Anthony Salvatore Carmelo Nicci (born October 17, 1917) is a retired American political strategist, campaign manager, power broker and academician. During the 1960's, he was regarded as the premier power player within the national structure of the National Party, helping build a coalition around untested candidate Dick Van Dyke in the leadup to the 1964 primaries and during the general election. Following his retirement from active politics in 1977, he became a featured lecturer and Harvard professor in political theory. He is regarded as one of the most influential political players in the past half-century and as the most powerful Italian-American in American politics up until the electoral victories of first Mario Cuomo and then Jay Leno.