Mayor Thomas J. D’Alesandro, III interview

Description

Thomas Ludwig John D’Alesandro, III (1929-2019) was an attorney and politician that served as the 43rd mayor of Baltimore, Maryland, from 1967-1971. His father, Thomas D’Alesandro, Jr. served as a congressman and three-term mayor of Baltimore. While Theodore R. McKeldin was mayor, D’Alesandro, III was the City Council President as well as president of the Board of Estimates. In this oral history interview, D’Alesandro discusses McKeldin’s work to pass legislation to desegregate and enhance racial equality throughout the city. According to D’Alesandro, the 1964 Omnibus Civil Rights Bill was his greatest success in this area. This bill improved unemployment rates in the Black community, increased accessibility to obtain accommodations, and provided more housing options. D’Alesandro also highlights McKeldin’s focus on the development of downtown Baltimore, his relationship with various civil rights groups and reaction to the Congress of Racial Equality (C.O.R.E.), and the 1968 riots.