Ed koch biography
MAYOR
"Mayor" has a strange launching point given that New York City was looking at six more years of Ed Koch when it was published and that it came on the heels of his surprising defeat in the Democratic gubernatorial primary to Mario Cuomo.
That loss was only the latest in a series of events described in this autobiography, which must have alerted Koch to the unique limitations associated with his otherwise powerful position.
"Mayor" comes off as the author's stab at "cashing in" before his story was fully told, because it had turned out to be truncated in advance of its termination.
Edward I. Koch assumed office at the city's nadir, in the wake of a rescue plan to save New York from bankruptcy in the mid-1970s. And although his popularity followed the typical politician's arc from novelty to popularity to ignominy, his mayoralty is widely considered to have been a success.
Koch was reelected twice by adeptly turning his gruff, no-nonsense personal style into a certifiable brand for the city itself.
"Mayor" details the idiosyncratic nature of New York City -- our country's financial and cultural capital -- the way Gotham stands apart, stewing in its distinction and self-sustaining...er, um selfness.
To wit: As mayor of America's largest city, Koch could not be ignored on certain issues of national import.
One of the longest chapters in the book involves President Jimmy Carter's efforts at getting Koch to round up the Jewish vote for his 1980 reelection bid and the Mayor's incessant push-back for certain concessions on the administration's Israel policy.
Having gained those concessions, Koch hit the hustings for Carter who was trounced by Ronald Reagan anyway.
And so it goes. Koch was a big fish in a big pond with no estuary by which to escape it.
Another study in mayoral limitations is Koch's accounting of negotiations with the Transportation Workers Union and
Ed Koch
Ed Koch | |
|---|---|
Koch at the commissioning of USS Lake Champlain in New York City, August 12, 1988 | |
| In office January 1, 1978 – December 31, 1989 | |
| Preceded by | Abraham D. Beame |
| Succeeded by | David N. Dinkins |
| In office January 3, 1973 – December 31, 1977 | |
| Preceded by | Charles B. Rangel |
| Succeeded by | S. William Green |
| In office January 3, 1969 – January 3, 1973 | |
| Preceded by | Theodore R. Kupferman |
| Succeeded by | John M. Murphy |
| Born | Edward Irving Koch (1924-12-12)December 12, 1924 The Bronx, New York, U.S. |
| Died | February 1, 2013(2013-02-01) (aged 88) Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Nationality | U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Parents |
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| Residence | Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Politician |
Edward Irving "Ed" Koch (December 12, 1924 – February 1, 2013) was an American lawyer, politician, movie critic, and television personality. He was the 105th mayor of New York City from January 1, 1978 through December 31, 1989. He was also part of the House of Representatives. He was a judge for the television judge show The People's Court.
Early life
[change | change source]Koch was born on December 12, 1924 in The Bronx, New York to Yetta (née Silpe) and Louis Koch. They were a Polish-Jewish family from New Jersey. He was raised in both The Bronx and in Newark, New Jersey. Koch studied at the City College of New York and at New York University School of Law.
Career
[change | change source]Throughout his career, Koch signed many bills including one that allowed gays and lesbians to marry in New York City. Another well-known act he did in New York was that he helped try to find a cure for AIDS. He had many preventions and awareness programs. He was a Democrat. He ran for Governor of New York, but lost the election. His career began to slowly come to an end after Koch suffered a str Mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989 "Edward Koch" redirects here. For the Australian medical practitioner known for his research of malaria, see Edward Albert Koch. Ed Koch Koch in 1978 Edward Irving Koch Edward Irving Koch (KOTCH; December 12, 1924 – February 1, 2013) was an American politician. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1969 to 1977 and was mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989. Koch was a lifelong Democrat who described himself as a "liberal with sanity". The author of an ambitious public housing renewal program in his later years as mayor, he began by cutting spending and taxes and cutting 7,000 employees from the city payroll. He was the second Jewish mayor of New York, after Abraham Beame. As a congressman before his terms as mayor of New York City, Koch was a fervent supporter of Israel. He crossed party lines to endorse Rudy Giuliani for mayor of New York City in 1993, Al D'Amato for Senate in 1998, Michael Bloomberg for mayor of New York City in 2001, and George W. Bush for president in 2004. Koch was first elected mayor of New York City in 1977 and was re Edward Irving Koch was an American Jewish lawyer, politician, and political commentator. He is best known as the Mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989. Koch was born on December 12, 1924, in the Bronx, New York, the son of Jewish immigrants from Poland. He was raised in Newark, New Jersey, and graduated from South Side High School in 1941. Drafted into the United States Army during World War II, Koch served as a combat infantryman with the 104th Infantry Division, attaining the rank of sergeant. During his service, Koch earned two Battle Stars for fighting in the Battle of Hurtgen Forest and at the Battle of the Bulge. In 1946, Koch was honorably discharged from the military. Upon his return to the States, Koch studied at the City College of New York, where he earned a bachelor’s degree and, in 1948, he graduated from New York University Law School. In 1949, he was admitted to the New York bar and practiced law from 1949 to 1968. In 1963, Koch, a Democrat, was elected as district leader of Greenwich Village, a post he won again in a rematch with Carmine DeSapio in 1965. Koch was a delegate to the State convention in 1964 and, from 1967 to 1969, he served on the New York City Council. Elected as a Democrat-Liberal to the Ninety-First Congress, Koch served in the US House of Representatives representing New York’s 17th and 18th Congressional districts from January 1969 until he resigned from the post in December 1977 to become mayor of New York City. Koch began his first term as New York’s mayor on January 1, 1978, and was re-elected twice in 1981 and 1985. In the 1981 election, Koch ran under the Democratic and Republic tickets, winning the election easily with 75% of the vote. In 1982, he ran unsuccessfully for governor of New York State, losing to then-lieutenant governor Mario Cuomo. In 1989, Koch ran for a fourth mayoral term; however, he lost the Democratic primary to challenger David Dinkins who would later defeat Republican Rudy Giulia Ed Koch
In office
January 1, 1978 – December 31, 1989Preceded by Abraham Beame Succeeded by David Dinkins In office
January 3, 1969 – December 31, 1977Preceded by Theodore Kupferman Succeeded by Bill Green Constituency In office
January 1, 1967 – January 3, 1969Preceded by Woodward Kingman Succeeded by Carol Greitzer Born
(1924-12-12)December 12, 1924
New York City, U.S.Died February 1, 2013(2013-02-01) (aged 88)
New York City, U.S.Political party Democratic Relations Pat Koch Thaler (sister) Education Signature Branch/service United States Army Years of service 1943–1946 Rank Sergeant Unit 104th Infantry Division Battles/wars Awards Ed Koch