Biography

Education

Dartmouth College – Bachelor of Arts, 1946
Columbia University Midshipman’s School – Commissioned Ensign, U.S.N.R., 1944
New York University School of Law – Juris Doctor, 1950 – Master of Law Degrees, 1955
The Hague Academy of International Law, The Netherlands, 1952, 1953

Military Service

Served as a Navigator aboard the USS Mt. McKinley AGC-7 Flagship of the 7th Amphibious Fleet, in the Pacific—one of the very first warship to enter the Tokyo Harbor. He saw active combat as Lieutenant on the USNR in the Battles of Leyte, Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines, Okinawa, and later served in the Occupation of Japan.
Received Naval Commendation Medal and 3 Battle Stars
Was Training Officer after World War II – U.S. Naval Reserve Station
Co-Grand Marshall of the Pearl Harbor Day Parade held at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the infamous attack, December 7, 1941

Legal Career

Member of Bars: New Jersey, New York, District of Columbia
Admitted to practice: U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals, U.S. Tax Court, U.S. Treasury Department, and U.S. Court of International Trade
Guarini & Guarini, LLC – Jersey City, New Jersey – Law Firm, founded by Frank J. Guarini, Sr. in 1917
Was Chairman of the Committee to codify the Rules of Evidence, together with the New Jersey Supreme Court while serving in the New Jersey Senate. He was later commissioned to co-author the Rules of Evidence textbook, New Jersey Rules of Evidence, now updated annually and published by Gann Law Books.
Served on the General Council of the New Jersey Bar Association
Served on the National Board and the American Trial Lawyers (ATLA), now The American Association for Justice (AAJ)
Elected Fellow of the American Bar Association

Political Activities

Founded and was president of the Community Charter Council which successfully challenged the entrenched political machine of Frank “I am the law”, Hague of Jersey City, New Jersey and initiated the Mayor and City Council model, which set in place a system of checks and balances to end the one man dictatorial control of government.
Initiated successful suit in U.S. Supreme Court against the State of New York, which returned 90% of Ellis Island to the sovereignty of New Jersey in a highly contested case between New York and New Jersey.
Served as Hudson County Democratic Party Chairman.
Initiated the original recommendation of the Nobel Peace Prize Award to Lech Walesa for his efforts in bringing democracy and freedom to Poland.
Chaired the New Jersey Delegation to the Democratic National Convention held in San Francisco, California in 1984, which casted the deciding floor vote for Walter Mondale as President. Geraldine Ferraro was the first woman ever to be selected on the national ticket of a major political party.

Political Offices

New Jersey State Senate – 2 terms (1966-1972)
Member of the Appropriations, Transportation and Environmental Committees.
Prime sponsor of first enacted Air and Water Pollution as separate laws in New Jersey, which were then considered one of the most stringent environmental laws in the nation; the establishment of the Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), was recommended and later initiated.
Spearheaded the Hackensack Meadowlands Development Commission, later the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC), which brought planned development to 18,000 acres of land in 14 contiguous municipalities in Hudson and Bergen Counties. Previously, the large Meadowlands area had no planned development or any environmental controls.
Initiated the New York Giants move to New Jersey and the building of a Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands which successfully financed the Meadowlands Racetrack. A second Giants-Jets Football Stadium was later completed in 2010.
Organized opposition to the political establishment of Hudson County to prevent the demolition of the Hudson County Court House and having the building declared a National Historic Monument. He also arranged for federal funding to restore, refurbish and reactivate the Historic Court House named in honor of Justice William J. Brennan who was a sitting judge there prior to his appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Worked to defeat the Westway project which was planned to narrow the Hudson River in order to develop new highways and real estate along New York’s waterfront. The proposal would have significantly changed the flow of the navigable waters and cause an irreparable damage to New Jersey. Today, the New Jersey coast has significantly changed its skyline and ushered in a new era for real estate development.
Member of the United States House of Representatives – 7 terms (1979-1993)
Served 7 terms on Ways & Means Committee, and 3 terms on the Budget Committee. He was a senior member of the Trade, Internal Revenue Laws and Social Security Subcommittees. During his tenure, the laws on Taxes, Trade, Social Security and Welfare were completely revised. He was the first member in history to be elected to the Ways & Means committee on his initial assignment.
He served on Congressional trade missions to each continent, met with heads of state and business leaders to promote closer trade relations with all sovereign nations. Promoted the message that trade is “the currency of peace”.
Appointed to the Joint Conference Committee concerning the passage of the Tokyo Rounds and actively participated in the implementation of the Free Trade Agreements with Canada, Mexico and Israel. The conferences involved the Tokyo and Uruguay Trade Rounds.
In 1979, a member of the first China trade mission conferred with Deng Xiaoping, Chairman of the Central Advisory Commission of the Communist Party, to discuss opening the doors of China to the trade world and the differences between economies and legal system were discussed. The mission developed the frame work for a clearer understanding about trade.
Was a principal sponsor of the Caribbean Basin Initiatives, spearheading legislation to develop active trade policy with our Caribbean and Latin American neighbors.
Worked to completely revise the Internal Revenue Code in 1986 and also the modernization of our trade and tariff laws. The new laws assured the reorganization and presented a platform for free trade agreements with our trading partners. It also assured harmonization and opened new trade markets in our global economy.
Was a senior member of the Budget Committee, chairing the Task Force of Urgent Fiscal Affairs. He was an outspoken advocate for fiscal responsibility that fought to provide educational and job opportunities for our youth and minorities. He was the principal sponsor of the Educational Assistance Act, working with Senator Pat Moynihan to provide tax incentives to young employees striving for a college education.
Served on the Select Committee of Narcotic Abuse and Control for 7 terms and developed extensive expertise in drug and substance abuse issues. Also, he traveled extensively and acquired first-hand knowledge of the production, distribution, and trafficking of drugs. Members met on many occasions with Pope John Paul II, heads of state, and key law enforcement officials to develop strategies and programs to combat the scourge of drugs.
Served as a delegate to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and was present at the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. He was appointed to the NATO London Conference which was reorganized after the demise of the Soviet Union, changed its mission, and expanded to include Eastern European nations.

Education

Dartmouth College – Bachelor of Arts, 1946

Columbia University Midshipman’s School – Commissioned Ensign, U.S.N.R., 1944

New York University School of Law – Juris Doctor, 1950 – Master of Law Degrees, 1955

The Hague Academy of International Law, The Netherlands, 1952, 1953

Military Service

Received Naval Commendation Medal and 3 Battle Stars

Was Training Officer after World War II – U.S. Naval Reserve Station

Co-Grand Marshall of the Pearl Harbor Day Parade held at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the infamous attack, December 7, 1941

Legal Career

Member of Bars: New Jersey, New York, District of Columbia

Admitted to practice: U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals, U.S. Tax Court, U.S. Treasury Department, and U.S. Court of International Trade

Guarini & Guarini, LLC – Jersey City, New Jersey – Law Firm, founded by Frank J. Guarini, Sr. in 1917

Served on the General Council of the New Jersey Bar Association

Served on the National Board and the American Trial Lawyers (ATLA), now The American Association for Justice (AAJ)

Elected Fellow of the American Bar Association

Political Activities

Initiated successful suit in U.S. Supreme Court against the State of New York, which returned 90% of Ellis Island to the sovereignty of New Jersey in a highly contested case between New York and New Jersey.

Served as Hudson County Democratic Party Chairman.

Initiated the original recommendation of the Nobel Peace Prize Award to Lech Walesa for his efforts in bringing democracy and freedom to Poland.

Chaired the New Jersey Delegation to the Democratic National Convention held in San Francisco, California in 1984, which casted the deciding floor vote for Walter Mondale as President. Geraldine Ferraro was the first woman ever to be selected on the national ticket of a major political party.

Political Offices

New Jersey State Senate – 2 terms (1966-1972)

Member of the Appropriations, Transportation and Environmental Committees.

Prime sponsor of first enacted Air and Water Pollution as separate laws in New Jersey, which were then considered one of the most stringent environmental laws in the nation; the establishment of the Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), was recommended and later initiated.

Initiated the New York Giants move to New Jersey and the building of a Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands which successfully financed the Meadowlands Racetrack. A second Giants-Jets Football Stadium was later completed in 2010.

Member of the United States House of Representatives – 7 terms (1979-1993)

He served on Congressional trade missions to each continent, met with heads of state and business leaders to promote closer trade relations with all sovereign nations. Promoted the message that trade is “the currency of peace”.

Appointed to the Joint Conference Committee concerning the passage of the Tokyo Rounds and actively participated in the implementation of the Free Trade Agreements with Canada, Mexico and Israel. The conferences involved the Tokyo and Uruguay Trade Rounds.

Was a principal sponsor of the Caribbean Basin Initiatives, spearheading legislation to develop active trade policy with our Caribbean and Latin American neighbors.