Basil A. Paterson
Basil A. Paterson | |
|---|---|
| 58th Secretary of State of New York | |
| In office January 1, 1979 – January 1, 1983 | |
| Governor | Hugh Carey |
| Preceded by | Mario Cuomo |
| Succeeded by | Gail S. Shaffer |
| Member of the New York State Senate | |
| In office January 1, 1966 – December 31, 1970 | |
| Preceded by | Bernard G. Gordon |
| Succeeded by | Sidney A. von Luther |
| Constituency | 31st district (1966) 27th district (1967–1970) |
| Deputy Mayor of New York City | |
| In office January 1, 1978 – January 1, 1979 | |
| Appointed by | Ed Koch |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Basil Alexander Paterson April 27, 1926 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | April 16, 2014 (aged 87) New York City, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Portia Hairston |
| Children | 2, including David |
| Education | St. John's University (BS, JD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Basil Alexander Paterson (April 27, 1926 – April 16, 2014) was an American labor lawyer and politician. He served in the New York State Senate from 1966 to 1971 and as secretary of state of New York under Governor Hugh Carey from 1979 to 1983. In 1970, Paterson was the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of New York on the Arthur Goldberg ticket. Paterson's son David served as governor from 2008 to 2011.
At his death in 2014, The New York Times described Paterson as "one of the old-guard Democratic leaders who for decades dominated politics in Harlem and influenced black political power in New York City and the state into the 21st century,"