Hoffa, Jimmy (James Riddle) (1913-1975)

US labour leader, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (lorry drivers' union) from 1957. He was jailed 1967-71 for attempted bribery of a federal court jury after he was charged with corruption. He was released by President Richard Nixon with the stipulation that he did not engage in union activities, but was evidently attempting to reassert influence when he disappeared in 1975. He is generally believed to have been murdered.

Jimmy Hoffa succeeded in 1964 in bringing all lorry drivers into the same union. The possibility of his calling them all out on strike alarmed the government and industry. In addition, he was seeking to extend the Teamsters to airline, railway, and other transport workers.