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CLINTON LINDSAY » GUEST RUNDOWNS » FORMER GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK, MARIO CUOMO, DIES AT 82!

FORMER GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK, MARIO CUOMO, DIES AT 82!

Governor Mario Cuomo

Governor Mario Cuomo

By Dana Ford—

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • NEW: Cuomo is remembered as “the last liberal giant of New York politics”
  • He had been hospitalized recently to treat a heart condition
  • Cuomo was New York’s governor for three terms from 1983 to 1995

(CNN) — Former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo died Thursday, said his son Chris Cuomo, host of CNN’s “New Day.”

Mario Cuomo had been hospitalized recently to treat a heart condition. He was 82. He passed away at home, shortly before 5 p.m. ET.

The Democrat was governor for three terms from, 1983 to 1995.

He was married to his wife, Matilda, for more than six decades. They had five children, including current New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who was sworn in for his second term Thursday.

Asked once how he wanted to be remembered, Mario Cuomo replied: “One of the simple things I wanted to achieve is — I want to be governor. I want to be the hardest working there ever was. And I want, when it’s over — and I figured on four years at first — I want people to say, now, there was an honest person.”

Cuomo was born in New York City, in the apartment above his father’s grocery store. After a brief shot at a career in minor league baseball, he pursued a law degree and graduated at the top of his class at St. John’s University School of Law.

Although the allure of public service was strong, Cuomo’s early attempts at seeking political office ended in defeat.

His first electoral success came in 1978 as running mate to former Gov. Hugh Carey. Four years later, Carey stepped aside, and Cuomo entered the race and won.

He held the governorship for three terms, winning two more handily by emphasizing lower taxes, balanced budgets, public education and affirmative action.

He attracted national attention with his keynote address at the 1984 Democratic National Convention.

MarioCuomo2

In 1993, Cuomo passed up the opportunity to be appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, choosing instead to run for a fourth term as governor. He lost in 1994.

His death touched people across the political spectrum.

“Our country and our region lost a giant today with the passing of Governor Mario Cuomo. He was a strong, eloquent leader who loved New York and its people. As an Italian-American, he was also a role model for future generations that anything was possible through hard work and education,” New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said in a statement.

The Rev. Al Sharpton remembered the former governor as “the last liberal giant of New York politics.”

“He was a philosopher at heart that always saw the bigger picture. Even when we would engage in debate I felt he was playing chess while I was playing checkers,” he said. “Mario, you have earned it and your place in history is secure. You can now sleep with the greats.”

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