Mario Cuomo Sent Me

It was past midnight when the phone rang. An unmistakable voice asked, “Is this Professor Lane?”

“It is,” I responded, groggy from being awakened and fearing the worst.

It was very early on Saturday morning in April 1981, the weekend of the Annual Conference of the New York State Political Science Association. Lt. Gov. Mario Cuomo was scheduled to be the luncheon banquet speaker later that day.

“The governor has called a special session of the Legislature,” Cuomo told me. “I know that nothing is going to happen, but I can’t be seen as talking to a group of academics in New York City when I’m supposed to be presiding over the Senate in Albany. But, don’t worry. We will find you a replacement.”

“I understand,” I said. “Thank you very much.” And the conversation ended.

The next day I didn’t tell anyone, fearing that attendance at the luncheon would suffer. After two sessions of panels in the morning, the academic and practitioner conferees assembled at a Chinese restaurant on Third Avenue near Baruch College, the site of the conference.

At precisely 12 noon, a tall, handsome, almost gaunt gentleman entered the restaurant and asked for me. It was former Rep. Herman Badillo. He said simply, “Mario Cuomo sent me.”

Frederick S. Lane, professor emeritus of public affairs at Baruch College, was president of the New York State Political Science Association from 1981 to 1982.