Frank Hague

Political boss, born in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA. Initially running as a reformer, he was a Democratic Jersey City commissioner (1913–17) who created a political machine that allowed him to serve a lengthy term as mayor (1917–47). Despite charges of corruption, he controlled New Jersey Democrats, handpicking governors from 1919 to 1941, and also served as vice-chairman of the National Democratic Party (1924–52). Constitutional reforms ended his control of state elections and dissatisfied voters rejected his mayoral successor in 1947.

Frank Hague (1876 – 1956) was the mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey from 1917 to 1947.

He was instrumental in Franklin D. For his support of Roosevelt in 1932, Hague was rewarded with money for a massive () medical center complex complete with a maternity hospital named after his mother, Margaret Hague.

He has a widely-known reputation for corruption and bossism. His wealth has been estimated to have been over $10 million at the time of his death, although his City salary never exceeded $8,000 per year and he had no other legitimate source of income.

Routinely, he used city employees to strong arm his enemies and break up political opposition, both literally and figuratively. This made national news when his goon squad broke up a rally featuring perennial Socialist presidential candidate Norman Thomas and forcibly escorted him to the ferry back to New York City. () See How to Steal an Election, John Fund, City Journal, Autumn 2004).

Boss Hague is most famously quoted for having said, "I am the law," in reference to his suppression of a 1937 labor strike. Despite all this, he still remains popular to many in Jersey City.

He is often attributed with the quotation "I am the law." Allegedly, the story is as follows:

Two boys both under sixteen ... Doctor Hopkins said that it could not be done because of the New Jersey Working Papers Law. Then the Mayor said to him: 'Listen, here is the law! These boys go to work!' He got jobs for the boys, though later they returned to school ().