A legendary defender of the Middle Class and fighter of bureaucracy, Alfonse D'Amato was a leading member of the United States Senate for 18 years.

As Chairman of the influential Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, his responsibilities stretched from Wall Street to Main Street. In addition, as a member of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator D'Amato worked on tax-relief initiatives for working, middle class families, and also championed the fight to restore assets from Swiss banks to Holocaust survivors and victims' heirs.

D'Amato became a published author with his book of recollections, "Power, Pasta and Politics."

Alfonse D'Amato was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1980, with 45 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Elizabeth Holtzman

D'Amato lost his bid for a fourth term to Democratic U.S. Rep. Charles Schumer who beat D'Amato 54-44 percent.