14 Facts About Abraham Beame

Abraham David Beame was an American accountant, investor, and Democratic Party politician who served from 1974 to 1977 as the 104th mayor of New York City.

Abraham Beame's parents were Esther and Philip Birnbaum, Jewish immigrants from Poland who fled Warsaw.

Abraham Beame was raised on New York City's Lower East Side.

Abraham Beame was an accounting teacher at Richmond Hill High School in Queens from 1929 to 1946 and taught accounting and commercial law at Rutgers University from 1944 to 1945.

From 1952 to 1961, Abraham Beame served as New York City's director of the budget, having served as assistant director from 1946 to 1952.

In 1965, Abraham Beame was the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City.

Abraham Beame defeated State Senator John J Marchi, Blumenthal, and Biaggi in the 1973 mayoral election, becoming the 104th mayor of New York City.

Abraham Beame entered office facing the worst fiscal crisis in the city's history and spent most of his term attempting to ward off bankruptcy.

Abraham Beame added that New York City citizens needed to take immediate steps to protect the city's essential life support systems and to preserve their well-being.

Abraham Beame set up a Blackout Action Center at the New York City Police Department headquarters.

Abraham Beame was succeeded by Koch, who won the general election on November 8,1977.

Abraham Beame was married to his childhood sweetheart, Mary, for 67 years.

Abraham Beame received the Townsend Harris medal in 1957, and awards from numerous charitable, religious and civic organizations.

Abraham Beame underwent open-heart surgery in August and December 2000, and died from surgical complications on February 10,2001, at the age of 94.