He was a tough, burly, street-smart politician, with a promising future and a flair for the spectacular. When New York City Mayor John V. Lindsay ordered the flag atop city hall lowered as a gesture of protest against the Viet Nam War. Matthew J. Troy Jr. appeared on the roof, coat flapping in the breeze, and put the flag back up. Said he: "That's where it belongs."
Troy was also the master of the smoke-filled back room. Not only was he a New York City councilman, but he was Democratic leader of the huge borough of Queens (pop. 1.9 million). What...
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