Louis Lefkowitz

Louis Lefkowitz
59th New York State Attorney General
In office
January 10, 1957 – January 1, 1979
Governor Nelson Rockefeller, Malcolm Wilson, Hugh Carey
Preceded by Jacob K. Javits
Succeeded by Robert Abrams
Personal details
Born July 3, 1904(1904-07-03)
Manhattan, New York
Died June 2, 1996(1996-06-02) (aged 91)
Manhattan, New York
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Helen Schwimmer
Children 2
Profession Lawyer, Judge, Politician

Louis J. Lefkowitz (July 3, 1904 Manhattan, New York City - June 20, 1996 Manhattan, New York City) was an American lawyer and politician.

Life

He was the son of Samuel Lefkowitz and Mollie Isaacs Lefkowitz. On June 14, 1931, he married Helen Schwimmer (1908–1986). They had a son, Stephen Lefkovitz, and a daughter, Joan Lefkowitz Feinbloom.

He was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1928 to 1930, elected in the 6th district of New York. In 1935, he became a municipal judge.

In 1957, he was elected New York State Attorney General by the New York State Legislature to succeed Jacob K. Javits who resigned after his election to the U.S. Senate. He was re-elected in 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970 and 1974, holding the office for 22 years, the longest tenure since the office was established in 1777. In 1961, he was the Republican candidate for Mayor of New York City, but lost to Robert F. Wagner, Jr..

He was a delegate to the 1944, 1948, 1960 and 1964 Republican National Conventions, and an alternate delegate to the 1956 Republican National Convention. He was a moderate or even liberal Republican and part of the Thomas E. Dewey and Nelson A. Rockefeller faction of the New York GOP.

He died from Parkinson's disease at his home in Manhattan.

The Louis J. Lefkowitz State Office Building was named for him. [1]

References

New York Assembly
Preceded by
Morris Weinfeld
New York State Assembly, New York County 6th District
1928 - 1930
Succeeded by
Irving Neustein
Legal offices
Preceded by
Jacob K. Javits
New York State Attorney General
1957 - 1978
Succeeded by
Robert Abrams
Party political offices
Preceded by
Robert Christenberry
Republican Nominee for Mayor of New York City
1961
Succeeded by
John V. Lindsay