Abraham Hirschfeld
Encyclopedia
Abraham Jacob "Abe" Hirschfeld (December 12, 1919 — August 9, 2005), was a Polish
-born New York
real estate
developer known for his eccentric endeavors, love for publicity, $2 neckties, strong Yiddish accent, and murder-for-hire
plot against a former business partner.
Hirschfeld was born in Tarnów
, Poland
and immigrated to the British Mandate of Palestine in the early 1930s. He said most of his extended family stayed and died in the Holocaust. In the 1950s, his family came to the U.S.A. He made a fortune building semi-enclosed "open-air" parking garages (which he claimed he pioneered—he would say, "Cars don't catch cold!"), and he subsequently funded a number of endeavors.
Throughout his career he waged many failed campaigns for political office, including unsuccessful bids as "Honest Abe" for the U.S. Senate in 1974 (defeated in Democratic primary), for the New York City Council
, for Manhattan Borough President in 1997, for Lieutenant Governor of New York
, for New York State Comptroller
in 1998, and for Mayor of Miami Beach, Florida
. He did serve as treasurer for the New York State Democratic Committee in the 1960s and was elected to the City Commission of Miami Beach in 1989. His most recent attempt at running for political office was in 2004, when he ran as a third party candidate for US Senator from New York against Charles Schumer
and other challengers. Schumer won 71% of the vote, Hirschfeld garnered less than 1%.
In 1956, he bought the Hudson Theatre
, the oldest continuously established Broadway theatre. In 1989, he funded the Broadway
show Prince of Central Park and Jackie Mason
show, Love Thy Neighbor. He is also known for his March 1993 two-week takeover of the bankrupt New York Post
, firing editor Pete Hamill
, but later upon court order reinstating him and kissing his face in a famous picture. After his New York Post
failure he founded Open Air PM, ( along with his daughter Rachel Hirschfeld) an afternoon newspaper using the motto, "Love thy Neighbor" — it folded within 5 months.
In 1998, he offered $1,000,000 USD to Paula Jones
to drop her sexual harassment lawsuit against former US President
Bill Clinton
. In 1999, he was cleared of charges he owed $3.3 million in back taxes.
In 2000, he was convicted of criminal solicitation
for trying to hire a hit man to kill his former business partner Stanley Stahl, with whom he had a "survivor take all" business partnership. Hirschfeld was sentenced to three years in prison, of which he served two. When he got out of prison he ran for the U.S. Senate, calling himself "Honest Abe".
In its list of "Builders and Titans", Time
magazine included Mr. Hirschfeld among the 100 "most influential business geniuses of the century." In 1964, Hirschfeld purchased a building at 925 Park Avenue in New York City, and made it the first luxury co-op conversion. He hired a promising real estate salesperson named Leona Roberts (later, Leona Helmsley
, the future Mrs. Harry Helmsley
) to sell the units for him.
On at least three occasions, Hirschfeld called into The Howard Stern Show to discuss his conviction and jail time.
He died at age 85 on August 9, 2005 in Mount Sinai Hospital
in Manhattan, of cardiac arrest
stemming from complications of a battle with terminal cancer
. He was survived by his Alzheimer's-afflicted
widow, whom he had married in 1943, Zipora Teicher Hirschfeld (who died on November 25, 2006), and their two children, Rachel Hirschfeld and Elie Hirschfeld
.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
-born New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
developer known for his eccentric endeavors, love for publicity, $2 neckties, strong Yiddish accent, and murder-for-hire
Contract killing
Contract killing is a form of murder, in which one party hires another party to kill a target individual or group of people. It involves an illegal agreement between two parties in which one party agrees to kill the target in exchange for consideration, monetary, or otherwise. The hiring party may...
plot against a former business partner.
Hirschfeld was born in Tarnów
Tarnów
Tarnów is a city in southeastern Poland with 115,341 inhabitants as of June 2009. The city has been situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship since 1999, but from 1975 to 1998 it was the capital of the Tarnów Voivodeship. It is a major rail junction, located on the strategic east-west connection...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and immigrated to the British Mandate of Palestine in the early 1930s. He said most of his extended family stayed and died in the Holocaust. In the 1950s, his family came to the U.S.A. He made a fortune building semi-enclosed "open-air" parking garages (which he claimed he pioneered—he would say, "Cars don't catch cold!"), and he subsequently funded a number of endeavors.
Throughout his career he waged many failed campaigns for political office, including unsuccessful bids as "Honest Abe" for the U.S. Senate in 1974 (defeated in Democratic primary), for the New York City Council
New York City Council
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
, for Manhattan Borough President in 1997, for Lieutenant Governor of New York
Lieutenant Governor of New York
The Lieutenant Governor of New York is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the government of New York State. It is the second highest ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four year term...
, for New York State Comptroller
New York State Comptroller
The New York State Comptroller is a state cabinet officer of the U.S. state of New York. The duties of the comptroller include auditing government operations and operating the state's retirement system.-History:...
in 1998, and for Mayor of Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter which separates the Beach from Miami city proper...
. He did serve as treasurer for the New York State Democratic Committee in the 1960s and was elected to the City Commission of Miami Beach in 1989. His most recent attempt at running for political office was in 2004, when he ran as a third party candidate for US Senator from New York against Charles Schumer
Charles Schumer
Charles Ellis "Chuck" Schumer is the senior United States Senator from New York and a member of the Democratic Party. First elected in 1998, he defeated three-term Republican incumbent Al D'Amato by a margin of 55%–44%. He was easily re-elected in 2004 by a margin of 71%–24% and in 2010 by a...
and other challengers. Schumer won 71% of the vote, Hirschfeld garnered less than 1%.
In 1956, he bought the Hudson Theatre
Hudson Theatre
The Hudson Theatre is a former Broadway theater located at 141 West 44th Street, in midtown Manhattan, New York. Today the Hudson functions as a conference center and television studio. It is owned by Millennium & Copthorne Hotels.-History:...
, the oldest continuously established Broadway theatre. In 1989, he funded the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
show Prince of Central Park and Jackie Mason
Jackie Mason
Jackie Mason is an American stand-up comedian and movie actor.-Early life:Born Yacov Moshe Maza in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, he grew up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City....
show, Love Thy Neighbor. He is also known for his March 1993 two-week takeover of the bankrupt New York Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
, firing editor Pete Hamill
Pete Hamill
Pete Hamill is an American journalist, novelist, essayist, editor and educator. Widely traveled and having written on a broad range of topics, he is perhaps best known for his career as a New York City journalist, as "the author of columns that sought to capture the particular flavors of New York...
, but later upon court order reinstating him and kissing his face in a famous picture. After his New York Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
failure he founded Open Air PM, ( along with his daughter Rachel Hirschfeld) an afternoon newspaper using the motto, "Love thy Neighbor" — it folded within 5 months.
In 1998, he offered $1,000,000 USD to Paula Jones
Paula Jones
Paula Corbin Jones is a former Arkansas state employee who sued U.S. President Bill Clinton for sexual harassment. The lawsuit was dismissed before trial on the grounds that Jones failed to demonstrate any damages...
to drop her sexual harassment lawsuit against former US President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
. In 1999, he was cleared of charges he owed $3.3 million in back taxes.
In 2000, he was convicted of criminal solicitation
Solicitation
Literally, solicitation means: 'urgently asking'. It is the action or instance of soliciting; petition; proposal. In criminal law, it most commonly refers to either the act of offering goods or services, or the act of attempting to purchase such goods or services...
for trying to hire a hit man to kill his former business partner Stanley Stahl, with whom he had a "survivor take all" business partnership. Hirschfeld was sentenced to three years in prison, of which he served two. When he got out of prison he ran for the U.S. Senate, calling himself "Honest Abe".
In its list of "Builders and Titans", Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine included Mr. Hirschfeld among the 100 "most influential business geniuses of the century." In 1964, Hirschfeld purchased a building at 925 Park Avenue in New York City, and made it the first luxury co-op conversion. He hired a promising real estate salesperson named Leona Roberts (later, Leona Helmsley
Leona Helmsley
Leona Mindy Roberts Helmsley was an American businesswoman and real estate entrepreneur. She was a flamboyant personality and had a reputation for tyrannical behavior that earned her the nickname Queen of Mean...
, the future Mrs. Harry Helmsley
Harry Helmsley
Harry B. Helmsley was an Americanentrepreneur who built a company that became one of the biggest property holders in the United States...
) to sell the units for him.
On at least three occasions, Hirschfeld called into The Howard Stern Show to discuss his conviction and jail time.
He died at age 85 on August 9, 2005 in Mount Sinai Hospital
Mount Sinai Hospital, New York
Mount Sinai Hospital, founded in 1852, is one of the oldest and largest teaching hospitals in the United States. In 2011-2012, Mount Sinai Hospital was ranked as one of America's best hospitals by U.S...
in Manhattan, of cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest, is the cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the heart to contract effectively...
stemming from complications of a battle with terminal cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. He was survived by his Alzheimer's-afflicted
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
widow, whom he had married in 1943, Zipora Teicher Hirschfeld (who died on November 25, 2006), and their two children, Rachel Hirschfeld and Elie Hirschfeld
Elie Hirschfeld
Elie Hirschfeld is an American real estate developer, theatrical producer, and art collector based in New York City.The son of NYC real estate mogul Abe Hirschfeld, Hirschfeld has developed properties such as the Grand Sutton, the Hotel Pennsylvania, the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Park Avenue Court, the...
.