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1965 New York City mayoral election

January 19, 2024

The 1965 New York City mayoral election occurred on Tuesday, November 2, 1965, with Republican Congressman John Lindsay winning a close plurality victory over the Democratic candidate, New York City Comptroller Abraham Beame.

1965 New York City mayoral election
← 1961 November 2, 1965 1969 →
Turnout80.8% (registered voters)[1]
 
Candidate John Lindsay Abraham Beame William F. Buckley Jr.
Party Republican Democratic Conservative
Alliance Liberal Civil Service -
Popular vote 1,149,106 1,046,699 341,226
Percentage 45.0% 41.0% 13.4%
Results by Borough
  Beame—40–50%
  Lindsay—50–60%
  Lindsay—40–50%

Lindsay received 44.99% of the vote to Beame's 40.98%, a victory margin of 4.01%.[2] Finishing in a distant third was the candidate of the recently formed Conservative Party, conservative author and commentator William F. Buckley Jr., who received 13.36% of the vote. Lindsay and Beame received the Liberal and Civil Service ballot line respectively. Lindsay won a decisive majority in Manhattan, while winning comfortable plurality victories in Queens and Staten Island. Beame won pluralities in the Bronx and Brooklyn.

Background edit

In 1961, mayor Robert F. Wagner Jr. was re-elected to a third consecutive term. Wagner was generally popular in the city and had a reputation for integrity as an opponent of Tammany Hall.[3]

Nevertheless, popular Republican Congressman John Lindsay from the Upper East Side began to explore a run for mayor. In 1963, he told the New York Herald Tribune editorial board he would consider a campaign for mayor, adding, "Washington, compared to New York City, is a very shallow place. It's got politics, endless white marble, and some very good museums. Beyond that it has very little."[4] Lindsay won a landslide re-election in 1964 despite his party's own defeat at the national and state level. In a January 1965 speech to the Executives Club of Chicago titled, "The Republican Challenge," Lindsay outlined his belief that Republicans needed to "recapture the center" and could not ignore American cities "where 70 percent of the vote is found. How can Republicans as the best pragmatists of all ignore this area?"[4]

Lindsay's efforts were aided by media attention on the issue of urban neglect, led by Jock Whitney, owner of the Herald Tribune and one of Lindsay's top campaign funders. As early as 1963, Whitney and publisher Walter Thayer had sought to use the paper to support a reform candidate for mayor.[5] Though other pieces on declining quality of life in the city were published by Look and Richard J. Whalen, the Herald Tribune led with a multi-part, pessimistic series on New York City drug use, pollution, welfare, healthcare, one-party rule, capital and white flight, crime, and bureaucratic inefficiencies. Lindsay later admitted the editorial series provided a raison d'etre for his campaign, and when Wagner ultimately chose not to run for an expected fourth term, the Herald Tribune staff claimed credit.[5]

Democratic primary edit

Candidates edit

Results edit

1965 Democratic primary
Manhattan The Bronx Brooklyn Queens Staten Island Total
Abraham D. Beame 53,386 66,064 128,146 82,601 6,148 336,345
Paul R. Screvane 66,444 54,260 79,485 63,680 7,512 271,381
William F. Ryan 48,744 16,632 24,588 22,570 1,204 113,738
Paul O'Dwyer 6,771 5,976 8,332 6,895 697 28,675
750,139


General election edit

Candidates edit

Results edit

1965 General Election party Manhattan The Bronx Brooklyn Queens Richmond [Staten Is.] Total %
John V. Lindsay Republican - Liberal - Independent Citizens 291,326 181,072 308,398 331,162 37,148 1,149,106 45.0%
55.8% 39.5% 40.0% 47.1% 45.8%
Abraham Beame Democratic - Civil Service Fusion 193,230 213,980 365,360 250,662 23,467 1,046,699 41.0%
37.0% 46.6% 47.4% 35.6% 28.9%
William F. Buckley, Jr. Conservative 37,694 63,858 97,679 121,544 20,451 341,226 13.4%
7.2% 13.9% 12.7% 17.3% 25.2%
subtotal
 522,250 458,910 771,437 703,368 81,066 2,537,031 99.4%
others   17,168 0.6%
T O T A L
   2,554,199

Almost a quarter of Lindsay's vote (281,796) was on the Liberal Party line, while 63,590 of Beame's votes were on the Civil Service Fusion line. John Lindsay, a Republican Congressman from the Upper East Side of Manhattan, carried Manhattan, Queens, and traditionally Republican Staten Island (Richmond), while Abe Beame, the City Comptroller, carried The Bronx and his home borough of Brooklyn, both of which he had also won in the Democratic primary. However, while Beame had also carried Queens in the primary, he lost it to Lindsay in the general election.[6] (Five years later, Bill Buckley's brother James L. Buckley won the 1970 New York state election for U.S. Senator on the Conservative Party line against divided opposition.) The Other vote was 11,104- Vito Battista - United Taxpayer Party; 3,977- Clifton DeBerry - Socialist Workers; 2,087 - Eric Haas - Socialist Labor

Aftermath edit

Linsday was sworn into office in January 1966, replacing outgoing Democratic Mayor Robert F. Wagner Jr. While Lindsay won the mayoralty four years later, he lost the Republican nomination to John J. Marchi. As a result, this was the last mayoral election that a Republican won until Rudy Giuliani's victory in 1993.

References edit

  1. ^ Cannato 2001, p. 69.
  2. ^ "New York City Mayoral Election 1965". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  3. ^ Cannato 2001, p. 22.
  4. ^ a b Cannato 2001, p. 21.
  5. ^ a b Cannato 2001, pp. 22–23.
  6. ^ Page 41 of the 1966 World Almanac & Book of Facts and page 69 of Cannato's The Ungovernable City: John Lindsay and His Struggle to Save New York

Further reading edit

  • Bridges, Linda; Coyne, John R. Jr. (2007). Strictly Right: William F. Buckley Jr. and the American Conservative Movement.
  • Cannato, Vincent J. (2001). The Ungovernable City: John Lindsay and His Struggle to Save New York. pp. 19–74. (excerpt)
  • Carter, Barbara (1967). The Road to City Hall: How John V. Lindsay Became Mayor.
  • Taffet, Jeffrey F. (2013). "The Snubs and the 'Sukkah': John Lindsay and Jewish Voters in New York City". American Jewish History: 413–438.
  • Viteritti, Joseph P., ed. (2014). Summer in the City: John Lindsay, New York, and the American Dream. Johns Hopkins Univ. Press.

Primary sources edit

January 19, 2024
1965, york, city, mayoral, election, occurred, tuesday, november, 1965, with, republican, congressman, john, lindsay, winning, close, plurality, victory, over, democratic, candidate, york, city, comptroller, abraham, beame, 1961, november, 1965, 1969, turnout8. The 1965 New York City mayoral election occurred on Tuesday November 2 1965 with Republican Congressman John Lindsay winning a close plurality victory over the Democratic candidate New York City Comptroller Abraham Beame 1965 New York City mayoral election 1961 November 2 1965 1969 Turnout80 8 registered voters 1 Candidate John Lindsay Abraham Beame William F Buckley Jr Party Republican Democratic ConservativeAlliance Liberal Civil Service Popular vote 1 149 106 1 046 699 341 226Percentage 45 0 41 0 13 4 Results by Borough Beame 40 50 Lindsay 50 60 Lindsay 40 50 Mayor before electionRobert F Wagner Jr Democratic Elected Mayor John LindsayRepublicanLindsay received 44 99 of the vote to Beame s 40 98 a victory margin of 4 01 2 Finishing in a distant third was the candidate of the recently formed Conservative Party conservative author and commentator William F Buckley Jr who received 13 36 of the vote Lindsay and Beame received the Liberal and Civil Service ballot line respectively Lindsay won a decisive majority in Manhattan while winning comfortable plurality victories in Queens and Staten Island Beame won pluralities in the Bronx and Brooklyn Contents 1 Background 2 Democratic primary 2 1 Candidates 2 2 Results 3 General election 3 1 Candidates 3 2 Results 4 Aftermath 5 References 6 Further reading 6 1 Primary sourcesBackground editIn 1961 mayor Robert F Wagner Jr was re elected to a third consecutive term Wagner was generally popular in the city and had a reputation for integrity as an opponent of Tammany Hall 3 Nevertheless popular Republican Congressman John Lindsay from the Upper East Side began to explore a run for mayor In 1963 he told the New York Herald Tribune editorial board he would consider a campaign for mayor adding Washington compared to New York City is a very shallow place It s got politics endless white marble and some very good museums Beyond that it has very little 4 Lindsay won a landslide re election in 1964 despite his party s own defeat at the national and state level In a January 1965 speech to the Executives Club of Chicago titled The Republican Challenge Lindsay outlined his belief that Republicans needed to recapture the center and could not ignore American cities where 70 percent of the vote is found How can Republicans as the best pragmatists of all ignore this area 4 Lindsay s efforts were aided by media attention on the issue of urban neglect led by Jock Whitney owner of the Herald Tribune and one of Lindsay s top campaign funders As early as 1963 Whitney and publisher Walter Thayer had sought to use the paper to support a reform candidate for mayor 5 Though other pieces on declining quality of life in the city were published by Look and Richard J Whalen the Herald Tribune led with a multi part pessimistic series on New York City drug use pollution welfare healthcare one party rule capital and white flight crime and bureaucratic inefficiencies Lindsay later admitted the editorial series provided a raison d etre for his campaign and when Wagner ultimately chose not to run for an expected fourth term the Herald Tribune staff claimed credit 5 Democratic primary editCandidates edit Abraham Beame New York City Comptroller Paul O Dwyer member of the City Council from Manhattan at large Paul R Screvane President of the New York City Council William Fitts Ryan U S Representative from the Upper West SideResults edit 1965 Democratic primaryManhattan The Bronx Brooklyn Queens Staten Island TotalAbraham D Beame 53 386 66 064 128 146 82 601 6 148 336 345Paul R Screvane 66 444 54 260 79 485 63 680 7 512 271 381William F Ryan 48 744 16 632 24 588 22 570 1 204 113 738Paul O Dwyer 6 771 5 976 8 332 6 895 697 28 675750 139General election editCandidates edit Abraham Beame New York City Comptroller Democratic Civil Service Fusion William F Buckley Jr author and columnist Conservative John Lindsay U S Representative from the Upper East Side Republican Liberal Independent Citizens Results edit 1965 General Election party Manhattan The Bronx Brooklyn Queens Richmond Staten Is Total John V Lindsay Republican Liberal Independent Citizens 291 326 181 072 308 398 331 162 37 148 1 149 106 45 0 55 8 39 5 40 0 47 1 45 8 Abraham Beame Democratic Civil Service Fusion 193 230 213 980 365 360 250 662 23 467 1 046 699 41 0 37 0 46 6 47 4 35 6 28 9 William F Buckley Jr Conservative 37 694 63 858 97 679 121 544 20 451 341 226 13 4 7 2 13 9 12 7 17 3 25 2 subtotal 522 250 458 910 771 437 703 368 81 066 2 537 031 99 4 others 17 168 0 6 T O T A L 2 554 199Almost a quarter of Lindsay s vote 281 796 was on the Liberal Party line while 63 590 of Beame s votes were on the Civil Service Fusion line John Lindsay a Republican Congressman from the Upper East Side of Manhattan carried Manhattan Queens and traditionally Republican Staten Island Richmond while Abe Beame the City Comptroller carried The Bronx and his home borough of Brooklyn both of which he had also won in the Democratic primary However while Beame had also carried Queens in the primary he lost it to Lindsay in the general election 6 Five years later Bill Buckley s brother James L Buckley won the 1970 New York state election for U S Senator on the Conservative Party line against divided opposition The Other vote was 11 104 Vito Battista United Taxpayer Party 3 977 Clifton DeBerry Socialist Workers 2 087 Eric Haas Socialist LaborAftermath editLinsday was sworn into office in January 1966 replacing outgoing Democratic Mayor Robert F Wagner Jr While Lindsay won the mayoralty four years later he lost the Republican nomination to John J Marchi As a result this was the last mayoral election that a Republican won until Rudy Giuliani s victory in 1993 References edit Cannato 2001 p 69 New York City Mayoral Election 1965 Our Campaigns Retrieved April 25 2014 Cannato 2001 p 22 a b Cannato 2001 p 21 a b Cannato 2001 pp 22 23 Page 41 of the 1966 World Almanac amp Book of Facts and page 69 of Cannato s The Ungovernable City John Lindsay and His Struggle to Save New YorkFurther reading editBridges Linda Coyne John R Jr 2007 Strictly Right William F Buckley Jr and the American Conservative Movement Cannato Vincent J 2001 The Ungovernable City John Lindsay and His Struggle to Save New York pp 19 74 excerpt Carter Barbara 1967 The Road to City Hall How John V Lindsay Became Mayor Taffet Jeffrey F 2013 The Snubs and the Sukkah John Lindsay and Jewish Voters in New York City American Jewish History 413 438 Viteritti Joseph P ed 2014 Summer in the City John Lindsay New York and the American Dream Johns Hopkins Univ Press Primary sources edit Buckley William F Jr 1966 The Unmaking of a Mayor Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1965 New York City mayoral election amp oldid 1182523119, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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