Biography of Enrico De Nicola

History of Republican Italy

9 November 1877
October 1, 1959
Enrico De Nicola was born in Naples on 9 November 1877. He moved to national history for becoming the first President of the Italian Republic, elected on 1 January 1948. But during his long life he held several assignments, from journalist to that of a lawyer. In fact, a law degree from the University of Naples, opened for the doors of the profession. Choose the scope criminal Attorney and soon became known nationally for its forensic capabilities. However, his first significant commitment is in the journalistic field. In 1895, in fact, become an editor for the "Don Marzio", taking care of the daily column of judicial life. In 1909 instead, he began his political career with his election as member of Parliament, within the so-called liberal-conservative lists. As a layman, Enrico De Nicola is recognized in the area that has as its reference point Giovanni Giolitti, one of the leading Italian political landscape.
The legislature which it takes part for the first time the XXIII, the College that Afragola. The 1913 elections, Dalton is re-elected and appointed Undersecretary of State for the colonies, a position he held even the next year, 1914, in the fourth Cabinet headed by Giolitti. Problematic for years for Italy and for its Governments, who must suffer the most extreme political faction belonging to the current thrusts, as well as addressing the emergency of war, and the Neapolitan lawyer and politician is found to support the area of interventionists. Also in 1919, at the end of World War I, Enrico De Nicola is re-elected in Parliament. After holding the post of Minister of State for the Treasury, always during the 1919 Government Orlando, Dalton was elected President of the Chamber of Deputies, on 26 June 1920. This important post of Government also maintains during subsequent elections, which reconfirmed in 1921 and in 1924, while not taking an oath to them and not participating, so parliamentary functions.
Meanwhile, Mussolini accomplishes the 1922 March on Rome, and Dale is found to cover the difficult role of guarantor of the National Pact of pacification between fascists and Socialists, then aborted. He, like many of the local liberal and conservative politicians, supports the trust to the Chief Executive. Anyway, to save his conduct ideological, so to speak, especially in key post-regime, at least in appearance, it is a decision that seems to have taken when I leave the Office of President of the Chamber, in 1924. It took only a short confrontation with the regime, the future President of the Republic, to give him a clear idea of the historical moment experienced by national policy. Dalton has to do with the fascist experience, taking part in several committees, as only by virtue of his experience and legal expertise. And in 1929 he was appointed a Senator of the Kingdom without ever taking part in parliamentary business themselves. By this time, his progressive distancing from the national policy in favour of his work as a lawyer. The image leaving Dale in recent years is that of an authority figure pre-fascist policy. So in 1943, with the fall of Mussolini, is directly called into question his role as a mediator between the allies and the Crown in order to allow a smooth transition of power.
He, according to sources of the time, the solution to avoid the abdication of King Victor Emmanuel III by virtue of the institution of the figure of the Lieutenant, vested in the Crown Prince Umberto. It is, Dalton, on balance, one of the architects of the compromise, along with other prominent figures that will be part of the first Republic, as Bonomi, Nitti and Orlando. In this same period, he was also appointed member of the National Council. After the vote in favour of the Republic of June 2, 1946 mass parties (Dc, Psi and Pci) are looking for a deal to elect a head of State. According to many, a southern man was the right one, preferably belonging to the ranks of moderates, even sympathetic to the monarchy which, as you know, lose with a minimum the post-war referendum, won by the Republic. Decide are De Gasperi, Nenni and Togliatti, which agree on the name of Dalton. Thus, at its meeting on 28 June 1946, the Assembly appoints Enrico De Nicola as provisional head of State in accordance with article 2 of Viceregal Legislative Decree of March 16, 1946, no 98. Dalton has the better since the first ballot, with 396 votes in favor out of 501. A few days later, on 1 July 1946, Dalton is installed.
Are the difficult years in which Italy "tries" to become a Republic, but not without internal conflicts. The Neapolitan politician carries out his assignment from the Quirinal, as expected, refusing however to reside there, as a tribute, as he said himself, that he considers "his monarchy". Therefore prefers the Palazzo Giustiniani. In confirmation of this turbulent period, there is the Declaration by Enrico De Nicola, on 25 June 1947, to resign from the Office of President, apparently in disagreement with the Government forces engaged in the constituent Assembly. But the next day, on 26 June 1947, Dalton is re-elected provisional head of State. From here it is a short step to the real Presidency. And in observance of the first transitional provision of the Constitution, from 1 January 1948 Enrico De Nicola assumes the title of President of the Italian Republic. Also in this same year, signing up with Alcide De Gasperi (President-in-Office of the Council and Christian Democrat leader), Giuseppe Grassi (Pli, keeper of the seals in charge) and Umberto Terracini (Pci, President of the constituent Assembly) the new Republican Constitution of Italy. His term as head of State is the shortest of all. On 18 April 1948 elections take place and the "centrists", guided always by De Gasperi, tend to lean toward the Liberal Luigi Einaudi, who happens to Dalton to the Presidency of the Republic.
According to constitutional laws then, Dalton was appointed Senator for life as a former President of the Republic. A few years pass and the Neapolitan lawyer is appointed President of the Senate, on 28 April 1951. Is and remains the only time a Italian politician was both head of State and President of the senators. In any case, Dalton resigns a year later, on 24 June 1952. The Constitutional Court is born and thanks to his experience leguleia, Enrico De Nicola assumes the appointment of judge of this new national body, on 3 December 1955, by appointment of the President of the Republic. The year after next, 23 January 1956, the College to its first meeting appointed him Chief Justice. Even in this statutory mandate Dalton reveals its ideological independence and does so through yet another act to resign. A year later, in fact, leave the Office of President, in sharp contrast with the Italian Government accused, he said, to hinder the work of democratization of the judicial institutions and legal rules, impregnated as it was still of the foregoing fascist brand.
A few months earlier however, Dalton receives the honor of Knight of the Grand Cross decorated with Grand Cordon of the order of merit of the Italian Republic, on 5 June 1956. The first President of the Italian Republic then, now elderly, retired from public life, leaving the city of Rome. The 1° October 1959, at his home in Torre del Greco, Enrico De Nicola dies at the age of eighty-one years.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.