Career Timeline of Jimmy Hoffa: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Jimmy Hoffa, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Jimmy Hoffa was a prominent American labor union leader, most notably serving as the president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) from 1957 to 1971. His career was consistently shadowed by allegations of connections to organized crime. Hoffa vanished in 1975 under mysterious circumstances, becoming one of the most famous missing persons in American history. His disappearance has fueled countless theories and remains unsolved, solidifying his controversial legacy.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1932: Leaves Grocery Chain

By 1932, after refusing to work for an abusive shift foreman, Hoffa left the grocery chain, partly because of his union activities.

1933: Organizer with Local 299

Between 1933 and 1935, Hoffa actively worked to recruit new members to the union; his favored tactic being to pull up on the road alongside sleeping truck drivers, wake them up, and give them his sales pitch.

1935: Organizer with Local 299

1936: Membership Grew

As a result of Hoffa's work with other union leaders, he consolidated local union trucker groups into regional sections and then into a national body, which Hoffa ultimately completed over two decades; membership grew to 170,000 members by 1936.

December 1946: President of Local 299

In December 1946, Hoffa became president of Local 299, despite never having worked as a truck driver.

1951: Membership grew to a million

As a result of Hoffa's work with other union leaders, he consolidated local union trucker groups into regional sections and then into a national body; membership grew to eventually top a million members by 1951.

1952: Selected as National Vice-President

At the 1952 IBT convention in Los Angeles, Hoffa was selected as national vice-president by incoming president Dave Beck.

1952: Vice-President Appointment

Following his 1952 election as vice-president, Hoffa began spending more of his time away from Detroit, either in Washington or traveling around the country for his expanded responsibilities.

1952: Becomes National Vice-President of the IBT

In 1952, Hoffa was the national vice-president of the IBT.

1957: Hoffa Becomes President of IBT

In 1957, Jimmy Hoffa became the general president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT).

1960: IBT endorsement of Nixon

In 1960, the IBT switched its support from the Democratic nominees and endorsed Republican Richard Nixon for president.

1961: Re-election as President

Following his re-election as president in 1961, Hoffa worked to expand the union.

1964: National Master Freight Agreement

In 1964, Hoffa succeeded in bringing virtually all over-the-road truck drivers in North America under a single National Master Freight Agreement.

1966: Re-elected IBT President

In 1966, Hoffa was re-elected without opposition to a third five-year term as president of the IBT, despite having been convicted of jury tampering and mail fraud.

1967: Fitzsimmons Named Acting President

When Hoffa entered prison in 1967, Frank Fitzsimmons was named acting president of the union.

1970: Publication of The Trials of Jimmy Hoffa

In 1970, Jimmy Hoffa published a book titled "The Trials of Jimmy Hoffa".

The Trials of Jimmy Hoffa: The Autobiography of James R. Hoffa

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June 19, 1971: Resignation as Teamsters President

While still in prison, on June 19, 1971, Jimmy Hoffa resigned as Teamsters president.

July 9, 1971: Fitzsimmons Elected President

On July 9, 1971, Frank Fitzsimmons was elected Teamsters president.

December 23, 1971: Hoffa released from prison

On December 23, 1971, Jimmy Hoffa was released from prison after US President Richard Nixon commuted his sentence to time served, less than five years into his 13-year sentence. Hoffa was also awarded a $1.75 million termination benefit by the Teamsters Retirement and Family Protection Plan.

1971: End of Presidency

In 1971, Hoffa's term as the general president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters ended.

1971: Drafting of the clause restricting Hoffa's labor involvement

In 1971, John Dean drafted the clause restricting Hoffa's labor involvement at Nixon's request.

1971: Resignation and Release

In mid-1971, Jimmy Hoffa resigned as president of the union as part of a commutation agreement with U.S. president Richard Nixon and was released later that year, but he was barred from union activities until 1980.

1972: IBT endorsement of Nixon for re-election

In 1972, following Hoffa's release and resignation, the IBT endorsed Republican Richard Nixon in his presidential re-election bid.

1973: Hoffa plans to seize the presidency of the Teamsters again

By 1973, Jimmy Hoffa was planning to seize the presidency of the Teamsters again, despite restrictions placed on him by his commutation.

1973: Dean becomes a government witness in the Watergate scandal

By mid-1973, John Dean, former White House counsel to Nixon, had become famous as a government witness in prosecutions arising from the Watergate scandal.

1974: Court proceedings regarding restriction on Hoffa's power

In 1974, court proceedings were held where John Dean was called upon for depositions regarding Hoffa's lawsuit to invalidate the restriction that prevented him from reasserting his power over the Teamsters. Ultimately, Hoffa lost the court battle.

1975: Hoffa working on autobiography

In 1975, Jimmy Hoffa was working on his autobiography, "Hoffa: The Real Story", which was published a few months after his disappearance.

Hoffa: The Real Story

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March 6, 1980: Restriction on Hoffa's labor involvement

Jimmy Hoffa's commutation from Nixon included a restriction preventing him from engaging in the direct or indirect management of any labor organization until March 6, 1980.

1980: Barred from Union Activities Until 1980

In 1971, Hoffa resigned as president of the union as part of a commutation agreement with U.S. president Richard Nixon and was released later that year, but he was barred from union activities until 1980.

1991: Arthur Sloane publishes a book on Hoffa's life

In 1991, Arthur Sloane wrote a book on Jimmy Hoffa's life and stated that people were polarized over whether Hoffa was like "a kind of latter-day Al Capone" or was "hugely successful in improving working conditions for [his truck-driver constituents]".