Post 9/11 The Highs and Lows of Giuliani

Giuliani's book back in 2002

One of the heroes following September 11, 2001 was then New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who gave a lot of media briefings, coordinated emergency response and comforted residents in shock, sadness, and anger. 

He quickly became known as "America's Mayor", and was named Time magazine's Person of the Year and his approval ratings shot up for his resoluteness.

"America's Mayor" comforted NY residents

"Tomorrow New York is going to be here. And we're going to rebuild, and we're going to be stronger than we were before... I want the people of New York to be an example to the rest of the country, and the rest of the world, that terrorism can't stop us," he said.

Giuliani struck while the iron was hot and penned Leadership that came out in October 2002, where he talked about his "broken windows" theory, detailed his memories of 9/11, what he did during that horrific period, and how he helped revitalise New York City's economy following the attacks. 

When the book came out, I was in Toronto at the time and even went to Indigo where Giuliani visited and had my copy of the book signed by him, who by then had left the mayoral office and set up his own consultancy.

Five years later in 2007 his book was reissued during his presidential campaign the following year, and added his perspectives on various issues the country was facing.

He became Trump's personal lawyer

But since then Giuliani has spectacularly fallen from such high respect to scraping the bottom of the barrel.

During his presidential campaign it came out he was having an extramarital affair, Giuliani's police commissioner was indicted for tax fraud, and eventually he had to drop out of the race having run out of money and scandals followed him.

He laid low for several years until Giuliani resurfaced clinging to Donald Trump's coat tails as he ran for the White House in 2016. He stumped for Trump and became his advisor and later personal lawyer. 

Perhaps most memorable was following Trump's loss in the 2020 election that he wrongfully claimed was stolen, Giuliani held a press conference not at the Four Seasons hotel, but at Four Seasons Total Landscaping that was mocked by the media and late night comedians for days afterwards.

Hair dye was not a good look for Giuliani

There was also another press conference in 202 where Giuliani's hair seemed to melt -- as hair dye dripped down his cheek. 

Then Giuliani was sued by two election workers, a mother and daughter in Georgia for defamation and he lost big time. The judge was so fed up with the former mayor, he ordered him to pay US$148 million in damages. Giuliani was forced to turnover his US$6 million apartment, US$3.5 million residence in Palm Beach, Florida, jewellery and a Mercedes-Benz.

So circling back to his book Leadership -- it's still available on Amazon for US$19, hardcover, US$12 for paperback.

But mine is a signed vintage copy! Any takers?