Giuliani, Rudolph W

Giuliani, Rudolph W(illiam)

 or Rudy Giuliani

(born May 28, 1944, Brooklyn, New York, N.Y., U.S.) U.S. politician, who was mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2002. Beginning in 1970, he worked for the U.S. government, holding positions in the office of the U.S. attorney and in the Department of Justice. He practiced law privately (1977–81) but returned to the Justice Department as associate attorney general (1981–83). In 1983 he was appointed U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. In 1994 he became New York City's first Republican mayor in two decades. Credited with cutting crime, improving the quality of life, and benefiting business, he won a second term in 1997, though critics charged that he defended police misconduct and gutted essential programs. After the September 11 attacks in 2001, Giuliani was praised for his strong leadership of the city through the crisis.