Ed Koch
The brash, quotable mayor who pulled New York City back from the brink with sheer force of personality and chutzpah.
1924–2013 (age 89)·Mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989·Birthday: December 12·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Ed Koch was New York City embodied: loud, confident, perpetually asking for a grade, and fiercely in love with his town. Taking office in 1978 when the city was synonymous with crime, decay, and near-bankruptcy, the former congressman governed with a combative, showman's flair. His signature phrase—'How'm I doin'?'—shouted from subway platforms and street corners, captured his direct, if theatrical, connection with constituents. Koch presided over a massive municipal rebuilding effort, restoring fiscal stability and launching a historic wave of affordable housing construction. His tenure was a study in contradictions: a liberal Democrat who supported the death penalty, a proud Jew who battled with the Black community, a man whose arrogance eventually contributed to his downfall. For three terms, he was the city's defiant id, steering it through crisis with a blend of pragmatism and relentless self-promotion that left an indelible mark on its psyche.
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.
Ed was born in 1924, 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 Ed Was Born
The biggest hits of 1924
#1 Movie
The Sea Hawk
Ed's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1924Born
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1929Started school
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1937Became a teenager
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1940Could drive
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1942Could vote
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
1945Turned 21
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1954Turned 30
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1964Turned 40
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 50
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 60
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 70
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 80
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Died at 89
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
Key Achievements
- Led New York City out of its severe 1970s fiscal crisis, restoring the city's credit and financial stability.
- Oversaw a massive, $5 billion affordable housing program that built or rehabilitated over 200,000 units.
- Served three terms as mayor (1978–1989), winning re-election in 1981 with 75% of the vote and in 1985 by a landslide.
- As a U.S. Representative, he was an early co-sponsor of the bill that created the Congressional Budget Office.
Did You Know?
He served as a combat infantryman in Europe during World War II and was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant.
Koch famously had a long-running feud with fellow New Yorker and real estate developer Donald Trump.
After leaving office, he worked as a judge on 'The People's Court' television show for two years.
His gravestone, as per his instructions, features the last words of murdered Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl: 'My father is Jewish, my mother is Jewish, I am Jewish.'
““If you agree with me on nine out of 12 issues, vote for me. If you agree with me on 12 out of 12 issues, see a psychiatrist.””
