James Joseph Heffernan (November 8, 1879 – January 27, 1967) was an American architect and politician who served six terms as a U.S. representative from New York from 1941 to 1953.
Biography James Joseph Heffernan was born in Brooklyn, New York, on November 8, 1888.Georgina Pell Curtis, Benedict Elder, editors, The American Catholic Who's Who, Volume 14, 1961, page 198 He graduated from Bryant & Stratton College in 1906 and Pratt Institute in 1908, and became an architect.Williams Press, The New York Red Book, Volumes 56-59; Volume 63, 1947, page 785
Political career He was a leader in Brooklyn's Democratic Party, and was a Delegate to several state and national conventions.
Heffernan served as Brooklyn's Highway Commissioner from 1926 to 1933,Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Brooklyn Register and Buyers' Guide, 1927, page 117 and was a Delegate to the 1938 state constitutional convention.
Congress In 1940 he was elected to Congress as a Democrat. He was reelected five times and served from January 3, 1941, to January 3, 1953. He did not run for reelection in 1952 and resumed working as an architect.
Death Heffernan died in Long Branch, New Jersey, on January 27, 1967.New York Times, Ex-Rep. James J. Heffernan, Brooklyn Democrat, Dies at 78, January 29, 1967 He was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Brooklyn.
His brother William J. Heffernan was also a political figure in Brooklyn.New York Times, W. J. Heffernan, Brooklyn Leader: Former President of Board of Elections, a Democrat, Dies; Headed Seventh A. D., February 9, 1955
References
Sources
James J. Heffernan at Political Graveyard