ARCHIVES OF THE MAYOR'S WEEKLY COLUMN Archives of Rudolph W. Giuliani

Remembering Mayors Lindsay and Beame

New York City is mourning the loss of its 104th Mayor, Abe Beame - less than two months after the death of his predecessor, John Lindsay. Their passing within a few weeks of each other has renewed discussion of their markedly different governing styles during the turbulent 1960s and 1970s. But what we should remember about these distinguished gentlemen is that they shared a love for the city, its people, and the government that serves them.

John V. Lindsay and I shared a common bond - we were elected Republican mayors in a largely Democratic city. At the time of Lindsay's mayoralty, I was in law school and beginning my career as an assistant U.S. Attorney. He made working for the City seem more altruistic, more idealistic, more exciting than ever before. He lifted my view of what working in government could do for the City of New York.

Lindsay ultimately changed parties in 1971 from Republican to Democrat. But that was only after he lost the Republican nomination in a primary in 1969, and was re-elected - extraordinarily - on the Liberal line alone. But whatever his party affiliation, he remained consistent in his philosophy of government, about human rights and civil rights. He made it acceptable to be a reformer, as Fiorello LaGuardia did for an earlier generation.

One of the finest moments of Lindsay's mayoralty occurred on the night of April 4, 1968, in the aftermath of Dr. Martin Luther King's assassination. While cities across the nation were exploding in flames, New York remained calm. This was in large part due to the example John Lindsay set, walking the streets late into the night, reaching out to those in pain, and calling for unity and understanding, even in the depths of that terrible time.

Lindsay defined an era in the life of the city. He embodied the hopes of a generation at a time of discord and rebirth. He made New York a symbol for urban America by speaking out about what he believed was wrong, discussing what he believed could be made right, and proposing solutions whose legacy we live with today.

There is no question that he had an enduring impact on the city that he loved. His energy, his optimism, and his charisma made him a national figure during the time he lived at Gracie Mansion. The vitality he brought to the office led to a resurgence in the spirit of our city, a spirit symbolized by the Miracle Mets of 1969.

His successor, Abraham Beame, was a living symbol of the American Dream. He was born in London in 1906 and emigrated to the Lower East Side, attended the High School of Commerce and graduated from City College. He moved up the ladder of City government, from Budget Director to City Comptroller to Mayor in 1973.

On his first day in office, he found that he had a $1.5 billion deficit, at a time when the City's budget was just over $10 billion. When he left City Hall four years later, our City's budget showed a surplus of $200 million. The four years in between saw our City face its worst civic crisis since the Great Depression.

Armed with personal courage, a tireless work ethic, and an in-depth knowledge of City government, Abe Beame helped our City recover from its destructive fiscal addiction to borrowing and spending. That is an important part of his legacy as Mayor.

His identification with the City of New York was absolutely complete, and it was evident in small ways, such as his insistence on taking public transportation, and the pride he took gazing at the skyscrapers in midtown Manhattan, eating at neighborhood restaurants in Brooklyn, or walking the beaches of the Rockaways.

As Mayor, Abe Beame brought a civility and effortless dignity to perhaps the most troubled and difficult time our City has gone through. He sought a mayoralty defined not by public appearances, but by substantive accomplishments. When New York was poised on the edge of bankruptcy, Abe Beame had the courage to face our City's problems directly, make very tough choices, and helped to shepherd us to the other side.

I'm sure all New Yorkers join me in expressing our appreciation to John Lindsay and Abe Beame for their many years of dedicated service to the people of the city they loved. They will be remembered and they will be missed.