Abe Beame was born Abraham D. Beame in London, England in 1906 and immigrated to the United States with his family as a child. He began his career in government as a clerk and auditor for the New York City Comptroller's office. He later served as budget director for the city, and in 1965 he was elected as New York City Comptroller.

In 1973, Beame ran for Mayor of New York City and was elected, becoming the city's first Jewish mayor. He took office in January 1974 and served for one term until 1977. During his tenure as mayor, Beame faced a significant financial crisis, with the city nearly bankrupt. He implemented a series of austerity measures to address the crisis, including cutting city services, laying off workers, and increasing taxes. Despite these measures, the city continued to struggle financially and Beame's popularity suffered as a result.

Beame also made significant contributions to the city's infrastructure during his tenure. He oversaw the completion of the city's subway system and played a key role in the development of affordable housing. He also worked to improve relations between the city's police department and minority communities.

After leaving office, Beame retired from politics and returned to private life. He died on February 10, 2001.