Robert Abrams
Encyclopedia
Robert Abrams is an American lawyer and politician.
and the New York University School of Law
. He is considered a member of the reform wing of the Democratic Party
.
Abrams was a member of the New York State Assembly
representing the Bronx from 1966 to 1969. From 1970 to 1979, he was the Bronx Borough President
and an ex officio member of the New York City Board of Estimate
.
He was a delegate to the 1972
, 1976
, 1980
and 1984 Democratic National Convention
s. In 1988, he was a presidential elector.
Abrams was New York State Attorney General
from 1979 to 1993.
In 1992, he sought election to the United States Senate
, to challenge Republican Senator Al D'Amato
. He won the Democratic Primary, defeating former Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro
, Rev. Al Sharpton
, and New York City Comptroller
Elizabeth Holtzman
. The nomination battle was well known for its bitterness, particularly Holtzman and Abrams' attack on Ferraro's questionable associations which Ferraro interpreted as anti-Italian slurs. After Abrams emerged as the nominee, the Democrats remained divided and he was unable to secure Ferraro's endorsement until the last days of the campaign. Abrams was also criticized for calling D'Amato a fascist, and he narrowly lost the general election as a result of these controversies.
After narrowly losing the Senate race Abrams announced his resignation from the office of attorney general on September 8, 1993, to take effect on December 31. He had a year left in his term.
Upon leaving politics, Abrams immediately joined Stroock & Stroock & Lavan
as a partner and has remained active in civic affairs in New York.
On May 9, 2009, New York Governor David Paterson
renamed the Justice Building at the Empire State Plaza in Albany after Abrams.
Life and career
He graduated from Columbia CollegeColumbia College of Columbia University
Columbia College is the oldest undergraduate college at Columbia University, situated on the university's main campus in Morningside Heights in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded in 1754 by the Church of England as King's College, receiving a Royal Charter from King George II...
and the 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....
. He is considered a member of the reform wing of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
Abrams was a member of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
representing the Bronx from 1966 to 1969. From 1970 to 1979, he was the Bronx Borough President
Borough president
Borough President is an elective office in each of the five boroughs of New York City.-Reasons for establishment:...
and an ex officio member of the New York City Board of Estimate
New York City Board of Estimate
The New York City Board of Estimate was a governmental body in New York City, responsible for budget and land-use decisions. Under the charter of the newly amalgamated City of Greater New York the Board of Estimate and Apportionment was composed of eight ex officio members: the Mayor of New York...
.
He was a delegate to the 1972
1972 Democratic National Convention
The 1972 Democratic National Convention was the presidential nominating convention of the Democratic Party for the 1972 presidential election. It was held at Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach, Florida on July 10–13, 1972....
, 1976
1976 Democratic National Convention
The 1976 Democratic National Convention met at Madison Square Garden in New York City, from July 12 to July 15, 1976. The assembled United States Democratic Party delegates at the convention nominated Governor Jimmy Carter of Georgia for President and Senator Walter Mondale of Minnesota for Vice...
, 1980
1980 Democratic National Convention
The 1980 National Convention of the U.S. Democratic Party nominated President Jimmy Carter for President and Vice President Walter Mondale for Vice President...
and 1984 Democratic National Convention
1984 Democratic National Convention
The 1984 National Convention of the U.S. Democratic Party was held at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California from July 16 to July 19, 1984, to select a candidate for the 1984 United States presidential election. At the convention Walter Mondale was nominated for President and Geraldine...
s. In 1988, he was a presidential elector.
Abrams was New York State Attorney General
New York State Attorney General
The New York State Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of New York. The office has been in existence in some form since 1626, under the Dutch colonial government of New York.The current Attorney General is Eric Schneiderman...
from 1979 to 1993.
In 1992, he sought election to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, to challenge Republican Senator Al D'Amato
Al D'Amato
Alfonse Marcello "Al" D'Amato is an American lawyer and former New York politician. A Republican, he served as United States Senator from New York from 1981 to 1999.-Early life and family:...
. He won the Democratic Primary, defeating former Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro
Geraldine Ferraro
Geraldine Anne Ferraro was an American attorney, a Democratic Party politician, and a member of the United States House of Representatives. She was the first female Vice Presidential candidate representing a major American political party....
, Rev. Al Sharpton
Al Sharpton
Alfred Charles "Al" Sharpton, Jr. is an American Baptist minister, civil rights activist, and television/radio talk show host. In 2004, he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. presidential election...
, and New York City Comptroller
New York City Comptroller
The Office of Comptroller of New York City is the chief fiscal officer and chief auditing officer of the city. The comptroller is elected, citywide, to a four-year term and can hold office for three consecutive terms. The current comptroller is Democrat John Liu, formerly a member of the New York...
Elizabeth Holtzman
Elizabeth Holtzman
Elizabeth Holtzman is an American lawyer and former Democratic politician, pioneer woman officeholder, four term U.S. Representative , two term District Attorney of Kings County , and New York City Comptroller .Her role on the House Judiciary Committee during the Watergate scandal drew national...
. The nomination battle was well known for its bitterness, particularly Holtzman and Abrams' attack on Ferraro's questionable associations which Ferraro interpreted as anti-Italian slurs. After Abrams emerged as the nominee, the Democrats remained divided and he was unable to secure Ferraro's endorsement until the last days of the campaign. Abrams was also criticized for calling D'Amato a fascist, and he narrowly lost the general election as a result of these controversies.
After narrowly losing the Senate race Abrams announced his resignation from the office of attorney general on September 8, 1993, to take effect on December 31. He had a year left in his term.
Upon leaving politics, Abrams immediately joined Stroock & Stroock & Lavan
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP is an American law firm based in New York City with approximately 350 lawyers in three offices, the other two being Miami and Los Angeles...
as a partner and has remained active in civic affairs in New York.
On May 9, 2009, New York Governor David Paterson
David Paterson
David Alexander Paterson is an American politician who served as the 55th Governor of New York, from 2008 to 2010. During his tenure he was the first governor of New York of African American heritage and also the second legally blind governor of any U.S. state after Bob C. Riley, who was Acting...
renamed the Justice Building at the Empire State Plaza in Albany after Abrams.