"It was like someone in our own gov­ernment getting up to say the Soviet Union is a democracy."

“The David Dinkins that David Dinkins wants voters to see is a man who can bring the city together, who cares about the city's growing underclass, and who can do something about New York's out-­of-control drug and crime problems.”

“In Ed Koch's city, Stanley Friedman and Donald Manes were the twin towers of insider trading, the most powerful of the mayor's men. The just­-completed trial record of their crimes is in a sense Ed Koch's third book — a can­did account, at last, of his government”

“Witnesses against Friedman called him 'a stand-up guy' who had 'brass balls.' For this he deserves a cer­tain grudging respect — and about 10 years in prison”

“The fact is that Koch has protected Bess Myerson because he has long recognized that there is no way that a damaged Myerson wouldn’t also damage him. And perhaps turn on him”

“The Friedman records, seized by the feds ear­ly last year, unveil the machinations of a remarkable range of prominent New Yorkers — from mobsters like Tony Saler­no and Tommy Gambino to publishing giant Si Newhouse and developer king Donald Trump”

“Ed Koch, who first achieved fame by conquering Tammany Hall boss Carmine DeSapio in the early 1960s, has become DeSapio, the personification of patronage, conflicts of interest, and cynical abuse of the pub­lic trust”

“Meade Esposito is a shrewd manipula­tor who has worn many masks. Even the trademark cigar he always held in his hand was a mere prop for the role of Boss. He never lit the cigar. Now, at 79, the bill is coming due”

Bronx County leader Stanley Friedman has always known which buttons to push for his clients. Now, the pressure's on him.

“As in a colony, the Bronx's leadership positions are all held by outsiders (who are also white males), including the office of Democratic county leader, the borough presidency, the office of the district attorney, the Surrogate, and the majority of seats on the Democratic County Exec­utive Committee”