Peter Cacchione

Who was Peter Cacchione?

Peter V. "Pete" Cacchione was a communist labor leader who was elected to the New York City Council. He was born of immigrant parents in Syracuse, New York and grew up in Sayre, Pennsylvania. According to fellow communist city councilman Benjamin J. Davis, Cacchione served in World War I. He then worked as a railroad trainman and repairman, and at other blue-collar jobs. In 1932 he moved to New York and became active in leftist politics. In 1935, he was elected National Commander of the Workers' Ex-Servicemen's League, and he became chairman of the Bronx Communist Party USA the next year.

Cacchione moved to Brooklyn and ran unsuccessfully for city council on the Communist Party ticket in 1937 and 1939. He was elected in 1941 and was reelected twice, serving until his death.