Robert Abrams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Abrams
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| 60th Attorney General of New York | |
| In office January 1, 1979 – December 31, 1993 |
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| Governor | Hugh Carey Mario Cuomo |
| Preceded by | Louis Lefkowitz |
| Succeeded by | Oliver Koppell |
| 9th Borough President of The Bronx | |
| In office January 1, 1970 – December 31, 1978 |
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| Preceded by | Herman Badillo |
| Succeeded by | Stanley Simon |
| Member of the New York State Assembly | |
| In office January 1, 1966 – December 31, 1969 |
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| Preceded by | John T. Satriale |
| Succeeded by | Alan Hochberg |
| Constituency | 89th district (1966) 81st district (1967–1969) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 4, 1938 Bronx, New York, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Diane Schulder Abrams |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Columbia College New York University |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
Robert Abrams (born July 4, 1938) is an American lawyer and politician. He served as the top lawyer for New York State, called the Attorney General of New York, from 1979 to 1993. He was also the Democratic Party's choice to run for the United States Senate in New York in 1992.
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Early Life and Education
Robert Abrams was born in The Bronx, New York. He grew up in a Jewish family. His parents were Benjamin and Dorothy Abrams. He also has a sister named Marlene.
He went to college at Columbia College. After that, he studied law at the New York University School of Law.
Political Career
New York State Assembly
Robert Abrams began his political journey when he was 27 years old. He ran for a seat in the New York State Assembly in 1965. The Assembly is a part of the state's government that makes laws.
He served as a member of the New York State Assembly from 1966 to 1969. During this time, he helped create laws for the state.
Bronx Borough President
From 1970 to 1978, Abrams was the Borough President of the Bronx. A Borough President is like a mayor for one of New York City's five main areas, called boroughs. He was elected three times by a large number of votes.
During these years, he also attended several Democratic National Conventions. These are big meetings where the Democratic Party chooses its candidate for president. In 1972, he helped lead the New York group at the convention.
New York Attorney General
In 1978, Robert Abrams was elected New York Attorney General. This job means he was the chief legal officer for the state. He was the first Democrat to win this position in 40 years. He was re-elected three more times, serving until 1993.
As Attorney General, Abrams became known for protecting consumers. He worked to stop companies from polluting the environment. He also fought against fraud and unfair treatment in housing. One important case he handled was an investigation into claims made by a teenager named Tawana Brawley. After a long investigation, his office concluded that her story was not true.
Abrams received many awards for his work. He was even chosen as the "Outstanding Attorney General in the Nation" by his fellow attorneys general. He also received honorary law degrees from several universities.
1992 U.S. Senate Election
In 1992, Abrams decided to run for the United States Senate. He wanted to represent New York State in the U.S. Senate in Washington, D.C. He won the Democratic Primary election, beating other well-known politicians.
The election campaign was very tough. Abrams lost the general election by a small number of votes. After this, he decided to resign from his role as Attorney General in December 1993, even though he had a year left in his term.
Later Career and Public Service
After leaving government, Robert Abrams continued to be active in public life. He joined a law firm as a partner. He also served on many important committees and boards.
In 1996, the New York University School of Law started a special lecture series named after him. This series invites important public figures to speak to students. The goal is to encourage students to consider careers in public service.
Abrams was appointed to several commissions and boards by New York governors and mayors. These roles allowed him to help improve government and respond to important events. For example, he helped investigate how utilities responded to Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
He was also a leader in the movement to help Jewish people in the Soviet Union. He worked to bring attention to their struggles and helped them move to Israel. In 1991, he gave a speech in Moscow to Jewish community leaders.
In 2018, he supported Letitia James, who became the first woman and first African American to be elected New York State Attorney General. He also helped resolve a disagreement between the Jewish community and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In March 2021, Robert Abrams published his book, The Luckiest Guy in the World: My Journey in Politics.
Personal Life
Robert Abrams married Diane Schulder Abrams on September 15, 1974. Diane is also a lawyer. She created and taught one of the first "Women and the Law" courses at an American law school.
Robert and Diane have two daughters, Rachel and Becky. They also have eight grandchildren.
See Also
- List of Jewish American jurists
