Learning to Govern: My Life in New York Politics, From Hell Gate to City Hall

by Peter F. Vallone

This book tells the inspiring story of Peter F. Vallone, the second most powerful political official in New York City after the mayor for 12 years – as Speaker of the City Council during the Koch, Dinkins, and Giuliani Administrations. In a personal, breezy style this political "page turner" tells the story of how Vallone rose from a Queens clubhouse to the seat of power in City Hall - and in the process overturned the structure of the city’s government. Although he has been a major figure in New York State - he was Democratic candidate for Governor in 1998 - and for a while even in national politics - Vallone never left his roots in a typical New York City neighborhood. Learning to Govern presents a view of a lifelong Democrat with strong spiritual values as well as a loving husband and friend who strives to always "do the right thing." - A unique portrait of the interaction between the City Council and Mayor's office in a large city. - A "fly on the wall" perspective of the inner workings of city government, and shows how conflicts are resolved and alliances fromed among contending parties. - A vivid chronicle of the political life of New York City for the past 30 years. "Peter Vallone served as Speaker of the City Council during part of my administration and during the administrations of David Dinkins and Rudy Giuliani. He has written a superb book. If you want to know how government functions and how the City Council and Mayor of New York City conduct the business of the people, this is the book to read. I know. I was there. Read Peter's book and become the fly on the wall." – Ed Koch, former Mayor of New York City "Peter Vallone was an invaluable partner during my years as mayor. In this book he provides a keen legislative view of the workings of city government that should be required reading for anyone who wants to know how New York began its rebirth in the early 1990s." —David Dinkins, former Mayor of New York City "This book displays the power of working together. Peter Vallone and I disagreed on many occasions about many things. But we shared a love of New York City and a belief in the power of cooperation. Because we were - and are - friends, we were able to accomplish things that benefited all New Yorkers. Drawing on his years of public service and his commitment to the highest level of integrity, Peter Vallone provides a memorable account of government that all who care about New York City and American government will appreciate." —Rudolph W. Giuliani, former Mayor of New York City " Learning to Govern will teach you why one should run for public office and how to do it when you get there. No one has ever done it with more sincerity or integrity than Peter Vallone." —Mario Cuomo

274 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2005

Reviews

[Mike Mcfarland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I bought it with some wariness, figuring it would be a self-congratulatory political memoir, but while that's an element of the book it's not the dominant element. The dominant element is the evolution of the New York City Council from "The Forty Thieves" into a real municipal legislature over the course of Peter Vallone's tenure, which covered the 1970s bankruptcy crisis through the first days after 9/11 when term limits forced him from his Astoria,Queens-based seat.

Vallone takes the lion's share of the credit for this transformation - and it sounds as though he deserves most of it it - but he's also generous in passing credit around to others. He spoke very highly of Mayors Koch, Dinkins and Giuliani, characterizing their battles as more business than personal, and even had kind words for Donald Manes, the corrupt Queens Borough President who took his life when newspapers uncovered his corruption.

Most interesting for me was reading about what an enormous hassle it is to run the City of New York. You not only have to keep city politicians in line, no small task on its own, you have to battle State politicians as well. Vallone's harshest words come in discussing how the State bleeds the City dry but offers little but kind words in return. He would like for the City to declare its independence from the State and operate more like Hong Kong or Singapore, and you have to wonder if maybe he's right after reading his account of how the State cheated the City out of its commuter tax. An excellent and thoughtful read from an unusually excellent and thoughtful politician.