Foreword by Matthew Goldstein ix

Preface xi

Acknowledgments xiii

Prologue 3

PART I: STARTING OUT
1 Tell the Truth 11
2 Youth 19
3 Politics and Principles 31

PART II: RUBBER STAMP COUNCIL
4 The Council of 1974 41
5 Family 52
6 Koch vs. Cuomo 59
7 The Creator: The Basic of All Basics 67
8 One Man, One Vote? 74
9 January 8, 1986 87

PART III: OVERTURNING THE SYSTEM
10 The First 100 Days 109
11 Challenging the System 128
12 Ed Koch, Spirit of the City 142
13 Exit Ed Koch 156

PART IV: A REAL LEGISLATURE
14 A New Deal for New York City 175
15 David Dinkins, Heart of the City 190
16 Rudy Giuliani, Brain of the City 205
17 A Passing Feud and the Race for Governor 218
18 Reconciliation and Religion 237
19 The Mayoral Race That Wasn’t 249

Afterword 259

Appendix: How to Run for Office 265

Index 269