Vito Marcantonio graduated from De Witt Clinton High School and earned an LL.B. from New York University School of Law. He began his career as a campaign manager and secretary for tenant rights organizations, passing the New York bar examination in 1925. Marcantonio practiced law and served as an assistant United States attorney before transitioning to a political career. He held various leadership roles in electoral campaigns and served multiple terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, advocating for civil rights, workers' rights, and opposing U.S. involvement in wars.

Vito Marcantonio's political identity is marked by a unique blend of progressive advocacy and anti-imperialist stances, often aligning with minority communities while challenging mainstream foreign policy. His ideological agility is evident in his early support for the New Deal and civil rights, juxtaposed with his staunch opposition to U.S. involvement in World War II and the Korean War. Marcantonio's rhetoric consistently framed issues through a lens of social justice and anti-imperialism, creating an intriguing tension between his progressive domestic policies and isolationist foreign policy.