The Nation - News from Oct. 1, 1989

New York mayoral candidate Rudolph W. Giuliani unveiled a new television commercial putting the spotlight on rival David N. Dinkins’ income tax record. “Some people will try to tell you this is a negative commercial,” intones a stern-voiced announcer as the copy is scrolled up the screen. “But it isn’t. Because it’s fair and the facts are true. For four years David Dinkins failed to file his tax returns,” the ad continues. “ . . . He also filed false papers claiming he did pay his taxes. In fact he didn’t . . . until he was caught.” But Dinkins disputed the commercials. His spokesman claimed the ads were “distortions,” saying: “The only false papers filed were . . . requests for extensions, on which a box indicating all previous returns had been filed was checked off by an accountant.” Dinkins’ failure to file was uncovered during a city Department of Investigation inquiry when he was nominated for deputy mayor in 1973.