Mario Cuomo’s Peacemaker Purple Shade: Column

by Lanny J. Davis – January 7, 2015

The former N.Y. governor transcended partisan divides, yet kept true to progressive roots

New York’s three-term Governor Mario Cuomo is remembered by my fellow liberal Democrats as a hero. We can never forget his inspiring words at the 1984 Democratic National Convention, describing America as a “tale of two cities,” with the rich in a different place than the poor and the middle-class — not the utopian “city on the hill” as described by Ronald Reagan. Government, Cuomo told the country on the occasion of his 1983 inauguration speech, had the moral responsibility to provide “shelter for the homeless, work for the idle, care for the elderly and infirm, and hope for the destitute.”

But people who see Governor Cuomo as a one-dimensional, contentious ideologue are missing the big picture, by a lot. When I heard he had passed away on Thursday, New Year’s Day 2015, I remembered my own experience with Mario Cuomo, also involving former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, an experience I will never forget.

As do most people in politics, Cuomo had some personal political disagreements that led to harsh feelings on both sides. One in particular was former Mayor Koch. Koch and Cuomo ran against each other four times — Koch won the first three in 1977. Koch won two rounds in the Democratic nomination for mayor, and a third in the general election when Cuomo ran on the Liberal Party line. Cuomo won the fourth contest in 1982, when he defeated Koch for the Democratic nomination for governor.

Over the years, I had come to know and admire Governor Cuomo, especially during his years in private life as a lawyer at the New York City law firm, Willkie Farr & Gallagher.

In the spring of 2010, I called Cuomo to ask him to co-host a book party for me in New York City. The title of my soon-to-be-published book was Scandal — How “Gotcha” Politics is Destroying America The thesis of the book that America needed to overcome the bitter partisan divisions in separating red and blue state America. I argued that political adversaries, including those from the same political party, could disagree agreeably and still come together to get things done.

I asked him if he would read the manuscript and, if he liked it, whether he would be willing to co-host a book party for me in New York City the following month. I air-expressed him the manuscript. Several days later, he called me back.

“Of course I will host your book party,” he said. “I only hope people in both parties in Washington get your message.”

I reminded him that I had asked him to co-host the party, not just host it.

He asked me who would be the other host. I hesitated. “Ed Koch,” I said.

I thought this was a heavy lift. I had been told that he and Mayor Koch still hated each other — hadn’t talked more than a few words since 1982 — some 28 years.

Governor Cuomo responded immediately.

“Of course — perfect. I get it. It will be a great moment for us to prove the point of your book.”

Mayor Koch’s reaction was slightly different when I called him about co-hosting. He too had read the manuscript quickly and agreed with its overall message. When I told him that Cuomo had already said yes to co-hosting the party with him, he asked, “Are you kidding me? Cuomo said yes?” I said, yes. Then he said, almost immediately: “Well if Cuomo said yes, then I say yes too. So there!”

On the day of the event, I was nervous. I realized that protocol, given the seniority of being a governor over being a mayor, required that Governor Cuomo be the last speaker and Mayor Koch should introduce him. But I wasn’t sure whether I would be pushing Koch too far if he had to introduce Cuomo in friendly words. I asked Cuomo if he would go first.

He smiled. “Ok Lanny, let’s make it easy for Ed. I will introduce him — and shock him by expressing my admiration and affection for him.”

And so he did. And Koch returned the kind words. The two did more than shake hands. They hugged. And everyone in the room could feel the magic of witnessing former bitter political adversaries finding common humanity and common ground.

Certainly an important lesson for politics in America in 2015 and beyond.

May we remember Mario Cuomo as a principled progressive with the soul of a mediator and a peacemaker.

Lanny J. Davis, executive vice president of LEVICK Communications, was special counsel to President Bill Clinton in 1996-98 and is a regular columnist for The Hill newspaper.

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