James Riddle "Jimmy" Hoffa was an American labor union leader who served as the president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) from 1958 to 1971. He was born on February 14, 1913 in Brazil, Indiana, and grew up in a working-class family in Detroit, Michigan. Hoffa's father was a coal miner and union activist, which influenced Hoffa's own interest in labor rights and union activism.
Hoffa began his career as a union organizer in the 1930s, working for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming an influential figure in the union and earning a reputation as a tough negotiator and effective leader. During his presidency, Hoffa worked to expand the power and influence of the Teamsters, making it one of the largest and most influential unions in the country. He was known for his aggressive tactics, including organizing strikes, negotiating tough contracts, and using his political connections to advance the interests of the union and its members.
Despite his success, Hoffa's reign was marked by controversy and corruption. He was investigated by the government for his ties to organized crime, and was eventually convicted of bribery, fraud, and jury tampering in 1964. He served several years in prison before being released in 1971, after which he attempted to regain control of the Teamsters.
However, Hoffa disappeared in July 1975 and was declared legally dead in 1982. His disappearance remains one of the most famous unsolved cases in American history, and speculation about his fate continues to this day. Some believe that he was murdered by organized crime figures, while others speculate that he went into hiding to avoid further legal trouble.