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February 1999

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Subject:
Re: gubernatorial terms of office
From:
"Elisabeth I. Perry" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
A LISTSERV list for discussions pertaining to New York State history." <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 1 Feb 1999 23:18:01 -0600
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For Terry Buford:

The change from 2 to 4-yr terms was argued for during the government
reorganization that took place during Alfred E. Smith's governship in the
1920s.  Herbert Lehman, FDR's successor as governor in 1933, was I believe
the first 4-yr term governor.  Books about the Smith years surely discuss
the rationale for the change, which was primarily to strengthen the
executive branch (the NYC mayoralty had already gone to a 4-yr term in
1913, if I remember correctly).

Elisabeth I. Perry


Research Professor of History
Department of History
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN 37235

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