European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 15, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse Gov. Mario Cuomo left with his daughter Margaret Cuomo Perpignano and his wife Matilda. At right Cuomo blows a kiss to his family before he starts his state of the state address to a joint legislative session at the Capitol in Albany n. Y. Dpi photo new York s gov. Cuomo eyes on 88 by Marc Humbert associated press n 1985, gov. Mario Cuomo went toe to toe with president Reagan on tax Reform and won the Ini tial round in a Battle Long from Over. The slug est with the popular Republican presi Dent was Heady stuff for the new York Democrat who sported a loser Label four years ago when he turned to the musical theme from Pocky to pump some life into his sagging political career. Toward the end of 1985, Many politicians were tout ing the son of italian immigrants As the Man ready for a presidential title shot in 1988. Cuomo moved up even further on the contenders rating Chart when Massachusetts sen. Edward Kennedy announced in december that he would t run for president in 1988. It s a Beautiful Christmas present for Colorado sen. Gary Hart and Mario Cuomo said sen. Alan Cranston a Calif. But As 1986 began Cuomo said and did some things that had top Republican strategists hinting the governor might have taken one too Many punches to the head. In mid december Cuomo said the mafia was a word invented by people. A lot of the governor later explained that he did t mean to say there was t a mafia Only that using the word As a synonym for organized crime unfairly stereotyped All italian americans. On new year s eve the governor granted executive clemency to a state prison inmate who was convicted of murder in the 1968 shooting of a Deputy sheriff. A state parole Board panel decided the inmate Gary Mcgivern should stay in prison for at least two More years. And in mid january the governor said he was increasingly concerned about what he viewed As an anti italian Bias commenting that if anything could make me change my mind about running for the presidency it s people talking about an italian can t do it a Catho Lic can t do it " i m beginning to think the governor is a very Dis Turbed Man. I think he sees persecution where there is none said Roger Stone a political adviser to presi Dent Reagan. There Are a lot of Good reasons to run for president but because you re an italian from the Northeast is not one of even vice president George Bush got into the act. At a conservative party dinner in new York City in late january Bush brought up the Issue of Cuomo granting clemency for Mcgivern. I can Tell you one thing about the difference bet Wen a Liberal politician and a conservative one said Bush gov. Ronald Reagan when he was governor of califor Nia kept cop killers in nonetheless even Stone said Cuomo probably was t in much political trouble in his Home state. Citing the new York gop s inability to find a Candi Date willing to oppose Cuomo s expected re election Campaign this year Stone said you can t beat some body with Republican spirits were buoyed briefly when word got out in february that Henry Kissinger the former Secretary of state might Challenge Cuomo. Within a few Days Kissinger had taken himself out of the run Ning. In bowing out Kissinger said he had been encouraged to run by Bush. For months top Cuomo political advisers had been claiming that National Republican leaders were pressuring their state gop counterparts to bloody the governor in 1986 to make it harder for him to run for president in 1988. It was t hard to find the reasons Why republicans were worried about Cuomo. In 1985 his re election Bank account grew to $9 million on the strength of a record $3.4 million new York City fund raising dinner in november that came with the election still a year away. In april Cuomo was selected by the Mutual radio network to share weekday commentary duties with the former . Senate majority Leader Howard Baker. Mutual officials boasted that the two were potential 1988 presidential Campaign in May the governor was named a National father of the year. In july Cuomo was named to playgirl Magazine s list of the 10 sexiest men in America. In november the Boston Globe reported that of 50 state democratic chairmen surveyed 24 said Cuomo would be a Strong presidential candidate in their state. Hart the senator from Colorado was mentioned by 23 chairmen while Kennedy was named by nine. On . 1, the new York daily news reported that a statewide poll placed the governor s approval rating at 79 percent. Sixty six percent of those surveyed said it would be Fine for Cuomo to run for president while still serving As governor. Cuomo spent much of 1985 saying he was t get Ting ready to run for president. He said it in new York Connecticut Massachusetts California Florida new Hampshire and on several occasions in Washington . He added san Antonio Texas to the list Early this year. However Cuomo has been careful not to take him self out of the 1988 race and has gone so far As to say that if he ran for re election As governor in 1986, As expected he will probably not renew a 1982 pledge to serve a full four year term As governor. As 1985 ended Cuomo said he had been rejecting too Many out of state speaking engagements for fear that they would fuel speculation that he coveted the White House. I should have ignored that Cuomo said. I think we have some things to already this year the new York governor has twice gone to Florida. The first trip featured an appearance at a fund Raiser for Florida gov. Bob Graham and a speech to a jewish group in Palm Beach. The second trip for. An appearance on the Phil Donahue show resulted in Cuomo saying it would be arrogant for him to say that he would t Ever run for president. The attention focused on Cuomo has left Little doubt that he could become the most influential new York Democrat since Franklin Delano Roosevelt. And the suggestion that Cuomo could be a major Benefactor from Kennedy s decision not to run for president in 1988 seems plausible. Organized labor a powerful Force in democratic poli tics has been a Strong Booster of the new York Gover nor. A 10, the to Derek of politicians Al Cio presi Dent Lane Kirkland said of Cuomo As far Back As 1983. And there was the letter to Cuomo from Kennedy s brother in Law Sargent Shriver in 1984. If you won t run this year i surely Hope you will run in 88," wrote Shriver. I m one of those democrats who want to hear what you Are for much of 1985, Cuomo waged a sometime lonely Battle against a portion of Reagan s tax overhaul proposal that would have eliminated Federal deductions for state and local taxes. At first aides to Reagan attempted to portray the new York governor As simply protecting the special Cuomo says Antl item prejudice could 5uow him Down a \ Fri a photo interest of a High tax state. Patrick Buchanan White House communication director said Cuomo was a glib fast talking lobbyist for reactionary liberalism that would kill tax Reform in its but Cuomo kept delivering a message that the presi Dent s tax plan was unfair to the Middle class of All states and that it was the Rich who would really Benefit. With polls indicating Cuomo was being believed the House approved legislation in december that called for retaining the deductions. He put his National political capital on the line and he won said Brad Johnson the governor s chief Washington lobbyist. Cuomo and his supporters Are gearing up for another Tough fight in 1986 As the measure is worked Over by the Senate. But 1985 also provided proof that Cuomo the Man who Rose to National prominence largely on the strength of an eloquent keynote address to the 1984 democratic National convention could Plant his foot firmly in his Mouth. In april Cuomo said that the strongest objections to new York s first in the nation seat Belt Law were com ing from Era Hunters who drink Beer Don t vote and lie to their wives about where they were All while Cuomo apologized for what he said was an i artful remark leaders of the National Rifle association said they planned to remind Cuomo in 1986 that Era members do vote. Staggered by a few punches the Man some see As the Rocky Balboa of the democratic party has remained standing. And like the fictional film hero Cuomo has continued to press the attack. The major difference is that rhetoric has replaced right crosses. Page 14 the stars and stripes saturday March 15, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 15
