Before Ocasio-Cortez, the Elizabeth Holtzman Effect

Liz was an attorney, this new woman worked in a bar

Very good article comparing the two....However, Ms. Bellafante might have delved deeper into Ms Holtzman's run for the Senate. She won the primary over long time Senator Jack Javitts, but then refused to go to his headquarters and pay a little homage to an old, sick man. So, Mr. Javitts, embittered, ran as an independent , causing a split Democratic vote and we were left with Al D'Amato as our next Senator.....Let's hope Ms Ocasio-Cortez learns from other's missteps...

There is an embarrassing and shameful biographical fact missing from this article regarding former NY congresswoman Elizabeth Holtzman as a role model for the 14th congressional district Dem candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortéz. Ironically, Holtzman has an undeniable record of hysterically opposing Hispanic Caribbean immigrants, especially in summer/1980 [a flow which, incidentally, included a few Jews], even going to Miami to “personally inspect” the newcomers, whom she further insulted in the press. She was such a ridiculous xenophobic hate-monger that the young, prestigious liberal-Dem Puerto Rico-born mayor of Miami at the time, Mauricio Ferré, declared her persona non grata. For someone directly descended from European Jewish immigrants this is only one more contradiction about Holtzman’s life history that Ms. Ocasio-Cortéz ought to be enlightened about. Prof. Roland Armando Alum — Anthropologist, NJ-based Hispanic community advocate, though affiliated with the Univ. of Pittsburgh's Center for Latin American Studies.

My history professor at UW Madison said to me during the Watergate hearings, "imagine if we still had Manny Cellar" on the committee" Glad he was gone.

The more things change the more things stay the same. I hope that Ms Oscaio-Cortez gets to accomplish just as much as this woman has done.

Ms. Ocasio-Cortez won because the ethnic make up of the congressional district changed. Mr. Crowley made no effort to ingratiate himself to the hispanic voters. This was classic New York ethnic politics, not a ideological revolution. Ms. Ocasio-Cortez is not a socialist; she is a Bernie Sanders left wing democrat who wants more regulation of business, the to big to fail banks and Wall Street along with a European style social welfare system.

Emma Howells, thanks for the photographic portrait of L.H. you created showing in age the sane, healthy, wise, quality and character of a personage the equal or better than the personalities we limn in the paintings of the Founders and the photos of Lincoln. She was as great as it was possible for a woman to be in her active time. A proper biography someone please to complement this historic, instructive, inspiring American life captured by Emma Howells.

One probable factor in the downfall of Emanuel Celler was his opposition to equal rights for women. In the House debate on the ERA in 1970, Celler said, "There is as much difference between a male and a female as between a male and a female as between a horse chestnut and a chestnut horse" and "Vive la différence." Poetic justice caught up with Celler.

I voted for Elizabeth Holtzman in my first election at age 18. It was thrilling to fele the power of the ballot box and the hope of real progressive change. And what happened nationally? 16 of the next 20 years saw Republicans in the White House. Democrats need to think about electoral reality, not Utopian dreams if they hope to win back real power.

The only thing as bad as a 84 yr old, Tammany Hall type character like Celler is an identity obsessed far out liberal like Holtzman. She never made it to the national scene beyond the House. Obama learned from the mistake she made. He ran as an American and not a black, Holtzman ran as an identity obsessed woman and not an American. Hillary did not learn the lesson. Obama served two terms and Hillary was relegated to the dust heap of history. Democrats learn from history or forever be condemned to repeat its' worst mistakes.

Joe Crowley was all right when he was one of the key people in the Hillary Clinton campaign. Now he's being portrayed as necessary road kill in the American tribal wars. They turned on you real quick Joe, didn't they? No Irish need apply.

Important figure in our political history who deserves much more notice. Thank you, NYTimes and Gina Bellafante, for writing this excellent piece about Elizabeth Holtzman. As Ms Holtzman says of Ocasio-Cortez, "She didn’t have the money . . . she had the gumption.” So many contests in November I hope will go this way as well.

Liz Holtzman gave the commencement address at my graduation from Ramapo College in 1978. She was awesome then and continued to be awesome. I remember her address more than most of the many others I have sat through since. I think many of the posters misunderstand Ocasio-Cortez. She has clearly articulated that her goals are aspirational - and the need to reach for the stars, but get down to work to govern. Just know where you are headed. Having seen heard her on a number of interviews, she strikes me as inspiring, hard-working, clearly grounded in where she wants to be, but willing to work and compromise to get there. That is as it should be. Baby Boomers (like me) are retiring from the work force and should also be retiring from public life. It has always been rough when the next generation steps in ("get off my lawn!") but the future belongs to her generation now.

Democrats promote identify politics, so white male Democrats should not be surprised when they are defeated in party primaries by women and “people of color.” White male Democrats are an endangered species.

Ms. Ocasio-Cortez is a self-described Democratic Socialist. If you look into the matter you will find the stated goals of the Democratic Socialists of America are unlikely to appeal to most Democrats, much less Republicans. Here are two of several that will turn off many voters: (https://www.dsausa.org/where_we_stand#global ) 1. "Economic democracy means...direct ownership and/or control of much of the economic resources of society by the great majority of wage and income earners." This is basic Marxism/Communism, wherein workers own or control the means of production; it hasn't worked elsewhere, and is not likely to appeal to US voters. 2. "Social redistribution--the shift of wealth and resources from the rich to the rest of society--will require...massive redistribution of income from corporations and the wealthy to wage earners and the poor and the public sector, in order to provide the main source of new funds for social programs, income maintenance and infrastructure rehabilitation...." This goal is neither feasible nor appealing I am sad to see the Democratic Party leaders so out of touch with reality that some are hailing these young socialists as the future of our party. Ocasio-Cortez and other socialists will not likely achieve other than sporadic electoral successes, and may cost us votes in the mid-terms/2020 (remember Bernie in 2016). Abolishing ICE and turning the means of production over to workers are suicidal platform planks for the Democratic Party.

Ocasio-Cortez is really a great story. But like David and Goliath, it's just a story. I applaud her "gumption" but are country is not run by politicians anymore. We are really an oligarchy that runs on lobbyists and money. I hope I'm wrong. But unfortunately my liberal sisters and brother still believe in Unicorns.

Wow. Does everyone get real blurry-eyed when they consider women? This is beyond insulting and the moments and candidates should not be compared. Holtzman was at at Harvard Law, a liaison for the Mayor's office, State Assembly Democratic Committee leader and so much more applicable to the leadership position she was running for. While Ocasio-Cortez was slinging margaritas and briefly an "organizer" for Bernie Sanders. Not to disparage the work- I've paid the bills as a single mother the same way for ten years- but get real. The fact that Ocasio-Cortez won the primary is incredible and unique- but analyzing the candidate and the upcoming election will require reporters to dig a little bit deeper than gender and age. (Go with her community organizing and ANYthing you can come up with that shows leadership and responsibility).

Elizabeth Holtzman was a "Harvard Law School graduate, a reform candidate who had been active in the civil rights movement, and had served as mayoral aide" Not bad qualifications for a seat in Congress. Ocasio-Cortez is compared to Holtzman, but what are HER qualifications? Surely, that's relevant to any article comparing them? Perhaps a little less opining, a little less fluff about veal dishes on Montague Street in the 1970s, and a little more relevant factual background for the comparison?

Ms Holtzman is and was a gem and I voted for her. So is Ocasio-Cortez. Democrats, we have some fearless candidates. I sincerely hope we can get a courageous person who will speak with passion and clarity to head the ticket. Let's stop clutching our pearls and accepting the crumbs that the party elites want to throw to us. Let's ask ourselves what type of society we really want. Trump has demonstrated to us exactly what we don't want. And don't omit the part where we examine the candidate's stance on war. We can't have our social programs and be engaged in endless, costly conflict. Let's be fearless and bold voters.

Liz Holtzman was one of the good ones: highly qualified, dedicated to reform, ready to make a mark in the Congress. And she made a mark. She was a talented legislator and a productive one. Ocasio-Cortez can have a similar legacy provided that she dedicate herself to similar goals. We'll see how that goes. For now, she is endorsing DSA primary challengers to incumbents, a surefire way to make enemies before even being sworn in. If her objective is pushing socialism, she'll fail. If her objective is being a good legislator in service to her constituents, she'll be a star. Let's hope she chooses the latter path. If she does, she could be a very significant Member of Congress.

I remember this race as if it were yesterday. I was a freshman at Brooklyn College majoring in political science and putting my academic efforts to use in working on the campaigns of various local candidates. This article is precise in its detail and, yes, Manny Cellar was a truly great man, having delivered for his district over and over, but after 49 years had forgotten things and it was time for a change.

@Mon Ray With the exception of her misguided notions on immigration, Cortez's platform is basically the Scandanavian model, a part of the world whose citizens are the happiest, healthiest and most advanced in terms of education and employment opportunities, rational common sense approaches to justice and government (politics) environmental protections, modern infrastructure, consumer safety, public education and services, human rights, equality and tolerance, and economic equality. So, the points she has listed (below) would move America (and humanity) in the right direction: - Medicare for all - Universal jobs guarantee - Tax Wall Street to support tuition-free higher/vocational education - Paid family/sick leave - End war on drugs - Demilitarize police - Abolish for-profit prisons - Invest in 100% renewable green industry - End corporate finance in public elections

Senator Patty Murray of Washington State was one of the first women elected and she won by taking advantage of her male competitor calling her "just a mom in tennis shoes". She is/was much more as she has proven. Thanks to all the courageous, Socially Conscious Women who are stepping up to take one-half the power in OUR governments every segment of life in OUR United States of America and the world. The male power-over model, accomplished through inherited/stolen wealth, threatens OUR world. The only answer is for Socially Conscious Women to take one-half the power and bring the world into balance. NOW is the time. Now may be the only time for centuries.

My first votes - in the 1972 primary - were for Shirley Chisolm (president) and Liz Holtzman (congress). In '77, Bella was my choice for mayor. All were grassroots feminists, unlike those Supply Siders whose main sights were on the corporate board room and believed such success would trickle down to the hoi polloi. Those are the votes that make me proudest.

I was a 19 year old sophomore at Brooklyn college, when I saw Ms. Holtzman running for Congress against Mr. Celler. I thought she had no chance against the machine, but voted for her anyway. Just show up and vote, never know what can happen.

Had Elizabeth Holtzman lost her race, the events of the next two years might have been noticeably different. Mr. Celler was chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and when he left Congress, he was succeeded in that role by Rep. Peter Rodino of New Jersey, who went on to preside over the committee's hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon. Mr. Celler might not have handled that investigation as even-handedly or as fairly as Mr. Rodino did.

Let's hope the O-C effect is not to win the one battle but lose the war. She may win her district, but she's given the Republicans more ammunition to paint the democrats as open borders nutters.

I am nervous about people being overly confident that Alexandria will win the election. Obviously she needs no advice from me. But still a word of caution. A call from Maureen Dowd is not the same thing as a high five from the sanitation worker who greeted her after her victory.

"Holtzman graduated from Radcliffe College (magna cum laude 1962), and Harvard Law School (1965). She was admitted to the bar in New York State (1966).[6][7] Holtzman served on the staff of Mayor John V. Lindsay from 1967 to 1970, and worked as a liaison between the Mayor's office and the city Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs.[8] She was a member of the New York State Democratic Committee and Democratic Committee leader for the New York State Assembly district that included her residence from 1970 to 1972, and a delegate to the 1972 Democratic National Convention.[9] She was also a founder of the Brooklyn Women’s Political Caucus" The above, albeit from Wikipedia, is Ms. Holtzman's early bio. There is very little to compare with Ms. Ocasio-Cortez in terms of political background and credentials.

Having the head of the DNC loudly proclaim Ocasio-Cortez is the future of the Democrat party was music to Republican's ears. The party is witnessing massive exists due to a current platform of Trump hating, take a knee, cop hating, praising illegal immigration, standing up for MS-13, trying to overturn the tax cut etc.

Congressman Crowley, his wife and children reside in Virginia ( he does own a residency in Queens.) At a recent event in The Bronx, a state senator publicly joked about the Congressman’s rare visit to the borough. As Tip O’Neill famously stated “All politics is LOCAL.”

The Ocasio-Cortez victory recalls to mind the criteria the NYT Editorial Board has for interviewing and supporting candidates. The Time Editorial Board has a bias against long shot candidates. They often want to know about an insurgent candidates financial war chest. If a candidate like Holtzman or Orcasio-Cortez asks for an endorsement, their meager funds often disqualify them from even having an interview. The Board likes to pick winners. Unfortunately, for upstart candidates and the electorate, this puts a chill on the competition for new ideas. It also contributes to voter apathy and why in our recent mayoral election barely one in six registered voters went to the polls. Perhaps if a candidate has enough gumption to get on the ballot, they deserve fair consideration by the Times. Any reasonable observer of City Hall, Albany or Beltway politics would agree that change for the better can only happen when we give democracy oxygen.

First of all, thank goodness for Ginia Bellafante, who does such good work at the newspaper. Second, why is everyone so scared of Ocasio-Cortez? This is a very rich country, and it sounds like some of you have gotten used to all that money being hoarded by a greedy few. It's time we redistributed the wealth back in our direction. It's also a message that can win, if only someone would dare share it with those swindled "forgotten Americans." They were so easily swayed by a snake oil salesman, they could perhaps be swayed by a genuine message of hope? We've got to start somewhere. And third, hooray for Elizabeth Holtzman! A true American heroine.

An important result of the defeat of Emanuel Celler by Elizabeth Holtzman was that chairmanship of the House Judiciary Committee [which handles impeachments] was transferred to Peter Rodino from former Chairman, Celler. In his autobiography, Man of the House, author, Tip O'Neill, writes that Rodino acted much more promptly on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon than Celler would have., if at all.

One of the biggest tragedy in recent New York political history was the 1980 senate race when Jacob Javits cost Holtzman the senate seat and saddled us with Al D'Amato for years. Javits was not only selfish but a liar as were his doctors who denied there was anything seriously wrong with his health and only after the election admitted he had ALS and wouldn't have been able to serve even if he had won. It's worth noting that Javits' primary doctor was not some sleazy type character like Trump's physician but a prominent professor of neurology at Cornell.

I am appalled at the adulation suddenly bestowed upon Ms. Ocasio-Cortez. I can't understand why she is lauded in the media as the new look and savior of Democrats, who in the 2016 election saw that socialism (Bernie) and Democrats don't mix. Here is Ms. Ocasio-Cortez's printed campaign platform: - Medicare for all - Universal jobs guarantee - Tax Wall Street to support tuition-free higher/vocational education - Paid family/sick leave - End war on drugs - Demilitarize police - Abolish for-profit prisons - Protect DREAMERs and TPS recipients, simplify paths to citizenship, and abolish ICE - Invest in 100% renewable green industry - End corporate finance in public elections Unfunded pie in the sky, though I do hope her win will shake up the ossified Democrat leadership. We know how Democrats and Trumpers will vote, so we should focus on undecideds and moderates. Calling Ivanka Trump a vile name, saying that Barron Trump should be locked up with pedophiles, and tossing a senior White House staffer out of a restaurant can only convince the undecideds and moderates to vote for Trump and Republicans because Democrats seem so wacky and disgusting. No need to slither into the muck with the Trumpers; we can win in November and in 2020 on our merits. However, we will lose if the Democrats' platform includes planks supporting the termination of ICE or turning over the means of production to the workers.

Yes, Joe Crowley, as Ms Bellafante states, was "blind to the force of a young, female challenger, Mr. Celler didn’t see what was coming." But so, too, was The Times. The New York Times has abandoned coverage of the city and its environs. The Times is a "New York" newspaper in name only. Instead of publishing spurious comparisons to elections in decades past, The Times should be paying attention to its own neighborhood and making sure that it stops being blind to the new forces gathering right here.

I recall Ms. Holtzman's distinguished career well, and I am not convinced that this is an apt comparison. I fail to understand how someone could have studied economics and come away from a college education with a deep hostility toward people who run businesses. No other country that I know of fails to limit immigration prudently; the U.S. does not have infinite resources. There are more important attributes in a Congressional representative than youth and gender. Ms. Holtzman was both brilliant and deeply protective of Israel, as I recall, whereas if what I've been told about Ms. Ocasio-Ortez' positions is correct, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez may be hostile to Israel, hostile to enterprise and hostile to border enforcement. A Congress person who is hostile to enterprise is a threat to Americans who dream of building their own futures by creating businesses of their own. Small business people try to create a future for themselves, their workers, and their families. That's what profits are for. Her positions also raise concern for those who care about whether Israel is being demonized. I urge voters to look beyond appealing personal characteristics in a candidate and look at the positions she is espousing. I fear her expressed slogans are reflexively hostile to enterprise and the concept of legal, limited immigration. One can be a very appealing person on an individual level without however having wise ideas for how the U.S. should be governed.

Liz Holtzman is still a standout. She is now bringing insight to us via her tv appearance contributing her insight into the Watergate era and showing us the parallels now.! Outstanding example of public service and a gifted lawyer.

I was too young to fully comprehend Congresswoman Holtzman's importance, but I knew her as one of those rare women in American politics, along with Bella Abzug, I would see on television or in the newspaper. Even as a kid I understood they were mavericks chartering unexplored territory. Both Holtzman and Abzug deserve a lot of credit for being fearless in the face of adversity. It was an uphill climb every step of the way. Abzug almost became a cartoon of sorts with her hat, etc... and in that way it gave her protection from attack. She could very easily be brash and outspoken as that Lady in the Hat character. Holtzman didn't have that kind of get-up. She had to play it straight and cool, which she did admirably. Bess Myerson also deserves credit but her rise to fame was as Miss America, a male institution that serves only to reinforce female stereotype and objectification. In any case, these are the women I would see and hear in the news, in political affairs, growing up in 1970's New York. And if I heard and saw these women of distinction, then so too did countless girls, who saw them as role models, who saw in them the future. Their influence is pervasive and immeasurable.