Andrew M. Cuomo

In American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo of New York describes the COVID-19 pandemic and New York State’s response to it between 1 March 2020 and 19 June 2020. He references the earlier cases of Ebola that reached the United States in 2014 and the lessons they taught in handling a deadly infectious disease. Cuomo writes of the current crisis, “When COVID first hit, it was inconceivable to me that the federal government would abandon its basic role of managing a federal emergency, but that it exactly what would happen as soon as they understood the depth of the problem, the complexity of the solution, and the political pain that needed to be endured in the coming weeks and months” (pg. 6). He further writes, “Given the consistent irrationality of the Trump administration, why would anyone think this federal government would act responsibly or competently?” (pg. 7). He concludes, “The COVID virus is not the extent of our problem. COVID merely exposed underlying weaknesses. America’s vulnerability has been growing for years… The only way to stop the virus was for people to unify and work together” (pg. 271). He wrote as the first wave began to come under control, prior to the second wave in autumn 2020, so time has not borne out some of his predictions. He does, however, outline a blueprint for going forward in the pandemic.

Cuomo not only covers the pandemic as American Crisis works as a memoir, with him discussing his family and evaluating his own political career. Of course, a great deal has happened since Cuomo wrote this book. At the most basic level, a new presidential administration is in Washington, D.C. Beyond that, however, details have come to light regarding Cuomo’s handling and reporting of COVID infection and death records regarding in nursing homes throughout the state. Cuomo initially justified that based on his fears of Washington using the statistics to hinder New York’s efforts, but the scandal resulted in the New York State Senate voting to revoke the governor’s emergency powers on 5 March 2021. In American Crisis, Cuomo gives insight into his assessment of himself, writing, “My natural instinct is to be aggressive, and it doesn’t always serve me well. I am a controlling personality” (pg. 10). He acknowledges how these traits have upset people, but positions them as strengths when facing a pandemic. That may have been the case, but some of the decisions he made as a result of those personality traits led to political blowback. Cuomo writes in his introduction, “I intend to serve as governor of New York as long as the people will have me” (pg. 13). Further accusations of inappropriate conduct give that statement an almost prophetic note.… (más)