Sidney Davidoff
Encyclopedia
Sidney "Sid" Davidoff is an American
lawyer
who was one of 20 people on Nixon's Enemies List
.
in 1960 and earned his J.D.
from New York University
in 1963. He was admitted to the New York Bar that year.
Davidoff was administrative assistant to New York Mayor John V. Lindsay
for seven years. Hendrik Hertzberg
called him "the Mayor's burly troubleshooter".
In 1968, when students took over Hamilton Hall at Columbia University
holding the active dean captive there, Lindsay sent Davidoff as one of the mediators to broker the dean's release. He likely caught the attention of Nixon staffers following a street fracas between pro- and anti-war demonstrators, where Davidoff re-lowered the American flag to half-mast in honor of the 4 demonstrators killed at the Kent State shootings
after opponents had raised it in defiance.
On Nixon's list, Davidoff was described thus: "Lindsay's top personal aide: a first class S.O.B., wheeler-dealer and suspected bagman. Positive results would really shake the Lindsay camp and Lindsay's plans to capture youth vote. Davidoff in charge."
Davidoff was a Chubb Fellow at Yale University
, as well as a lecturer to the special Root-Tilden students at New York University School of Law
. Davidoff is currently a senior partner in the firm Davidoff Malito & Hutcher LLP, which he founded in 1975. The law and lobbying firm is recognized as one of the top lobbyists in the state of New York. He later went on to form the New York Advocacy Association, a "lobbying group for lobbyists," designed to counter strict and complicated lobbying laws in the State of New York. He is a member of the Metropolitan New York Board of Governors for the United States Olympic Committee
.
Mr. Davidoff has also had a role in two television shows, as a political consultant for the ABC
television show Spin City
, and playing divorce lawyer Lee Nieman on the episode "Unidentified Black Males" of the HBO show The Sopranos
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
who was one of 20 people on Nixon's Enemies List
Nixon's Enemies List
Nixon’s Enemies List is the informal name of what started as a list of President of the United States Richard Nixon’s major political opponents compiled by Charles Colson, written by George T. Bell , and sent in memorandum form to John Dean on September 9, 1971...
.
Life and career
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Davidoff graduated with a bachelor's degree from City College of New YorkCity College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
in 1960 and earned his J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
in 1963. He was admitted to the New York Bar that year.
Davidoff was administrative assistant to New York Mayor John V. Lindsay
John Lindsay
John Vliet Lindsay was an American politician, lawyer and broadcaster who was a U.S. Congressman, Mayor of New York City, candidate for U.S...
for seven years. Hendrik Hertzberg
Hendrik Hertzberg
Hendrik Hertzberg is an American journalist, best known as the principal political commentator for The New Yorker magazine. He has also been a speechwriter for President Jimmy Carter and editor of The New Republic, and is the author of ¡Obámanos! The Rise of a New Political Era and Politics:...
called him "the Mayor's burly troubleshooter".
In 1968, when students took over Hamilton Hall at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
holding the active dean captive there, Lindsay sent Davidoff as one of the mediators to broker the dean's release. He likely caught the attention of Nixon staffers following a street fracas between pro- and anti-war demonstrators, where Davidoff re-lowered the American flag to half-mast in honor of the 4 demonstrators killed at the Kent State shootings
Kent State shootings
The Kent State shootings—also known as the May 4 massacre or the Kent State massacre—occurred at Kent State University in the city of Kent, Ohio, and involved the shooting of unarmed college students by members of the Ohio National Guard on Monday, May 4, 1970...
after opponents had raised it in defiance.
On Nixon's list, Davidoff was described thus: "Lindsay's top personal aide: a first class S.O.B., wheeler-dealer and suspected bagman. Positive results would really shake the Lindsay camp and Lindsay's plans to capture youth vote. Davidoff in charge."
Davidoff was a Chubb Fellow at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, as well as a lecturer to the special Root-Tilden students at New York University School of Law
New York University School of Law
The New York University School of Law is the law school of New York University. Established in 1835, the school offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in law, and is located in Greenwich Village, in the New York City borough of Manhattan....
. Davidoff is currently a senior partner in the firm Davidoff Malito & Hutcher LLP, which he founded in 1975. The law and lobbying firm is recognized as one of the top lobbyists in the state of New York. He later went on to form the New York Advocacy Association, a "lobbying group for lobbyists," designed to counter strict and complicated lobbying laws in the State of New York. He is a member of the Metropolitan New York Board of Governors for the United States Olympic Committee
United States Olympic Committee
The United States Olympic Committee is a non-profit organization that serves as the National Olympic Committee and National Paralympic Committee for the United States and coordinates the relationship between the United States Anti-Doping Agency and the World Anti-Doping Agency and various...
.
Mr. Davidoff has also had a role in two television shows, as a political consultant for the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
television show Spin City
Spin City
Spin City is an American sitcom television series that aired from September 17, 1996 until April 30, 2002 on the ABC network. Created by Gary David Goldberg and Bill Lawrence, the show was based on a fictional local government running New York City, and originally starred Michael J. Fox as Mike...
, and playing divorce lawyer Lee Nieman on the episode "Unidentified Black Males" of the HBO show The Sopranos
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
.