John Lindsay

John Vliet Lindsay (November 24, 1921 – December 19, 2000) was an American politician who served as a Congressman (1959-1965) and mayor of New York City (1966-1973).

Early life

John Lindsay was born in New York City on West End Avenue to George and Florence Vliet Lindsay. Contrary to popular assumptions, John Lindsay was neither a blue-blood nor very wealthy. Lindsay's paternal grandfather immigrated to the United States in the 1880s from the Isle of Wight, and his mother's family was only upper middle class. John's father, however, was a successful lawyer, and was able to send his son to the prestigious Buckley School, St. Paul's School, and Yale, where he was inducted into the famous secret society, Scroll and Key. Lindsay received his bachelor's degree from Yale in 1944 and his law degree from Yale in 1948.

Related Topics:
Isle of Wight - Buckley School - St. Paul's School - Yale - Scroll and Key - Bachelor's degree - 1944 - 1948

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After service in World War II, Lindsay practiced law for a few years before gravitating towards politics.

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Elected to Congress as a Republican from the "Silk Stocking" district in 1958, Lindsay established a liberal voting record, known for his strong support of civil rights legislation. In 1965 Lindsay successfully ran for mayor as a Republican in a three-way race (although he became a Democrat in 1971), defeating the Democratic candidate Abe Beame, then City Controller, as well as National Review founder William F. Buckley, Jr., who ran on the Conservative line.

Related Topics:
Republican - Democrat - Abe Beame - National Review - William F. Buckley, Jr. - Conservative

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