Former New York Governor Mario Cuomo Dies at 82

Former New York Governor Mario Cuomo Dies at 82


Former New York Governor Mario Cuomo with son Andrew Cuomo

Former three-term governor Mario Cuomo, the liberal son of Italian immigrants who was a very gifted orator that gained him national stature, had died on Thursday shortly after his son, Andrew Cuomo was sworn in as governor for a second term.  He was 82.  Cuomo was hospitalized this past November for a heart condition shortly after his son won re-election.  He was going to join in the victory party, but had to be hospitalized the next day. 

Cuomo was governor of New York between the years 1983-94.  When he was governor the budget grew from around $28 billion to $62 billion.  He closed up the Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant in Long Island, New York.  He had built 30 new prisons.  He was given the opportunity by then-president Bill Clinton to have a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court, but he declined. 

Cuomo gave national stature during the 1984 Democratic National Convention in which former vice-president Walter Mondale was nominated for the presidency.  He gave a rousing speech criticizing Ronald Reagan's economic policies.  He stated that Reagan believed in Social Darwinism and that his analogy of  "a city on a hill" only works for some people.  Cuomo was later considered to be a leading contender for the 1988 and 1992 Democratic nominee for president, but he declined them.  He was defeated for a fourth term by Republican George Pataki in 1994.  After his defeat, he worked at his law firm.  To read the full story, click on the above link from FoxNews.com.