Hoffa Reviews His Teamsters Presidency

June 6, 2000 9:50 AM, EDT

WASHINGTON — In recounting his first year as general president of the Teamsters union, James P. Hoffa last week cited success in winning better contracts and recruiting new members. And at nearly the same moment that he was painting an upbeat picture, his first re-election opponent was throwing his hat into the ring.

	Michael James - Transport Topics
	Hoffa makes anniversary speech at National Press Club in Washington June 1.

Tom Leedham, a former Teamsters vice president, renewed his challenge to Hoffa for the union’s top job, announcing his candidacy June 1, the day that Hoffa delivered his report to a National Press Club audience.

Hoffa defeated Leedham in December 1998 to fill out the term of former President Ron Carey, whose term would have expired at the end of 2001. The next election will be for a full five-year term.

Another presidency was also on Hoffa’s mind as made his anniversary remarks. He pointed to the recent the vote on Capitol Hill to grant normalized trade relations with China, and blamed the setback in the House of Representatives, in part, on the willingness of other unions to throw their support behind Vice President Al Gore in his quest for the White House.

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