Word: wagnerism
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Although local pollsters and pundits had long since written his political obituaries, New York City's Republican Mayoralty Candidate Louis Lefkowitz refused to play dead. Last week, with the Nov. 7 election against Democratic Incumbent Robert Wagner drawing near, Lefkowitz tirelessly continued to stump the city's five boroughs, pleaded his case before doctors and flower merchants, garment makers and university professors...
...came out swinging. Cried Lefkowitz of Wagner: ''He's not positive. He's known all over, by even those who work close with him at city hall, as a man who delays, puts matters over and procrastinates...He asks you to give him four years to clean up a mess which he created for eight years." Retorted Wagner: "Since our victory in the primaries, there cannot be any boss influence at all even in the lower levels. I'm afraid my Republican opponent can't say that because he's a boss-picked...
...Wagner, whose eight-year administration as mayor has been studded by scandal, shrugged off all Lefkowitz charges. He denied anything unethical about his presence at a Brooklyn luncheon (TIME, Oct. 6) at which contractors doing city business pledged contributions to his campaign chest. Said he: "I did not know what type of luncheon I was going to. I knew very few of the people there. We did not accept the money." He shrugged off a charge that schools were crumbling. "The board of education is autonomous, and the one authority over the board is the state commissioner of education...
During most of the evening, Wagner's calm, slightly amused manner appeared to good advantage. But Lower East Sider Lefkowitz evened the score with a closing speech that approached eloquence. "Give me a chance," he cried. "I love this town. I love this city. I love every borough in it. I want a chance to prove to people that no matter how big the city is, no matter how complex its problems are, I'll find the necessary talent, men and women to do a job. This could be done. You can't do things by letting...
Though spot surveys next day indicated the debate had changed few minds, Lefkowitz was eager to try again. Not so Bob Wagner. Said he: "I'm not going to give him any free publicity." With 3-1 Democratic registration working for him and a sorry two-term record against him, it was one of his wisest decisions...