Andrew Stein, former Manhattan Borough President, has recounted a passionate romance he shared with feminist icon Gloria Steinem in 1968, a relationship that eventually soured due to political differences, particularly their opposing views on Donald Trump.
Stein, now 81, met Steinem, who co-founded New York Magazine, amid the chaotic backdrop of the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The city was experiencing significant civil unrest and protests against the Vietnam War. Stein, then the youngest delegate at the convention, recalled the atmosphere as "unbelievable," marked by "tanks and tear gas and bayonets."
Steinem approached Stein, then a delegate, seeking to borrow his credentials to access the convention floor. Stein agreed, but only in exchange for a dinner date. "It was a deal," Steinem reportedly said. Their dinner led to a romantic relationship that lasted approximately three to five months. "We had dinner. We ended up having a little affair for three, four or five months," Stein stated, adding that they remained friends and spoke on the phone for decades afterward.
Despite their enduring connection, their political paths diverged over time. Stein observed, "She got more liberal and I got more conservative." He eventually became an ally of Donald Trump, endorsing him in 2016. This political alignment proved to be the final point of contention between him and Steinem.
"She called me and was furious, saying, 'How can you support someone like that?' And I said, 'I think he's a better president than Hillary.' And that was the last time I spoke to her," Stein recounted. He described Steinem as "a sweet tender person" but acknowledged their differing political views created a divide.
Stein, who also served as a New York City council president, recalled Steinem once sending him chicken soup when he was ill, highlighting the personal warmth that existed within their long-term relationship. He also noted that he did not initially recognize Steinem when she approached him at the convention, only learning of her significance later from counterculture figure Abbie Hoffman, who reportedly exclaimed, "Dude, you just picked up Gloria Steinem!"