Rudy Giuliani

Rudolph “Rudy” Giuliani was on born May 28, 1944. He graduated from Manhattan College in 1965 with a BA in political science. He attended New York University Law School and graduated cum laude in 1968. Upon graduation, Giuliani worked as a clerk in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and joined the U.S Attorney’s Office there in 1970. He became Chief of the Narcotics Unit and an executive U.S. Attorney in 1973.

Giuliani had been a Democrat until 1975, when he switched to an Independent when he was named Associate Deputy District Attorney under Ford. In 1977, he went to work for the law firm of Patterson, Belknap, Webb, and Tyler. In December 1980, Giuliani switched his party affiliation again, to Republican, just in time to be named Associate Attorney General under Reagan.

He was appointed U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York in 1983. While in this position, he successfully prosecuted the heads of the “Five Families” in the Mafia Commission Trial, as well as such high-profile cases as the ones for Wall Streeters Ivan Boesky and Michael Milken.

In 1989, Giuliani ran for Mayor of New York City, losing to David Dinkins. He ran again in 1993, beating Dinkins in the election. His first priority as mayor was the development of an aggressive law enforcement program against petty street crime. Crime statistics dropped steadily during his tenure as mayor. However, there were several high-profile cases and allegations involving police misconduct that also took place during this time. He was instrumental in obtaining domestic partnership rights for the partners of gays and lesbians, including full benefits for the partners of city employees.

In 2000, Giuliani ran for the Senate, running against Hillary Clinton. He dropped out of the race due to a battle with prostate cancer, but the rumors of infidelity and marital problems that dogged the race played a part in his decision as well.

In 2001, after the 9/11 attack, Giuliani became a public presence that bespoke calm and authority, as well as hope, for New Yorkers and Americans alike. Time Magazine named him their 2001 Person of the Year, although critics claimed that his contributions after the attack were minimal and politically motivated. The 9/11 Commission found that his decision to place the Office of Emergency Management in 7 World Trade Center in 1997, even though that area had been attacked by terrorists in 1993, to be highly questionable, along with several other actions and decisions prior to 9/11.

After leaving office, Giuliani started the lobbying firm Giuliani Partners in 2002 and became a highly sought after public speaker, speaking at the 2004 Republican National Convention. In 2005, he joined the firm of Bracewell and Giuliani, resigning Giuliani Partners in 2007. Later in 2007, he announced his run for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination. Even with a great deal of name recognition early in the race, his past affairs and scandals began to weigh his campaign down. After a few disappointing primary finishes, he dropped out of the race and endorsed McCain.

He rejoined both Bracewell and Giuliani and Giuliani Partners in 2008. While not making any official statements, he is reportedly eyeing both a run for the governorship of New York, as well as a run for the Senate in 2010. Some see this as a prelude for another try for the White House in 2012.