Changes

James R. Hoffa, more commonly known as '''"Jimmy" Hoffa''', was a union representative with mafia connections whose 1975 disappearance has entered popular culture as an archetypal "missing person."

James R. Hoffa, more commonly known as '''"Jimmy" Hoffa''', was a union representative with mafia connections whose 1975 disappearance has entered popular culture as an archetypal "missing person."

==Union Activities==

==Union activities==

The Teamsters union, which represented trucker and other laborers, had a reputation for using underhanded methods to win contract demands.  Although Hoffa was not employed in any union-represented capacity, he was able to join the union.  The teamsters were one of the most powerful unions in the country when Hoffa became president of a local chapter in 1936.  

The Teamsters union, which represented trucker and other laborers, had a reputation for using underhanded methods to win contract demands.  Although Hoffa was not employed in any union-represented capacity, he was able to join the union.  The teamsters were one of the most powerful unions in the country when Hoffa became president of a local chapter in 1936.  

In World War 2, Hoffa avoided the draft by claiming his union activities provided a greater benefit to the nation than he could as a soldier.  By 1952, Hoffa became the national vice-president of the Teamsters union, which were on their way to becoming the largest and most powerful single union in the United States.  

In World War 2, Hoffa avoided the draft by claiming his union activities provided a greater benefit to the nation than he could as a soldier.  By 1952, Hoffa became the national vice-president of the Teamsters union, which were on their way to becoming the largest and most powerful single union in the United States.  

Hoffa took over the presidency of the Teamsters in 1957. His predecessor, Dave Beck, had appeared before the John Little McClellan-led  U.S. Senate Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field, in March 1957, and took the [[Fifth Amendment]] 140 times in response to questions. Hoffa was re-elected as president in 1961. Hoffa worked to expand the union, and, in 1964, succeeded in bringing virtually all over-the-road truck drivers in [[North America]] under a single national master-freight agreement.   Hoffa then tried to bring the airline workers and other transport employees into the union, with limited success.  

Hoffa took over the presidency of the Teamsters in 1957. His predecessor, Dave Beck, had appeared before the [[John McClellan]]-led  U.S. Senate Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field, in March 1957, and took the [[Fifth Amendment]] 140 times in response to questions. Hoffa was re-elected as president in 1961. Hoffa worked to expand the union, and, in 1964, succeeded in bringing virtually all over-the-road truck drivers in [[North America]] under a single national master-freight agreement. Hoffa then tried to bring the airline workers and other transport employees into the union, with limited success.  

In 1971, he was forbidden from further union activities by President [[Richard Nixon]].

In 1971, he was forbidden from further union activities by President [[Richard Nixon]].