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ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Colleagues and admirers are adding to the tributes to former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, who died yesterday of heart failure at the age of 82.
His death at his home in Manhattan came just hours after his son Andrew began his second term as the state's governor.
In a statement, Bill Clinton recalls that it was Cuomo who placed his name in nomination at the 1992 Democratic National Convention, while saying that government has a "solemn obligation to create opportunity for all our people." Clinton says Cuomo "honored that obligation."
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says Cuomo was "a strong, eloquent leader who loved New York and its people" -- and that he was an Italian-American role model who showed that "anything was possible through hard work and education."
Cuomo's oratory and his dedication to progressive policies made him a political star, but despite calls to seek the White House, he never made a run for president.
Cuomo's last public appearance came in November, when Andrew was re-elected governor of New York. The frail-looking patriarch and his son raised their arms together in victory at the election-night celebration.
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136-w-32-(Warren Levinson, AP correspondent, with former Governor Mario Cuomo, D-N.Y.)--The death of Mario Cuomo reminds Democrats of one of the party's liberal lions. AP correspondent Warren Levinson reports. (2 Jan 2015)
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138-a-13-(Governor Mario Cuomo, D-N.Y., addressing Democratic National Convention, 7/16/84)-"from a distance"-In Governor Mario Cuomo's 1984 Democratic Convention keynote address, Cuomo said the country was not just the 'shining city on a hill' portrayed by President Ronald Reagan. (2 Jan 2015)
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APPHOTO NY113: FILE - In this Nov. 4, 2014, file photo, Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, second from left, celebrates with his father, former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, and his mother, Matilda, left, after defeating Republican challenger Rob Astorino, at Democratic election headquarters in New York. Andrew Cuomo is the first New York Democratic governor since his father to win re-election. Cuomo died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, the day his son Andrew started his second term as governor, the New York governor's office confirmed. He was 82. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File) (4 Nov 2014)
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APPHOTO NYR302: FILE - In this June 18, 2008, file photo, former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo attends the funeral of NBC's "Meet the Press" host Tim Russert, outside of Holy Trinity Church in Washington. Cuomo, a three-term governor, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, the day his son Andrew started his second term as governor, the New York governor's office confirmed. He was 82. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) (18 Jun 2008)
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