James Joseph Hines (December 18, 1876 – March 26, 1957) was a Democratic Party politician and one of the most powerful leaders of Tammany Hall in New York City.
[1] Jimmy Walker's election as Mayor of New York City would also firmly establish Hines' influence over the local political scene[1] As boss of Tammany Hall's Eleventh Assembly District in uptown Manhattan,[1] Hines had access to various sources of wealth and developed close ties with many mobsters such as Lucky Luciano,[1] leader of the city's dominant Luciano crime family.
[5] Liberal Republican Fiorello LaGuardia, a former Representative and a fierce opponent of Tammany Hall whom Hines had successfully forced from power in the 1932 Congressional election,[6] was elected mayor in 1933, and Tammany Hall's longtime influence over local politicians faded.
After becoming President, Roosevelt appointed Hines to oversee the U.S. civil service's patronage system for employees in the Manhattan District.
[1] In 1938, Hines was accused of being involved in the policy racket with Dutch Schultz (who was murdered in 1935) and Dixie Davis and of violating the "lottery laws".