Rudolph William Giuliani
Candidate for the
2008 Republican presidential nomination
by Liz Olson
Rudolph "Rudy" Giuliani hopes to use the international fame he
gained for his forceful yet sympathetic response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to win the 2008 Republican presidential nomination.
A lawyer,
businessman, and politician born and bred in New York, Giuliani has not conformed to a
tightly scripted campaign. Instead, he has delivered a different speech at
almost every stop, adapting his address to appeal to both the audience and
his mood. His constant theme, however, has been national security, and he
often recounts his poised handling of the September 11, 2001, terrorist
attacks on the World Trade Center.
Giuliani's liberal views on social
issues, including abortion, immigration, gay rights, and gun control, have
alienated him somewhat from the party's conservative base.
New York
Roots
Giuliani was born in 1944 to a working-class family in
Brooklyn, New York. His family included police officers, firefighters, and
criminals. His father, Harold Giuliani, served time in Sing Sing after being
convicted of felony assault and robbery.
Giuliani never strayed far
from his New York roots, graduating from Bishop Loughlin Memorial High
School, Manhattan College, and New York University Law School.
Legal
Career
Giuliani served as associate deputy attorney general in the
Justice Department from 1975 to 1977, and as associate attorney general (the
third-highest position in the Department of Justice) from 1981 to 1983. As
U.S. attorney for New York's Southern District, a position he held from 1983
to 1989, Giuliani successfully prosecuted several high-profile Mafia leaders
and Wall Street miscreants, including Ivan Boesky and Michael Milken. As the U.S. attorney,
he tallied 4,152 convictions and 25 reversals.
During his time as U.S.
attorney, Giuliani was criticized for overly zealous prosecution tactics,
such as arranging public arrests of people and then dropping charges for
lack of evidence. In 1987, Giuliani had three Wall street bankers handcuffed
and arrested at their desks. When one of the charged, a banker, demanded an
immediate trial, an unprepared Giuliani dismissed the case. He also garnered
criticism for prosecuting cases to satisfy his political
ambitions.
Changing Political Positions
At the start of his
political career, Giuliani was a Democrat enamored with the Kennedy family.
He volunteered for Robert Kennedy's presidential campaign in 1968 and voted
for George
McGovern for president in 1972. In 1975, he switched his political
registration from Democrat to Independent. Then in 1980, he registered as a
Republican, after Ronald Reagan brought Republicans back into power in
Washington. Some suggested he made the switch to land political positions in
the Justice Department.
Mayor of New York
Giuliani first ran
for mayor of New York in 1989, calling himself "a reformer." He won the
Republican Party primary election, but was defeated by Democrat David Dinkins in the general
election—one of the closest races in the city's history.
Giuliani ran
for mayor again in 1993, in an election with crime and taxes as the major
issues. He promised to reduce crime, reform welfare, and improve quality of
life for New Yorkers. He won the election, becoming the first Republican
mayor since 1965. With his popularity at its highest point—an approval
rating of 68%—and the endorsement of all four daily New York newspapers,
Giuliani was easily reelected in 1997, defeating Democrat Ruth
Messinger.
Under his leadership, New York's murder rate was cut by 66%
and overall crime declined 56% in a city once considered the crime capital
of the world. According to the FBI, New York became the safest large city in
the U.S. Giuliani added cuts to welfare and taxes to his list of
accomplishments.
September 11, 2001
Giuliani earned
international acclaim in the aftermath of the September 11, 2007, terrorist
attacks on the World Trade Center. He was nicknamed "America's Mayor" and
made frequent television appearances, conveying the shock, sadness, and
anger felt by most New Yorkers. He was named Time magazine "Person of the
Year" in 2001, and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. During a time of fear
and uncertainty, he displayed calm and confidence.
Business Career
After serving two terms as the mayor of New York, Giuliani
founded a security consulting business called Giuliani Partners LLC, which
capitalized on Giuliani's name recognition and generated controversy over
his staff and client base. He hired longtime associates, including former
police Commissioner Bernard B. Kerik, who was later convicted of corruption;
Pasquale J. D'Amuro, a former FBI executive, who is accused of taking
artifacts from Ground Zero; and a former Catholic priest who is accused of
covering up sexual abuse in the church.
His clients included a
security startup company called Seisint Inc., owned by Hank Asher; a
close friend of Giuliani's and a former cocaine smuggler. The company
has earned more than $100 million over five years. In 2005, Giuliani joined
a Texas-based law firm, which was renamed Bracewell; Giuliani LLP, upon
his arrival there. The firm represents coal-fired power-plants that are
among the worst emitters of pollutants associated with global warming. His
work with Saudi Arabia and a smokeless tobacco company, UST, Inc., have
earned him millions of dollars, as well as criticism.
Personal Controversy
Giuliani's marital history and
estrangement from his children may cost him votes. He has been married three
times, was involved in an extra-marital affair, and has a strained
relationship with his children.
Polls throughout 2007 showed that
Giuliani's popularity was steadily rising despite his turbulent personal
life. Many Americans look to Rudy Giuliani as a proven strong leader who can
overcome his ethically questionable business career and personal life to win
the Republican presidential nomination.
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