The 172nd New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 7, 1959, to April 1, 1960, during the first and second years of Nelson Rockefeller's governorship, in Albany.

Background Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1938, re-apportioned in 1953, 58 Senators and 150 assemblymen were elected in single-seat districts for two-year terms. The senatorial districts consisted either of one or more entire counties; or a contiguous area within a single county. The counties which were divided into more than one senatorial district were Kings (nine districts), New York (six), Queens (five), Bronx (four), Erie (three), Nassau (three), Westchester (three), Monroe (two) and Onondaga (two). The Assembly districts consisted either of a single entire county (except Hamilton Co.), or of contiguous area within one county.

At this time there were two major political parties: the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. The Liberal Party and the Independent-Socialist Party also nominated tickets.

Elections The 1958 New York state election, was held on November 4. Nelson Rockefeller was elected Governor, and Assemblyman Malcolm Wilson was elected Lieutenant Governor, both Republicans, defeating the incumbent Democrats W. Averell Harriman and George B. DeLuca. The elections of the other four statewide elective offices resulted in a Democratic State Comptroller with Liberal endorsement, a Republican Attorney General, a Democratic Court of Appeals judge with Liberal and Republican endorsement, and a Republican U.S. Senator. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for Governor/Lieutenant Governor, was: Republicans 3,127,000; Democrats 2,270,000; Liberals 284,000; and Independent-Socialists 32,000.

Assemblywoman Janet Hill Gordon (Rep.), a lawyer of Norwich, was elected to the State Senate. The other four women members of the previous legislature—Assemblywomen Bessie A. Buchanan (Dem.), a retired musical actress and dancer of Harlem; Frances K. Marlatt (Rep.), a lawyer of Mount Vernon; Genesta M. Strong (Rep.), of Plandome Heights; and Mildred F. Taylor (Rep.), a coal dealer of Lyons—were re-elected. Aileen B. Ryan (Dem.), of the Bronx; and Dorothy Bell Lawrence (Rep.), of Manhattan, both former school teachers, were also elected to the Assembly.

The 1959 New York state election, was held on November 3. The only statewide elective office up for election was Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals. The senior associate judge, Charles S. Desmond, a Democrat, was elected with Republican and Liberal endorsement. Three vacancies in the State Senate and eight vacancies in the Assembly were filled. Assemblywoman Genesta M. Strong (Rep.) was elected to the State Senate, but did not take her seat in 1960.

Sessions The Legislature met for the first regular session (the 182nd) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 7, 1959;ROCKEFELLER FOR TAX RISE TO BAR "FISCAL DISASTER" in The New York Times on January 8, 1959 (subscription required) and adjourned on March 25.

Oswald D. Heck (Rep.) was re-elected Speaker. Heck died on May 21, 1959.

Walter J. Mahoney (Rep.) was re-elected Temporary President of the State Senate.

The Legislature met for a special session at the State Capitol in Albany on July 1, 1959. Majority Leader Joseph F. Carlino (Rep.) was elected Speaker of the Assembly.STATE ACTS TODAY IN MONAGHAN CASE in The New York Times on July 1, 1959 (subscription required)

The Legislature met for the second regular session (the 183rd) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 6, 1960; and adjourned in the early morning of April 1, 1960.1,014 BILLS LEFT FOR ROCKEFELLER in The New York Times on April 1, 1960 (subscription required)

State Senate

Districts

Senators The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Frank Composto, D. Clinton Dominick III, Lawrence M. Rulison and Janet Hill Gordon changed from the Assembly to the Senate at the beginning of this Legislature. Assembly members Genesta M. Strong and Hunter Meighan were elected to fill vacancies in the Senate.

Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on (the)..."

District Senator Party Notes1stElisha T. Barrett* Republican2ndDaniel G. Albert* Republican 3rdWilliam S. Hults Jr.* Republicanon April 1, 1959, appointed as Commissioner of Motor VehiclesHULTS IS SWORN IN in The New York Times on April 2, 1959 (subscription required)(Genesta M. Strong)* Republicanon November 3, 1959, elected to fill vacancy;NASSAU REMAINS IN G.O.P. COLUMN in The New York Times on November 4, 1959 (subscription required) did not take her seat and resigned on January 6, 1960, due to ill healthMRS. STRONG QUITS AS STATE SENATOR in The New York Times on January 7, 1960 (subscription required) seat remained vacant throughout the 1960 sessionGOVERNOR BALKS NASSAU ELECTION in The New York Times on January 17, 1960 (subscription required)4thEdward J. Speno* Republican5thJack E. Bronston Dem./Lib.6thIrving Mosberg* Dem./Lib.7thSeymour R. Thaler Dem./Lib.8thThomas A. Duffy* Dem./Lib.9thThomas J. Mackell* Dem./Lib. 10thHerbert I. Sorin* Dem./Lib.on September 18, 1959, appointed as a City Magistrate2 CITY JUDGES SWORN in The New York Times on September 19, 1959 (subscription required)Simon J. Liebowitz Democraton November 3, 1959, elected to fill vacancy11thWalter E. Cooke* Dem./Lib.12thJeremiah B. Bloom* Dem./Lib.13thFrank Composto* Dem./Lib.14thWilliam T. Conklin* Republican15thFrank J. Pino* Dem./Lib.16thWilliam Rosenblatt* Dem./Lib.17thSamuel L. Greenberg* Dem./Lib.18thHarry Gittleson* Dem./Lib.19thJohn J. Marchi* Republican20thMacNeil Mitchell* Republican21stJames Lopez Watson* Dem./Lib.22ndJohn P. Morrissey* Dem./Lib.23rdJoseph Zaretzki* Dem./Lib.Minority Leader24thJoseph R. Marro* Dem./Lib.25thJohn H. Farrell* Dem./Lib.26thHarry Kraf* Democrat27thJacob H. Gilbert* Democraton March 8, 1960, elected to the 86th U.S. CongressDemocrat Wins Easily in Bronx In 3-Way Race for House Seat in The New York Times on March 9, 1960 (subscription required)28thNathaniel T. Helman* Democraton November 8, 1960, elected to the City Court29thJoseph F. Periconi* Republicanon April 14, 1960, appointed to the New York City Transit AuthorityPERICONI NAMED TO TRANSIT POST in The New York Times on April 15, 1960 (subscription required) 30thFrank S. McCullough* Republicanin 1959, appointed as County Judge of Westchester Co.WESTCHESTER G.O.P. RETAINS CONTROL in The New York Times on November 4, 1959 (subscription required)Hunter Meighan* Republicanon November 3, 1959, elected to fill vacancy31stGeorge W. Cornell Republican32ndWilliam F. Condon* Republican33rdD. Clinton Dominick III* Republican34thE. Ogden Bush* Republican35thErnest I. Hatfield* Republican36thJulian B. Erway* Dem./Lib.37thAlbert Berkowitz* Republican38thOwen M. Begley* Dem./Lib.39thGilbert T. Seelye* Republican40thRobert C. McEwen* Republican41stWalter Van Wiggeren* Republican42ndFred J. Rath* Republican43rdHenry A. Wise* Republican44thLawrence M. Rulison* Republican45thJohn H. Hughes* Republican46thJanet Hill Gordon* Republican47thWarren M. Anderson* Republican48thGeorge R. Metcalf* Republican49thHarold A. Jerry Jr. Republican50thDutton Peterson* Republican51stFrank E. Van Lare* Republican52ndA. Gould Hatch* Republicanon November 8, 1960, elected Clerk of Monroe County53rdAustin W. Erwin* RepublicanChairman of Finance54thEarl W. Brydges* Republican55thWalter J. Mahoney* Republicanre-elected Temporary President56thFrank J. Glinski Democrat57thJohn H. Cooke* Republican58thGeorge H. Pierce* RepublicanChairman of Judiciary

Employees Secretary: William S. King, until June 18, 1959, retired John J. Sandler, acting from June 18, 1959;ALBANY AIDE PROMOTED; J. J. Sandler Becomes Acting Secretary of Senate in The New York Times on June 19, 1959 (subscription required) elected Secretary on January 6, 1960State Senate Elects Sandler as Secretary in The New York Times on January 7, 1960 (subscription required)

State Assembly

Assemblymen

Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on (the)..."