Robert F. Wagner, Jr.

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Robert Ferdinand Wagner, Jr., usually known as Robert F. Wagner, Jr. (April 20, 1910 – February 12, 1991) served three terms as the mayor of New York City, from 1954 through 1965.

He was born in Manhattan, New York, the son of United States Senator Robert F. Wagner. Wagner attended Yale University, where he became a member of Scroll and Key.

Wagner served in the State Assembly (1937 – 1941) and as Borough President of Manhattan (1950 – 1953). He served as delegate to conventions and was nominated for the Senate and the Vice-Presidency. During World War II, he served in the Army Air Corps.

His nomination and election as New York City mayor in 1953 caused a rift in the Democratic Party, and instigated a long-standing feud between Eleanor Roosevelt and Carmine DeSapio, Boss of Tammany Hall.

During Wagner's tenure as mayor of New York, he built public housing and schools, created the City University of New York system, established the right of collective bargaining for city employees, and barred housing discrimination based on race, creed or color. He was the first mayor to hire significant numbers of people of color in city government. His administration also saw the development of the Lincoln Center and brought Shakespeare to Central Park.

After deciding not to run for a fourth term in 1965, Wagner served as ambassador to Spain from 1968 to 1969.In that year, he DID decide to run for a fourth term and was soundly beaten by Mario Procaccino in the Democratic primary. He also made a brief run four years later, but withdrew before the primary took place. In 1978 he was appointed by Jimmy Carter to be his representative to the Vatican, where the College of Cardinals had recently elected a new Pope, John Paul II.

He was married to Phyllis Fraser, widow of Bennett Cerf, from 1975 until his death. He died in Manhattan of heart failure in 1991, aged 80.

The Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University is named in his honor, as is the Robert F. Wagner, Jr., Secondary School for Arts and Technology in Long Island City, Queens.

[edit] External references

• Mayor Wagner's biography on the web site of New York City
• 1973 audio interview with Robert F. Wagner, Jr. by Don Swaim

Preceded by Hugo Rogers	Borough President of Manhattan 1950– 1953	Succeeded by Hulan E. Jack
Preceded by Frank E. McKinney	U.S. Ambassador to Spain 1968–1969	Succeeded by Robert C. Hill

Mayors of New York City (since 1834) This box: view • talk • edit

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