Koch, Edward Irving

Koch, Edward Irving (kŏch), 1924–, U.S. public official, congressman, and mayor of New York City (1977–89), b. New York City. After receiving his law degree (New York Univ., 1948), he practiced as a lawyer and became active in reform Democratic politics. After sitting on the New York city council (1967–68), he served in the U.S. House of Representatives (1969–77). In 1977 he became mayor of New York City. With the support of the municipal labor unions and the creation of the Municipal Assistance Corporation, Koch is credited with avoiding the city's bankruptcy during the financial crisis of the mid-1970s. He was reelected in 1981 and 1985. Though he came to political prominence as an opponent of Tammany Hall, he became a critic of the Vietnam War. As mayor, his style was forceful and outspoken. In 1982 he lost a bid for the Democratic nomination for governor, and in 1989 he sought an unprecedented fourth term as mayor but was defeated in the Democratic primary by David N. Dinkins, who was then elected mayor. With William Rauch, Koch wrote Mayor (1984).