Koch Remembered for his Straight Talk

NEW YORK (AP) — The man who succeeded Ed Koch (KAHCH) as mayor of New York remembers him as "a feisty guy who would tell you what he thinks." David Dinkins tells a New York TV station (Fox 5 News) that he could always rely on Koch for "a straight answer."

Koch, who was New York's mayor for three terms from 1978 to 1989, died today from congestive heart failure. He was 88 years old. He'd been readmitted to a hospital this week with shortness of breath, and was then moved to intensive care yesterday.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg says the city has lost an "irrepressible icon" and its "most charismatic cheerleader."

Koch was known for his often combative, bombastic personality -- and for breezing through the streets of New York flashing his signature thumbs-up sign. He dismissed his critics as "wackos" and waged verbal war with Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani.

He once said that his biggest personal achievement as mayor was rallying New Yorkers to endure a transit strike that crippled the city in 1980.