Abraham Beame
Encyclopedia
Abraham David "Abe" Beame (March 20, 1906 – February 10, 2001) was mayor of New York City
from 1974 to 1977. As such, he presided over the city during the fiscal crisis of the mid-1970s, during which the city was almost forced to declare bankruptcy.
, he co-founded an accounting firm, Beame & Greidinger. After graduation he also taught accounting from 1929 to 1946 at Richmond Hill High School
, and eventually accounting and commercial law at Rutgers University
during 1944 and 1945. He became city budget director from 1952 to 1961. He was a Democrat and was elected to two terms as city comptroller in 1961 and 1969. In 1965 he was the Democratic nominee for Mayor, but was defeated by the Republican candidate, John V. Lindsay. Beame was a "clubhouse" or machine politician, a product of the Brooklyn wing of the regular Democratic organization (that borough's equivalent of Manhattan's Tammany Hall
) as opposed to the "reform" Democrats who entered New York politics in the 1950s.
in the 1973 mayoral election, Beame faced the worst fiscal crisis in the city's history and spent the bulk of his term attempting to ward off bankruptcy. He slashed the city workforce, froze salaries, and reconfigured the budget, which proved unsatisfactory until reinforced by actions from newly created state-sponsored entities and the granting of federal funds. He also served during the blackout
crisis.
After a chaotic four years as mayor, he ran for a second term in 1977
(shortly after the New York City blackout of 1977
, one of the low points in NYC's history) and finished third in the Democratic primary
to U.S. Representative Edward I. Koch and New York Secretary of State Mario M. Cuomo. Beame outpolled former Congresswoman Bella Abzug
, Congressman Herman Badillo
and Manhattan Borough President Percy Sutton
in the 1977 primary.
When he left office in 1977, the city budget had changed from a $1.5 billion deficit to a surplus of $200 million. He was succeeded by Edward I. Koch as Mayor.
He died on February 10, 2001 at the age of 94 from complications from open-heart surgery at New York University Medical Center.
Mayor of New York City
The Mayor of the City of New York is head of the executive branch of New York City's government. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and state laws within New York City.The budget overseen by the...
from 1974 to 1977. As such, he presided over the city during the fiscal crisis of the mid-1970s, during which the city was almost forced to declare bankruptcy.
Early life and career
Beame was the first mayor of New York City who practiced Judaism. (Earlier Mayor Fiorello La Guardia was of Jewish ancestry on his mother's side, but was Episcopalian). He was born in London, and grew up on New York's Lower East Side. While still a student at Baruch CollegeBaruch College
Bernard M. Baruch College, more commonly known as Baruch College, is a constituent college of the City University of New York, located in the Flatiron district of Manhattan, New York City. With an acceptance rate of just 23%, Baruch is among the most competitive and diverse colleges in the nation...
, he co-founded an accounting firm, Beame & Greidinger. After graduation he also taught accounting from 1929 to 1946 at Richmond Hill High School
Richmond Hill High School (Queens, New York)
Richmond Hill High School is a four-year public high school located in Richmond Hill, Queens, as part of the New York City Department of Education.-History:...
, and eventually accounting and commercial law at Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
during 1944 and 1945. He became city budget director from 1952 to 1961. He was a Democrat and was elected to two terms as city comptroller in 1961 and 1969. In 1965 he was the Democratic nominee for Mayor, but was defeated by the Republican candidate, John V. Lindsay. Beame was a "clubhouse" or machine politician, a product of the Brooklyn wing of the regular Democratic organization (that borough's equivalent of Manhattan's Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
) as opposed to the "reform" Democrats who entered New York politics in the 1950s.
Mayoral challenges
After defeating State Senator John MarchiJohn Marchi
John J. Marchi was a New York State Senator who represented Staten Island for a record 50 years. Marchi , a Republican, retired on December 31, 2006, from the seat that he had held since January 1, 1957....
in the 1973 mayoral election, Beame faced the worst fiscal crisis in the city's history and spent the bulk of his term attempting to ward off bankruptcy. He slashed the city workforce, froze salaries, and reconfigured the budget, which proved unsatisfactory until reinforced by actions from newly created state-sponsored entities and the granting of federal funds. He also served during the blackout
New York City blackout of 1977
The New York City blackout of 1977 was an electricity blackout affected most of New York City from July 13, 1977 to July 14, 1977. The only neighborhoods in New York City that were not affected were in southern Queens, and neighborhoods of the Rockaways, which are part of the Long Island Lighting...
crisis.
After a chaotic four years as mayor, he ran for a second term in 1977
New York City mayoral election, 1977
The New York City mayoral election of 1977 occurred on Tuesday, November 8, 1977.Incumbent mayor Abraham Beame, a Democrat, was challenged by five other Democrats, including Representative Ed Koch, New York Secretary of State Mario Cuomo, and feminist activist and former Representative Bella Abzug...
(shortly after the New York City blackout of 1977
New York City blackout of 1977
The New York City blackout of 1977 was an electricity blackout affected most of New York City from July 13, 1977 to July 14, 1977. The only neighborhoods in New York City that were not affected were in southern Queens, and neighborhoods of the Rockaways, which are part of the Long Island Lighting...
, one of the low points in NYC's history) and finished third in the Democratic primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
to U.S. Representative Edward I. Koch and New York Secretary of State Mario M. Cuomo. Beame outpolled former Congresswoman Bella Abzug
Bella Abzug
Bella Savitsky Abzug was an American lawyer, Congresswoman, social activist and a leader of the Women's Movement. In 1971, Abzug joined other leading feminists such as Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan to found the National Women's Political Caucus...
, Congressman Herman Badillo
Herman Badillo
Herman Badillo is a Bronx, New York politician who has been a borough president, United States Representative, and candidate for Mayor of New York City. He was the first Puerto Rican to be elected to these posts and be a mayoral candidate in the continental United States.-Early years:Badillo was...
and Manhattan Borough President Percy Sutton
Percy Sutton
Percy Ellis Sutton was a prominent black American political and business leader. A civil-rights activist and lawyer, he was also a Freedom Rider and the legal representative for Malcolm X...
in the 1977 primary.
When he left office in 1977, the city budget had changed from a $1.5 billion deficit to a surplus of $200 million. He was succeeded by Edward I. Koch as Mayor.
Personal life
He was a man of short stature, being only five feet, two inches tall.He died on February 10, 2001 at the age of 94 from complications from open-heart surgery at New York University Medical Center.
External links
- La Guardia and Wagner Archives/Abraham D. Beame Collection
- La Guardia and Wagner ArchivesLa Guardia and Wagner ArchivesThe La Guardia and Wagner Archives was established in 1982 at in Long Island City, Queens, New York, to collect, preserve, and make available primary materials documenting the social and political history of New York City, with an emphasis on the mayoralty and the borough of Queens...
- Remarks at the Funeral Service for Mayor Abraham Beame by Rudolph W. Giuliani
- New York City's first Jewish mayor
- Oral history
- History of Baruch College: 12 Who Made It Big: Abraham D. Beame '28