Pastore, John Orlando (1907-2000), became the first person of Italian descent to win election as a state governor and then as a United States senator. A Democrat, Pastore served as governor of Rhode Island from 1945 to 1950. He was elected to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate in 1950, and won reelection in 1952, 1958, 1964, and 1970. A colorful orator, he gave the keynote address at the 1964 Democratic National Convention. Pastore was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on March 17, 1907. He died on July 15, 2000.
