Rolling Stone’s Unlikely Rockstar: Governor Andrew Cuomo

By Hannah Minnick

On the cover of this month’s issue of Rolling Stone Magazine, on newsstands May 5, New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo “takes charge.” During the tumultuous COVID-19 pandemic, Cuomo’s guidance has not only given hope to New York, but to the entire nation. As a ruthless governor, a persistent leader, and an effective communicator, Cuomo has earned Rolling Stone Magazine’s applause for the rigor and leadership that has gained him so much admiration across America.

Cuomo is unrelenting, conducting daily briefings from Albany that have provided, what can be accurately described as, a therapeutic routine for audiences who tune in for updates on the COVID-19. However, the reassuring guidance and dedicated leadership according to Cuomo is just a part of his job as a governor in the face of a crisis.

“A situation like this is pretty much 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you’re going to do it right…you work until you can’t work anymore, and then you close your eyes for 20 minutes and then you work again,” said Cuomo during his interview with Rolling Stone.

Despite the immense chaos due to the coronavirus, which has infected over 3.14 million people worldwide, Cuomo is no stranger to the many challenges that weigh upon the shoulders of a governor. As the son of the late Mario Cuomo, the 52nd Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo began his political career as his father’s campaign manager in 1982. However, Andrew Cuomo is facing a crisis larger than any challenge his father ever faced, during his three terms in office.

“These are all uncharted waters. Nobody can give you a chart. They can’t tell you the depths of the water. They can’t tell you where the rocks are. But if you’ve navigated for years, you develop an instinct that helps,” said Cuomo.

On a number of levels, Andrew Cuomo has surpassed the requirements expected of a governor during the current pandemic. He has not only maintained his image as a dependable leader but has continually approached his briefings with transparency, often sharing stories of his family and exchanging brotherly banter with younger brother and CNN anchor, Chris Cuomo, who has recently recovered from COVID-19 after a month-long battle with the virus.

In a recent interview with Howard Stern, on his SiriusXM radio show, Stern expressed his appreciation for Cuomo’s leadership and commended him on his life-long dedication to public service. During the near two-hour discussion, Stern asked Cuomo if he was surprised by his appearance on Rolling Stone’s front cover as well as the love that has been expressed for him across the nation, to which he answered:

“I don’t understand it, Howard… I am doing the exact thing that I have always done [as governor]. This is who I am, it’s how I operate,” said Cuomo.

Regardless of whether he is met with acclaim or criticism, Cuomo has continually voiced his belief that this distressing moment in history is bigger than political partisanship. He has also stated that in order to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, state efforts must be matched with the efforts of the federal government.

Andrew Cuomo has been described as a man of great versatility, as a ruthless governor and at heart, a dedicated New Yorker. Cuomo is not one to consider himself as

being the great orator that his father was regarded as. However, his core values as governor, as he expressed in his interview with Rolling Stone, emanates his deep intellect and undying devotion to the public.

“No challenge is too great. Believe in the inherent goodness of people. Believe government done well is an art form… Speak honestly. Tell people the truth…The trust between an elected official and the people they serve is everything,” said Cuomo.

Throughout his decades-long career, Governor Andrew Cuomo has continually received critical acclaim for his political achievements. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the praise was not only coming from his supporters but from epidemiologists and even Rolling Stone Magazine. There is a lot that can be learned, from Cuomo’s ability to exceed the criteria of an elected official, in a time of harrowing crisis. However, much more can be learned from the moral standard, stated during his interview, that Governor Andrew Cuomo has set for himself: “When you’re tired and you can’t work anymore, work harder.”