William J. Casey

William Joseph Casey (March 13, 1913 – May 6, 1987) was the Director of Central Intelligence from 1981 to 1987. In this capacity he oversaw the entire United States Intelligence Community and personally directed the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Life and career

A native of Elmhurst, Queens, New York, Casey graduated from Fordham University in 1934 and earned a law degree from St. John's University School of Law in 1937. His portrait now sits in Molloy College. During World War II, he worked for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) — the predecessor to the CIA — where he became head of its Secret Intelligence Branch in Europe. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement. The OSS was dissolved in 1945.

Casey ran as a "Javits Republican" for New York's 3rd congressional district in 1966, but was defeated in the primary by former Congressman Steven Derounian. After practicing corporate law in New York, he served in the Nixon Administration as the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission from 1971 to 1973; this position led to his being called as a prosecution witness against former Attorney General John N. Mitchell and former Commerce Secretary Maurice Stans in an influence-peddling case stemming from international financier Robert Vesco's $200,000 contribution to the Nixon reelection campaign. He then served as Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs for 1973-74 and chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States 1974-76. He was a co-founder of the Manhattan Institute in 1978. He is the father-in-law of Owen Smith, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Institute of World Politics and Professor Emeritus at Long Island University.

William J. Casey (Massachusetts politician)

William Joseph Casey was an American politician who was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Sheriff of Essex County, Massachusetts.

Early life

Casey was born on June 27, 1905 in Lawrence, Massachusetts. He attended public and parochial schools in Lawrence. Outside politics Casey worked as an industrial foreman.

Political career

Massachusetts House of Representatives

Casey served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1939 to 1941 and again 1943 to 1949.

Lawrence Alderman/Commissioner of Public Safety

In 1949 Casey was elected Alderman and Commissioner of Public Safety over incumbent Louis J. Scanlon 19,677 votes to 19,551. In 1951 he defeated Scanlon for reelection 19,554 to 17,443.

Massachusetts House of Representatives

Casey returned to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1957. While in the House, Casey supported legislation to give the Mayor of Boston more control over the Boston Police Department (including control over the department's budget and the power to appoint the Police Commissioner) and to construction roads that would provide Lawrence with access to I-93 and I-495.