Remembering Mario Cuomo

Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo kisses his father, Mario Cuomo, as he celebrates after defeating Republican challenger Rob Astorino, at Democratic election headquarters in New York, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo — the father of current New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo — died Thursday. He was 82. Friends, fellow politicians and those who covered him were quick to post their memories of the man on Twitter.

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Here are a few.

Tonight, New York has lost a giant. Mario Cuomo was a man of unwavering principle who possessed a compassion for humankind without equal.
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) January 2, 2015

I was lucky to call Mario Cuomo a friend. My heart goes out to the entire Cuomo family during this difficult time http://t.co/5Tqr4oxd0C
— Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) January 2, 2015

.@NYGovCuomo today, at his inauguration, on his father, Mario: pic.twitter.com/rNW4hscWuZ
— Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) January 2, 2015

Today the New York family lost one of its greatest sons. Prayers to all who knew and loved Mario. -cs
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 2, 2015

A Cuomo family member on Mario's passing: "I think he waited until after Andrew's Swearing In."
— Annie Karni (@anniekarni) January 2, 2015

Governor Mario Cuomo was the conscience of the Democratic party. He will be sorely missed. http://t.co/gbdthnFTEm
— Carolyn B. Maloney (@RepMaloney) January 2, 2015

Was so heartbroken when Mario Cuomo didn't get on that plane to NH in Dec 1991. Didn't think I could ever help elect/work for anyone else...
— Stephanie Cutter (@stefcutter) January 2, 2015

Our country and our region lost a giant today with the passing of Governor Mario Cuomo.
— Governor Christie (@GovChristie) January 2, 2015

He was a strong, eloquent leader who loved New York and it's people.
— Governor Christie (@GovChristie) January 2, 2015

As an Italian-American, he was also a role model for future generations that anything was possible through hard work and education.
— Governor Christie (@GovChristie) January 2, 2015

Finally, he was a great husband, father and grandfather.
— Governor Christie (@GovChristie) January 2, 2015

Mary Pat and I send our deepest condolences to Matilda, Governor Andrew Cuomo and the entire Cuomo family.
— Governor Christie (@GovChristie) January 2, 2015

Mario Cuomo was a giant of NY government and politics. As much as anyone he understood and appreciated the mosaic that was NY. (1/2)
— Pete King (@RepPeteKing) January 2, 2015

All who knew Mario Cuomo were better for it. My thoughts and prayers are with the Cuomo family. RIP
— Pete King (@RepPeteKing) January 2, 2015

I'm sad to learn that NY's 52nd Gov. Mario Cuomo, father of @GovCuomo and great American patriot, has passed away. #RIP
— Charles Rangel (@cbrangel) January 2, 2015

I remember canvassing on Mario Cuomo's final campaign and taking such pride in his death penalty position, damn the politics. True compass.
— Patrick Gaspard (@patrickgaspard) January 2, 2015

#mariocuomo was a tremendous New Yorker and it was my privilege to work with him. #giant #proud #italianamerican
— Senator Al D'Amato (@AlDAmatoNY) January 2, 2015

Guarding Gov. Mario Cuomo in 1986. RIP to a fascinating man. pic.twitter.com/4SX20r7TOH
— Paul Schwartz (@NYPost_Schwartz) January 2, 2015

From a 1992 Press & Sun pullout. Binghamton Mayor Juanita Crabb and Governor Mario Cuomo at @bmets opening ceremony pic.twitter.com/VBC0HvGLkK
— Lynn Worthy (@LWorthySports) January 2, 2015

Former New York Governor #MarioCuomo passed today. One of the best political oriators in my lifetime. #RIP
— Mayor McClinton (@mayor_mcclinton) January 2, 2015

An early look at tomorrow's front page.
Obituary: http://t.co/FPMDLr5uqL
Lupica: http://t.co/WJCE0V9vKT pic.twitter.com/Wowc9lwXbP
— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) January 2, 2015

My Mario Cuomo story: He called me to explain why he didn't run in '92. Talked for 1 hour. I was late to class but @UVA students got briefed
— Larry Sabato (@LarrySabato) January 2, 2015

With my dad over my left shoulder, this is the moment my interest in politics was born. RIP, Mario Cuomo, 1932-2015.

A photo posted by Ed O'Keefe (@edatpost) on Jan 1, 2015 at 5:09pm PST

Mario Cuomo, RIP. I learned a lot covering him as a cub reporter. He loved to talk history - baseball too. pic.twitter.com/ESqHeHi2h1
— Jonathan Karl (@jonkarl) January 2, 2015

His voice was equal to his mind. #MarioCuomo reciting the Gettysburg Address. I'll miss him dearly. @PBS http://t.co/afthvtzdpN
— Ken Burns (@KenBurns) January 2, 2015

Coaching the Albany reporters' softball team against Gov. Mario Cuomo's squad. Alas, we never won. pic.twitter.com/TBnXnfwE6Q
— Jonathan D. Salant (@JDSalant) January 2, 2015

That time in '93 @billclinton had Ann Richards and Mario Cuomo over to the House to watch the #Cowboys beat the Bills pic.twitter.com/dOGTuAC8O1
— Robert Wilonsky (@RobertWilonsky) January 2, 2015

at dinner yrs ago w/ mario cuomo he chided me for wearing cheap casio watch on air. don't do it, he said. looks terrible. i never did again.
— Bill Ritter (@billritter7) January 2, 2015

Very sad to hear about the passing of Mario Cuomo. I'm sure somewhere he's toasting w my dad & Moynihan pic.twitter.com/7T37EmEXaE
— Luke Russert (@LukeRussert) January 2, 2015

I covered Mario Cuomo when he was Gov. He was easy to interview. Ask 1 question and you got a 20 minute answer. He died today at 82. @wusa9
— Hank Silverberg (@HankSilverberg) January 2, 2015

Here are some amazing snippets from his career.

Bill Clinton writing about #MarioCuomo in his memoir: “I wanted to put him on the Supreme Court, but he didn’t want that job”
— Chris Donovan (@chrisdonovan) January 2, 2015

First time Mario was reelected, his approval was over 70 percent. Second time, 64 percent per Marist. http://t.co/fFnrThLNfw
— Philip Bump (@pbump) January 2, 2015

When Bill Clinton asked Hillary Clinton to lead the healthcare push, Mario Cuomo said, "What did you do to make your husband so mad at you?”
— Dan Merica (@merica) January 2, 2015

Mario Cuomo (1932-2015) was sworn in as Governor of New York, this day 1983: #AP pic.twitter.com/kDqHLisgaY
— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) January 2, 2015

It was Mario Cuomo who decades ago first populatized "a tale of two cities" as a rallying cry for the left. #PassingOfAGiant
— Mark D. Levine (@MarkLevineNYC) January 2, 2015

RIP Mario Cuomo, 82, Clinton's initial choice for '93 #SCOTUS appointment; president went with Ruth Bader Ginsburg, resilient at 81
— Joan Biskupic (@JoanBiskupic) January 2, 2015

And here is some additional reading for those interested in falling down a rabbit hole.

#MarioCuomo's 1992 speech is the greatest convention keynote ever. Dorky confession: I've memorized much of it. http://t.co/4bgUEmeTPa
— Ian Volner (@IanVolner) January 2, 2015

From our December 1990 issue: “The Prose and Poetry of Mario Cuomo” http://t.co/iFaFXf8dd6
— The Atlantic (@TheAtlantic) January 2, 2015

A tale of two cities, from Dickens to William Jennings Bryan to Mario Cuomo to John Edwards to Bill deBlasio: http://t.co/tgKMNBbXNC
— Garance Franke-Ruta (@thegarance) January 2, 2015

One of my favorite Mario Cuomo stories-- when he finally watched The Godfather http://t.co/q0HKsEFFKP
— Jody Avirgan (@jodyavirgan) January 2, 2015

"What's the matter? Aren't you in a state of grace?" What a Cuomo obit: http://t.co/w0d0pBlnDB
— Carlos Lozada (@CarlosLozadaWP) January 2, 2015

Forget the convention speech. Watch Cuomo on "Religious Belief & Public Morality" at Notre Dame, Sept 1984: http://t.co/RHyOHYrLdx
— Carlos Lozada (@CarlosLozadaWP) January 2, 2015

Read Todd Purdum on Mario Cuomo, the poet laureate of American liberalism http://t.co/0xMVlcjajF
— Edward-Isaac Dovere (@IsaacDovere) January 2, 2015

From the #NYMagArchive: Remembering Mario Cuomo's first 4,000 days in office http://t.co/D9w2nKee87 pic.twitter.com/89zvwpFKMo
— New York Magazine (@NYMag) January 2, 2015

"He tried." The gravestone inscription Mario Cuomo wanted. Betsy Kolbert remembers him... http://t.co/tJsjh4zh4t
— nxthompson (@nxthompson) January 2, 2015

http://www.washingtonpost.com/posttv/national/former-ny-governor-mario-cuomo-dies/2015/01/02/a42d2053-9820-4304-99f2-9372c3ce1b15_video.html

This post has been updated.