Hugh Leo Carey (born April 11, 1919) is an
attorneyA lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person licensed to practice law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain stability, and deliver...
and former governor of New York (1975–1982), and a former seven-term
United States RepresentativeThe United States House of Representatives, commonly referred to as the "House," is the lower house of the bicameral United States Congress, the upper house being the United States Senate. The composition and powers of the House and the Senate are established in Article One of the Constitution...
(1961–1974).
Carey was born in
Brooklyn, New YorkBrooklyn is one of the five boroughs of New York City, located southwest of Queens on the western tip of Long Island. An independent city until its consolidation with New York in 1898, Brooklyn is New York City's most populous borough, with 2.5 million residents, and second largest in area...
. Carey joined the U.S. Army as an enlisted man during
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, served in
EuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus Mountains , and the Black Sea to the southeast...
, and reached the rank of major. He received his
bachelor's degreeA bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for four years, but can range from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in 1942 and law degree in 1951 from St. John's University and was admitted to the bar that same year.
Carey was married in 1947 to Helen Owen.
Hugh Leo Carey (born April 11, 1919) is an
attorneyA lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person licensed to practice law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain stability, and deliver...
and former governor of New York (1975–1982), and a former seven-term
United States RepresentativeThe United States House of Representatives, commonly referred to as the "House," is the lower house of the bicameral United States Congress, the upper house being the United States Senate. The composition and powers of the House and the Senate are established in Article One of the Constitution...
(1961–1974).
Early life
Carey was born in
Brooklyn, New YorkBrooklyn is one of the five boroughs of New York City, located southwest of Queens on the western tip of Long Island. An independent city until its consolidation with New York in 1898, Brooklyn is New York City's most populous borough, with 2.5 million residents, and second largest in area...
. Carey joined the U.S. Army as an enlisted man during
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, served in
EuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus Mountains , and the Black Sea to the southeast...
, and reached the rank of major. He received his
bachelor's degreeA bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for four years, but can range from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in 1942 and law degree in 1951 from St. John's University and was admitted to the bar that same year.
Carey was married in 1947 to Helen Owen. They became the parents of Alexandria, Christopher, Susan, Peter, Hugh, Jr., Michael, Donald, Marianne, Nancy, Helen, Bryan,
PaulPaul Robert Carey served as White House Special Assistant to U.S. President Bill Clinton and as 77th Commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission. He was the 7th son of former U.S...
, Kevin, and Thomas. Helen Owen Carey died of
breast cancerBreast cancer is a cancer that starts in the breast, usually in the inner lining of the milk ducts or lobules. There are different types of breast cancer, with different stages , aggressiveness, and genetic makeup. With best treatment, 10-year disease-free survival varies from 98% to 10%...
in 1974. Peter and Hugh, Jr. died in an automobile accident in 1969. Paul, who served as White House Special Assistant to President
Bill ClintonWilliam Jefferson "Bill" Clinton was the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He was the third-youngest president; only Theodore Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy were younger when entering office...
as well as 77th Commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission, died of
cancerCancer is a class of diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled growth , invasion , and sometimes metastasis...
in 2001.
Carey was a partner in the law firm of
Finley, Kumble, Wagner, Underberg, Manley, Myerson & CaseyFinley, Kumble, Wagner, Underberg, Manley, Myerson & Casey was a United States law firm founded in 1968. The firm, based in New York, had grown from eight lawyers at its inception to over 700 lawyers at the time of its bankruptcy and dissolution in 1987...
. Later in his life, he was
of counselOf counsel is often the title of an attorney who is employed by a law firm or an organization, but is not an associate or a partner. According to ABA Formal Opinion 90-357 the term "of counsel" is to describe "a close, regular, personal relationship."...
at the law firm of
Shea & GouldShea & Gould was one of New York's best-known law firms. It was established as a result of a merger in 1964 between Manning, Hollinger & Shea and Gallup, Climenko & Gould. The firm acquired several smaller niche practices in antitrust and other areas during the 1970s. The firm dissolved in 1994...
. He continues to practice law as a member of the
Harris BeachHarris Beach PLLC is a large regional law firm based in Rochester, New York. It has about 200 attorneys in offices throughout New York State as well as one office in New Jersey...
law firm.
Early political career
Running as a Democrat, Carey was elected to the
United States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives, commonly referred to as the "House," is the lower house of the bicameral United States Congress, the upper house being the United States Senate. The composition and powers of the House and the Senate are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 1960, unseating Republican incumbent
Francis E. DornFrancis Edwin Dorn was a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.He was born in Brooklyn. He attended St. Augustine and Bishop Loughlin Memorial High Schools. He graduated from Fordham University in 1932 and Fordham University School of Law in 1935. He also studied at...
. He served seven terms. He served on the House Ways and Means Committee and led the effort to pass the first Federal Aid to Education program. He was elected Governor of New York in 1974 and resigned his Congressional seat on December 31, 1974. Carey was reelected in 1978, serving two full terms as Governor. On January 1, 1983 he was succeeded by his
lieutenant governorA lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor - a "second-in-command." In many Commonwealth of Nations states, lieutenant governors are usually deputy heads...
,
Mario CuomoMario Matthew Cuomo served as the 52nd Governor of New York from 1983 to 1994. Cuomo became nationally known for his keynote speech at the 1984 Democratic National Convention and the subsequent speculation over the next decade that he might run for the Democratic Party nomination for President of...
. Carey returned to private law practice with the firm of
Harris BeachHarris Beach PLLC is a large regional law firm based in Rochester, New York. It has about 200 attorneys in offices throughout New York State as well as one office in New Jersey...
in
New York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States, and the center of the New York metropolitan area, which is among the most populous urban areas in the world. A leading global city, New York exerts a powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, fashion and entertainment...
, where he still resides. He was the first congressman from
BrooklynBrooklyn is one of the five boroughs of New York City, located southwest of Queens on the western tip of Long Island. An independent city until its consolidation with New York in 1898, Brooklyn is New York City's most populous borough, with 2.5 million residents, and second largest in area...
to oppose the
Vietnam WarThe Vietnam War or the Second Indochina War was a Cold War military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1959 to 30 April 1975...
.
Governorship
Carey was elected Governor in 1974, unseating incumbent Republican
Malcolm WilsonMalcolm Wilson may refer to:* Malcolm Wilson , former Governor of New York* Malcolm Wilson , British rally driver and sports personality* Malcolm Wilson , former president of the British Mycological Society...
, who had assumed the office after
Nelson RockefellerNelson Aldrich Rockefeller was the 41st Vice President of the United States, the 49th governor of New York, a philanthropist, and a businessman....
had resigned to become
Vice PresidentA vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
of the United states. Carey became the state's first Democratic Governor in 16 years. Carey is best remembered for his successful handling of New York City's economic crisis in the late 1970s. As Governor he was responsible for building the
Jacob K. Javits Convention CenterJacob K. Javits Convention Center is a large convention center located on Eleventh Avenue, on the West side of Manhattan in New York City. It was designed by architects I. M. Pei and partners. The revolutionary space frame structure was built in 1986 and named for United States Senator Jacob K....
; Battery Park City; the
South Street SeaportThe South Street Seaport is a historic area in the New York City borough of Manhattan, located where Fulton Street meets the East River, and adjacent to the Financial District. The Seaport is usually considered a historical district, distinct from the neighboring Financial District...
and the economic development of the outer boroughs of NYC. He also helped provide state funding for the construction of the
Carrier DomeThe Carrier Dome is a 49,250-seat domed sports stadium located on the campus of Syracuse University in the University Hill neighborhood of Syracuse, New York, USA. It is home to the Syracuse Orange football, basketball, and lacrosse teams. High school football championships are also held in "The...
at
Syracuse UniversitySyracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, U.S.A.. It was founded as a university in 1870, but its roots can be traced back to a seminary founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832 which eventually became Genesee College...
. He is also remembered for preventing conservative legislators from reinstating the death penalty and preventing such legislators from taking away state
abortionAn abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo. An abortion can occur spontaneously due to complications during pregnancy or can be induced, in humans and other species...
laws.
Upon taking office, Carey cut taxes significantly, reduced corporate taxes from 14 percent to 10 percent, capped personal income tax at nine percent, and reduced capital gains taxes. His administration also offered tax credits to encourage new investment.
Carey came into office with New York City close to
bankruptcyBankruptcy is a legally declared inability or impairment of ability of an individual or organization to pay its creditors. Creditors may file a bankruptcy petition against a debtor in an effort to recoup a portion of what they are owed or initiate a restructuring...
. He brought business and labor together to help save New York City from the fiscal crisis that befell it in the 1970s.
Carey signed the Willowbrook Consent Decree, which ended the warehousing of the mentally retarded and developmentally disabled. His vision and leadership led to the community placement of the mentally retarded and developmentally disabled. He also made major strides in community programs for the
mentally illA mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern that occurs in an individual and is thought to cause distress or disability that is not expected as part of normal development or culture. The recognition and understanding of mental disorders has changed over time and...
.
Carey's tenure in office was marked by a growing awareness of the environmental consequences of New York's strong industrial base, including the designation by the federal government of the
Love CanalLove Canal is a neighborhood in Niagara Falls, New York, which became the subject of national and international attention, controversy, and eventual environmental notoriety following the discovery of 21,000 tons of toxic waste buried beneath the neighborhood by Hooker Chemical...
disaster area. Carey made environmental issues a priority of his administration.
Along with Senators
Edward KennedyEdward Moore "Ted" Kennedy was a United States Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic Party. First elected in November 1962, he was elected nine times and served for 46 years in the U.S. Senate. At the time of his death, he was the second most senior member of the Senate, and...
and
Daniel Patrick MoynihanDaniel Patrick “Pat” Moynihan was an American politician and sociologist. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected to the United States Senate for New York in 1976, and was re-elected three times . He declined to run for re-election in 2000...
and
U.S. House SpeakerSpeaker of the House is a political term referring to a number of people:*In the United Kingdom and Canada, the Speaker of the House of Commons is the individual elected to preside over the elected House of Commons...
Tip O'NeillThomas Phillip "Tip" O'Neill, Jr. was an American politician. O'Neill was an outspoken Democrat and influential member of the U.S. Congress, serving in the House of Representatives for 34 years and representing two congressional districts of Massachusetts...
, Carey led efforts to end the violence in
Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and it is situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and support peace in the region.
Carey considered running for President in 1976 and 1980. Carey's first wife, Helen Owen, had died in 1974, and Carey later attributed his decision not to seek the Democratic nomination for President in 1976 to her death.
Carey pardoned Cleveland "Jomo" Davis, one of the leaders of the
AtticaThe Attica Prison riot occurred at the Attica Correctional Facility in Attica, New York, United States in 1971. The riot was based in part upon prisoners' demands for better living conditions. At the time, inmates were given one shower per week and one roll of toilet paper per month...
prison uprising.
In
1978The 1978 New York gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1978 to elect the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of New York.-Results:...
, he was challenged for re-election by State Assembly Minority Leader
Perry DuryeaPerry Belmont Duryea, Jr. was an American politician.-Life:His father ran a wholesale seafood business, Perry B. Duryea and Son, Inc., in Montauk...
. After a competitive, sometimes negative campaign, Carey was the first Democrat re-elected in 40 years.
In April 2006 Carey endorsed State Attorney General
Eliot SpitzerEliot Laurence Spitzer is an American lawyer and former politician of the Democratic Party. He served as Governor of New York from January 2007 until his resignation on March 17, 2008 in the wake of the exposure of his involvement in a high-priced prostitution ring...
as a candidate for Governor; Spitzer went on to win the election by a large margin.
Carey endorsed U.S. Senator
Barack ObamaBarack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office, as well as the first president born in Hawaii...
, of
IllinoisIllinois , the 21st state admitted to the United States of America, is the most populous and demographically diverse Midwestern state and the fifth most populous state in the nation...
, for the Democratic nomination for President in 2008.
Carey currently sits on the board of Triarc Cos., the
Nelson PeltzNelson Peltz is an American businessman and a billionaire. He is the CEO of Wendy's/Arby's Group, the franchise parent of Arby's, TJ Cinnamon, Pasta Connection and Wendy's...
controlled holding company.