Classic Mr NYC

Two legendary New Yorkers just died -- Robert Morgenhhau and Paul Krassner.

Morgenthau, the longtime Manhattan DA, who prosecuted numerous high-profile cases (Bernie Goetz, Robert Chambers, Joel Steinberg, the Central Park 5, and many others) and, unlike many prosecutors today, also went hard after white collar and corporate crime. He was a child of great privilege who committed his life to public service, serving in WWII and a US Attorney before becoming DA in 1975. Famously, he was hanging out with then-Attorney General Robert Kennedy on November 22, 1963 when they together learned of JFK's assassination. He was 99 years old.

The other passing was Paul Krassner, the legendary satirist and social activist, founder of the satirical magazine The Realist and a brilliant mind. Krassner was a leader of the 1960s counter-culture, a member of Ken Kesey's Yippies, and a friend to people like Lenny Bruce. He knew everyone, went everywhere, wrote about and did everything, and lived an amazing, culturally-rich life. He was 87.

Even better, Paul Krassner was kind enough to do an interview for this blog in April, 2018 (just last year!). He was funny, kind, and told us many interesting things about his long life and career -- including being responsible for having abortion legalized in New York State before Roe v. Wade. He was a real original, an NYC legend, and it's a huge honor to have done one of his last (if not his very last) interviews. At the end of the interview I asked him how he would like to be remembered. He replied: "Laughter from the satire I felt urged to share on Earth."

Paul, you will be remembered thus. RIP.