Mario Cuomo was an American politician and lawyer. He was elected as New York State's 52nd Governor in 1983, and was New York's longest-serving Democratic governor in modern history. He was re-elected twice, establishing popularity records in both campaigns.  Beginning with his internationally acclaimed keynote address at the 1984 Democratic National Convention and his famed lecture on the link between religion and politics at Notre Dame, he helped shape the progressive political landscape for nearly two decades. Governor Cuomo balanced twelve straight budgets, slashed taxes, generated more than half a million jobs, and led the state through two national recessions in twelve years. He spearheaded the most substantial economic development project in New York's history, promoting private-sector growth with billions of dollars in public investment in infrastructure upgrades and establishing an unprecedented network of high-tech research centers. Foreign investment in New York nearly quadrupled during Cuomo's term, creating thousands of new export prospects for New York businesses. Through the results of the Cuomo Commission on Trade and Competitiveness – The Cuomo Commission Report (1988) and America's Agenda: Rebuilding Economic Strength – he contributed to the national discussion on economic policy and trends (1992).