The Italian American Experience (Session 5)

Power Point discussions led by Prof. Santi Buscemi based on the following units:

UNIT XIII: Italian Americans in Politics/Government Service - Most of us have heard of Mario Cuomo and Geraldine Ferraro, who are discussed in this unit. But we also need to tip our hats to Filippo Mazzei, who worked with Jefferson; to Charles Poletti; and, of course, to legendary New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia.

UNIT XIV: Educators and Scholars - Yes, Italian Americans have made great contributions to American education as well. This unit features A. Barltett Giamatti, the president of Yale University and Commissioner of Baseball; Matilda Cuomo, New York State’s former first lady; Luigi Palma di Cesnola, the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s first director; and Joseph Scelsa, the founder of the Italian American Museum in New York.

UNIT XV: Italian Americans in the Military - One of America’s great heroes in World War II was John Basilone, who won the Congressional Medal of Honor and many other decorations. More recently Raymond Odierno served as the Army Chief of Staff, the highest military rank one can hold. But this unit also discusses earlier, relatively unknown, military men who served in the American Civil War: Giovanni Martini and Francis Spinola.

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