John V. Lindsay was the Mayor of New York City from 1966 to 1973.
John Vliet Lindsay was born November 24, 1921, in New York City. Lindsay received a bachelor of arts degree from Yale University in 1944 before joining the Navy at the tail end of World War II. Upon returning from service, Lindsay went back to Yale, receiving his Legum Baccalaureus in 1948. He began practicing law in New York City in 1949. He also married his wife Mary Ann Lindsay (née Harrison) that year, with whom he would raise 4 children.
Though he had been a member of the Young Republicans and an ardent supporter of Dwight Eisenhower during Ike’s campaign for the Presidency, Lindsay’s career in politics began in earnest when he became executive assistant to the United States Attorney General in 1955. During his time in the Justice Department, Lindsay served as an intermediary with the White House and worked with the Eisenhower Administration in drafting legislation. In 1958 he was elected to the 86th Congress as representative of the 17th district of New York (Manhattan’s Upper East Side) in the United States House of Representatives. He served as a Congressman as Republican through 1965, though his record frequently indicated a more liberal outlook on the role of government.
In 1966 he was elected mayor of New York City, and was immediately hit with a transit strike which crippled the city for 12 days. The struggle was just the beginning of Lindsay’s labor woes as he struggled with increased demands for higher municipal wages throughout his time as mayor, an issue which never seemed to find a satisfying resolution. In 1967 he served as Vice Chairman for the National Commission on Civil Disorders (Kerner Commission) at the behest of President Lyndon Johnson, who no doubt noticed Lindsay's genuine concern for the needs of inner city citizens.
In 1969 he switched political parties, losing the Republican Party’s support in the primary elections after a protracted mutual estrangement, leaving the GOP for the Liberal Party. In 1971 he switched again, this time joining the Democrats for a failed effort for the presidency. His time as New York City Mayor ended in 1973 after he declined to pursue another term.
Lindsay returned to private practice in 1973, and served as an occasional contributor to Good Morning America for the American Broadcast Company. He would also serve as chairman for the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts from 1984 to 1988.
In 1999 he moved to Hilton Head, SC with his wife Mary. He died in 2000.
Works Cited: John Lindsay Papers at Yale University and John Lindsay at Biography.com
John V. Lindsay appears in the following:
Mayor v. MacDougal Street
Thursday, February 25, 2016
When the Mob Infiltrated City Government
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Happy Earth Day - Now Move Your Car
Monday, April 21, 2014
Ferdinand Marcos and John Lindsay Foster U.S.-Philippines Ties, 1966
Monday, November 12, 2012
New York in Black and White: The Sixties, Civil Rights and the Ocean Hill-Brownsville Crisis
Thursday, January 27, 2000
John Lindsay
Tuesday, October 05, 1982
Mayor Lindsay: Press Conference on the Knapp Commission Hearings
Tuesday, December 21, 1971
Mayor Lindsay press Conference [on police strike]
Saturday, January 16, 1971
Mayor Lindsay press conference on three-day police strike.
The Mayor's statement is as follows:
Eight million New Yorkers depend each day on New York's police to preserve the peace, ensure the,public safety, protect lives and property and aid those in distress.
Lindsay Press Conference on Rejection of Welfare Request
Tuesday, December 29, 1970
Mayor John V. Lindsay hosts a press conference with two statements: Proclamation about Leningrad Trials "Day of concern," and an unprecedented rejection of the Welfare 2.4 billion budget request.
Question and answer period follows. Among them:
Should all city employees be required to live ...
Lindsay press conference
Tuesday, December 01, 1970
Mayor Lindsay press conference with Queens Borough President Sidney Leviss; Board of Education President Murry Bergtraum; Board of Education Vice Chair Isaiah Robinson; and Corona homeowner representative (and former Assemblyman) Mike Capanegro.
The Mayor announces the immediate construction of a new high school in Corona, Queens, but ...
John Lindsay signing of an executive order #27 which gives formal status to the mayor's committee on the exploitation of workers
Monday, November 30, 1970
John Lindsay signs executive order #27 which gives formal status to the mayor's committee on the exploitation of workers
The members are John Cadden, Henery Phoner, Steven Denzillo, local 306, Samuel Covenetski, Irving Sterne, Jack Stone, Leon Zverdoff, Doris Turner, Julius Manson.
Older members ...
Lindsay press conference [on Correction appointments].
Tuesday, November 24, 1970
NYC Mayor John V. Lindsay heads a press conference along with William vanden Heuvel, Chairman of Correction Board, and Leo C. Zefferetti, President of Correction Officers Benevolent Association, as well as [Joe De Lea], Assistant Deputy Warden.
The mayor announces new appointees in Corrections department:
Benjamin ...
Lindsay press conference [on new construction board]
Thursday, November 19, 1970
New York City Comptroller Abraham D. Beame and Mayor John V. Lindsay announce the creation of a 3-person construction board headed by Municipal Services Administrator Milton Musicus and including Comptroller Beame and Budget Director Edward K. Hamilton. The main goal of the board will be to communicate with construction companies ...
Mayor Lindsay Press Conference on Support for Charles Goodell
Friday, October 30, 1970
Jacob Javits and John Lindsay endorse Charles Goodell's troubled re-election campaign for New York governor, and warns against voting for Richard Ottinger.
Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection
WNYC archives id: 151460
Municipal archives id: T7672
Lindsay press conference [on Nixon comments]
Tuesday, October 27, 1970
Mayor Lindsay answers questions regarding his remarks made the day before about President Nixon, whom the Mayor held responsible for the "cloud of suspicion and mistrust."
Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection
WNYC archives id: 151456
Municipal archives id: T7663
Mayor Lindsay presentation of council chambers
Wednesday, October 07, 1970
Mayor Lindsay presentation of council chambers.
Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection
WNYC archives id: 151441
Municipal archives id: T7633
Lindsay press conference
Tuesday, September 29, 1970
Mayor Lindsay welcomes officials and parade leaders from the Pulaski Day festivities. He signs a proclamation declaring October 4, 1970, as Pulaski Day in New York City.
He also announces that 2,500 heroin addicts will enter methadone maintenance facilities thru the Health Services Administration as well as ...
Mayor Lindsay Press Conference, Endorsement of Louis Lefkowitz
Friday, September 25, 1970
In this press conference, Mayor Lindsay endorses Louis Lefkowitz for Attorney General for State of New York, calling him 'the people's lawyer.' Lefkowitz thanks the Mayor and pledges himself to service to the people.
Lindsay is asked about running for President and taking a sabbatical once he ...
Mayor Lindsay Power Shortage
Wednesday, September 23, 1970
Mayor Lindsay says the power shortage is now at its worst since the summer. He urges New Yorkers to conserve energy by cutting back on unnecessary power use such as leaving the refrigerator door open. (phone sound)
Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection
WNYC archives id: 151437
Mayor Lindsay Statement About Police Promotion List
Tuesday, September 22, 1970
Mayor Lindsay statements about police promotion list.
He says they will now test validation boards in community civil service in order to end or reduce law suits about exams for promotions in the Police Department. The categories of promotion are patrolman to sergeants, sergeants to Lieutenants, and ...
