I'm with you on that. But now as a Republican you don't know the words. There was a question in my book on the part of my love and war now and I'm not I'm sure I can. And he said and I said that's your problem. How could I go for them. Would you go for a fellow that. You know. In all the years that you have been running the concent county organization and the Democrats in the state as far as I could have been pretty influential throughout the state. What are the things you're most proud of them to what people would write. And

I thought that was a great this that everybody was at a rough time. People were up against their will or were clamoring for more. There was no room for. Instance when we were going room for re-election. I was down the hall and project just 16st right across from where the craft was located at. And I started off by saying. This area is very familiar to me so many years ago put in so many people in the crowd of the five or six of them. Someone told me that when President Kennedy was deciding whether or not to make a run for the president the first person he called over New Jersey. Is that right in Florida. Tell me about it. His father met with like the men. Who are a sort of like me. He said I need to

know how about to morrow and they said. They said it would drive the clock up and the bone fragments are five to 10 when the supply of the former Marine. And I'd say that the phone in the other room said Mr Kamm other address reffed brooch but it was on the plane. And yes I support the way our Democratic governor had to go to illustrate how significant the Democratic vote in New Jersey for President Kennedy

presidential. You can't control the people in the. How can you how can you be sure somebody gets inside a booth won't change his mind anyway. There's nothing you can do about it. Reverent difference between Democratic and Republican bother with unlimited people and I remember people and I played to little. And I do everything I can to help stop the wife and go on those roads. Didn't you tell me yourself you've never had a drink in your life.

I never drink and that's kind of interesting for a boy whose father ran a saloon and himself. That's why I guess it was just that when I took the pledge I kept much of what I would say in the saloon. Any regrets looking back over the years and that's and. Any regrets about past investigations and cannot do much about this again because I know one thing and that's what these people in this the rumor that. I just group of different people HOW MUCH DID YOU PAY you can't when you are saying I don't understand. But I'll bring it out every night for the thresholding Hutch and Co. If I want to go to trial and let them get up on the

stand in front of the world it was Mr. Right you Mr. Williamson and this just testified that. Nobody of a paid for or that I would. Have been implemented. Is that true of other men who have been battling of them and but I know about myself. That's that's that's in your room. I think the Saudis do. We have 500 people there this by the fact that Mr. Lacy tried to grab for us and so broke up that nobody and that was the biggest we were ever had. Thirty five hundred people is a big hundred dollars a shot. That is it for

to go out and grab them. And understand why HUTCHENS or whatever and I'm just crazy to have it just on a personal. Loyalty or because you got somebody a job ones isn't time to get some of them. What do you think the main difference between you and Frank is carrying a bit of that. Do you have a try to intimidate you before the break try to frame me. He had a long and challah good was the gambling those days we used to go to the station. Sure. You know that was the best cup of coffee you state. And after that he was worried that I was seeing him. He

said I want to do so. I said yes he said I want to get you $100 a week. Frank Frank you don't was a beautiful friend she was a beer beer. What's a beer on a probation time. And. Good prices for I guess. So this suggests you said it before you go. Back to Jersey stop Hoboken police headquarters and see Inspector Dan. And tell him to call the house or never went to the station. So three days later he stopped me again he said. I said I don't. I said because it's out of. This business. That's what I said. That's just what made him

do that was twenty eight. When Smith's room full of pressure. He had one district in the school and there was a third one in the second. That I took over I didn't want to take it over because the fellow was the committeemen was a good friend and was a baseball pitcher for the Giants and for the city Jennings. Was. And I said we'll take it. So there's only so much of take and I said I want to said he don't want that stuff right. I'll go in saying I'm going up and I said yes to me on the tape. He said I wish you weren't couldn't get any. So I said he said we should. Oh that that there was a

district that used to get a hold of Republican votes every election presidential every election. And I would have to wait. And that's sort of the story of your life isn't it. Jersey City. Hudson County and the state is in it for one final quick question. See any irony in having given right to defend you. Even in the hay days. Thank you very much. One word of explanation you recall that Mr. Kenny said he sees no irony in having want a van Riper represent him. Longtime political observers of Hudson County politics will recall that when John Kennedy was a loyal and trusted Huntsman the then mayor of Jersey City Frank boss had been right there with the Republican attorney general in the state of New Jersey and Van Riper when he first took office was to break Frank stranglehold on illegal

gambling operations in Hudson County. John Kennedy is now retired from politics and he's hospitalized in Jersey City after the two operations which brought about his severance from the federal conspiracy extortion trial which found seven of the Hudson County officials guilty retired from politics. Yes but old timers in Jersey City can't possibly separate John Kenny from the life of Jersey City. He is part of it and it is part of him. This is about a New Jersey new special report. I'm Betty Adams. Good night.