Origins & Early Life

James Riddle Hoffa (born February 14, 1913; disappeared July 30, 1975; declared dead July 30, 1982) was an American labor union leader who served as the General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) from 1957 to 1971. He was alleged to have ties to organized crime, and disappeared under mysterious circumstances in 1975. From an early age, Hoffa was a union activist; he became an important regional figure with the IBT by his mid-20s. By 1952, he was the national vice-president of the IBT and between 1957 and 1971, he served as its general president.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Hoffa secured the first national agreement for teamsters' rates in 1964 with the National Master Freight Agreement. He played a major role in the growth and the development of the union, which eventually became the largest by membership in the United States, with over 2.3 million members at its peak, during his terms as its leader. Hoffa became involved with organized crime from the early years of his Teamsters work, a connection that continued until his disappearance. He was convicted of jury tampering, attempted bribery, and conspiracy, along with mail and wire fraud in 1964 in two separate trials. He was imprisoned...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Albert Camus — Contemporary (Born in 1913) (1913): Philosopher and writer known for Absurdism, The Stranger, and The Plague.
• Albert Ellis — Contemporary (Born in 1913) (1913): Pioneering figure in psychotherapy, founder of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)
• Alfred Russel Wallace — Contemporary (Died in 1913) (1913): Naturalist and explorer who independently conceived the theory of evolution.
• 50 Cent — Contemporary (Born in 1975) (1975): Iconic rapper, actor, and entrepreneur known for raw storytelling and business acumen.
• Alex Rodriguez — Contemporary (Born in 1975) (1975): Legendary baseball player and businessman, known as "A-Rod"
• Allen Iverson — Contemporary (Born in 1975) (1975): Iconic NBA scorer and guard, nicknamed "the Answer", celebrated for his electrifying play.
• Abdul Qadir Gilani — Shared historical date (02-14 · Died) (1166): Founding figure of the Qadiriyya Sufi order, renowned mystic and jurist.
• Alan Parker — Shared historical date (02-14 · Born) (1944): Acclaimed English filmmaker known for genre versatility and numerous BAFTA and Golden Globe wins.
• Alfred von Schlieffen — Historical peer (Died in 1913) (1913): Prussian strategist known for the Schlieffen Plan, a key military doctrine.
• Aluísio Azevedo — Historical peer (Died in 1913) (1913): Pioneering Brazilian Naturalist novelist, diplomat, and literary figure.
• 1913 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1913
• February 14 (02-14) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on February 14
• 1975 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1975