Al D'Amato
A pugnacious and savvy political operator from New York, he served three terms in the U.S. Senate and became a formidable force as Chairman of the Banking Committee.
Born 1937 (age 89)·American attorney and politician·Birthday: August 1·The Silent Generation
Biography
Al D'Amato's political career was built on a blend of street-smart Nassau County politics and relentless, often theatrical, Senate floor tactics. A Republican in a predominantly Democratic state, he first won his Senate seat in 1980 by a razor-thin margin, earning the nickname 'Senator Pothole' for his focus on hyper-local constituent services. In Washington, D'Amato cultivated an image as a fierce partisan infighter, famously staging a 15-hour filibuster against a military bill to save a hometown airplane parts plant. His influence peaked in the mid-1990s when he ascended to the chairmanship of the powerful Senate Banking Committee, where he presided over high-profile investigations into Whitewater and the Clinton administration. Though he was a staunch conservative, his pragmatism often surfaced, particularly in his advocacy for Israel and his support for some LGBTQ rights measures. After losing his seat in 1998, he transitioned seamlessly into a lucrative career as a lobbyist and political commentator, remaining a fixture in New York's power circles.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Al was born in 1937, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Al Was Born
The biggest hits of 1937
#1 Movie
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Best Picture
The Life of Emile Zola
Al's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1937Born
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1942Started school
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1950Became a teenager
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1953Could drive
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1955Could vote
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1958Turned 21
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1967Turned 30
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1977Turned 40
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 50
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 60
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 70
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 80
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 89 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as a United States Senator from New York for three terms, from 1981 to 1999.
- Chaired the influential U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs from 1995 to 1999.
- Led the Senate Whitewater Committee investigation into the Clintons' financial dealings during the mid-1990s.
- Was the last Republican to represent New York in the U.S. Senate as of the mid-2020s.
Did You Know?
He is the brother of former Arista Records executive and talent scout Armand D'Amato.
D'Amato once played drums with the band 'The High Tides' on the Senate subway.
He lost his 1998 re-election bid to Democrat Charles Schumer, who has held the seat ever since.
His son, Christopher D'Amato, is a judge on the Nassau County District Court.
“Let me tell you, you can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig.”
