View source for Mario Cuomo

{{Short description|Governor of New York from 1983 to 1994}}
{{For|the singer|the Orwells}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image               = Mario Cuomo 1987 (cropped).jpg
| caption             = Cuomo in 1987
| order               = 52nd
| office              = Governor of New York
| lieutenant          = [[Alfred DelBello]]<br />[[Warren M. Anderson|Warren Anderson]] (acting)<br />[[Stan Lundine]]
| term_start          = January 1, 1983
| term_end            = December 31, 1994
| predecessor         = [[Hugh Carey]]
| successor           = [[George Pataki]]
| office1             = [[Lieutenant Governor of New York]]
| governor1           = Hugh Carey
| term_start1         = January 1, 1979
| term_end1           = December 31, 1982
| predecessor1        = [[Mary Anne Krupsak]]
| successor1          = [[Alfred DelBello]]
| office2             = 57th [[Secretary of State of New York]]
| governor2           = Hugh Carey
| term_start2         = January 1, 1975
| term_end2           = December 31, 1978
| predecessor2        = [[John J. Ghezzi|John Ghezzi]]
| successor2          = [[Basil A. Paterson|Basil Paterson]]
| birth_name          = Mario Matthew Cuomo
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1932|6|15}}
| birth_place         = [[New York City]], U.S.
| death_date          = {{death date and age|2015|1|1|1932|6|15}}
| death_place         = New York City, U.S.
| restingplace        = [[St. John Cemetery (Queens)|St. John Cemetery]]
| party               = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| otherparty          = [[Liberal Party of New York]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|[[Matilda Cuomo|Matilda Raffa]]|1954}}
| children            = 5, including [[Andrew Cuomo|Andrew]], [[Margaret Cuomo|Margaret]], and [[Chris Cuomo|Chris]]
| relatives           = [[Cuomo family]]
| education           = [[St. John's University (New York City)|St. John's University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[Bachelor of Laws|LLB]])
| signature           = Mario Cuomo Signature.svg
}}
'''Mario Matthew Cuomo''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|w|oʊ|m|oʊ}}, {{IPA|it|ˈmaːrjo ˈkwɔːmo|lang}}; June 15, 1932&nbsp;– January 1, 2015) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 52nd [[governor of New York]] for three terms, from 1983 to 1994.<ref>''[https://books.google.com/books?id=JDjrCQAAQBAJ&pg=RA3-PA1803 Guide to U.S. Elections]''.</ref> A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], Cuomo previously served as the [[lieutenant governor of New York]] from 1979 to 1982 and the [[secretary of state of New York]] from 1975 to 1978. He was the father of former New York governor [[Andrew Cuomo]] and broadcaster [[Chris Cuomo]].

Cuomo was known for his [[Modern liberalism in the United States|liberal]] views and public speeches, particularly [[A Tale of Two Cities (speech)|his keynote speech address]] at the [[1984 Democratic National Convention]] in which he sharply criticized the policies of the [[Reagan administration]], saying, "Mr. President, you ought to know that this nation is more a {{'}}''[[A Tale of Two Cities|Tale of Two Cities]]''{{'}} than it is just a shining '[[City upon a hill|city on a hill]].{{' "}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mariocuomo1984dnc.htm|title=American Rhetoric: Mario Cuomo – Keynote Address at the 1984 Democratic National Convention|last=Eidenmuller|first=Michael E.|website=American Rhetoric|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061007014520/https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mariocuomo1984dnc.htm|archive-date=October 7, 2006|url-status=dead|access-date=September 18, 2018}}</ref> He was widely considered a frontrunner for the Democratic nomination for president in both [[1988 Democratic Party presidential primaries|1988]] and [[1992 Democratic Party presidential primaries|1992]], but he ultimately declined to seek the nomination in both instances. His indecisiveness about entering the race led to his being dubbed "[[Hamlet]] on the [[Hudson River|Hudson]]".<ref name=bestandworst>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/best-and-worst-convention-addresses-how-will-gov-chris-christie-measure-up/|title=Best and worst convention addresses: How will Gov. Chris Christie measure up?|date=August 22, 2012|access-date=January 14, 2013|publisher=CBS News|first=Bill|last=Plante}}</ref><ref name=marioeffect>{{cite web|url= https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2011/04/the-mario-effect-last-time-a-group-of-presidential-challengers-was-this-unimpressive-there-was-a-reason-067223|page=all|title=The Mario Effect: Last time a group of presidential challengers was this unimpressive, there was a reason|date=April 10, 2011|access-date=March 8, 2020|website=[[Politico]]|first=Steve|last=Kornacki}}</ref>

Cuomo was [[1994 New York gubernatorial election|defeated]] for a fourth term as governor by [[George Pataki]] in the [[Republican Revolution]] of 1994. He subsequently retired from politics and joined the [[New York City]] law firm of [[Willkie Farr & Gallagher]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/08/nyregion/for-citizen-cuomo-a-law-job-and-a-book-deal.html|title=For Citizen Cuomo, a Law Job and a Book Deal|last=Sack|first=Kevin|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 5, 1995|access-date=September 24, 2018}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Cuomo was born in the [[Briarwood, Queens|Briarwood]] section of the New York City borough of [[Queens, New York City|Queens]] to a family of [[Italian American|Italian]] origin. His grandfather Donato came to the US in 1896.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-08-07 |title=Cuomo's talk of undocumented immigrant roots draws scrutiny - POLITICO |website=[[Politico]] |url=https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2018/04/19/cuomos-talk-of-undocumented-immigrant-roots-draws-scrutiny-373103 |access-date=2023-08-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807225250/https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2018/04/19/cuomos-talk-of-undocumented-immigrant-roots-draws-scrutiny-373103 |archive-date=August 7, 2023 }}</ref> Mario Cuomo's father, Andrea Cuomo, was born in New York City in 1901 but in 1904, aged two or three, was taken back to a mountain village outside [[Salerno]], [[Campania]], returning to the United States on his US passport more than two decades later.<ref name=":0" /> Andrea Cuomo was from [[Nocera Inferiore]], Campania, and his mother—Immacolata Giordano—was from [[Tramonti, Campania]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=8bk1AQAAIAAJ&q=Immacolata+Andrea+cuomo&dq=Immacolata+Andrea+cuomo&hl=en Immacolata Andrea Cuomo], ''Epoca'', Google Books, 1988, Retrieved December 27, 2013.</ref> The family ran Kessler's Grocery Store in [[South Jamaica, Queens]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Siemaszko|first1=Corky |author2=Kerry Burke|title=Mario Cuomo's death stirs memories of his parents' grocery store for Queens resident |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/mario-cuomo-death-stirs-memories-parents-grocery-store-article-1.2064368 |website=Daily News |date=January 2, 2015 |location=New York |access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> Mario Cuomo attended [[New York City Department of Education|New York City P.S. 50]] and [[St. John's Preparatory School (Queens)|St. John's Preparatory School]].

Cuomo was a baseball player and while attending [[St. John's University (New York City)|St. John's University]] in 1952, he signed as an [[outfielder]] with the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] for a $2,000 [[signing bonus|bonus]], which he used to help purchase his wife [[Matilda Cuomo|Matilda]]'s engagement ring.<ref>[https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/baseball/ Baseball: A film by Ken Burns], ''PBS'', 2010, Retrieved December 27, 2013.</ref> Cuomo played for the [[Brunswick Pirates]] of the [[Class D (baseball)|Class D]] [[Georgia–Florida League]] where his teammates included future major leaguer [[Fred Green (baseball)|Fred Green]]; {{r|mccarron20150103}} Cuomo attained a .244 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] and played center field until he was struck in the back of the head by a pitch.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/late-former-new-york-governor-mario-cuomo-played-baseball-in-minor-leagues/c-105377724|title=Former NY governor Cuomo dies at 82, played in Minors|first=Quinn|last=Roberts|work=MLB.com|date=January 2, 2015|access-date=January 2, 2015}}</ref> Batting helmets were not yet required equipment, and Cuomo's injury was severe enough that he was hospitalized for six days.{{r|mccarron20150103}}

After his recovery, Cuomo gave up baseball and returned to St. John's University, earning his bachelor's degree ''summa cum laude'' in 1953.<ref name="Greiner">''University convocation and inauguration of William R. Greiner: Thirteenth president of the University at Buffalo'', Buffalo, NY: University at Buffalo Inaugural Program, September 18, 1992.</ref> Deciding on a legal career, Cuomo attended [[St. John's University School of Law]] and graduated tied for first in his class in 1956.<ref name="Greiner" /> Cuomo clerked for Judge [[Adrian P. Burke]] of the [[New York Court of Appeals]].<ref name="Greiner" /> Despite having been a top student, the ethnic prejudice of the time led to his rejection by more than 50 law firms before he was hired by a small but established office in [[Brooklyn]].<ref>{{cite book|first1=Charles J.|last1=Hynes|first2=Bob|last2=Drury|authorlink2=Bob Drury|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1j2MDJBOmHoC&dq=mario+cuomo+rejected+by+law+firms+burke&pg=PA86|title=Incident at Howard Beach|date=2011|isbn=978-0399135002|page=86|publisher=iUniverse }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=Robert S.|last=McElvaine|url=https://archive.org/details/mariocuomobiogra00mcel|title=Mario Cuomo: A Biography|publisher=[[Charles Scribner's Sons]]|location=New York City|date=1988|isbn= 9780684189703 |page=143}}</ref>

During his tenure at the law firm of Comer, Weisbrod, Froeb and Charles, Cuomo represented [[Fred Trump]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2019/03/04/donald-trumps-seduction-of-mario-cuomo/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190318193348/https://www.villagevoice.com/2019/03/04/donald-trumps-seduction-of-mario-cuomo/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 18, 2019|title=Donald Trump's Seduction of Mario Cuomo &#124; Village Voice|website=www.villagevoice.com|date=March 4, 2019}}</ref> Cuomo eventually became a partner at the firm, but stepped down in 1974 to become New York Secretary of State.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2014/12/mario-cuomo-and-those-mob-rumors.html|title=From the Archives: Mario Cuomo and Those Mob Rumors|website=Intelligencer|date=January 2015 |language=en-us|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> In 1989, he settled a longstanding lawsuit against his former firm regarding $4 million in legal fees.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/04/14/nyregion/cuomo-settles-suit-on-a-share-in-a-law-firm.html|title=Cuomo Settles Suit on a Share In a Law Firm|first=Selwyn|last=Raab|date=April 14, 1989|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> In addition to practicing law, Cuomo worked as an adjunct professor at [[St. John's University School of Law]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Robert|last=Viscusi|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-qexaZyuoJUC&dq=mario+cuomo+professor+st.+john%27s&pg=PA133|title=Buried Caesars, and Other Secrets of Italian American Writing|publisher=[[SUNY Press]]|location=New York City|date=2006|isbn=978-0791466339|page=133}}</ref>

==Early political career==
[[File:Mario Cuomo 1975 (3x4 cropped).jpg|thumb|200px|right|Mario Cuomo in 1975]]
Cuomo first became widely known in New York City in the late 1960s when he represented "The Corona Fighting 69", a group of 69 home-owners from the Queens neighborhood of [[Corona, Queens|Corona]], who were threatened with displacement by the city's plan to build a new high school.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Roberts|first=Sam|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/03/nyregion/mario-cuomo-rose-from-queens-the-outsiders-borough-.html|title=An Outsider's Borough Shaped a Politician Who Helped Shape It|date=January 2, 2015|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 29, 2020|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He later represented another Queens residents group, the [[Kew Gardens, Queens|Kew Gardens]]–[[Forest Hills, Queens|Forest Hills]] Committee on Urban Scale, who opposed [[Samuel J. LeFrak]]'s housing proposal adjacent to Willow Lake in Queens. In 1972, Cuomo became known beyond New York City when Mayor [[John Lindsay]] appointed him to conduct an inquiry and mediate a dispute over low-income public housing slated for the upper-middle-class neighborhood of Forest Hills.<ref name=marioeffect/> Cuomo described his experience in that dispute in the book ''Forest Hills Diary'', and the story was retold by sociologist [[Richard Sennett]] in ''The Fall of Public Man''.

===New York secretary of state===
[[1974 New York state election|In 1974]], Cuomo ran in the primary for [[lieutenant governor of New York]] on a [[Slate (elections)|slate]] headed by gubernatorial candidate [[Howard J. Samuels]], and both won the nomination of the Democratic State Committee at the party convention. But their entire ticket, including the nominees for [[attorney general]] and [[U.S. Senator|U.S. senator]] was defeated in the Democratic [[Partisan primary|primary election]]: Samuels by Rep. [[Hugh Carey]] of Brooklyn, and Cuomo by state senator [[Mary Anne Krupsak]].

Governor-elect Carey chose to bring Cuomo into his new administration, naming him in December as his choice for [[Secretary of State of New York]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Poster |first=Thomas |date=December 20, 1974 |title=Cuomo Named N.Y. Sec. of State |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23473815/ |newspaper=New York Daily News |page=37 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=September 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928121621/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23473815/daily_news/ |archive-date=September 28, 2018 |url-status=live }} {{Open access}}</ref> Cuomo served until December 1978, and was succeeded as Secretary of State by [[Basil Paterson]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}

===New York City mayoral election===
{{see also|1977 New York City mayoral election}}
Two years later, Cuomo ran for [[Mayor of New York City]] at Carey's urging.<ref name=marioeffect/> Incumbent Mayor [[Abraham Beame]] was very unpopular and Cuomo was one of five major challengers to Beame in the Democratic primary. In a close and highly fractured election, U.S. Representative [[Ed Koch]] finished first with 19.81% of the vote and Cuomo came second with 18.74%. As no candidate cleared 40% of the vote, Koch and Cuomo advanced to a runoff. Koch emerged victorious with 54.94% of the vote to Cuomo's 45.06%. Cuomo had received the nomination of the [[Liberal Party of New York|Liberal Party]] several months previously and was urged to drop out of the race but he contested the general election against Koch and token Republican opposition.<ref name=marioeffect/><ref name=cip>{{cite book|title=Oxford Dictionary of Quotations|edition=7|editor-first1=Elizabeth|editor-last1=Knowles|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|year=    2009|isbn=    9780199237173|url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780199237173.001.0001/q-author-00001-00000878|doi=10.1093/acref/9780199237173.001.0001|quote=“Campaign in poetry, govern in prose”}} New Republic, Washington, DC, 8 April 1985</ref>

During the mayoral campaign, placards appeared saying: "Vote for Cuomo, not the homo" in reference to rumors about Koch's sexuality. Cuomo denied responsibility for this but Koch never forgave him "as he made clear with a pointedly disparaging reference to Mr. Cuomo in a recorded interview with ''[[The New York Times]]'' that was not to be made public until Mr. Koch's death".<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/02/nyregion/edward-i-koch-ex-mayor-of-new-york-dies.html?pagewanted=all Edward I. Koch, a mayor as brash, shrewd and colorful as the city he led, dies at 88], ''The New York Times'', February 1, 2013, McFadden, R.D., Retrieved December 27, 2013.</ref> Cuomo ran on his opposition to the death penalty, which backfired among New Yorkers as crime was very high. Cuomo then went negative with ads that likened Koch to unpopular former mayor [[John Lindsay]]. Meanwhile, Koch backers accused Cuomo of [[antisemitism]] and pelted Cuomo campaign cars with eggs.<ref name="Mahler">Ladies and gentlemen, the Bronx is burning: 1977, baseball, politics, and the battle for the soul of a city, New York: Picador/Macmillan Publishers, 2006, Mahler, J.</ref> Cuomo was also defeated by Koch in the general election,<ref name="Mahler" /> taking 40.97% to Koch's 49.99%. The race is discussed in Jonathan Mahler's book ''[[Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx Is Burning]]''.<ref name="Mahler" />

=== New York lieutenant governor ===
In 1978, incumbent lieutenant governor Krupsak declined to seek re-election. She withdrew from the ticket and unsuccessfully challenged Carey in the gubernatorial primary, accusing him of incompetence.<ref name=marioeffect/> Cuomo won the primary for lieutenant governor and was elected alongside Carey in [[1978 New York gubernatorial election|the general election]].

== Governor of New York ==

=== Elections ===
[[File:President Ronald Reagan presenting New York leaders with a check for Westway Project Funds.jpg|thumb|right|President [[Ronald Reagan]] presenting Mario Cuomo and other New York leaders with a check for Westway Project Funds, September 1981]]

In [[1982 New York gubernatorial election|1982]], Carey declined to run for re-election and Cuomo declared his candidacy. He once again faced Ed Koch in the Democratic primary. This time, Koch's support for the death penalty backfired and he alienated many voters from outside New York City when, in an interview with ''[[Playboy]]'' magazine, he described the lifestyle of both suburbia and upstate New York as "sterile" and lamented the thought of having to live in "the small town" of [[Albany, New York|Albany]] as governor, saying it was "a city without a good Chinese restaurant".<ref name="marioeffect"/> Cuomo won the primary by ten points and faced Republican nominee businessman [[Lewis Lehrman]] in the general election. With [[Early 1980s recession in the United States|the recession]] aiding Democratic candidates, Cuomo beat Lehrman 50.91% to 47.48%.

Cuomo actively campaigned for [[Walter Mondale]] in the [[1984 United States presidential election|1984 presidential election]], and was named on Mondale's list of [[1984 Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection|vice presidential candidates]]. [[Geraldine Ferraro]] was ultimately nominated as his running mate, but Cuomo was chosen to give the keynote speech at the [[1984 Democratic National Convention]] in San Francisco. He vigorously attacked [[Ronald Reagan]]'s record and policies in his [[A Tale of Two Cities (speech)|''Tale of Two Cities'' speech]] that brought him to national attention, most memorably saying: "There is despair, Mr. President, in the faces that you don't see, in the places that you don't visit, in your shining city."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.history.com/speeches/speeches-mario-cuomo-delivers-keynote-address-to-democratic-national-convention#speeches-mario-cuomo-delivers-keynote-address-to-democratic-national-convention |title=Mario Cuomo Delivers Keynote Address to Democratic National Convention |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231001201/http://www.history.com/speeches/speeches-mario-cuomo-delivers-keynote-address-to-democratic-national-convention |archive-date=December 31, 2013|website=History Channel |publisher=A & E Television Networks |year=2013 |access-date=December 29, 2013}}</ref><ref>Cuomo, M.M. (1993). More than words: The speeches of Mario Cuomo. St. Martin's Press.</ref> He was immediately considered one of the frontrunners for the Democratic nomination for president in [[1988 United States presidential election|1988]] and [[1992 United States presidential election|1992]].

Cuomo was re-elected in [[1986 New York gubernatorial election|1986]] against Republican nominee [[Andrew P. O'Rourke]] by 64.3% to 31.77%. He ruled out the possibility of running in the 1988 presidential election, announcing on February 19, 1987, that he would not run, and then going on to publicly decline [[Draft (politics)|draft movements]] in the wake of [[Gary Hart]]'s withdrawal following the [[Gary Hart#1988 presidential campaign and the Donna Rice affair|Donna Rice affair]].<ref name="mystery">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/15/magazine/the-mystery-of-mario-cuomo.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm |title=The mystery of Mario Cuomo |date=May 15, 1988 |access-date=March 7, 2013 |newspaper=New York Times |first=Jeffrey |last=Schmalz}}</ref>

In the [[1990 New York gubernatorial election|1990 gubernatorial election]], Cuomo was re-elected with 53.17% of the vote to Republican [[Pierre Andrew Rinfret]]'s 21.35% and Conservative [[Herbert London]]'s 20.40%.

When Cuomo was asked if he was planning to run for president in 1992, he said, "I have no plans and no plans to make plans," but he refused to rule it out. In October 1991, news broke that he was interested in running and was taking advice from consultant [[Bob Shrum]]. At the same time, he began working on a budget with the [[New York State Legislature]], and promised not to make any announcements about a presidential run until he had reached an agreement with the Republican-controlled [[New York State Senate|State Senate]] and the Democratic-controlled [[New York State Assembly|State Assembly]]. Two polls taken in November of the [[United States presidential election in New Hampshire, 1992|New Hampshire Democratic primary]] showed him leading the field by at least twenty points, and a poll in December showed him trailing President [[George H. W. Bush]] 48% to 43%, having been behind by twenty-eight points two months earlier.<ref name=marioeffect/>

The filing deadline for the New Hampshire primary was on December 20, 1991, and candidates were required to submit a ballot application in person. Cuomo was not able to negotiate a budget agreement with Republicans in the Legislature and on deadline day, time ran out. In a scene later fictionalized in [[Joe&nbsp;Klein]]'s ''[[Primary Colors (novel)|Primary&nbsp;Colors]]'',<ref name="Fassin 1996">{{cite journal |title=''{{lang|fr|Une morale de la vérité: Journalisme et pouvoir dans la culture politique américaine contemporaine}}'' |last=Fassin |first=Éric |author-link=Éric Fassin |date=1996 |journal=[[Esprit (magazine)|Esprit]] |volume=226 |issue=11 |pages=176–177 |issn=0014-0759 |jstor=24277975 |language=fr }}</ref> he kept an airplane idling on the tarmac as he pondered abandoning the budget talks in order to fly to New Hampshire and enter the race.<ref name="Gitell 2006">{{cite news|url=http://www.nysun.com/opinion/new-hampshire-factor/40389/ |title=New Hampshire Factor |date=September 26, 2006 |last=Gitell |first=Seth |newspaper=New York Sun |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102064228/http://www.nysun.com/opinion/new-hampshire-factor/40389/ |archive-date=January 2, 2015 |url-status=live |quote=There have, of course, been big names from New York whose names have been raised in presidential contests .&nbsp;.&nbsp;. Governor {{bracket|Mario}} Cuomo dashed the hopes of Democratic activists, salivating since his 1984 convention speech over the prospect of a presidential run by him, when he kept a New Hampshire-bound plane waiting on the tarmac&nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;. }}</ref> Democratic party leaders asked him to run and he prepared two statements, one in case he ran and one in case he did not. He tried to come to a final agreement over the budget, but as he could not, he made an announcement at 3:30&nbsp;p.m. that day:

{{blockquote|It is my responsibility as governor to deal with this extraordinarily severe problem. Were it not, I would travel to New Hampshire today and file my name as a candidate in this presidential primary. That was my hope and I prepared for it. But it seemed to me that I cannot turn my attention to New Hampshire while this threat hangs over the head of the New Yorkers I have sworn to put first.<ref name=marioeffect/>}}

Cuomo's supporters launched a draft movement and encouraged people to write in his name in the Democratic primary, which was held on February 18, 1992. Cuomo did not discourage it, which many saw as implicit endorsement of the campaign.<ref name=write-in>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/22/us/the-1992-campaign-write-in-cuomo-tells-presidential-draft-group-to-end-campaign.html |title=The 1992 Campaign: Write-In: Cuomo tells presidential draft group to end campaign |date=February 22, 1992 |access-date=March 7, 2013 |newspaper=New York Times |first=Kevin |last=Sack |author-link=Kevin Sack}}</ref> Cuomo went on to receive 6,577 votes in the primary, 3.92% of the total cast and subsequently asked the draft committee to close down, saying, "I am flattered by their support and impressed by their commitment, but I am also convinced that in fairness to themselves they ought now to end their effort."<ref name=write-in/> The group closed down, but Cuomo refused to rule out joining the primaries later in the year, stating, "I have said more than once that the nomination should go to someone willing and able to campaign for it. I am willing, but because New York's budget has not been settled I am not able to campaign for it."<ref name=write-in/> Ultimately, Cuomo did not enter the race and [[Bill Clinton]] went on to win the Democratic nomination and the general election. Because of Cuomo's refusal to run for national office, despite his popularity, he was referred to as the "Hamlet on the Hudson".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110929195231/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-11299560.html Mario Cuomo, Hamlet on the Hudson], ''The Economist'', Independence, Kansas, September 28, 1991. Retrieved December 27, 2013.</ref>

After Bill Clinton won the Democratic nomination for president in 1992, Cuomo was a candidate for vice president but he refused to be considered and did not make Clinton's final shortlist.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/10/us/1992-campaign-democrats-clinton-selects-senator-gore-tennessee-running-mate.html |title=The 1992 Campaign: Democrats: Clinton selects Senator Gore of Tennessee as running mate |date=July 10, 1992 |access-date=March 7, 2013 |newspaper=New York Times |first=Gwen |last=Ifill |author-link=Gwen Ifill}}</ref> He was also spoken of as a candidate for nomination to the [[Supreme Court of the United States|United States Supreme Court]], but when President Clinton was considering nominees during his first term to replace the retiring [[Byron White]], Cuomo stated he was not interested in the office.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/08/nyregion/cuomo-announces-he-is-not-seeking-seat-on-high-court.html|title=Cuomo announces he is not seeking seat on high court|work=The New York Times|date=April 8, 1993|author1=Sack, Kevin|access-date=December 27, 2013}}</ref> [[George Stephanopoulos]] wrote in 1999 that Clinton came within 15 minutes of nominating Cuomo before the latter pre-emptively rejected the post.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/08/nyregion/book-tells-of-courtship-to-get-cuomo-on-high-court.html |title=Book tells of 'courtship' to get Cuomo on high court|work=The New York Times |date=March 8, 1999 |author1=McFadden, R.D.|access-date=December 27, 2013}}</ref>

In [[1994 New York gubernatorial election|1994]], Cuomo ran for a fourth term. In this election, Republicans attacked him for the weak economic recovery within the state since the early 1990s recession and the resulting high unemployment as well as his opposition to the death penalty by highlighting the case of [[Arthur Shawcross]], a multiple murderer convicted of manslaughter who was paroled by the state in 1987 and while on release became a serial killer. Republicans were able to associate Shawcross with Cuomo much like [[Willie Horton|William Horton]] with [[Michael Dukakis]] six years earlier. Cuomo was defeated by [[George Pataki]] in the [[Republican Revolution|1994 Republican landslide]], taking 45.4% of the vote to Pataki's 48.8%. Cuomo lost mainly because his support outside of New York City all but vanished; he only carried one county outside the five boroughs, [[Albany County, New York|Albany County]], while also failing to sweep the five boroughs unlike his previous three successful runs, losing [[Staten Island]].

Cuomo and fellow Democrat [[Ann Richards]], the [[governor of Texas]] who had been defeated in her re-election campaign by [[George W. Bush]], appeared in a series of humorous [[Super Bowl XXIX]] television advertisements for the snack food [[Doritos]] shortly afterwards, in which they discussed the "sweeping changes" occurring. The changes they were discussing turned out to be the new Doritos packaging.<ref>Anon., [https://adage.com/videos/doritos-mario-cuomo-and-ann-richards/1050 "Doritos—Mario Cuomo and Ann Richards"], ''[[Ad Age]]'', January 29, 1995.</ref>

=== Accomplishments ===
[[File:Groundbreaking_of_Pilot_Field_(now_Sahlen_Field),_July_1986.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Groundbreaking]] of [[Sahlen Field|Pilot Field]] in July 1986. From left to right: [[Buffalo Bisons]] owner [[Robert E. Rich Jr.]], Governor Mario Cuomo and Buffalo Mayor [[James D. Griffin]].]]

In Cuomo's first term as Governor of New York, he produced a balanced budget and earned the highest credit rating over the long term for the State in one decade.<ref name="Greiner" /> His philosophy in leading the state was one of "progressive pragmatism".<ref name="Greiner" /> Cuomo and the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives (Democrats had over a 3:2 margin in House) was successful in stopping U.S. President Ronald Reagan's administration from eliminating "federal income tax deductibility of state, local and property taxes".<ref name="Greiner" />

During his second term as governor, Cuomo successfully pushed for the enactment of sweeping fiscal reforms for the State.<ref name="Greiner" /> Comprehensive reform measures were also enacted in governmental ethics for New York State under Cuomo's leadership.<ref name="Greiner" /> Cuomo extended New York State's economic reach in business globally, contributing to both strengthening and developing it.<ref name="Greiner" /><ref name="Wilkie">[http://www.willkie.com/news/2015/governor-cuomo In Memoriam: Mario M. Cuomo (1932-2015)], Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP (January 2, 2015).</ref>

Cuomo is also known for beginning the "Decade of the Child" initiative, an effort that included multiple health care and educational strategies to better the lives of children in New York State.<ref name="Greiner" />  Further, in 1988, the "Rebuild NY" Transportation Bond Act was an initiative under Cuomo that was a continuance of efforts to rebuild bridges and roads throughout the State.<ref name="Greiner" />  Cuomo increased assistance to local law enforcement agencies in order to help reduce or eliminate crime;<ref name="Greiner" /> and prison expansion in the State was continued which he is said to have regretted.<ref name="Greiner" />  Under Cuomo, New York State was also the first in the nation to enact [[Seat belt legislation in the United States|seat belt laws]].

Cuomo established the [[Office of the MTA Inspector General]] (OIG) in 1983, as an independent watchdog for the [[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Levine|first=Richard|date=June 12, 1983|title=The Region in Summary; Cuomo Salvages Something on His M.T.A. Plan|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/06/12/weekinreview/the-region-in-summary-cuomo-salvages-something-on-his-mta-plan.html|access-date=September 14, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The OIG provides oversight and monitors the activities of the MTA.<ref>{{Cite web|title=StackPath|url=https://www.masstransitmag.com/management/article/21137913/understanding-how-your-federal-transit-dollars-are-being-spent|access-date=September 14, 2020|website=www.masstransitmag.com|date=May 13, 2020 }}</ref>

Governor Mario and his wife Matilda Cuomo presided over the First New York State Family Support Conference in 1988. His statewide initiatives in developing over 1,000 [[family support]] programs are today termed "individual and family support" nationwide and are cited by the National Council on Disability. He was the first governor to support an ecological approach to families which was represented by [[community integration]] and community development as the goal of deinstitutionalization.

Healthcare was also an area that Cuomo improved as governor, implementing initiatives that succeeded in reducing costs of prescription medications.<ref name="Greiner" />  This endeavor assisted senior citizens in making the medications more affordable.<ref name="Greiner" />  Under Cuomo's leadership, a public health plan that tackled the AIDS epidemic was the most intense in the nation.<ref name="Greiner" />

Overseeing programs for environmental preservation and conservation, Cuomo implemented aggressive initiatives in these areas.<ref name="Greiner" />  Under Cuomo's leadership, New York State was the first in the United States to integrate both environmental protection and energy conservation goals.<ref name="Greiner" />

Cuomo's progressivism was also evident in his appointments of judges to the [[New York Court of Appeals]]. Cuomo appointed all of the judges to the State Appeals Court, including the first two female judges, as well as both the first African-American and Hispanic judges.

Cuomo eliminated the New York State Regents Scholarship given to all students who ranked high on a statewide special examination.<ref>[[Joe Klein|Klein, J.]], [https://books.google.com/books?id=u1ve4A7HG78C&pg=PA40 "The Crisis Corps—A Plan to Start Turning New York Around"], [[New York (magazine)|''New York'']], May 14, 1990.</ref>

==Planned assassination==

Maurizio Avola, a former [[Sicilian Mafia|Sicilian Mafioso]] believed to have killed about 80 people, including journalists, lawyers, politicians and mobsters, before becoming a ''[[pentito]]'', or informer, and serving life in prison, told ''[[The Guardian]]'' in 2016 that the Sicilian Mafia had planned to assassinate Governor Cuomo on a visit to Italy in November 1992. The plan was for about a dozen gunmen armed with [[Kalashnikov rifle|Kalashnikov assault rifles]] and explosives to ambush Cuomo. Avola's [[Crime boss|godfather]], Aldo Ercolano, considered that Cuomo would be an "excellent target". Avola stated, "The aim was to target politicians or members of institutions in order to send out a clear message... Killing a prominent American was a warning to law enforcement agencies that had allowed several prominent mafia informants to live in the US under assumed identities." This was several months after the mafia had already assassinated [[Antimafia Pool|antimafia]] judges [[Giovanni Falcone]] and [[Paolo Borsellino]]. The attack was to be carried out in the main square of [[Messina]], Sicily during the day. However, after Cuomo arrived in [[Rome]] on November 19 with security consisting of many bodyguards and a bulletproof car, the attack was called off.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/11/mario-cuomo-mafia-assassination-target-italy-cosa-nostra |title=Mafia planned to kill Mario Cuomo during Italy trip as New York governor |newspaper=The Guardian |date=March 11, 2016 |author= Lorenzo Tondo|access-date= May 23, 2019}}</ref>

== Political views ==
[[File:Mario Cuomo speaking at a rally, June 20, 1991.JPEG|thumb|200px|right|Governor Cuomo speaking at a rally in 1991 in [[Plattsburgh, New York]]]]

Cuomo was notable for his [[Modern liberalism in the United States|liberal]] political views, particularly his steadfast opposition to the death penalty,<ref name="Veto">{{cite news|first=Elizabeth|last=Kolbert|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/21/nyregion/cuomo-vetoes-death-penalty-seventh-time.html|title=Cuomo vetoes death penalty seventh time|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=March 21, 1989|accessdate=December 29, 2013}}</ref> an opinion that was unpopular in New York during the high-crime era of the 1980s and early 1990s.<ref name="Veto" /> While governor, he vetoed several bills that would have re-established capital punishment in New York State.<ref name="Veto" /> The death penalty was reinstated by Pataki the year after he defeated Cuomo in the 1994 election, although it was never put into effect and the statute was declared unconstitutional by the [[New York Court of Appeals]] in 2004.<ref>''The People of the State of New York v Stephen S. Lavalle'', 3 N.Y.3d 88 (2004), 817 N.E.2d 341, 783 N.Y.S.2d 485.</ref>

Cuomo, a [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]], was personally opposed to abortion, but he was [[pro-choice]] on the issue, believing that the State does not have the right to ban the procedure. In a speech at the [[University of Notre Dame]] on September 13, 1984, he used the statements of the American Catholic hierarchy to make an argument: "What is ideally desirable isn't always feasible,&nbsp;... there can be different political approaches to abortion besides unyielding adherence to an absolute prohibition."<ref>[http://archives.nd.edu/research/texts/cuomo.htm Religious belief and public morality: A Catholic Governor's perspective], ''Mario Cuomo'', ''University of Notre Dame Archives'', Speech of Mario Cuomo, September 13, 1984, Retrieved December 27, 2013.</ref> For this position, Cardinal [[John O'Connor (cardinal)|John Joseph O'Connor]] considered [[Excommunication of Catholic politicians who support abortion|excommunicating him]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://temi.repubblica.it/limes/il-cattolicesimo-politico-in-america4-il-rapporto-tra-gerarchia-e-politici-liberal/9296?h=1|work=Limes|title=Il cattolicesimo politico in America|first=Enrico|last=Beltramini|date=September 12, 2009|access-date=December 26, 2011|language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|page=98|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dy1MNv8ou-0C&pg=PA98|title=Encyclopedia of religion in American politics, Volume 2|first1=John G.|last1=West|first2=Iain S.|last2=MacLean|publisher=[[Greenwood Publishing Group]]|location=Westport, Connecticut|year=1999|isbn = 9781573561303|access-date=December 26, 2011}}</ref>

Cuomo supported [[universal health care]], believing that the federal government should provide coverage to anyone who otherwise couldn't get it, as well as price caps on medical bills. Cuomo was convinced that poor, elderly and unemployed people would never receive quality health care without government intervention.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/15/nyregion/cuomo-calls-for-federal-effort-to-contain-health-care-costs.html|title=Cuomo Calls for Federal Effort To Contain Health-Care Costs|last=Dao|first=James|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=May 15, 1992|accessdate=July 1, 2025}}</ref>

Cuomo was also outspoken on what he perceived to be the unfair stereotyping of Italian Americans as [[mobster]]s by the media, including denying the existence of the [[American Mafia|Mafia]], and urging the media to stop using the word "mafia".<ref name=brasco/> [[Joseph Pistone]], an [[FBI]] agent widely known for his [[undercover operation]] as [[Donnie Brasco]], wrote disparagingly of Cuomo in his book, ''Unfinished Business''.<ref name=brasco>{{cite news|title=Donnie Brasco: Unfinished Business|publisher=Orchard Press Mysteries|location=Swindon, England|date=2007|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fhBwVP1t16MC&q=cuomo&pg=PA78|page=179|first=Joseph|last=Pistone|authorlink=Joseph Pistone|isbn=9780786741199}}</ref>

Cuomo opposed the move of the [[National Football League]]'s [[New York Giants]] and [[New York Jets]] to the [[Meadowlands Sports Complex|Meadowlands]] in [[East Rutherford, New Jersey|East Rutherford]], New Jersey, choosing instead to attend the home games of the [[Buffalo Bills]] while serving as governor, referring to the Bills as "New York State's only team".{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}

== Post-governorship ==
[[File:GovernorMarioCuomo.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Mario Cuomo giving a speech in 2007]]

=== Legal work and board memberships ===
From 1995 until his death, Cuomo worked as counsel at the New York law firm, [[Willkie Farr & Gallagher]].<ref name="Wilkie" /> In 1996, Cuomo joined the board of Medallion Financial Corp., a lender to purchasers of taxi medallions in leading cities across the U.S. He was named to the board through his personal and business relationship with [[Andrew M. Murstein]], president of Medallion.<ref>[http://www.medallionfinancial.com/pdf/annual_reports/medallion_AR_2010.pdf Medallion Financial Group 2010 annual report, p. 78] {{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Medallion Financial Group, New York, 2010, Retrieved December 27, 2013.</ref><ref>[http://www.medallionfinancial.com/pdf/annual_reports/medallion_AR.pdf Medallion Financial Group 2012 annual report, p. 139] {{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Medallion Financial Group, New York, 2012, Retrieved December 27, 2013.</ref><ref>[http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150102005388/en/Medallion-Financial-Mourns-Passing-Board-Member-Governor Medallion Financial Mourns the Passing of Board Member Governor Mario M. Cuomo] (press release), Medallion Financial Corp. (January 2, 2016).</ref> Cuomo also sat on the advisory council of the [[Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission]].

From 1995 to 1996, Cuomo hosted a nationally syndicated talk radio show on [[WABC (AM)|WABC]] on weekends but ended the program in July 1996 to assist the [[Democratic National Committee]] for the 1996 elections. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/02/nyregion/cuomo-is-departing-as-radio-show-host.html|title=Cuomo Is Departing As Radio-Show Host|work=New York Times|date=July 2, 1996|access-date=October 31, 2025}}</ref> 

=== Authorship ===
{{external media | width = 210px | float = right | headerimage= | video1 = [https://www.c-span.org/video/?182510-1/lincoln-matters ''Booknotes'' interview with Cuomo on ''Why Lincoln Matters'', July 25, 2004], [[C-SPAN]]}}
Cuomo's first book, ''Forest Hills Diary: The Crisis of Low-income Housing'', became an influential text in the fields of political science and housing policy, and it helped make his name with the public outside New York.

In 1996, Cuomo wrote ''Reason to Believe''. He also wrote a narrative essay titled "Achieving the American Dream" about his parents' struggles in coming to America and how they prospered. Cuomo was the author of ''[[Why Lincoln Matters]]'', published in 2004, and he co-edited ''Lincoln on Democracy'', an anthology of [[Abraham Lincoln]]'s speeches.

Cuomo also wrote and delivered numerous speeches and remarks.

==== Selected works ====
* Cuomo, M. (2012).  ''Greatest speeches of the 20th century: Keynote address for the Democratic Convention''.  Various artists. (MP3).
* Cuomo, M. (2011).  ''Inspirational Speeches, Volume 3: Mario Cuomo – 1984''. Orange Leisure.  (MP3).
* Williams, F.J., & Pederson, W.D. (Eds)., with Cuomo, M. (Contributor) and 14 other contributors (2009).  ''Lincoln lessons: Reflections on America's greatest leader.''  Southern Illinois University Press.
* Grodin, E.D., Cuomo, M., & Ventura, M. (2008).  ''C is for ciao: An Italy alphabet''.  Sleeping Bear Press.
* Bennett, T., Sullivan, R., Cuomo, M., & Albom, M. (2007).  ''Tony Bennett in the studio: A life of art & music''.  Sterling.
* Heffner, R.D., Jaffe, M., & Cuomo, M.M. (2004).  ''As they saw it: A half-century of conversations from the open mind''.  Carrol & Graf
* Forsythe, D.W., & Cuomo, M. (2004).  ''Memos to the governor: An introduction to state budgeting, 2nd edition''.  Georgetown University Press.
* Cuomo, M., & Holzer, H. (Eds.) (2004).  ''Lincoln on democracy''.  Fordham University Press.
* Cuomo, M.M. (2004).  ''Why Lincoln matters: Today more than ever''.  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
* Cuomo, M. (1999).  ''The Blue Spruce''.  Sleeping Bear Press.
* Hoobler, D., Hoobler, T., & Cuomo, M.M. (1998).  ''The Italian American family album''.  USA: Oxford University Press.
* Cuomo, M. (1996).  ''Reason to believe: A keen assessment of who we are and an inspiring vision of what we could be''.  Touchstone.
* Cuomo, M.M. (1993).  ''More than words: The speeches of Mario Cuomo''.  St. Martin's Press.
* Thomas, C., Cuomo, M., & Jorling (1992).  ''New York State: A land of forests, people and trees, partners in time''.  New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
* Cuomo, M. (1984).  ''Diaries of Mario M. Cuomo: The campaign for governor''.  Random House.
* Cuomo, M. (1975). ''Forest Hills Diary: The Crisis of Low-income Housing''. Vantage

== Honors and awards ==
At its 1983 commencement ceremonies, [[Barnard College]] awarded Cuomo its highest honor, the [[List of Barnard College people|Barnard Medal of Distinction]]. Also in 1983, [[Yeshiva University]] awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

In 2017, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation officially naming the [[Tappan Zee Bridge (2017–present)|Tappan Zee Bridge replacement]] the "Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Campbell |first1=Jon |title=Tappan Zee Bridge gets new name: The Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge |url=https://www.lohud.com/story/news/politics/politics-on-the-hudson/2017/06/29/tappan-zee-bridge-mario-cuomo/103289920/ |access-date=March 23, 2019 |agency=lohud |date=June 29, 2017}}</ref> This has been met with significant opposition. A petition and several pieces of proposed legislation have sought to restore the bridge's name to that of its [[Tappan Zee Bridge (1955-2017)|predecessor]].

== Family and personal life ==
Cuomo was married for 60 years to [[Matilda Cuomo|Matilda (née Raffa)]], from 1954 until his death in 2015. She is a graduate of St. John's University's Teachers College.<ref name="Mentoring">{{cite web |url=http://www.mentoringusa.org/about_us/Our_Founder|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315205011/http://www.mentoringusa.org/about_us/Our_Founder|url-status=usurped|archive-date=March 15, 2012|title=Our Founder- Matilda Raffa Cuomo|website=Mentoring USA|location=New York |year=2013|access-date=December 27, 2013}}</ref> They had five children, [[Margaret I. Cuomo|Margaret]], [[Andrew Cuomo|Andrew]], Maria, Madeline, and [[Chris Cuomo|Christopher]]. In 2017, Matilda was inducted into the [[National Women's Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.localsyr.com/news/local-news/ten-women-added-to-national-womens-hall-of-fame-in-seneca-falls/812712663 |title=Ten women added to National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca |website=LocalSyr.com |publisher=Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc|location=Syracuse, NY|date=September 17, 2017 |access-date=September 28, 2017}}</ref>

Cuomo's oldest son Andrew married [[Kerry Kennedy]], a daughter of [[Robert F. Kennedy|Robert F.]] and [[Ethel Kennedy|Ethel Skakel Kennedy]], on June 9, 1990. They had three daughters, twins Cara Ethel and Mariah Matilda Cuomo, born on January 11, 1995; and Michaela Andrea Cuomo, born on August 26, 1997. The couple divorced in 2005. Andrew served as [[United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development|Secretary of Housing and Urban Development]] under President [[Bill Clinton]] from 1997 to 2001. In his first attempt to succeed his father, he ran as [[2002 New York gubernatorial election|Democratic candidate for New York governor in 2002]], but withdrew before the [[Partisan primary|primary]]. He withdrew after criticizing Republican incumbent [[George Pataki]]'s leadership following the terrorist attacks on the city on [[September 11 attacks|September 11]] the previous year. In November 2006, Andrew was elected [[New York State Attorney General]]; and on November 2, 2010, he was elected Governor of New York, inaugurated on January 1, 2011, and was re-elected two more times, serving until he resigned in August 2021 due to [[Andrew Cuomo sexual harassment allegations|sexual harassment allegations]].<ref name="NBC081021">{{Cite web|title=New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigns|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/new-york-gov-andrew-cuomo-resigns-n1260310|access-date=August 10, 2021|website=NBC News|first1=Dareh|last1=Gregorian|first2=Teaganne|last2=Finn|date=August 10, 2021|language=en}}</ref>

Cuomo's younger son Chris was a journalist on the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC Network]] [[news magazine]] ''[[Primetime (U.S. TV program)|Primetime]]''. He anchored news segments and served as co-host on ''[[Good Morning America]]'', before moving to CNN in 2013, where he co-hosted the morning news magazine ''[[New Day (TV series)|New Day]]''. He anchored his own prime time show ''[[Cuomo Prime Time]]'' until he was suspended and ultimately fired in 2021 for assisting his brother Andrew in navigating a sexual harassment scandal which had previously led to Andrew's resignation as Governor of New York and after two accusations of sexual harassment against Chris were made.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Grynbaum |first1=Michael M. |last2=Koblin |first2=John |last3=Kantor |first3=Jodi |date=2021-12-04 |title=CNN Fires Chris Cuomo Amid Inquiry Into His Efforts to Aid His Brother |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/04/business/media/chris-cuomo-fired-cnn.html |access-date=2023-02-25 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He was picked as one of ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'' magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People in 1997.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20122113,00.html |title=Christopher Cuomo |work=People Magazine|date=May 12, 1997 |access-date=December 27, 2013}}</ref>

Cuomo's daughter Maria is married to fashion designer [[Kenneth Cole (designer)|Kenneth Cole]]. She is Chair of the Board of HELP USA,<ref name="HelpUSA">{{cite web |url=http://www.helpusa.org/About_us/Board%20and%20Leadership |title=Board and Leadership: Board of Directors | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324053330/http://www.helpusa.org/About_us/Board%20and%20Leadership |archive-date=March 24, 2012 |website=HELP USA|location=New York|year=2013 |access-date=December 27, 2013}}</ref> a charitable foundation that is also associated with the organization her mother founded, Mentoring USA.<ref name="Mentoring" />

His daughter Margaret is "a board certified radiologist, teaching professional, and national advocate for the prevention of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes".<ref name="Margaret">[http://www.lesscancer.org/board-of-directors/ Less Cancer Board of Directors: Margaret I. Cuomo, Maryland], ''LessCancer'', 2014, Retrieved January 29, 2014.</ref> She is the author of ''A World Without Cancer: The Making of a New World and the Real Promise of Prevention'' (2013),<ref name="Margaret" /> and she serves on the board of directors of the nonprofit organization, LessCancer.<ref name="Margaret" />  She has been featured on such TV shows as ''[[Good Morning America]]'', ''[[Good Day New York]]'', ''[[Morning Joe]]'', and ''[[Inside Edition]]''.<ref name="Margaret" /> In 2011, she was awarded the Commendation of the Order of the Star by the president and prime minister of Italy.<ref name="Margaret" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.i-italy.org/17460/star-italian-solidarity-matilda-raffa-cuomo-and-margaret-cuomo|title=Star of Italian Solidarity for Matilda Raffa Cuomo and Margaret Cuomo|website=i-Italy|date=June 11, 2011|author1=Pirani, Alessia|access-date=January 29, 2014|archive-date=January 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102053025/http://www.i-italy.org/17460/star-italian-solidarity-matilda-raffa-cuomo-and-margaret-cuomo|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Cuomo remained a baseball fan after his athletic career ended, reportedly limiting his television watching to baseball games and [[C-SPAN]].<ref name="mccarron20150103">{{cite news | url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/zone-ex-minor-league-teammates-remember-mario-cuomo-article-1.2064960 |title=Mario Cuomo - 1932–2015: Ex-minor league teammates remember former governor's other passion | work=New York Daily News | date=January 3, 2015 | author=McCarron, Anthony}}</ref> He was an avid player of [[fantasy baseball]], always with an Italian-American player on his team, regardless of how many Italian-American players were available or how well they were doing.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Walker, Sam|title=Fantasyland: A Season on Baseball's Lunatic Fringe|publisher= Viking Press|date=February 20, 2006|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-670-03428-4 |isbn=978-0-670-03428-4}}</ref> In 1994, he was featured several times on the [[Ken Burns]] [[PBS]] series ''[[Baseball (TV series)|Baseball]]'', where he shared memories of his life in baseball before he entered politics.

Cuomo was the first guest on the long-running [[CNN]] talk show ''[[Larry King Live]]'' that began in 1985 and ended in 2010.<ref>[https://twitter.com/kingsthings/status/550838458013339648 Twitter, @KingsThings], ''Twitter'', 2014, Retrieved January 2, 2015.</ref>

[[Neal Conan]] described Cuomo as both the most intelligent and wittiest politician he has ever interviewed.<ref name=conaninterview>{{cite interview |last = Conan |first = Neal |subject-link = Neal Conan |title = KCUR Reception with Neal Conan |publisher = [[KCUR-FM]] |location = Kansas City, Missouri |date = October 16, 2013}}</ref>

==Illness and death==
On November 30, 2014, it was announced that Cuomo had been hospitalized for a heart condition; he was described as being "in good spirits".<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.cnn.com/2014/11/30/politics/new-york-mario-cuomo-hospitalized/index.html|title = Former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo hospitalized|work = [[CNN]]|date = November 30, 2014|accessdate = December 31, 2021|last = Nottingham|first = Shawn}}</ref>

On January 1, 2015, Andrew Cuomo was sworn in for his second term as governor. The elder Cuomo was not well enough to attend the inaugural ceremony, though his son remarked, "He is in the heart and mind of every person who is here. He is here and his inspiration and his legacy and his experience is what has brought the state to this point."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Helsel|first1=Phil|title='Lost a Giant': Former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo Dies|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/lost-giant-former-new-york-gov-mario-cuomo-dies-n278256|access-date=January 2, 2015|agency=NBC News}}</ref> That afternoon Mario Cuomo died from heart failure at his home in Manhattan at 5:15&nbsp;p.m. EST, at the age of 82.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/mario-cuomo-new-york-governor-dead-82-article-1.2063258|title=Mario Cuomo, former New York governor, dead at 82|author1=Lovett, Kenneth |author2=McShane, Larry|work=New York Daily News |date=January 5, 2015}}</ref>

Cuomo's wake was held on January 5, 2015, and his funeral was held at [[Church of St. Ignatius Loyola (New York City)|Saint Ignatius Loyola Church]] in Manhattan on a rainy January 6.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/gov-mario-cuomo-funeral-set-tuesday-blog-entry-1.2063990|title=Former Gov. Mario Cuomo's funeral planned for Tuesday |work=New York Daily News|author1=Blain, Glenn |author2=Lovett, Kenneth|date=January 2, 2015|access-date=January 3, 2015}}</ref>  He is interred at [[St. John Cemetery (Queens)|St. John Cemetery]], in [[Middle Village, Queens]].

<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:Gov. Mario Cuomo Hearse at QMT (16221388421).jpg|Officers of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and a state police honor guard saluting Cuomo's hearse as it passes through the [[Queens–Midtown Tunnel]], January 6, 2015
File:Governor Mario Cuomo Niche.jpg|The niche of Governor Mario Cuomo
</gallery>

===Reactions===
Various elected officials praised Cuomo following his death. President [[Barack Obama]] stated: "An Italian Catholic kid from Queens, born to immigrant parents, Mario paired his faith in God and faith in America to live a life of public service – and we are all better for it.  He rose to be chief executive of the state he loved, a determined champion of progressive values, and an unflinching voice for tolerance, inclusiveness, fairness, dignity, and opportunity.  His own story taught him that as Americans, we are bound together as one people, and our country's success rests on the success of all of us, not just a fortunate few."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2015/01/01/statement-president-passing-mario-cuomo|title=Statement by the President on the passing of Mario Cuomo|date=January 1, 2015|author=Obama, Barack|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|access-date=February 13, 2015}}</ref>

Then-Vice President [[Joe Biden]] described Cuomo as "a forceful voice for civil rights, for equal rights, for economic opportunity and justice. He had the courage to stand by his convictions, even when it was unpopular."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2015/01/02/statement-vice-president-passing-mario-Cuomo|title=Statement by the Vice President on the passing of Mario Cuomo|author=Biden, Joe|date=January 2, 2015|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|access-date=February 13, 2015}}</ref> Former Governor of New York [[George Pataki]] called Cuomo "a proud son of immigrants and a compassionate leader who possessed a soaring intellect".<ref name="WABC-TV">{{cite web|url=http://abc7ny.com/politics/political-world-reacts-to-the-passing-of-former-ny-governor-mario-cuomo/458647/|title=Political world reacts to the passing of former NY Governor Mario Cuomo|publisher=WABC-TV|date=January 2, 2015|access-date=July 15, 2016}}</ref> Former Mayor of New York City [[Rudy Giuliani]] stated: "Mario was a giant political influence of his generation. His ability to make riveting political speeches was only exceeded by his ability to logically argue and defend his position."<ref name="WABC-TV"/>

== Legacy ==
[[File:Tappan Zee Bridge 2019b crop.jpg|thumb|The rebuilt Tappan Zee Bridge was named in Cuomo's honor.]]

Cuomo and [[Ed Koch]] are remembered as two New York politicians who dominated during the late 1970s and 1980s, as well for his public speaking ability.<ref>{{cite web | title=Long Read: Mario Cuomo's Enduring Legacy | website=US News & World Report | date=2 January 2015 | url=http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2015/01/02/long-read-mario-cuomos-enduring-legacy | access-date=7 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/mario-cuomos-legacy|title=What is Mario Cuomo's Legacy?|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|date=January 5, 2015}}</ref>

The rebuilt Tappan Zee Bridge was renamed the [[Tappan Zee Bridge (2017–present)|Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge]] in his honor. However, this would be controversial as the old bridge was named after [[Malcolm Wilson (governor)|Malcolm Wilson]].

His legacy also ran in his family, with the election of his son [[Andrew Cuomo]] in 2010. Andrew Cuomo would serve as governor for ten years, from 2011 until his resignation in 2021.

== See also ==
* [[Bill Clinton Supreme Court candidates]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* [[David Paterson|Paterson, David]] (2020). ''[[Black, Blind, & in Charge: A Story of Visionary Leadership and Overcoming Adversity]]''. New York: Skyhorse Publishing.

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/mario-cuomo-popular-governor-of-new-york-known-for-his-steadfast-liberal-values-and-dynamic-charismatic-speechmaking-9954827.html Obituary] in ''[[The Independent]]'' by [[Marcus Williamson]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928151542/http://www.willkie.com/MarioCuomo Governor Mario M. Cuomo biography] – [[Willkie Farr & Gallagher]] LLP
* {{NYTtopic|people/c/mario_m_cuomo}}
* [https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mariocuomo1984dnc.htm Text, Audio, Video Excerpt of Cuomo's 1984 Democratic National Convention Keynote Address – ''"A Tale of Two Cities"'']
* [http://archives.nd.edu/research/texts/cuomo.htm?DocID=14 Text of Cuomo's Address at the University of Notre Dame– ''"Religious Belief and Public Morality"'']
* [http://bloggingheads.tv/diavlogs/407 Video of debate/discussion with Mario Cuomo] and [[Paul Krugman]] on [[Bloggingheads.tv]]
* {{Internet Archive film clip|id=openmind_ep299|description="The Open Mind – An American Legacy (1984)"}}
* {{C-SPAN|1738}}
{{baseballstats|brm=cuomo-001mar}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[John J. Ghezzi|John Ghezzi]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Secretary of State of New York]]|years=1975–1978}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Basil A. Paterson|Basil Paterson]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Mary Anne Krupsak]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Lieutenant Governor of New York]]|years=1979–1982}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Alfred DelBello]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Hugh Carey]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Governor of New York]]|years=1983–1994}}
{{s-aft|after=[[George Pataki]]}}
|-
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Albert Blumenthal]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Liberal Party of New York|Liberal]] nominee for [[Mayor of New York City]]|years=[[1977 New York City mayoral election|1977]]}}
{{s-aft|after=Mary Codd}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Mary Anne Krupsak]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[Lieutenant Governor of New York]]|years=[[1978 New York gubernatorial election|1978]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Alfred DelBello]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|rows=2|before=[[Hugh Carey]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[Governor of New York]]|years=[[1982 New York gubernatorial election|1982]], [[1986 New York gubernatorial election|1986]], [[1990 New York gubernatorial election|1990]], [[1994 New York gubernatorial election|1994]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Peter Vallone Sr.|Peter Vallone]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Liberal Party of New York|Liberal Party]] nominee for [[Governor of New York]]|years=[[1982 New York gubernatorial election|1982]], [[1986 New York gubernatorial election|1986]], [[1990 New York gubernatorial election|1990]], [[1994 New York gubernatorial election|1994]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Betsy McCaughey]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Mo Udall]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Keynote Speaker at the [[Democratic National Convention]]|years=[[1984 Democratic National Convention|1984]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ann Richards]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{Mario Cuomo}}
{{Andrew Cuomo}}
{{Governors of New York}}
{{New York State Democratic Committee}}
{{New York Secretary of State}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cuomo, Mario}}
[[Category:Mario Cuomo| ]]
[[Category:1932 births]]
[[Category:2015 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American diarists]]
[[Category:20th-century American male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:21st-century American male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:1992 United States presidential electors]]
[[Category:American athlete-politicians]]
[[Category:American male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:American political writers]]
[[Category:American people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:People of Campanian descent]]
[[Category:Andrew Cuomo]]
[[Category:Brunswick Pirates players]]
[[Category:Catholic politicians from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Cuomo family|Mario]]
[[Category:Deaths from congestive heart failure in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Democratic Party governors of New York (state)]]
[[Category:Liberal Party of New York politicians]]
[[Category:Liberalism in the United States]]
[[Category:Lieutenant governors of New York (state)]]
[[Category:New York (state) lawyers]]
[[Category:People associated with Willkie Farr & Gallagher]]
[[Category:People from Briarwood, Queens]]
[[Category:Politicians from Manhattan]]
[[Category:Secretaries of state of New York (state)]]
[[Category:St. John's University School of Law alumni]]
[[Category:Writers from Queens, New York]]
[[Category:20th-century New York (state) politicians]]