Basil A. Paterson
A Harlem-born power broker who helped forge New York's modern Democratic landscape and paved the way for his son to become governor.
1926–2014 (age 88)·American politician and lawyer·Birthday: April 27·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Basil Paterson was one of the quiet architects of New York political power, a sharp legal mind whose influence radiated from Harlem's streets to the highest offices in Albany. As a labor lawyer, he fought for the rights of transit workers and hotel employees, grounding his politics in tangible economic justice. His election to the state senate in 1965 placed him alongside figures like Charlie Rangel and David Dinkins, forming the 'Gang of Four' that would define Black political leadership in the city for decades. Though his 1970 run for Lieutenant Governor ended in defeat, it positioned him as a statewide figure. Governor Hugh Carey later tapped him as Secretary of State, where Paterson modernized the office and championed minority business development. His greatest legacy, however, may be the political dynasty he nurtured; his mentorship extended beyond his son David, who became governor, to a vast network of lawyers and officials who saw in Paterson a model of dignified, effective, and coalition-building leadership.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Basil was born in 1926, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Basil Was Born
The biggest hits of 1926
#1 Movie
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
Basil's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1926Born
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1931Started school
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1939Became a teenager
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1942Could drive
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1944Could vote
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1947Turned 21
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1956Turned 30
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1966Turned 40
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1976Turned 50
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1986Turned 60
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 70
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 80
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2014Died at 88
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
Key Achievements
- Served as New York Secretary of State from 1979 to 1983, overseeing a major expansion of its advocacy functions.
- Elected to the New York State Senate in 1965, representing the heart of Harlem.
- Was the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of New York in 1970.
- Acted as a key deputy mayor for labor relations for New York City in the early 1990s.
Did You Know?
He was the first African American to hold the position of New York Secretary of State.
Paterson worked as a redcap porter at Grand Central Terminal to pay for his law school education.
He and his wife, Portia, were among the first Black families to move into the then predominantly white St. Albans neighborhood in Queens.
He was a close friend and political ally of former Mayor David Dinkins.
“The law is a tool, and we must use it to build a floor under every working family.”
