Background
Robert Abrams was born on July 4, 1938, in Bronx, New York, the United States in a Jewish family, the son of Benjamin and Dorothy Abrams. He has one sister, Marlene (Abrams) Kitrosser.
Robert Abrams was born on July 4, 1938, in Bronx, New York, the United States in a Jewish family, the son of Benjamin and Dorothy Abrams. He has one sister, Marlene (Abrams) Kitrosser.
Robert Abrams graduated from Columbia College and the New York University School of Law.
Robert Abrams was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1966 to 1969, sitting in the 176th, 177th, and 178th New York State Legislatures. From 1970 to 1978, Robert Abrams was Borough President of the Bronx and a member of the New York City Board of Estimate, having been elected in 1969 and overwhelmingly re-elected in 1973 and 1977.
Robert Abrams was a delegate to 1972, 1976, 1980, and 1984 Democratic National Conventions. At the 1972 Democratic National Convention, he was the co-chair of the New York delegation and was at the microphone to cast New York's 272 votes for George McGovern. In 1980, Robert Abrams was the chairman of Senator Edward M. Kennedy's primary campaign for president in New York and led a strong victory over incumbent President Jimmy Carter. In 1988, Robert Abrams was a presidential elector, voting for Michael Dukakis-Lloyd Bentsen ticket.
Robert Abrams was elected New York Attorney General in 1978, the first time in forty years a Democrat was elected to that post and was subsequently re-elected three times, in 1982, 1986, and 1990. He built a reputation as an activist and consumer advocate, taking on environmental polluters, charity frauds, discrimination in housing, and various activities in the marketplace.
In 1992, Robert Abrams sought election to the United States Senate. He was initially the front-runner but by the end of the summer, he was running second in polls. The nomination battle then took a bitter turn. After Robert Abrams emerged as the nominee, the Democrats remained divided and he was unable to secure endorsement until the last days of the campaign. After narrowly losing the Senate race, Robert Abrams failed to realize his hopes for a cabinet post in the administration of President Bill Clinton. Robert Abrams also wanted to run for Governor of New York, however fellow Democrat and incumbent Mario Cuomo decided to seek a fourth term. Despite making plans to run for re-election as state attorney general, Robert Abrams announced his resignation from the office of the attorney general on September 8, 1993.
Upon leaving the government, Robert Abrams joined Stroock & Stroock & Lavan as a partner. Mayor Bloomberg appointed Robert Abrams in 2005 to serve on the New York City Charter Revision Commission. In 2006, New York Governor-Elect Eliot Spitzer appointed Robert Abrams to serve as Co-Chair of his Policy Advisory Committee on Governmental Reform for his Transition, and New York Attorney General Elect Andrew Cuomo appointed him Executive Chair of his Transition Committee. In 2008, New York Governor David Paterson appointed Abrams to serve on the Board of the United Nations Development Corporation.
On May 9, 2009, New York Governor David Paterson renamed the Justice Building at the Empire State Plaza in Albany the Robert Abrams Building for Law and Justice. Also in 2009, Attorney General-elect Eric Schneiderman appointed Robert Abram to serve as Honorary Co-Chair of his transition committee. In 2010, New York's Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman appointed him to be a member of the Advisory Council for the Retired Attorney Pro Bono Program.
In 2012, Governor Andrew Cuomo appointed Robert Abram as co-chairman of a Moreland Commission to investigate the preparedness and response of the utilities in New York State to Superstorm Sandy which took the lives of numerous New Yorkers and caused billions of dollars of damage. At the conclusion of its hearings and deliberations, the Commission released a report which resulted in changes to New York State law and practices by utilities.
Robert Abrams also served on numerous boards of the community not for profit organizations: Fund for the City of New York, Citizens Union Board Member and President of the Citizens Union Foundation, America Israel Friendship League, and Council for a Secure America.
Robert Abrams also served on the corporate boards of Sterling Bancorp and Sterling National Bank for 18 years.
Robert Abrams is considered a member of the reform wing of the Democratic Party.
On September 15, 1974, Robert Abrams married the daughter of Jacob and Hilda Schulder, Diane Schulder Abrams, an attorney who created and taught the first "Women and the Law" course in an American law school. Diane has two siblings, Howard Schulder and Sylvia Schulder Fisher. Robert and Diane have two daughters, Rachel and Becky, and six grandchildren.
Robert and Diane's second child Becky was born to them when Diane we as 49 years old. They attribute her birth to a blessing they received from the Lubavitcher Rebbe.